Johnny JJ

231 posts

Johnny JJ

@Johnny142504

來自台灣，看球30+年。理性看球、常寫點東西。英文不好多靠翻譯，有錯請指正。 From Taiwan. Rational takes. English isn’t perfect, so I use translation often. Corrections — and free English lessons

Taiwan Katılım Aralık 2025

143 Takip Edilen5 Takipçiler

Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·1d

I honestly can’t believe we are comparing Queta in 2026 to Robert Williams in 2022 or Porzingis in 2024. Porzingis only played 7 playoff games in 2024. He got hurt in the first round against Miami, then came back in the Finals. He was great early in the Finals, but that context was completely different. That team had Horford, Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Jaylen Brown. The defensive structure around KP was much stronger, so of course he could be used in more flexible ways. And comparing Queta to 2022 Robert Williams is even more confusing to me. Robert Williams had a completely different level of mobility, recovery speed, and defensive range. When he was healthy, Boston could switch more, let him roam, and still trust him to recover back to the rim. Queta is not that kind of player. His strengths are size, rebounding, rim protection, and physicality near the basket. But his speed and recovery are not the same. That is exactly why Maxey and Embiid were able to punish him in pick-and-roll situations. Offensively, Queta and Rob Williams are more similar because neither is really a self-creator. But defensively, the comparison does not make sense to me. Different era. Different teammates. Different roster structure. Different speed and mobility. Different defensive role. So when I see Queta being compared to 2022 Rob Williams or 2024 Porzingis, I honestly find that very confusing.

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Azad@azmatlanba·2d

Took them seven games to use Queta as a roamer Seven games While it worked all season Worked witk Porzingis in 2024 Worked with Robert Williams in 2022

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·1d

I actually don’t think the Vucevic trade was a major problem, either financially or from a basketball standpoint. From a basketball standpoint, keeping Anfernee Simons would have meant accepting an even smaller lineup, more positional overlap, and fewer minutes for young players like Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh. Yes, Simons would have given Boston another scorer and ball-handler. No debate there. He played very well, and I was honestly sad to see him go. But with Derrick White and Payton Pritchard already locked into the 1 and 2 spots, the question becomes: How many small guards can you realistically play? And can anyone guarantee that adding more scoring and more threes would have solved the problem? Especially when the criticism of Boston is already that they rely too much on threes. Financially, I actually think the move made sense. Boston used an old trade exception to bring in Vucevic, created a new $27M trade exception, and successfully ducked the tax this season. That matters. Also, with Horford and KP gone, Boston needed a veteran big who could shoot and provide another offensive option. Vucevic clearly fits that idea. Unfortunately, in this series, he did not play well enough on either end. But if he is willing to stay in Boston on a much lower salary, and if Tatum is healthy next season, the roster can still make a lot more sense. Boston would have Tatum back, Vucevic as a veteran shooting big, and still have the $27M trade exception to improve the roster. The main point is simple: Keeping Simons was not easy. His next contract was not going to be cheap, and Boston already had White, Pritchard, Hugo, Walsh, and other young players who need roles. So I don’t see the trade as a clear miss. I see it as a financial reset move that still has a chance to make basketball sense, depending on what Brad Stevens does next.

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Adam Taylor@AdamTaylorNBA·1d

Is Vucevic the first legitimate trade miss of the Brad POBO era? I’m talking strictly from a basketball standpoint. Financially, it was a solid move

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·1d

I actually don’t think it has to be a pure center. To me, Boston may need more of a big wing / forward who can play the 4 and slide to the 5. The problem with traditional centers is obvious: speed. In this series, Maxey and Embiid already punished Boston in pick-and-roll situations. And if you look at Toronto, they often trusted forward-heavy lineups in key moments. Those lineups usually have more flexibility defending pick-and-rolls. So yes, Boston can add another center. But that depends on whether Vucevic stays, and I still think Queta and Garza should be kept. You need size. But if Boston can add a big wing who can play some 5, the rest of the lineup becomes much more flexible: Pritchard, White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, plus that big forward. Or against certain teams, Pritchard can be the sixth man, and Boston can use Hugo Gonzalez or Jordan Walsh to add more defense. Either way, Boston needs to upgrade. The good news is they have a $27M trade exception, access to the full non-taxpayer MLE, and one of the best executives in the league in Brad Stevens.

