Amen Thompson is the Rockets' REAL franchise player

98% is most likely not probably

 

Any GLI player is toxic save for Dyson Daniels. Watching Sampson completely light up Kingston Flemings yesterday after a defensive miscue really shed some light on *why* G League Ignite was so bad for development.

The Twins are such an outlier considering how they got into the league.

 

He’s been more active and aggressive last couple games. Reportedly they are drawing up plays for him. Another great game 24 pts 18 boards. Incredible. If he continues to play like this, the team has a chance. They need him to play like this every game.

 

That tip in to win the game reminded me of Olajuwon in the 95 finals.

 

Actually the Rockets were playing Amen at PG, KD at SG, and Bari & Tari at SF/PF no matter how the lineup was announced in the arena. No one ever thought as Tari as a SG - not even his mom.

Now it's Reed at PG, KD at SG, and Bari & Amen at SF/PF. And the front court is really where Amen belongs.

 

How the lineup was announced is what their position is. Jokic is a center even if he plays like the pg.

There is a lot of overlap in roles now I just stick to what is announced.

 

I really don’t care if Amen is backcourt or front court, but it would be an extremely idiotic choice to move him off the ball most of the time. He is our only rim attacker and is getting better and better at being a downhill scorer/creator with the ball in his hands. He also finds a way to impact the offense off the ball, but it will totally screw our spacing him to park him in the dunker spot going forward. Too many guys on this forum make this Amen vs Reed thing when in reality they are a very synergetic backcourt. It is much more important to get Durant off the ball than Amen.

 

According to NBA.com KD was listed as PF and Sheppard SG in the starting lineup vs Heat so none of that matters. What matters is the role they play.

Jokic does not play the point role. He can handle sometimes and facilitate but the ball is in Murray’s hands most of the time bringing it up and setting up the half court set. Jokic is not a point guard. He is a center who is the main hub of that offense as everything runs thru him

KD has played the 2 guard role since the opener and this has been substantiated by the media reports. We have no true 2 guard so he fills that role.

 

I agree that Amen is our best rim attacker. That doesn't mean he should have the ball in his hands in half court settings. That's why your insistence on using Amen as the PG is wrong. Not all great rim attackers are PGs.

It's the same reasoning that puts Durant as the de facto PG because he's our best scorer with the ball. That's micro thinking, not macro thinking. You have to look at the big picture and see how to fit each player's strengths and weaknesses together and maximize everyone. I think Udoka is a micro thinker. That's why he often puts up weird lineups that don't make sense.

 

My thinking Amen's role has shifted somewhat. I see him more as a rim-attacking shooting guard these days in the mold of D-Wade or a young Jimmy Butler. I do think he's a very good passer, but I think his lack of jump shooting does make it hard to have him on the ball against a defense that is fully set and prepared. That said, he can definitely bring the ball up in transition and try to attack early in the shot clock.

 

Yes KD was listed as the PF and he did play as the PF. If you saw a lot of their sets if KD wasnt calling for an iso at the top of the key he was stretching the floor on the corner 3 like how he played in PHX. If you rewatch the Miami game you will see Fontechio was the Heat PF and he and KD matched up lots of times.

This move also downgraded Jabari to the SF slot where he seems to be more comfortable, he played SF last year in the playoffs coming off the bench behind DB and did pretty well.

But anyway this is a trivial thing I dont really care too much about this topic tbh.

 

Can he shoot at least 32% from 3? That should also be the answer if he should get the max.

 

Watching Bam dominate last night, I can see Amen's career projectory being similar to him. Started out as a defensive specialist. Hardly ever shot any 3s his first 5 seasons in the league, but has become a respectable outside shooter. Just an athletic freak that consistently outworks everyone on the court and makes little improvements to his game every season.

Is he ever going to be a +25ppg player? Probably not. But every team needs a Bam or Amen. He's the heart and soul of this team.

 

Or he could be Westbrook/Simmons and never be able to shoot 3s.

 

Simmons problem was mental more than anything. Just never loved basketball or wanted to work on his game.

If Amen can shoot 3s about as well as Westbrook can, I'd be pleased with that considering everything else he brings to the table. The problem with Westbrook was all the boneheaded decisions he would make, including taking a ton of I'll advised 3 pointers, which Amen never does.

 

No one has benefited more from Reed Sheppard finally being allowed to start and run the point than Amen.

He gets to play in the role where he can be a star.

 

I think you focus on finding a core franchise piece that fits with Amen. Maybe he’s in this draft. Maybe he’s on another team. But let’s not waste time by chasing old stars. Let’s use our assets to go after someone on Amen’s timeline. Amen is the best thing to come out of this rebuild and should be the only untouchable.