Game Thread Oct 07, 2024 07:00PM MT: Houston Rockets @ Utah Jazz (Preseason)

[sip]

I wouldn't want to be the Rockets though. They tanked a season for Jalen Green. Then they tanked a season for Jabari Smith. Then they tanked a season for Amen Thompson. Then they just got Reed Sheppard with a #3 pick. They don't have anyone on their roster who can be a top-40 player in the league.

People criticize Detroit, but I'm not sure Houston has done much better.

Damn this is a bad take. First off they already have a borderline top 40 player in Sengun that just turned 22 and should cement himself in that top 40 this season with the potential upside to be top 20 in a few years. Then you have Jabari Smith who just turned 21 and made a big leap from year 1 to year 2 and probably takes another big leap this year. Then you have 20 year old Cam Whitmore who has elite upside as a scorer in this league. Amen has the makings of an elite jack of all trades wing. Tari Eason looks like a rock solid big wing that is the type of player we hope Hendricks grows into. Worst case with Reed is probably him being an elite role player but I think he ends up as a really good starting pg and Amen is a great compliment to him. Jalen Green is weird because he may end up being the odd man out or a star for them. We have seen a bit of both from him and I have no clue how it ends up but I still love that young core without him. You are right about wishing you snagged a legit superstar with those top picks but you can overlook that when you snag likely homeruns later in the draft like Sengun, Whitmore and Eason. Sengun would be a consensus top 5 pick in a redraft and it may be the same with Whitmore in a few years.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I wouldn't want to be the Rockets though. They tanked a season for Jalen Green. Then they tanked a season for Jabari Smith. Then they tanked a season for Amen Thompson. Then they just got Reed Sheppard with a #3 pick. They don't have anyone on their roster who can be a top-40 player in the league.

People criticize Detroit, but I'm not sure Houston has done much better.

They are incredibly overrated

 

[HermanG]

Damn this is a bad take. First off they already have a borderline top 40 player in Sengun that just turned 22 and should cement himself in that top 40 this season with the potential upside to be top 20 in a few years. Then you have Jabari Smith who just turned 21 and made a big leap from year 1 to year 2 and probably takes another big leap this year. Then you have 20 year old Cam Whitmore who has elite upside as a scorer in this league. Amen has the makings of an elite jack of all trades wing. Tari Eason looks like a rock solid big wing that is the type of player we hope Hendricks grows into. Worst case with Reed is probably him being an elite role player but I think he ends up as a really good starting pg and Amen is a great compliment to him. Jalen Green is weird because he may end up being the odd man out or a star for them. We have seen a bit of both from him and I have no clue how it ends up but I still love that young core without him. You are right about wishing you snagged a legit superstar with those top picks but you can overlook that when you snag likely homeruns later in the draft like Sengun, Whitmore and Eason. Sengun would be a consensus top 5 pick in a redraft and it may be the same with Whitmore in a few years.

Whats your handle at Clutchfans? "RafaRoxx"?

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Whats your handle at Clutchfans? "RafaRoxx"?

"RocketDownMyThroat'

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

They are incredibly overrated

They papered over their disappointing draft guys with temporary solutions in FVV and Brooks as well as Udoka. Those solutions are fine for now but I think they stagnate for a few years unless Alpy becomes an all star.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Damn this is a bad take. First off they already have a borderline top 40 player in Sengun that just turned 22 and should cement himself in that top 40 this season with the potential upside to be top 20 in a few years. Then you have Jabari Smith who just turned 21 and made a big leap from year 1 to year 2 and probably takes another big leap this year. Then you have 20 year old Cam Whitmore who has elite upside as a scorer in this league. Amen has the makings of an elite jack of all trades wing. Tari Eason looks like a rock solid big wing that is the type of player we hope Hendricks grows into. Worst case with Reed is probably him being an elite role player but I think he ends up as a really good starting pg and Amen is a great compliment to him. Jalen Green is weird because he may end up being the odd man out or a star for them. We have seen a bit of both from him and I have no clue how it ends up but I still love that young core without him. You are right about wishing you snagged a legit superstar with those top picks but you can overlook that when you snag likely homeruns later in the draft like Sengun, Whitmore and Eason. Sengun would be a consensus top 5 pick in a redraft and it may be the same with Whitmore in a few years.