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Colin Keane@ColinKeane_·2d

The Celtics need to get another center this summer. Queta is the only playable center on the roster in a playoff series.

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·1d

Thank you for being one of the few people on X today talking about Boston’s situation rationally.Most people are just blaming Mazzulla or questioning the players. But professional sports are cruel. When you lose, you have to look forward.The roster issues you pointed out were very clear in this game, and that is something I have also mentioned in several replies.When Tatum is not on the floor, no matter which center Boston uses against Embiid, there will be problems on one end or the other.The irony is that we all hoped Vucevic could give Boston more offense, but unfortunately his offensive impact in this series was not great. And defensively, he had issues too.Queta is a very good defensive center, but the problem is that he does not give you much offense.Payton Pritchard and Derrick White are important backcourt pieces, but unfortunately White did not play well in this series.During the regular season, many young players had great moments — Ron Harper Jr., Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh and others.But in this series, maybe because of pressure and lack of experience, they were not as effective.So when Tatum was not available, Boston’s lineups often became either too slow or too small.That is why I agree with you. I think Boston needs another center and, more importantly, a big wing.The good news is that Boston has a $27M trade exception and access to the full non-taxpayer MLE.They also still have Brad Stevens, an Executive of the Year winner, running the front office.So this offseason, I think we should trust his work.As for Mazzulla’s reliance on threes, yes, he has been stubborn at times over the last two years.But I also saw another report where he said they will play to the strength of the roster.So again, the key is the roster.Let’s trust Brad Stevens.

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Joel Moran@joelvmoran·2d

Celtics offseason priority needs to involve bringing in another center and some role player vets. Front court and depth was a serious issue this series. The reliance on the 3 ball also played a big role in the loss but that’s who Joe Mazzulla is and it’s not changing

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·1d

First, I don’t think today’s starting lineup was hilarious. A nominal starter is not some rare NBA tactic, especially when your centers have had clear weaknesses or foul trouble earlier in the series. The reality is that Boston was still tied 98-98 in the fourth quarter without Tatum. So to me, the key issue was not the starting lineup. It was late-game execution. Second, people can say Mazzulla’s offense is too three-point heavy. That criticism is fair. But the more responsible question is: With this current roster, who exactly was supposed to consistently attack Philadelphia’s paint? Pritchard? White, who struggled badly in this series? Scheierman, who is slow? Jordan Walsh, who is still limited offensively? Hugo Gonzalez, who has little experience but has some defensive value? To me, the root issue is that people raised their expectations too much once Tatum returned, because Mazzulla had done such a good job during the regular season. Yes, Boston blew a 3-1 lead. But NBA history has seen 3-1 comebacks before, even in the Finals, let alone the first round. Especially when your best player, Tatum, missed Game 7 because of injury. Move forward.

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Pranav Sriraman@PranavSriraman·2d

Think he’s one of the best coaches in the league but for someone who’s best trait is showcasing his ability to be malleable with lineups and offensive creativity in the offseason, he’s too rigid in the playoffs (though the starting lineup today was hilarious). The calls to fire him are ridiculous he’d be the most lucrative free agent in the sport, but this isn’t good.

Pranav Sriraman@PranavSriraman

Joe Mazzulla is the first coach in NBA history to lose 3 series with a 90% win probability. The Celtics 3 series losses have come within the first 4 years of his coaching tenure. Game Breaking and Historical.

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·1d

I still believe Joe Mazzulla is a very good coach. When I saw this answer, I was actually encouraged. Boston’s three-point heavy style has clearly been questioned after two straight playoff exits. Last year against the Knicks, they could build 20 point leads when the threes were falling, but they still lost games and eventually lost the series. This year against Philadelphia, the cold shooting and missed late-game threes became a big part of the story again. So yes, when you lose this way in back-to-back seasons, the style will be questioned. But I don’t read Mazzulla’s answer as stubbornness. To me, “playing to the strength of the roster” also means the roster can change, and the strengths can change with it. That matters now, because Boston has real tools this offseason: a $27M trade exception, the full non-taxpayer MLE, and Brad Stevens running the front office. Stevens has been one of the best executives in the league, and he also understands coaching. If Mazzulla is saying they will play to the strengths of the roster, then I trust Stevens to help build a roster with more balance. Losing is not shameful. Philadelphia played well and deserves credit. But if Boston can find a better balance between threes, twos, size, and shot creation, this team can be much more complete next season.

