Does Kevin Durant make the Rockets contenders?
Es Baraheni is joined by Will Guillory of the Athletic to preview the Houston Rockets season. What are the expectations for Kevin Durant? How will he mesh with the young players? Is Amen Thompson ready to make a leap?
Host: Es Baraheni
With: Will Guillory
Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Audio/Video Producer: Grayson Moody
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nba/
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Timecodes:
00:00 – Intro
00:30 – Kevin Durant changes Rocket’s trajectory
02:43 – Injury to Fred VanVleet means others have to step up
06:23 – Expectations on Alperen Sengun
09:21 – Jabari Smith Jr.
12:46 – Rockets have serious depth now
15:52 – Derrick White to the Rockets?
20:26 – How do the Rockets stack up in the West?
Thumbnail: Alex Slitz / Staff via Getty Images
#houstonrockets #rockets #kevindurant #amenthompson #jabarismithjr
26 Comments
Great episode! Amen is 6’ 7” maybe 6’ 8” 🚀🚀🚀
No
no
The Fred-Sengun P&R actually got worse last season because Fred is limited to inefficient pull up jumpers and with no rim pressure. The Rockets ranked near the bottom of the league in passing with FVV at the helm. If you want to give steady Freddy points for not turning the ball over, make sure to include the fact that he's not pressuring the rim, drawing two, or making high level reads. The pace of the offense should also increase. Losing Fred (who likes to slow the offense) and Jalen (low IQ) should be additions by subtraction.
no
As long as OKC exists, there's really not much room for "contenders" in the West.
Hell yea
Amen gonna be easily the best Rocket this year. Having KD and Reed on the floor provides the spacing he desperately needs to thrive with the ball in his hands. Not to mention he is the most versatile defender in the NBA. Oh and he's closer to 6'8" than 6'5". Derrick White is perfect for the Rockets but they aren't gonna pay the Celtics asking price and I don't think they should. They want Bane/Bridges haul for White. Stone has shown an unwillingness to overpay in any aspect as GM. I don't think he is gonna change that to make a desperation move rn.
We're a better team playing through Sengun without Fred. Fred is not a spacer and can't attack the paint.
The Rockets got a good big 3, they need to find a way to keep Reed and Tari. But it’s gone be hard to keep both if we go after White.
YES!
🚀🏀💥💯
hlf uwon2
Do NOT let Tari Eason go!!! He's th culture with his activity level, grit and defense. Re-sign him ASAP.. JD Davison will be able to play this year, they don't need another point guard
Rockets should add Ben Simmons after December. Not just a much more cost effective option than Derrick White but this will allow Rockets to further lean into their big lineups to rebound everything, provide another long elite switch everything defender and most importantly adds a ball handler with even better career AST/TO than Fred Vanvleet. Simmons backing up Sengun as playmaking 4 further weaponizes this Rockets team. Udoka was actually interested in adding Ben Simmons last season but Simmons ultimately chose to sign with the Clippers instead. Ben Simmons not only an Udoka type player (low turnovers, defense first mentality, elite in transition, rebound advantage, etc.) but Simmons also has experience and success playing alongside both KD and DFS.
he makes them the favorite
Amen Thompson is 6’7 6’8
This video could have been 2 seconds long. He could have just said, "Yes."
As Knicks fan, U guys now have someone who will give you guys 25+ppg in his worst game, helllllll yeah he make Rockets contenders come on man. Kd only needs to be healthy u guys will win 60+ winning games
You guys are very good at what you do.Kept me listening till the end.
The Rockets are contenders without KD. They are favorites with KD
i love Tari Eason, he needs to stay. Him & Dorian Finni Smith will be a nightmare for teams off the bench, i really hope we use JD Davidson more as a PG
Most of the time trades just don’t work out. Everything have to go right for a team to win.
You guys have clearly done the work and know what you’re talking about, really refreshing hoops discourse 🤘
There needs to be more creative people involved with sports journalism
I like the way you guys do your shows
Reed shepherd is going to shock the NBA this season
Just remember the Rockets surprised everyone last season and am saying it now we’re different this time around and we have the best coach