If Amen Thompson makes another All-Defense team (announced tmrw), he will become the fifth player in Rockets history to make multiple All-Defense teams.
Can you name the four others?
Clip from the Rockets mock offseason, find the whole video on YouTube using the link below:
Clip from Rockets mock offseason: https://youtu.be/XzHqegQ7oOw?si=QbJOTJK12h\_sUQEo
After talking to a bunch of people around the NBA over the last few weeks, I went
through the key decisions the Houston Rockets will need to make this offseason.
Some of the questions I answer: Should the Rockets re-sign Tari Eason? What will Amen Thompson's extension look like? Who should Houston trade for/sign in free agency? What should the Rockets do in the draft?
What I heard at the NBA Draft combine, including:
- What Tari Eason's next contract might look like?
- Will Amen Thompson get a max?
- What do ppl in the NBA think of Alperen Sengun's game?
- And a note on one of the UH prospects in the draft
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/houston-offseason-options-22257870.php
Mark your calendars! 5/14 at 6pm central, I'll be going live on Twitch (link in bio, same handle as here) to do a mock Rockets offseason. Extensions, free agency, trades, I'll explore it all. Hope to see you there!
Talked (and wrote) to myself for a bit as I reviewed the Rockets season.
- Was it a good season?
- Will the team look dramatically different next szn?
- What does FVV's return mean for Amen/Reed?
- Can Amen/Alpi co-exist?
- Who could be gone?
- What resources do the Rockets have?
- What's the expectation for next season?
The most important things Rafael Stone and Ime Udoka said at their end of season presser.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/houston-rockets-state-of-team-22239880.php
- Stone and Udoka both say this team should have won more games.
Stone called the season frustrating. Didn't say firmly if team would make big moves but said even if HOU doesn't, expects growth from young players (mentioned Tari, Bari, Alpy, Amen, Reed) to lead to addnl success.
- Udoka said he does not expect changes to the coaching staff
Stone said doesn't feel adding a PG for PG's sake is helpful. Doesn't want someone who just gets you into sets / isn't a threat after the initial pass / can't defend or shoot.
- You definitely want to shave Durant's minutes down, Udoka said.
Less so for Amen because he's younger. Does say he doesn't want 2 guys in the top 5 of minutes.
- Stone says he and Udoka see eye to eye on most things.
Said he didn't see anything of significance where he and the coach disagreed. Udoka echoed.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka and GM Rafael Stone will speak to media today at 1:30 pm. I've got some questions written down but I'm curious what fans want.
What do you want me to ask? (Give me thoughtful open-ended questions please).
LOS ANGELES — LeBron James charged inside for a layup with just under three minutes to go in Wednesday night's Game 5, cutting what was a 13-point Houston Rockets lead to just three.
As Crypto.com Arena erupted, perhaps Rockets fans exchanged whispered reminders of all the blown leads past this season — none more memorable than Game 3, when a six-point lead with 30 seconds left curdled into a crushing defeat after consecutive Rockets turnovers.
James ran back down the court and shoulder-checked second-year guard Reed Sheppard as he did so. Sheppard, who committed the second of those turnovers, brought the ball up and readied for a pick-and-roll with center Alperen Şengün. A brief mishandle brought Lakers defender Luke Kennard, lunging for a potentially pivotal steal, but Sheppard re-gathered the ball and himself. He spun away from Kennard, who got caught on the screen.
Sheppard hesitated for a moment against center Deandre Ayton before charging forward. He pulled up just in front of the elbow for a midrange bucket that re-established a two-possession lead. On the ensuing Lakers possession, Sheppard's mark, Rui Hachimura, screened for James. Sheppard charged forward as James turned the corner, ripping the ball away from the four-time MVP for an uncontested dunk — a massive swing in the eventual 99-93 Rockets victory that brings the series back to Houston for Game 6 on Friday night.
Was the bump a motivation for the young guard? Nope.
Was Game 3? Read to find out: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/reed-sheppard-game-5-houston-lakers-22231962.php
- Durant ruled out
- Sengun on the battle ahead
- The defensive adjustment Reed Sheppard wanted to make — and Ime Udoka embraced.
What questions do you have about the Rockets? Ask an interesting question and I might answer in this week’s newsletter.
Last week's QnA, answering u/TheHeardTheorem's question.
