Silas did his job, to get the Rockets #1 draft picks. Wait, Silas even failed at that! Somebody should fire him.
Why would this bother you? Amen Thompson is a reigning all defensive team guy - in the era where it's incredibly difficult to make the team - and is on the short list of the very best defenders in the league, capable of eye test feats that generate rapturous praise from the NBA commentariat & normal fans alike. Reed Sheppard meanwhile is universally recognized - rightfully - as one of the worst defenders & most easily exploitable players in the league, a fact that is affirmed by anyone watching and the numbers alike. Why wouldn't these situations be treated differently, especially given that Sheppard is hardly providing much offense as an offset, he's a shooting specialist who is 6-24 over 2 games. You shouldn't be frustrated by obviously different situations being treated differently - you should be encouraged.
Clutch keeps saying over & over again that Amen isn't going anywhere, and I believe what he says. I put Giannis at 70% and Kawhi at 30%. I don't see anyone else who (i) is available, (ii) defends, (iii) can score, and (iv) is better than Sengun. BTW, I really don't want to root for Kawhi - he seems like a miserable @$$hole.
Kawhi Leonard? Him and Kevin Durant would guarantee a championship, TEN YEARS AGO. Come on! We went through years of tanking for it to all be traded away for a big three of Giannis, who's on the wrong side of 32 and cannot shoot, Kawhi, who's made of glass, and Kevin Durant, who's 38? I'd rather watch Dashen Nix play basketball again.
The Rockets obviously like Thompson that’s why he didn’t go in the Durant trade. That calculus could change though. I don’t think the Rockets would stop at Giannis as they would need a guard and a stretch 5. And i don’t think anyone can honestly say this roster is a championship roster as is
I got news for you man - Amen's entire game slipped this year, including his defense. He will not make either all-defense team this year. Care to put a $100 tip jar bet on it? And guess who had more steals & blocks than Amen this year despite playing 800 less minutes than he did? None other than Reed. I'm not saying that makes Reed a better defender than Amen, but he's not as bad as you think. Speaking of Reed, he needs to shoot better, but even when he's not hitting his gravity opens up the court for others to score. Amen, on the other hand, has the worst gravity of any starter in the league. The truth is that any coach who bothered to run any kind of offense would be playing Reed instead of punishing him. Feel free to disagree, but the results speak for themselves.
That’s what I don’t get about this thinking from fans that Sheppard is punished like some child. Players play due to meritocracy. If you provide and can be trusted you play. Very simple. You mentioned steals and blocks which are deceptive stats and not the end all be all of defense. His inability to stay in front, gets bumped off course easily, not paying attention to cuts, issues getting around DHO’s makes him a poor defender. The quick hands make him playable as it always been the case since college. But again it’s not just defense its also decision making on offense putting players in positions to score. He doesn’t do that especially when pressure comes and in the playoffs where defense is tighter. You guys keep pumping him up when he simply isn’t that good of a player. Doesn’t mean he can’t be good in a year or 2 but right now he isn’t
Not playing Reed Sheppard when he is 17/4 as starter it just next level stubborn and redarded. We've lost both games now with Okogie as the starter, with a "better" defensive lineup our offence is turd level, and defense it still turd. Yes Reed was abysmal in game 1 with his shooting, i put that up as nerves. We need to remember he is our best shooter, he isn't streaky, he is consistent so you play him and give him CONSISTENCY. Just because he has 1 bad game you don't just decide to give him 10 mins the next game. Your best 3 point threat and you give him 10 mins in game 2? UJOKER is such a dumb****
Ime is a racist….simple as that. Reed makes a mistake he flips out and pulls him. Holiday or Tate or Okogie make a mistake and no reaction. Same for Sengun. Why did we pay 54 million for DFS and play Tate. Yes, DFS sucks but has a revenge factor and knows the Lakers. What’s there to lose….can’t score less than zero points.
I would put KD at the free throw line, let Reed/Amen bring it up, so when you do dump it into KD he can just turnaround and shoot before the double comes, or if they double him before the pass comes, the initial pass to the open man will be easier because that guy (the one with the ball (reed/amen) wouldn't be trapped when making that pass. This also states that Durant will have to work harder as well to hold his position at the free throw line. Reed needs to start. He needs to play significant minutes. For people saying he's unplayable, we're down 0-2 , it's not like you get extra losses for one game. Not to mention his record as a starter. Sengun needs more feeds in the block. To do this, Sengun will have to fight harder for his spot, and KD will have to be on the complete opposite side of the court as Sengun to draw as much traffic away as possible. I'd start Reed/Amen/Jabari/Durant/Sengun. Leave Durant in a 'bit longer (if healthy) once the second unit trickles in with Eason (leave amen as well so those two can try and cause havoc on defense). Once Durant is out, bring Reed and Sengun back in together, let them run the pick and roll together. I'd be tempted to put Holiday in with that group to stretch the floor, and run a zone. Yes, I know Lebron is an amazing passer, but with Holiday and Reed in together, you at least have to try it. This would be my suggestion. Would it work? Maybe, maybe not.
How is Ime racist against Reed but not against Sengun? Are Euro whites and American whites different types?
Who cares if he makes all NBA this year? He's still not even in the same galaxy as Sheppard who is universally - correctly - regarded as one of the very worst in the NBA and who was getting embarrassed visibly on Tuesday Quite obviously they are evaluated by different standards - a breakdown by Amen is treated as just normal variance, a breakdown by Reed is treated as further evidence he can't defend at this level- why wouldn't they be, given their histories? Isn't it just *correct* to assume that Thompson is a better defender than Reed, based on the data you have seen so far?
For someone who wants to lecture others on how to use their time, you sure spend a lot of it on this site arguing with people to no meaningful end.
I don’t sit around complaining and bi+ching about a coach do I? And I don’t post nearly as much as most people here. You can take it as a lecture again your choice. You are free to see it as negative or positive. You and many people here tend to see it negatively and act negatively