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98.5 The Sports Hub@985TheSportsHub·2d

Joe Mazzulla on the Celtics' rate of shooting 3-pointers and if a change is needed: "We're always going to play to the strength of what our roster is." 🎥 @_JakeSeymour

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·1d

I honestly think some fans had unrealistic expectations. Without Horford, KP, and Jrue Holiday, expecting Boston to still win the championship was not impossible, but it was always going to be very difficult. NBA teams do not stand still. Other teams got better. Their rosters became more complete. And in Game 7, Tatum did not even play. To me, this season was shaped by Tatum’s injury and Boston’s tax-reset direction. The team successfully ducked the tax, created a $27M trade exception, and still has access to the full non-taxpayer MLE. When you look at the cap sheet, losing this series hurts in the moment. But looking forward, there is no reason to be hopeless. A lot of these young players got real experience because Tatum went down. They are still young, and their salaries will not hurt the team over the next couple of seasons. Maybe this season did not end the way people hoped. But after what they went through this year, I believe several of these young players can become very important pieces for Boston next season and beyond, whether they are starters or high-level rotation players. So yes, losing hurts. But I am actually very excited about the future.

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Colin Keane@ColinKeane_·2d

The Joe Mazzulla Celtics have underachieved in every postseason other than 2024. He's not a good playoff coach yet. Will be eventually.

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·1d

I honestly don’t really understand why so many people immediately blame the coach’s rotations after a loss, or even question the midseason trades. Every professional sport has a timeline. First, Jayson Tatum was expected to possibly miss the entire season. Then came the series of moves, including the tax-reset direction. Maybe people expected too much once Tatum came back, thinking Boston could still win the championship. But when Tatum did not play in Game 7, Celtics fans should have been able to see this roster’s weaknesses very clearly. At the 5, when you face an MVP-level big like Joel Embiid, Boston has problems on both ends. The bigs who can score cannot defend well enough. The bigs who can defend do not provide enough offense. And without Tatum on the floor, it was also very clear that this team lacked ball-handling and shot creation. The offense became too predictable. A lot of people keep saying Boston shot too many threes. But the real question is not simply whether they shot threes. The real question is whether they made the open ones. And yes, Boston did get some open looks. They just did not make them. Also, if they were not going to shoot threes, then with this roster, who was supposed to consistently attack the paint? Did they really have enough players who could do that? Personally, I don’t think so. The good news is that Boston still has a $27M trade exception and a full non-taxpayer mid-level exception. The good news is also that they still have Brad Stevens, an Executive of the Year winner, running the front office. So after a loss, the better thing is to move forward and look ahead. And don’t be afraid to give credit to the opponent. The 76ers had inside scoring, outside shooting, and their speed was not worse than Boston’s. There is nothing shameful about losing to that kind of team.

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Adam Kaufman@AdamMKaufman·2d

Honestly not sure how anyone could have watched that seven-game series and the first takeaway is “Fire Joe Mazzulla!” This era of Celtics basketball has broken brains.

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·1d

Thank you for pointing out the real issue. First, if you play Queta, he does not provide spacing. If you play Garza or Vucevic, their defense is clearly a problem. And to be fair, Embiid was not bad in this series. Honestly, he was very good. Second, if people think this lineup is already too small, then keeping Anfernee Simons would have made it even smaller. That lineup would have been something like Simons, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Jaylen Brown. Yes, maybe Simons would have added another scorer and shot creator. But in these three straight losses, Boston also missed a lot of open shots. So again, thank you for pointing out the core problem of this team. Especially in a Game 7 where Tatum was not on the floor, the real issue became very clear: Every center on this roster has obvious strengths and weaknesses. The backcourt is already small. But ironically, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard are still two of the most important players on this team. And if Boston wants more lineup flexibility, the key is still Tatum. The interesting part is that he did not play in this game. So this offseason, the obvious question is: Does Boston need to add more help in the frontcourt, or another big wing?

