The players are flawed but they were set up for failure. The Silas era was so bad that everyone thought a disciplined coach like Ime was what these guys were missing the whole time and they were partly right. The intensity wasn't there. Ime fixed that but he didn't use any real methodology did he? He benched them when they didn't play hard, shouted at them from the bench when they made mistakes and that was pretty much it. Ime symbolized only one aspect of what the team was missing, the heart but the brain wasn't there either and people didn't see it. The players didn't need a drill sergeant as a coach they needed someone they could respect (unlike Silas) and someone who understands both sides of the game. Instead, they got a drill sergeant. That drill sergeant obviously wanted them to draft Amen, played Tari ahead of Reed and never said anything bad about Jabari. It's a one-dimensional team shaped by a one-dimensional coach hired by a lawyer. People thought he was the polar opposite of Silas but they were wrong. He was just as incomplete as Silas as a coach. So i don't blame the players. Their vet thinks they suck at basketball, their coach doesn't draw anything for them so they have to improvise. There are only two actually three people who should be blamed.
Getting humiliated as a heavy favorite in the first round for the second year in a row has to cost Ime his job, right? If this level of playoff ineptitude happened under the Harden/Morey days there would be mobs marching down University looking for a certain bearded man.
They're just going to continue having KD out there at the top of the key instead of down on the block where he'd be closer to the basket and can get a shot up over anyone. It makes no sense. Udoka greasy head ass need to be fired. Stone's low vibrational, non-believing ass too. Always looking like he hasn't slept and hasn't done ****.
Exactly! Like we got that stop when we were down 92-97, Amen ran a transition offense but couldn’t do anything, then he passed the ball to Alpi, who passed to kd, who immediately got trapped in a double-team, tried to pass it again to Alpi and turned it over.. It was just sad to watch how our offense just gets stuck again and again.
I think basically everyone is to blame. Ime: for still not having an acceptable offensive set, making no adjustments, playing stupid line ups, not having Reed play more during the season and not caring about shooting, only about looking like you play hard Owner/stone: For punting on this season and not getting a roster with more shooters or any pg that Ime trusts, Sengun: For playing passive. I love him as a player, has been my favorite player since we drafted him. I do believe Udoka is not using him correctly, but the eye test tells you that Sengun is playing with any passion. He should dominate, I do not know what is wrong with him. Durant: For destroying the team chemistry and not being able to play in a team offense. It is not a coincidence that his team has been underperforming for the last couple of seasons. Amen: I am actually less annoyed with Amen. He plays like he cares and he has some amazing moments. But still if he could shoot even a little bit our team would look so different. Role players: Just no I think that I am less annoyed with Amen and Smith. They have shown at least something you can build one (with Smith it is as a role player). This is so embarrasing, if you cannot defeat the Lakers without Luka and Reaves then you are just first round fodder.
Silas. That period was so ugly that it made Ime’s impact overvalued. Lately there was an analyst talking about how in the past the perception about NBA games was that you can compensate for 1 defensive focus, low-offense guy on the court, and that trade-off was beneficial for some. Today, unlike what people think, you cannot reserve a spot for only defensive players, near zero offense, creating a liability on every offense. This was a case of that. It was that ugly other than Durant you can’t trust anyone else, and that comes with him been losing the ball his whole career in such double teams and playmaking situations. Alpi has totally lost his confidence and touch, thereby dominance. In the past you would feel he goes on court knowing he is one of the best players in that game, if not the best. It looks like the future of the team is Durant parting ways after next year, Ime leaving summer or mid season, Alpi getting traded in any possible trade window and attractive offer, and Amen and Sheppard taking the leash in 2 years. If Sheppard doesn’t step up, Rockets fans will have to face another reality of Amen forcefully being the franchise player and getting locked down brutally by teams easily in playoffs, with the same blame rhetoric getting directed at him. Unfortunately Houston couldn’t find the “one” player you build around. Alpi couldn’t step up. Jalen Green was the best shot, failed. Houston couldn’t find its Cade Cunningham, a situation where even if you fail in a year you can insist on the situation and keep building on it.
I don't want to blame the players, when their output is not maximized. There are so many mistakes currently with how they are being utilized by the coaching staff, that I first want to see them in a different environment before giving up on them. They were still a 50-win team, so it's not like they are completely useless, there is a good amount of talent here. But Ime has consistently showcased his inability to lead the team in the postseason, and should be shown the door immediately. Additionally, the GM should be surrounded by basketball minds, not other corporate shills, so hoping to see a supplemental hire there too. If nothing improves, he should also be out 2-3 seasons from now. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with the owner, but I don't think Tilman will move on so easily, when the Rockets are his son's toy.
Stone. They should've fired Stone when they hired Ime. They should've brought in a San Antonio or Boston guy with Ime, Stone can't evaluate talent properly. Ime is only coaching the players he's given
This lineup went on a 9-0 run.... so Ime quickly pulled it and never went back to it. He's the most incompetent coach in the world or he's intentionally sabotaging the team
Fred for hinting multiple times that he was going to come back this season. Oh and the idiots who felt we didn’t need a PG all season.
In order of blame: Stone, Ime, KD, Alpis regression, Taris leg (and brain), Reeds height, Amens shooting, stay ready crew (not staying ready), finally injuries. Not sure the financials or feasibility, but Ayo and Luke were had for cheap at the deadline. They certainly both look like they could fix our issue of shooting 30%. Instead Stone punts and says “maybe next year”. Time isn’t really on this teams time any more. This is how you get stuck in basketball purgatory. Ime needs to quit being a b**** and play Reed. KD had 9 TO. He cannot be a facilitator. If not Reed, Amen needs to go nuts out and demand the rock/high usage. He defers to KD leading to Durrant dribbling at half court. Dickerson, don’t tweet you dgaf about TOs, then turn it over 9 times in a playoff game. That is litterally the shittiest/most deflating thing you can do. I didn’t think it was in me to hate KD, but I am getting there. (Disclaimer: if you arent dickerson sorry)