I'd rather have Keyonte than Jalen Green, because Keyonte is more disciplined, scores at 3-levels and has some playmaking.
At least with Hendricks, we get versatile defense and rebounding to go with some stretch shooting. I'm not convinced Jabari Smith does even that much.
I like Sengun, but I don't think he's enough to build an offense around, either by virtue of his scoring or playmaking, and he lacks the physicality to be a disruptor like a Domantas Sabonis.
Amen can't be a jack-of-all-trades wing unless he can shoot the ball. His impact gets minimized if he doesn't have the ball in his hands, but he's a nice slasher and defender.
I really like Reed Sheppard, but he's going to be limited defensively and he needs to be about the best shooter on the floor to really impact the game.

If there's someone on the Rockets to really be excited about, it's probably Reed at this point.

 

[KqWIN]

Two things are true. The Rockets top 5 picks have been disappointing and almost everyone would have made the same selections as them. That's the reality of the draft.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Two things are true. The Rockets top 5 picks have been disappointing and almost everyone would have made the same selections as them. That's the reality of the draft.

I think I would have taken Mobley over Green but other than that probably true.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I don't have an issue with who the Rockets picked. Like I think they have good players. Its the thought they are the new OKC that makes me laugh. OKC has 3 guys I'd take over any Rocket.

 

[KqWIN]

I think I would have taken Mobley over Green but other than that probably true.

IIRC, Mobley wanted to go to CLE and kinda forced himself there...but either way, Jalen Green was still considered an elite prospect. The Rockets really hit on other stuff like Sengun and being able to land FA's....but their top 5 picks haven't panned out (yet) and it's hard to fault their selections without the benefit of hindsight. Like I said, that's just the way of the draft. We talk about these prospects like gods before their in the league, but reality is different. I remember having discussions about trading Mitchell for Ivey and then Lauri for Scoot. Obviously the top of the draft is still where most great players come from, but it's far from a sure thing.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

IIRC, Mobley wanted to go to CLE and kinda forced himself there...but either way, Jalen Green was still considered an elite prospect. The Rockets really hit on other stuff like Sengun and being able to land FA's....but their top 5 picks haven't panned out (yet) and it's hard to fault their selections without the benefit of hindsight. Like I said, that's just the way of the draft. We talk about these prospects like gods before their in the league, but reality is different. I remember having discussions about trading Mitchell for Ivey and then Lauri for Scoot. Obviously the top of the draft is still where most great players come from, but it's far from a sure thing.

I agree. I think they have done well. I just think they really crushed it in Mickey Mouse March and now have people talking a bit crazy. Jazz fans in particular seem to be enamored with Thompson and Whitmore. Thompson cuz "we didn't tank hard enough" and Whitmore "cuz we drafted that bust Taylor Hendricks insteard".












Also, I'm just opposed to saying nice things about the Rockets.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I'm taking full advantage of pre-season games meaning nothing and being really invested in winning way more than normally.

 

[KqWIN]

I agree. I think they have done well. I just think they really crushed it in Mickey Mouse March and now have people talking a bit crazy. Jazz fans in particular seem to be enamored with Thompson and Whitmore. Thompson cuz "we didn't tank hard enough" and Whitmore "cuz we drafted that bust Taylor Hendricks insteard".












Also, I'm just opposed to saying nice things about the Rockets.

I guess I haven’t noticed that….maybe it’s on twitter or something. I love Amen Thompson and he’s definitely exceeded my expectations. Cam is really fun to watch but he’s kind of Kelly Oubre ish to me. Rockets have a really deep team. They are legit 13-14 deep. They’ll win a lot of regular season games imo. 41 wins last year and a 44 win point differential. But at some point they will have to make the ever elusive “consolidation trade” that never happens.

I’m curious to see where they go with Green/Sengun extensions. Also, a lot of their winning is tied up into FVV (who was amazing last year) and I wonder what their plans are with him.