I discuss the potential depth chart for the 2023/2024 #houstonrockets, and Coach Udoka’s views on players not being handed their roles based on draft status. #nba #podcast
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Link to Kelly Iko’s article:https://theathletic.com/4661647/2023/07/03/rockets-fred-vanvleet-dillion-brooks-roster/?source=emp_shared_article
Intro and outro music mix by: @djcandlestick8603
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Players discussed include Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Kenyon Martin Jr., Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jock Landale, Jeff Green, Ime Udoka
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46 Comments
Let us your depth charts!!
So basically there is no meritocracy and all that talk about meritocracy is a bunch of BS. If Tari all plays Dillon Brooks they will still play Brooks more minutes cuz he's a veteran and cuz they paid him.
No shooter and a center who can shoot outside plus a shotbloker brook lopez is a perfect fit for that but they overpaid for brooks memphis dont want him anymore and spurs is the only one who want him why pay him 20 million per year for 4 yrs his value is 12 million a year
And Alpi is the best medicine for Jokic. Last year Alpi was the best defender for Jokic. With better defenders in the squad and more emphasis on defense, he will make a difference this year.
STARTERS
Fred VanVleet, Kevin Porter Jr., Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun
2nd ROTATION
Amen Thompson, Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason, Jock Landale
FILL-INS, PLUG N' PLAY
Jeff Green, Jae'Sean Tate, Alpha Kaba, Boban Marjanovic
Like you, I think there's going to be some competition at the two-guard spot; except I think KPJ might win out in the short term.
I honestly don't see any reason to play Jae'Sean. I think Cam is better than Jae'Sean in every metric besides experience. I see Cam coming in as a small forward before Jae'Sean, and I don't see Udoka putting Jae'Sean at the 4 because he's undersized. I actually see Jeff Green coming in at the 3 or 4 spot before Jae'Sean does.
Regarding Jae'Sean Tate’s measurements as a power forward, he’s about the same size and length as Draymond Green.
My lineup goes:
PF: JSJ, Eason, JeGreen
SF: Brooks, Tate, Whitmore
C: Sengun, Landale
SG: JaGreen, KPJ
PG: VanVleet, Thompson
For me is tari eason better Player then jabari or dillon. His energy in defense, rebounding and i find he is a good offensiv player then jabari and dillon
Agree with your current lineup. I think Tari, tate, uncle jeff, and possibly even cam are all interchangeable in that backup 3-5 spot.
But in 2025… Starters should be Amen, Jalen, Tari, Bari, and Sengun. I think fvv is traded in the off-season before his 3rd year to make room for an Amen extension around training camp. I think kpj has the potential to do what harden did and flip an extremely productive 6th man role into a max guy on another team. Possibly to join a scoot Henderson or Anthony black. And I think the rockets bench will include brook OR cam(not both) and some other guys not currently on the team now.
I just don't see KPJ coming off the bench. He'll probably be the starting 3 with brooks being our 6th man
Amazing video loved the ending too. GL to KJ and Josh
Why is Brooks an exception? He was a -15 in the playoffs and was basically banished from a team that is a contender? If he starts acting up or now think he's our Ja Morant on offense please bench him. I also wouldn't be mad at Tari getting some small ball 4 mins over Tate. Also maybe I'm the only one but I think Cam is gonna be great. I love Tari but I feel like Cam will be better.
I agree with your depth chart
Tate didn’t improve his shooting at all and that second unit would be really be lacking shooting.
I like Tari but imo I can see Cam taking over Tari by year two. Like I can see Cam being a sharp shooter and great defender. So it’s all good bc they’ll be fighting over that spot. That internal Competition will bring the best in them.
Hi Chop! thank you for one more great video as usual. I like both of you guys depth chart, even thought I slightly favor yours. A couple of days back, I was a little bit disappointed and confused but right now Im really excited for next season.
I think our team is young but very talented and promisiong. I expect them to strugle the first half of the season but start to click in the sencond half.
I don't think tate getting burn as a big under ime belive tate gone get some perimeter get offs just from watching udoka styles but this was another one 1⃣ great video ppreciate the content cause for htown making all the dope moves TV gave us no air play
KPJ can absolutely start over Jalen. As of today he is better then Jalen at every facet of the game except for driving and the gap on driving isn’t that wide since KPJ knows how to manipulate his defender when he drives… I think people are in for a huge surprise this coming season.
I have the same starters, but I have Tari at the PF and Cam at the SF in the 2nd unit. I know Cam will only be 19 his rookie season, but he already has a NBA body, so those guys usually can have some success earlier. His body type is like Jimmy Butler, Jaylen Brown, and Miles Bridges. They all played decent mins their rookie seasons. I can see him avg 7.5ppg off the bench in about 15 mpg. Remember he was projected to be a top 7 pick, most of those guys play early and often…so just bc he fell into our hands at #20, I don’t think we should treat him like a true late 1st rd prospect by benching him or sending to G-League unnecessarily. Hopefully, Ime let’s Cam, Tari, and Dillon truly battle for that starting job. Amen is more of a project and needs to come off the bench, but I don’t think the gap is that big between Dillon, Cam, and Tari.