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Marc D'Amico@Marc_DAmico·2d

Celtics fall behind by 11 and Mazzulla goes straight small-ball out off a timeout. Jaylen Brown is their biggest player on the court right now. It's him, Walsh, Scheierman, White and Pritchard.

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·1d

2014 was 12 years ago. It is 2026 now. Of course Vucevic is still a very skilled player. But are we really supposed to use him as the core of the offense at this point? I don’t think so. Second, after he came to Boston, was he ever supposed to be the core? Also no. The Celtics were simply trying to add another offensive option. Queta is not a floor spacer. Garza can shoot, but his outside shooting is not as proven as Vucevic’s. That is just a fact. Scoring is Vucevic’s strength. There is no need to debate that. But Boston’s center position was also being punished in this series. When you are dealing with an MVP-level big man, plus Maxey and VJ attacking matchups, your 5 spot is going to be tested over and over. So yes, I can understand questioning why Vucevic did not play more, or why Garza was used instead. That criticism is fair. But the biggest problem was still that Tatum was injured and unavailable. Without Tatum, this team simply could not reach its best offensive version. Looking ahead, I would love to see Vucevic stay in Boston as a veteran bench leader who can provide shooting and scoring. But if his salary is still around $20 million, I honestly don’t even think Boston will re-sign him. To put it simply: I want Vucevic to be a shooting big and veteran leader off the bench. I do not want to build expectations around his defense. Boston used to have players like Horford or KP for that kind of role. But don’t forget the situation at the start of the season: Tatum was expected to possibly miss the entire year, right?

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Cerrone Battle@Cerrone_Battle·2d

Every season since 2014 Vucevic was a 15/8 center at his worst 23/12 at his best and instead of designing sets around his skillset you bury him on the bench and bench him in game 7. Pretty damn sure Brad didn't trade Simons for Vucevic to sit him on the bench. Joe's seat is on 🔥

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·1d

It is hard for me to understand how anyone can watch this series and still talk only about spacing. Yes, spacing matters. But was this collapse really just a three-point shooting problem? If you put Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Anfernee Simons, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown on the floor, sure, the spacing looks great. You have a lot of scoring. But what about rebounding? What about defense? What about size? Once Tatum returns, we should already know this team has too many backcourt players. Pritchard’s size basically limits him to point guard. Brown and Tatum are both wings / forwards. And between those spots, Boston still has Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and other young players who need development time. Anfernee Simons is a very good scorer. But the concern with him was never just talent. It was salary, roster balance, and fit. After losing, the better thing is to look forward and figure out what comes next. I don’t think it is very meaningful to keep saying, “what if this happened” or “what if that happened.”

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CELTICS ☘️ BANNER 19@BiggLynch·2d

I think we can all agree that this was a bad trade. I was so convinced that having Simons and Tatum together would have been incredible spacing would have made this team much better, but we never got to see it. 💔

Shams Charania@ShamsCharania

BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading center Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick to the Boston Celtics for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN.

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·2d

Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett were clearly outstanding as Toronto’s two main on-ball cores. Ingram was a little less impressive in this series, especially because his shooting efficiency was not great, but his ability to attack matchups is still very valuable. But to me, the key swing player in this series was Collin Murray-Boyles. The key was not just switching. The key was that Toronto’s forward-heavy lineup gave them more defensive flexibility. They could switch when needed, shrink the floor when Cleveland’s shooting was cold, and rotate faster without having a traditional center getting targeted in pick-and-roll. That kind of lineup was a great answer against Cleveland’s pick-and-roll based offense, especially with James Harden and Donovan Mitchell as the main creators. If Toronto had to close with a traditional center, Cleveland could keep trying to attack that matchup with Harden or Mitchell in pick-and-roll. But with Scottie, RJ, and Murray-Boyles on the floor, there was no obvious slow-footed big for Cleveland to hunt. That is why Murray-Boyles was so important. Without him holding up in those no-center lineups, even great scoring games from Scottie Barnes or RJ Barrett might not have been enough. So what I see is this: If Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Murray-Boyles continue to grow, Toronto will have a lot more lineup flexibility going forward. They can play with a traditional center. They can also go forward-heavy, switch more when needed, shrink the floor, and rotate faster. That gives this team a very interesting future.

