He needs ball handlers and spacing. Attacking the rim a gazillion times per game is not a feasible offensive approach for a C. As incredible as Amen is on defense he hurts our spacing. I'd start Reed and bring Amen off the bench instead. I think he'd provide enough energy for our second unit to beat theirs. I think he's very good in transition but thoroughly mediocre in every other facet of the game. I've never liked pure athletes you can't win anything with them being the face of your team
People dont understand that basketball players cant do everything elite. Most players if they are good are gonna be average at some things and good at others. Expecting Sengun to be an elite defender and lead the team in rebounds steals assists and being second in points at age 23 is beyond stupid. Ive never seen anyone do all of that. Certainly not in the modern NBA. The only person Ive seen do that is Michael Jordan and he was well older than 23. The expectations for Sengun are that he's generational even moreso than Wemby and in his prime as a center at age 23. People just dont understand basketball but it doesnt stop them from posting about it all day everyday along with the idiotic biases they have.
Let’s be honest. There is no one with those expectations, there are haters who pretend he is expected to be that to stay in the team.
This is false. You and ATW (and others) have in the past said you expect him to be jokic with defense. Jokic with defense would make him at worst the 2nd best player in history and realistically would put him past jordan for #1. We have argued that plenty of times before his ban.
By his numbers at the same age he is Joker with more defense but one less percentage in fg% and 2 less assists AND I believe 1 or 2 less rebounds. I think he meant theres a trade off although I cant speak for him. Alperen will be better than Joker defensively but will be similiar but not as good at other areas.
I gotta ask proof for that. I certainly don’t think he can be jokic with defense, or without defense. I don’t recall saying anything like that.
His efficiency is nowhere close. Like, they are not in the same universe. Jokic's worst efficiency season was a +5, his 2nd worst +7. Sengun's best was a +3 but for his career he's a -2. Jokic's 5th season was the last season he wasn't the best player in the league (though he had finished 4th and 9th in mvp in years 3 and 4). Starting year 6 and to present day he has been the unquestionable (outside of some racists/haters/etc.) best player in the league.
I posted this elsewhere but he needs 3&D wings, plain and simple. As the 5th starter: Reed, Holiday, Adams, Capela: Bad [All less than +1.2 NetRtg] Okogie, Tari, DFS: Good [all 11+ NetRtg] https://databallr.com/wowy/HOU/2026/2026/regular/high/5man/1630578/201142/1641708/1631095 Extra PGs/Centers: Bad Extra Wings & More: Good
I didn't say anything about jokic's efficiency now. I was only talking about his 1st few seasons. Jokic's 1st 5 seasons: +8, +16, +8, +5, +7. Sengun's 1st 5 seasons: -3, +3, +1, -5, -4.
LOL Steph and Podz were taking turns stopping Jalen single handedly in the playoffs. When douibled Alpi can make the assist or draw a foul. Jalen will brick a shot or get blocked.
It was bad enough that he was horrible 6 out of 7 games, but it was the way they were single covering him with old ass no D Curry and journeyman Podz and he just couldn't use his elite athletic ability to get around them. It was embarrassing to watch when all we needed was just for him to have 2 out of 7 positive games to move on.
It must be hard to be an Alpi hater, every time you think he is giving you material to work with, he finds ways to contribute to the team. Then he has a series of games in which he excels and all they can complain about is that he is just a fringe 2x all-star at 23. Suck it haters lol!
Alpi on back to backs make me nervous this year. He was much more effective in the fourth after getting a breather.
