Houston Rockets Offseason Preview | Game Theory Podcast w/ Sam Vecenie
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 เม.ย. 2024
- The Houston Rockets have one of the best young cores in the NBA. Are they ready to launch into the playoffs next year?
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Sam Vecenie, a Senior NBA Writer at The Athletic, talks all about basketball. From the NBA, to the NBA Draft, to college hoops and even some high school, Vecenie is has you covered in this show. - กีฬา
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I've watched all NBA games of Sengun and I honestly think he's the one with Superstar potential. I understand your hesitation...
- "Is he tall enough? He plays like Jokic but he Nikola is much bigger"
- Ok he's not Jokic, but he has a quickness advantage over half of centers, a strength advantage over half of centers. He is actually a VERY unique big man. Doesnt look like it, but he is.
- Will he be able to open the court with the 3?
- His mechanics are very good, his touch is soft. It is just about reps. He will develop an important elbow shot as well (ala Embiid). He has never really trained at that...
- Ok, but, can he be a rim protector?
- He wont be a very good rim protector but neither is a hole. He can jump, he's more athletic than what you think. He's a the right place at the right time. He has defensive IQ. He plays hard, he is strong. Remember that his team has already reached elite defensive level with him starting at the first half of this season... Playing next to Green and a 20 y.o. Jabari...
- Hmm Ok. But can his game coexist with a Superstar guard/wing?
- In fact that is the prototypical formula of success in the NBA, historically: a great big man next to a great small man. With the proper adaptation for modern basketball: Sengun can be useful and dangerous from above. His handles, instincts, passing are all elite for a big man, his shot is coming... He can help tremendously from that area, not only on the low post, back to the basket. He is also an elite roller already. Also, Udoka was stidying and knowing his team this year, his intention is to install a more advanced offense for next season, where Sengun strenghts will flourish even better.
I would extend him even now. He is a clear max extension.
In any way would I extend Jalen this summer. He's a completely different story. Hope to be wrong but I dont see him as a future star, at least in Houston.
agree with your observations about Sengun. i think his defense underrated. but why do you think Jalen can't turn a star in Houston?
Don’t extend Jalen until he shows consistency. Potential doesn’t win games but unfulfilled potential sure loses a lot of them. He’s part of the latter club right now. Alpi has proven he’s a consistent starter in this league so I can accept extending him.
He just won 10+ games for the rockets carrying the whole team. Rocket fans r either living in dreamland or just plain🤡 hope jalen leaves houston and block them everytime he meets them in the playoffs. That will be karma to the highest level😂
Hopefully Jalen can go to another team and fit in . Much love Jalen
Its not only the score you can contribute jalen have good in rebound and assisting if he not play here in houston he will average 28 pts he improve a lot in defense cam fred and dillion always shoot a lots
I believe Tari Eason had the best plus/minus on the entire Rockets team and possibly among the tops in the league although I acknowledge it was in limited time this year because of injury. Eason just makes things happen when he is in the game and has a nose for the ball via steals and rebounds. NBA legend and former NBA coach John Lucas compared Eason to Dennis Rodman last year and I see it! So if he is your sixth best prospect, then you have a ton of young, exciting talent. Very fun times to be a Rockets fan! And I'm not criticizing the "rankings" as this former Rockets beat writer (late '90s) would probably have them in the exact same order: Alpi, Jalen, Amen, Jabari, Cam and Tari. The most exciting aspect is any of those six could end up being the best of them all and this years rookies, Amen and Cam, are so scary talented and skilled that they could end up at the very top of the chart. Again, great time to be a Rockets fan! Great podcast! Cheers!
If Sengun was #2 pick, everybody would be saying yeah give that guy the extension.
Are you aware of how big the rookie max extensions are?
@@skimmy93 Alpy is getting the max, seems like not from Rockets.
@@MrYirci it will absolutely be from the Rockets
No Sengun still needs lots of improvement. He doesn’t deserve an extension yet. He has a long way to go defensively. And he sucks shooting free throws. Give them both time to improve. It’s the coaches responsibility to make it work. Why are you people so concerned about them working together. One is a center one is a guard. What’s the freaking big deal ? Neither are franchise players. SMH. You guys are a trip. You can’t even think of a player to trade for. There aren’t any.
