The team that was a 2 seed last year? Lmao NO We’d have JG and DB back + no DFS + perhaps Cedric Coward. So again, no. He’s been great in the clutch in a few recent games but this was a 2 seed without him….how do y’all forget that’s our baseline? SMH
This was a fun comeback. I was about to turn the game off in the middle of the 3rd when we were down big, Reed subbed in, and promptly turned it over. But I gave them another few minutes just to see if he could get it going and him and KD just started going off and obliterated Orlando's lead. Fastest I think I've seen us erase a deficit since T-Mac's 13 in 33.
Yeah - it would be a risky situation but I would not compare Banchero to Green, Banchero has had a lot of playoff success and at times has looked very good. I was not a fan of Banchero coming out of the draft, but I do think that Banchero and Reed on offense would be very good. I don't know if Banchero would buy in enough on defense--- and maybe Banchero is on the path to Antoine Walker... a scary thought.
Riiight.... but at least this team has a chance to win a playoff series, the team last year really did not.... and effort gets you a long way, but not all the way. I will take Ashy and his all world offense over dumbass Green and Brooks.
I don't see the fit between Banchero, Amen, and Sengun at all. The three of them would be a combined, what, 27% from three? All three like to operate in similar areas? And KD also likes that part of the floor, by the way (but at least he can shoot). If you do this you'd have to make a follow-up trade, and then the question becomes, for who? Would have to be a guy who actually spaces the floor and can line up in value with Amen or Sengun. In any case, I'm higher on Sengun than I am on Paolo personally. He's less athletic, but I think he's a much smarter player. Otherwise they have similar strengths and weaknesses.
"I had a hard time guarding him, I was blinded by his ashy spider legs that were reflecting the lights in my eyes. For real, I was blinded most the night. I was frustrated - I threw a bottle of cocoa butter lotion at his head after the game." - Desmond Bane talking about Durant after the Magic loss (allegedly)
I think people know how I feel about paolo in his own thread but the team is better with him off the floor than with him on and he's so inefficient and doesn't' use his size to bully; instead he pulls up for some maddening jumpers. He's also got some problems with his coach right now
There is no fit between good fit between Amen and Banchero - just like there is no fit between Amen and Sengun. The advantage with Banchero is that he can really run the floor and get out in transition. That plays to Amen and Reed's strengths. I'm not pretending that it is a great solution to all the problems - and I am not sure I would even deal Sengun for him because of the contract issues .... but I do think it is possible that Stone would want to. He wanted Banchero #1 in the draft, he thinks he can be a franchise type player. I don't know about that, I have always disliked bigs that do not defend and are not efficient. The reality is that the Rockets as constructed/and even if they were to get Banchero - would be poorly constructed, they need more players that can shoot well and defend well ..... they have Sengun, who cannot shoot from the perimeter, isn't efficient and is a mediocre defender .... they have Amen Thompson who can defend well and run the floor, but cannot shoot and is asked to do too much as a handler.... they have Sheppard who can shoot, and can pass --- but struggles to score when the perimeter shot is off, doesn't go to the line enough and struggles defensively when there is another poor defender on the floor with him......... Tari Eason struggles to play with any structure and is hurt all the time...... Going back to when the Rockets drafted Green and Sengun, I discussed concerns over drafting guys that are very hard to build around because of their deficiencies, and Stone kept doing that every year in the draft. It isn't the end of the world, the Rockets are going to be in the top 25% of the league if healthy for the next few years -- but I don't see them really competing for a title come playoff time with this foundation, too many weaknesses to cover up - really good teams will feast on that.
The Rockets were a #2 seed --- they lost to a #7 seed in the first round. The Warriors never trailed in game 7 and won by like 15 points --- the Warriors led the entire series.... The Rockets last year deserved a lot of credit because they played hard all year and it led them to the #2 seed, but they were always toast in the playoffs...
Apples and Oranges. I replied to a comment suggesting this is an 8 seed w/out KD. To wit, a 2 seed loaded w/ a team of 21-24 year olds would regress and squander the other asset(s) we gave up in the trade for KD such that they add negative value? Nonsense. That's the apple, as for the orange.... Adding KDenyahu (this is fun!) to last year's team = champion. At its best this team is more balanced, and therefore more playoff ready, than last year.
This is all objectively true --- a strong argument can be made that he is on his way to being Antoine Walker.
It would be incredibly concerning if Amen Thompson is nearing the end of his third season, and the game hasn’t slowed down for him. That should have happened by the end of his second year at the latest. I’m more inclined to believe that he’s still thinking about his shot mechanics in live action, and it’s further magnified when he’s also thinking about the right reads and decisions he must make as a primary ball handler this season. He needs to find the mental space where he trusts his shot and just lets it fly.
