This is an exaggeration and not factual. He had 13 offers including Kansas. OTE is a way for players to get paid, exposure, and specialized training they don’t get in college. https://247sports.com/recruitment/amen-thompson-133535/recruitinterests/
I think Amen can get there in 2 years. A dribble pullup mid is one of the hardest moves to master in my opinion. If he can do that and get a 3 shot he would be up there with best guards in this league. I also want to see a post game. castle wasn’t good at mid range shots or 3 but he was at least able to execute them regularly. Dribble transition to a pullup or fake pullup to a hard drive is something he has done for a long time. Amen can’t do this and just started working on this 1 maybe 2 years. It’s going to take a while. Hopefully he gets there
i dunno. I like them both. But these people trashing our players are toxic. Criticism and analysis is one thing but calling them garbage trash or worthless is Really toxic
I think its definitely due to the packed paint, I mean yeah he can't shoot, but that doesn't stop other slashers because the paint is open for them. I think it's going to be lower because he depends on scoring in the paint or he pretty much doesn't score. I just think its hard to have a good offense when both your supposed primary ballhandler (for this past season) can't shoot and your center can't shoot.
what gives me hope is he flashed a couple dribble pull-ups from 15-16 ft in the playoffs. He also had a couple longer jumpers in the paint. If he continues to work on that move and increase his range, along with better finishing on drives, he will be elite. But first they have to remove Sengun. I think he’s the biggest reason holding our team back since he dictates this style of play with his skillset and limitations
The best we can hope for Amen is a Shawn Marion type three where it looks weird but it goes in. Castles form is A LOT better than Amens. It looks so much more fluid and it's no surprise that he's improving his shooting.
Ime started him finally, then he is on the bench, then he starts, then he doesn't. He gets pulled, sits, gets put in again, pulled, sits.....If you have ever played the game, that pattern sends a clear message. I don't trust you. I don't know what to think about your game. You are inconsistent. I don't believe in you. Which makes you more inconsistent. You can see it on Reed's face. If he misses he is coming out. You try harder. You miss more. How about this. "I trust you, you have a great shooting touch. If you miss, keep shooting. You will find your rhythm., etc." A player knows whether he is believed in, whether he is trusted. That means everything.
Weak minded people would shrink. Those that want to be better would try to change that narrative. Coaches have every right to not trust players and sit players. Sheppard played major minutes this year. Too many in my opinion but the staff is developing him by playing him. Playing time means a certain level of trust. It’s common for coaches to do what he sees fit for the team. Other Rockets players get this treatment yet i see no advocacy for them. The fact is Sheppard makes a lot of mistakes on both ends and inconsistent. If he wants to be better and if he knows his deficiencies then he would work on them daily and be the best version of himself everyday and prove his worth. That’s what strong players do.
Amen’s FG’s in this year’s playoffs. Really interesting to me and i see potential https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CF...Playoffs&TeamID=&flag=3&sct=plot§ion=game
How many times did Ime pull Reed Sheppard for missing shots? Y’all keep saying this… he takes a bunch of shots…he even becomes a shot chucker at times Reed Sheppard off the bench averaged 11.5 shots a game in 26 minutes Jabari the starter averaged 12.6 shots a game in 35 minutes 99% of the time, if Reed got pulled, it’s because he was embarrassing himself on defense gambling every possession like he’s at the casino in Vegas, out of position giving shooters wide open looks, or getting targeted and abused…that or he was turning the ball over/not running the offense well in a particular game Ime let Reed chuck up almost 15 shots a game in the playoffs while missing almost all of them
We will just have to agree to disagree. Thanks for being civil. Reed was generally horrible during the playoffs. I still think he is fixable. He is so young and inexperienced. He scored 50 in one game in the G League. He apparently amazes folks with his accuracy in warm-ups and practice. He has yet to adjust to game pressure and nerves.
I really want him to do well like I do all Rockets players. He needs a lot of work and hopefully he gets there. Good Players evolve every year. Let’s see what version we see next year
Is there a big history of guys that have to be demoted to the g league who come back and become all stars? Can’t be a big list right? I m legit asking
I also want to point out that the great shooters like Curry and even guys like Reddick only need a small opening from a screen to shoot. There might be a hand near them or in the face but that millisecond opening is enough for them to launch a 3. And i think Sheppard needs to get better at that coming off a high screen up top or DHO. That’s enough separation to hit a shot but he’s been very inconsistent with that. Hopefully we see the best version of him next year.
I'll add CJ McCollum to this list as an undersized guard that became a prolific scorer like we hope will happen with Reed. Whilst not a perennial all-star, he did make it and averaged 20+ppg for 11 years straight.
Man, the Stephon Castle truthers are quiet today. 1-6 from 3, 11 TOs. Gross. Wemby had to go nuts for the Spurs to win. I can't imagine how this board would react if Amen had 11 TOs in a playoff game. The Spurs are contenders because of Wemby. Not because of Castle, not because of Harper, not because of Fox. Without Wemby, they'd be a play-in team.
LOL! Yeah let's casually ignore the defense he played, or his 11 assists and 6 rebounds. Not to mention he's going up against the defending NBA champions and best team in the league while playing in his first WCF forced into having the ball in his hands more due to Fox being out. Lets look at his playoff numbers: 19.7 points 5 rebounds 6.5 assists 0.8 steals, 47.9/41.1/80.3 splits Big reason why his team is in the WCF. What is Reed up to again?