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Betsey@Betsycashmoney·3d

I'm significantly higher on Toronto's general outlook than I was prior to the start of the playoffs, simply from seeing Scottie be a playoff riser

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·2d

Considering Udoka didn’t fully trust Reed all season, considering this offense once used KD like Houston’s LeBron, considering Sengun often operates from the high post but is not a reliable shooter, and considering Amen Thompson also needs the ball to attack downhill but isn’t a shooter either, I still think Houston’s first need is shooting. Is the priority really another traditional point guard? Or someone who can punish defenses from three when they help off? And that’s before even mentioning the early-season double-big lineups with Steven Adams, another non-shooter. I know Reed has flaws. He still has to grow as a point guard and playmaker. But he is also on a rookie contract, and based on what he gave Houston this season, I think he was already very good. If FVV comes back next season, Houston can have two very different guard styles and more lineup flexibility. But Reed’s shooting still matters a lot for this roster.

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Nathan Grubel@DraftDeeper·2d

Reed Sheppard has great hands as a defender in terms of steals/deflections, and did in college. But that’s not enough of a reason for him to be on the floor in playoff basketball right now. He just isn’t developed as a point guard. When he’s leading a break or working in the halfcourt, he’s not threatening as a passer. So if his shot isn’t falling, you just don’t feel his impact. If Sheppard doesn’t grow as a playmaker, it just gets really murky in terms of playoff viability. He’s a better shooter than what he’s been in the playoffs but everyone goes through slumps. That’s why there has to be more somewhere than just getting some deflections on D.

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·2d

@Bucketsince88 I believe a lot of Nuggets fans saw the same problem too. But no matter what, it’s time to move forward. Now we’ll see how the team, the front office, and the coaching staff handle things next season.

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Prime Time Pete@Bucketsince88·3d

Couldn't have said it better myself. That's what I saw too.

Johnny JJ@Johnny142504

Denver’s season did not end simply because Jamal Murray had a bad game. Yes, Murray struggled badly. Jaden McDaniels basically took him out of rhythm, and Denver needed much more from its second option. But to me, the bigger issue was the coaching staff. Minnesota was missing Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, Ayo Dosunmu and Kyle Anderson, and still eliminated Denver. How? Energy, physicality, second chances, and attacking Denver’s weak defensive structure. The Timberwolves shot only 24.1% from three. And they still won by 12. Why? Because they grabbed 19 offensive rebounds. Denver had only 6. That is the game. That is the series. This was a classic “second-chance points beat you” game. If Denver secures the defensive glass, a lot of those possessions are gone. Instead, Minnesota kept extending possessions, kept attacking the paint, and kept turning hustle into offense. I know many people will blame Murray. I get it. But Denver’s problem was bigger than one cold-shooting guard. Their first line of defense was bad all series. Jaden McDaniels said it before, and he was right. Denver’s defense was vulnerable. Tonight McDaniels scored 32, and Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 24 in a surprise start. That should not happen to a team trying to survive an elimination game. And this is why I am disappointed in Denver’s coaching staff. They never seriously tried a bigger lineup. They never really tried to protect Jokic with another big next to him. Double-big lineups are not dead in today’s NBA. OKC has Chet and Hartenstein. San Antonio has Wembanyama and Kornet. New York can play KAT with Mitchell Robinson. Orlando often has multiple 6’10-plus players on the floor. It does not have to be your main system. But in a series where your first line of defense keeps breaking, Jokic keeps getting pulled into actions, and you are getting destroyed on the glass, you have to at least try something bigger. Denver had options. Jonas Valančiūnas was on the bench. Zeke Nnaji was on the bench. But the Nuggets kept leaning into smaller lineups with wings and guards around Jokic, hoping offense would solve everything. It did not. Minnesota won this game with offensive rebounds, paint pressure, physicality and second chances. Denver lost because it never truly solved the defensive and rebounding problem. Murray was bad. But the bigger failure was Denver’s staff refusing to seriously address the paint. That is why their season is over.