Jalen was solid for two months. Trash for about two months. Ridiculous for about a month and finished up ok for a month.
But your point is taken. I still think it's worth giving him another year to show. Especially when Sengun there to prevent him being doubled.
Btw, I'm a big believer in Jabari. Loved the growth I saw from him..
I’d say from the takeaway from the end of season conference call that 90% they will run it back with minor tweaks (Jeff Green, Tate, Aaron and to a lesser extent Jock).
I don’t think extensions happen this offseason, both for cautionary reason and for maximizing 2025 cap space.
Also the extensions to Stone and Eli Witus meant that there is less danger for Stone to do corner cutting random s*** to save his job. So I believe they mostly stay put.
I love your point about shopping for a Mikal like guy without giving much to allure some top tier FA to join in 2025. Though I personally think it’s a risky business (unless you have a wink wink under the table sometime in the season).
The four most important core pieces of the Rockets are Sengun, Amen, Cam, and Tari. Try to keep Bari but don't overpay for him. Jalen can go.
The offseason is pretty simple, just add shooters. Maybe a combo guard that can back up FVV. Then run it back. Adams will be a solid vet that can back up Sengun. Eason will come back. Run it back..
Houston said to Alpy and Jalen : We do not know your value. Go out and find your value. Maybe they will find the teams that can value them and choose the best fit for them. Taking risk for what ? Why you put Alpy and Jalen in the same catagory? It is a very passive strategy
You understand the concept of rfa?
As a Rockets fan, an exciting off-season would be the front office showing patience and not touching the core 6. There's way more than enough data there to see Sengun and Green fit well together.
I would pass on any star up for offer. Don't need a guy 7 years older than the oldest of these that will play 70% of the games and keeps up in middling/fake contender status.
Plus, chemistry is a force multiplier. These guys growing together will pay dividends and maybe them seeing loyalty from the organization will encourage reciprocation.
Add a shooter off the bench and run it back. 🤘🏽
exactly I agree
I could see this team (in a few years) becoming one of those franchises that has like three fringey all-stars and great depth behind them but doesn't really have that true superstar, top 5 player. If you squint you can even see a path to a championship for that type of team, i.e. the '04 Pistons or the '14 Spurs (after Timmy had declined and Kawhi was not yet a star player). Is that good enough that you just kind of run with it, or is it too narrow of a path to a title? Alternatively, does one of these dudes--probably Sengun, Green, or Thompson--break out and turn into a true superstar? Lot of mysteries and interesting possibilities with this team.
Green and Thompson have significantly higher ceilings than anyone in that Pistons championship team.
2 years ago, was anyone saying that SGA could be the #1 guy on a championship team? Are people saying that today? And honestly speaking, how many teams not counting the aging vets that are 32+, have guys you can say can be the #1 on a title team? Jokic, Giannis...and who else?
Wemby 😂
Theres no way you extend anyone this summer unless they offer a discount. You have to use freds expiring next off season to bring in the best guy you can. Then over the next few years you can start trading guys and picks to build your roster your hoping to take to a title. If you extend anyone youll have to trade Fred and pay someone picks to take him just to keep the salary alive
Ever heard of the Luxury Tax?
Extend Sengun the skillset is through the roof.
Great talk! I agree! Do not extend anyone just yet. I would go for Kelal Ware in the draft. I agree, Rocket's do not need another wing, we have too many already.
Jalen was double team against dallas and other team in april games only wolves dont double team him its up to the caoching staff to adjust for that not only jalen
It makes sense to wait and see on Sengun and Green before giving them truckload of cash. Hartenstein will get signed by the Thunder.
if you don't extend Alperen, he'll go elsewhere, he'll be The hottest property end of next season, from Dallas to Boston, Clippers to Lakers, Golden state most suitably, they all need an alpi and they're championship contenders immediately..The question is wether to build around him or not for Houston, but the Nba office managers and fandbase are extremely discriminative, even Jokic is still not getting the recognition he deserves, Luka likewise..Alperen will be a superstar in two years, most likely not in Houston tho!
