Bingo. While we are on the topic of staggering guys, Ime needs to do a better job of staggering Sengun and Amen as well. Regarding his 3pt percentage as a starter, I don't think condition has as much if anything do do with his shot not going in. Some of his worst shooting games as a starter came when he played his fewest minutes. In the past Reed hasn't gotten a chance to not hit shots and stay on the court. Some of those games as a starter the misses came early so it wouldn't have had much to do with fatigue. If you look at his top 15 games by minutes played and not just starts, he's actually shooting 39% from three. If we use the mark that you used of 32+ minutes, he's actually shooting a blistering 42%. I think in some of the games he's started and didn't shoot well it didn't have much if anything to do with conditioning. When you start, you're obviously going against better players. Also, he typically hasn't been allowed to actually run pg much (until lately). He a long with the team operate better when he initiates the offense or is a part of the main action and not just sitting in the corner. And the starts that are really skewing his 3pt% downward came earlier in the year where he was basically playing real minutes for the first time in the NBA...Nerves could have been a factor...Comfortability....And again, in those games that he started and shot poorly, he didn't even play a ton of minutes.... But he's clearly gotten better and more comfortable over the course of the season. The all star break helped him as well I think. Over his last three starts where he played 32, 36 and 42 minutes he is shooting 39% from three....I think the correlation between his starts, conditioning and shooting don't match up. Regarding his conditioning, I do think he needs to improve there but I think that's even more reason why he needs to keep playing high minutes whether he starts or not. This season Reed has already played more basketball than he has in his life in the most physically demanding league on Earth with one of, if not THE most physically demanding coaches. Only way to fully get in game shape is to play and we are going to need him in the playoffs.
Answer to the OP. Coach has different goals than you and me. I don’t know what your goal is, mine is watch / be entertained by winning basketball. Most would think the coach would play to the player’s strengths vs making them conform to their philosophy. It was entertaining watching at first, seeing this kid find success as this coach is teaching/telling him to play differently. Sadly Reed didn’t get a chance at a rookie year and is still being heavily governed in year two. Coach has goals we don’t know what his real plans are. I like to fill the void with positivity like he is trying to round out Reed’s overall game.
Front office goals are #1. Burn minutes on players that are already paid, be stingy with guys who are still on rookie contracts or minimums. Makes sense from a business standpoint but sucks from a fans standpoint when the team is not doing everything possible to win. The more Okogie/Reed/Tari contribute, the more they'll command come extension time and the less flexibility we'll have. In a league where only championships matter, this is a rational approach but it can be brutal to endure Every US pro sports team has this dilemma except for the Dodgers. And f*ck the Dodgers. Love that our new Japanese import feels the same way
His goal is to start FVV next year and “develop” Reed another year. Fred will probably get hurt at some point next year and if Reed is still on the team, he will Brady him.
Well, hopefully Reed finishes the season out strong and forces the organization to make some tough decisions.
Ime's goal is to win. He has a bias towards defense and things under his control. There are things that drive me crazy about Ime. When things start to go bad, his instinct is to go all-in on defense. It seemed like there was a commandment that stated, "Though shalt start Jalen Green" last season even though it looked like FVV and Amen were much better without him.
I worry he leans into FVV next year r****ding the growth of what we see with Reed. Reed is the future number 1 option on this team - he is inevitable. DD
I worry the Rockets can't find a third guard that can play with Reed and Amen. Small sample size, but the Rockets were simply fabulous last season when FVV and Reed played together. FVV was brought in so he could become more the off-ball guy as Jalen Green took more on-ball reps. The Jalen Green part didn't work, but I don't see why Reed isn't good enough for the role envisioned for Jalen Green. I don't understand the fascination on this board for the young guys to play with bad players, as if playing with good players stunts their growth. Sometimes a vet gets hurt or just sucks with age, but it is hard to get young players as good as vets.
We need a 6'6 or 7 SF/SG that can shoot off the ball and play D. Which is WHY I did not want to get rid of Cam Whitmore. DD
Cam Whitmore can't shoot off the ball (only off the dribble, and even then very inconsistently) and doesn't play D though...
Oh yes he can, he has an excellent shot, and form, he just needed consistent playing time. There was still ZERO reason to get rid of him for NOTHING. If Ime can't handle a head strong confident player, then Ime isn't a good coach. DD
My brother in Christ, Cam Whitmore can't stay on the court on a 16-45 team in the weaker Eastern Conference. I don't know what else to tell you.
You’re too focused on the idea of Cam instead of seeing who he actually is as a player. He’s just the Terrance Williams of this decade.
And you and most others are only seeing what a 20 year old headstrong guy is....not seeing what he is becoming, much like KPJ....got to be able to project brothers. I am trying to drag you guys forward into what players will become.....but you just keep on focusing on the now.....sigh..... DD