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·2d

Both players have their own strengths. Amen and Sengun are both players who can create for others, just in different ways. Amen is better as a downhill driver and passer. Sengun, often called a “baby Jokic,” is better operating from the high post. He can also draw help in the low post and pass out to shooters. So I don’t think this is simply about saying one is good and the other is bad. The real point is that every player has to keep improving. Even Jokic, as great as he is, still loses games. But does Sengun have Jokic’s outside shooting? Clearly, not yet. And when we talk about Amen’s drive-and-kick game, does he have the same level of rim pressure that MVP Russell Westbrook had? Clearly, not yet either. The ironic thing is that even Westbrook has improved his outside shooting over the last two seasons. So if Amen and Sengun want to be better together, both of them need to improve. They have to work on their three-point shooting this offseason and become more reliable floor spacers. That will make the fit easier for everyone else too. For example, if KD gets double-teamed and one of them punishes the defense by hitting one or two threes, the defense may think twice before sending that double again.

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Paulo Alves@PauloAlvesNBA·3d

Its not that Sengun isnt good Its not that Amen isnt good Its that those 2 cant function together on offense And if I have to choose, I’m choosing Amen every day and twice on Sundays.

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·2d

I don’t think we need to be too harsh on Reed. From the Lakers’ point of view, if you look at Houston’s roster, Reed was probably the first perimeter shooter they had to really respect. His shooting created the most pressure for their defense from the outside. Also, every player has good games and bad games. Even Sengun, an All-Star level player, was terrible in Game 1. So I don’t think it means much to attack Reed over one bad game. What matters more is what he did in Games 3, 4, and 5. He helped Houston win two games, and in Game 3, the Rockets even had a six-point lead late in the fourth quarter. And all of this happened without KD on the floor. That matters. In professional sports, when you lose, you move forward. The better discussion is about what needs to be adjusted next, not just blaming players or attacking the coach. You can criticize, but it is better to give specific solutions. And I have to say this: Reed was already very good this season. Without his second-half performance, I honestly think Udoka’s job would have been in much bigger trouble.

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ᵂᴵᴸᴸ@BiasedHouston·3d

Reed Sheppard just don’t got it today. I’ll cut him some bail as this is his first season getting actual minutes, let alone first time in the playoffs. We are seeing the consequences of giving Reed an inconsistent role all season long. Must be better next season.

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·2d

I’m not too worried about this specific stat. In 2025, even the Warriors broadcast basically called Houston a team full of “Kumingas” — not bad players, but athletic players whose shooting could be left open in a playoff series.And honestly, they were right. That is why the Rockets traded for KD in the offseason. they were right. That is why the Rockets traded for KD in the offseason. This year, KD only played one game in the series. The bigger issue to me is how Udoka used the roster all season and into the playoffs. A lot of media and reporters kept saying that, with this roster, Reed Sheppard should play more. Udoka kept leaning on defense-first logic instead. Reed didn’t play well in today’s elimination game, but without KD on the floor, the Lakers’ defensive attention on the perimeter was obviously going to be much higher on him. If KD is healthy next season, I believe Reed will look much better in that role. And if Fred VanVleet comes back, Houston’s shooting quality and volume should improve too. That said, Sengun and Amen Thompson both need to spend the whole offseason working on their three-point shooting. And for Udoka: double-big lineups can be used, but Capela, Sengun, and Steven Adams are all basically non-shooting bigs. So if Houston uses double-big lineups again, the timing and combinations have to be much more situational. This is the modern NBA. Spacing matters.

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Bradeaux@BradeauxNBA·3d

The Rockets in the last two games they got eliminated from the playoffs from three: 2025: 6/18 (33.3%) 2026: 5/27 (17.9%) Please for the love of god bring some actual three point shooters that shoot with some volume to this roster next season. I am begging.