You sound dumb bro he’s not going nowhere!
For sure they will give him contract.do not worry,be confident.the fans of Sengun must be confident on his talent.caused we Lakers fan wants jalen to play in lakers.hope Jalen could play for his fans in Lakers.❤
This is still assessment and development time. The contract winners are the best at improved playmaking knowing Fred and Dillion will be gone. By all star break next year players minutes should be more defined. With luck Fred and Dillion will be coming off the bench. That means the youngsters are high achieving. Pay all of them less with the concept of keeping the youth together if needed.
Ok if that you want then let go green to other team!.
🚀🚀🚀🚀👍
Just let the guy go to another team..It’s hard to play somewhere when you are constantly viewed as a failure..Much love Jalen
I agree on running it back. JG having a baby changes everything in a good way! I would look into getting a high caliber young center again and move sengun to the 4 his passing is unmatched, back in November he was a major problems for teams. give him & JG the max & can we look at Zhou Xi again?!
Jalen green played 82 games and on April he injured leg hurt a lot and also his ankle when player on blazer fell on his legs but still play his last game on limited minutes so eventhough he has a small frame body he is one tough guy in this team wait till his body became a grownman he will be consistent still he still Young at 22 yrs old look what happen in March when jalen plays like that this team wins. A lot if is not tired and don't have injury on his legs his scoring on April still the same as march and he was double team a lot on April also that' is why his scoring gone dip
Sengun not a max player
Good pod guys. life long Rocket fan here. I think you guys are close, but off on a couple of points. The Rockets have NO intention of giving any max deals this summer. they have Jaylen and Alperen under control for at least 2 more years and can match any offer beyond that. they are however looking to trade their draft pick unless it moves up in the draft. I think the Rockets have 5 players with star upside if they continue to develope. I think the Rockets are biding their time waiting to see who will emerge as a star from this group (Tari, Jaylen, Alperen, Whitmore and Thompson). If a star players becomes available this summer they will look at it but unless it's a top 10 player they will pass on it. They are high on this young team as they should be IMO. remember of the core six only 2 will be 23 years old by start of camp. So none have reached their prime years yet. they will operate over the cap and use the mid level to sign a big man PF unless they can draft one or trade for one. This team will largely look the same next year. I think the Rockets want to see more developement before having to make the call on final buildout of the roster.
Also a life long Rockets fan here and you're close but off on a couple of points:
1. They have Jalen and Alperen under control for 1 more year. Then they become restricted free agents and the Rockets have the right to match.
2. It is spelled Jalen, not Jaylen.
Ok if you want jalen go then let the management do that......
Idunno man your takes haven’t been aging well. It’s important to remember these are players that aren’t even 23 yet. Guards don’t usually get good until their 5th or 6th year. Idunno I loved your commentary and analysis just not as of late. Hope the rockets make you eat crow next year
so bizarre that my take is basically like "just kick the can down the road, don't have to make any decisions now" lol
Bridges is ass. Stop trying to trade a potential Superstar for a guy who not an all star on the west. Green or Sengun would definitely be an all star on the east
once you start hearing these pundits talk about what national media repeats, chances are these guys dont watch many rockets games and just echo national headlines. typical
lol dude we did like a full-scale Rockets breakdown like a month ago. Bad take. You can find a ton of Rockets videos up on the channel.
Sam Vecenenie couldn't wait for Jalen to have bad shooting nights? 🤣🤣🤣 but its okay when Antony edwwards goes 5 for 22 or 7-23, or whatever? Shooting guards are going to have bad shooting nights.
Question in are you making the right reads? Taking the right shots? And making the right plays, pass when you have to? Get the others involved?
And anyone who watches rockets beside the Jazz game Jalen was making all the right plays shots just didn't fall and thats fine it happens even to Lebron, he was 6/ 23 fga vs Pels.
I just don't think its the right move to make these points