$40M a year to play the BENCH🤔🤔🤔
I think cam could be better than Tari if he can. Get his iso scoring
Hear me out. Udoka is a two way believer. He plays smart IQ, defensively sound, and smart offensive players. Following that narrative I personally believe KPJ knocks out Green for the starting spot. I think Jalen is the one thats squeezed out in 2 to 3 years being disgruntled because he cant get that defensive thing down. I also believe Cams gonna come along faster than what yall think.
I have my starting 5 for the first part of 2023-24 season is:
1. Freddy
2. Jalen
3. Brooks
4. Bari
5. Alp
bench
1. Amen
2. KPJ
3. Cam
4. Tari
5. Jock
by all-star break its gonna be looking more like.
1. FVV
2. KPJ
3. Brooks
4. Bari
5. Alp
bench
6. Amen
7. Tate
8. Cam
9. Tari
10. Jock/Cauley Stein.
Uncle jeff only will come out if hes needed.
I really believe Jalen begins falling off because yes he can get 30 three or 4 times a season but he doesnt have a bag of handles to get by defenders that can stay in front of his quick first step. B. Hes a poor finisher around the rim. most of the time jumping into someone hoping they call a foul. and C. His defense at both levels is atrocious borderline nonsensical. which Udoka will not like. I think we trade Jalen off a request in 2 years. 😢
I think Cam comes along quicker and just does the dirty all over Jalens birthday party. 😂
The rockets are going to shock everyone at how great they are.
Im gonna say this now. Barring injury/illness I think its a cinderella year for us and we go like 55 and 27 come in 2 in the west. Almost beat the nuggies in 7 (4-3).
udoka gets coach of the year.
KPJ gets most improved
tari, cam and brooks get all defense 1st and 2nd teams
ROTY Cam Whitmore
Tate gets 6th man award.
Jalen gets disgruntled requesting a trade at the end of the bench.😮
Great video. But dang the outro music would be worth it in its own right.
The same starting 5.
2nd unit.. Amen,Kpj,TATE, EASON(7ft+wingspan) and Landale!
Idk why people don’t put EASON at backup 4 and have Tate at backup 3‼️🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀
Your BUGGING Cam Whitmore is SPECIAL and he’s only 18!! I too like Eason but I think he’ll be more valuable with KPJ with 2nd unit and bring defense and I see KPJ being here for awhile! He’s already paid and being a 6th man is nothing to sneeze at
ESP if he’s getting 30+ mins and closing out games! Also he we start a lot of games we play 3 guard lineups‼️
I’d like to see cam at the back up 3 and Eason at the back up 4.. Tate does nothing for me
I think Tate is an Ime type of player. Tate has a lot of skill rebounding playmaking Silas actually used him as back up PG sometimes (lol). I think Tate is going to look nice under Ime and with a defined hierarchy in place.
D.HOWARD RETURN FOR OUR CENTER..
Great show bro. Very interesting analysis . CSG hold it down
I liked the outro.
Man i really wanted to keep kj. Tate could've been gone.
I'm glad there's no expectations for Jock over Sengun but there isn't much in it statwise and for whatever reason Jock had the 2nd best +- in both regular season and playoffs at Suns.
Great show as usual👍🏼
Frank dropping the heat. Rockets and Csg up next.🚀
I need the Sengun poking the bottom lip out after dunking on somebody in that thumbnail picture! 🚀
I love our moves so far.swinging for the fences
I see KPJ floating between the 2 and the 3 and Tari floating between the 3 and the 4 most nights. They should each wind up with around 22-24 minutes per game off the bench, with Amen getting about 18 minutes as a rookie. I see Tate and Green as different look/situational third unit guys who should see limited minutes on some nights and will come off the bench to fill in for injuries. Whitmore will probably start the season in the G-League unless he blows everyone away leading into the season.
Agree with your bench unit.. I like uncle Jeff!
Cant wait for this season. Love your content bro
Why Jalen's and Jabari's development is a certain thing but Alperen's is a 'we will see' ? Among these 3, Alpi showed more development than any other. I am especially worried for Jalen. If he really gonna be the STAR, he need to show periods of greatness; not just once in a month game.
Great video as always.
Al P has an advantage in the young core (specially JG). He was in competition all his (young) career, and so he grabbed things by himself even in Silas era. If he keeps this determination and hard working there's no reason to not keep his spot in the Rockets depth chart.
The beauty of Tate is that he can basically play 1 through 4 and do what you need. He'll probably play a lot of different roles this year, slotting in when one of the young guys gets benched by Udoka.
Bro, your takes remain most on point in Rockets media. I agree with Kelly's lineup this year with the exception of Tari behind Jabari and Tate at 3. I can see lineups where Porter is in at 3 at times.
As for the lineup in 2025, my hope is Amen-Jalen-Tari-Jabari-Sengun. Anything beyond that is up in the air. If that lineup is the actual then, that almost guarantees they all panned out and we're in the contender mix. I've seen enough from Sengun, Jalen and Jabari to see their floors as solid starters. I'm stoked. 🤘🏽
🚀
Rip big pokey #713
Bol Bol is available. Lets get him!
I agree with your lineup
There will be chaos with the Rockets this season now that Dillion Brooks and his $80 million dollar contract have landed. You know he is going to feigning for the ball and trying to be the go-to guy on the team even though he isn't. The young guys like Jalen, Keyon,, Porter, and the new addition Amen aren't going to put Brooks in their faces. I guess VanVleet will assume the floor general position and try to keep everyone on the same page… Good Luck Houstn!
Congrats on the new camera set up,😂