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·2d

I don’t think Houston’s roster has a huge problem. A lot of people say they need another point guard, but when you already have Reed Sheppard, KD, Sengun, and a team that was the No. 2 seed in the West without KD last season, I’m not sure what the purpose of that point guard is. Bring Chris Paul back to run pick-and-rolls? Maybe it helps, maybe it doesn’t. I’m not sure. To me, Houston’s problem is more simple: Either they had open shots and didn’t make them, or they didn’t create enough good shots. I lean more toward the first one. If the issue is missing open shots, then adding another point guard does not automatically solve that. But I do agree with you on Udoka. I don’t have much confidence in him building a strong offensive system either. When he used KD like Houston’s LeBron, he often had non-shooting bigs like Capela, Steven Adams, or Sengun setting the screen. But he seemed to forget he has Jabari Smith Jr., a 6’11 forward who can shoot better than those bigs and attack faster off the bounce. If he wanted to go back to last season’s style with Sengun operating from the high post, then he needed to trust Reed Sheppard more. If he wanted Amen Thompson to handle the ball more, then spacing became even more important. But too often Amen was on the floor with Sengun plus another big, whether it was Adams or Capela. The ironic part is that by the playoffs, especially Games 4, 5, and 6 against the Lakers, most of the players he actually trusted in the rotation had shooting. So is Houston’s roster really the biggest problem? Outside of injuries, I don’t think so. Adding another point guard may create other problems too — defense, touches, and role balance. We already saw a version of that discussion with KD in Phoenix. Does Tyus Jones, Beal, Booker, and KD automatically make the team better? Not necessarily. To me, Houston’s bigger issue is not the roster. It is how the roster is being used.

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RedNinetyFour@RedNinetyFour·3d

We can pontificate on any number of paths to take personnel wise, but I just think it’s all moot with Ime and Stone at the top. I don’t have any faith that Ime can build a credible offense or that Stone can make the moves at the margins to get us into the elite.

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·2d

I agree that injuries were a factor. But to be fair, the Lakers had injuries too. So in my opinion, the main discussion should not simply be about injuries. To me, the bigger issue was coaching. The Rockets underperformed because Udoka trusted the young players too late, and almost seemed to forget that this team was the No. 2 seed in the West last season. He also kept struggling to find the right balance between defense and offense. For example, he used Okogie early in the series, then moved away from Reed Sheppard in Game 2, then later started Sheppard, and then brought players who were previously out of the rotation back into the lineup. It felt like he was still searching, even deep into the series. To me, that shows the coach did not have a clear enough understanding of his own players’ strengths, roles, and fit. Also, the Rockets with KD and without KD looked like two completely different teams. The ironic part is that KD should fit almost any team. He can play on-ball, off-ball, and finish possessions at an elite level. But Udoka somehow turned him into the Houston version of LeBron. So when I look at this series, I don’t think the biggest gap was the players. I think the biggest gap was coaching.

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Adam Wexler@AdamJWexler·3d

After the #Rockets season-ending, 98-78, game 6 loss, Jabari Smith Jr. was asked what he thinks the team needs to ge over the hump, win a postseason series. “I think every thing is in house. Obviously injuries affected us.” Full answer in video.

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Johnny JJ@Johnny142504·2d

I’ve been paying a lot of attention to you these past two seasons. Your defense is already elite, and when Fred VanVleet was hurt last season, I think Udoka made the right decision by letting you handle the ball more. Your athleticism and explosiveness put real pressure on defenses. When you attack downhill, the defense has to react. But the problem is spacing. Sengun is not a great outside shooter. Udoka also uses double-big lineups a lot, sometimes with non-shooting bigs like Capela or Steven Adams. In that kind of setup, your shooting becomes even more important. Next season, Reed Sheppard and Fred VanVleet will probably handle more of the point guard minutes. Sengun will still operate a lot from the high post. But because Sengun is not a high-level floor spacer, Houston needs more shooting around him. That is just the reality of today’s NBA. Offensive spacing matters a lot. To be direct, your situation is actually similar to Dyson Daniels in Atlanta. You can defend, attack the rim, create pressure, and make plays for teammates. But in a playoff series, defenses will often sag off and dare you to shoot. When that happens, the offense can start to feel like 4-on-5. So this summer, I really hope you work on two things: Corner threes and 45-degree threes. And also a better floater or short touch shot in the paint. If you can improve those two parts of your game, I believe you can become an even better player.

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Adam Wexler@AdamJWexler·3d

I asked Amen Thompson if there was frustration about the team not playing well early in either of his 2 playoff series, each ending in 1st rd exits. (Down 3-1, then 2 straight Ws. Down 3-0, then 2 straight Ws) He closed his response w/ “It’s motivation for sure. I feel like I’m gonna be thinking about this all summer.”

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