The Rockets offense struggled mightily in Game 1 in opposition to the Lakers because of Amen Thompson’s apparent weaknesses. The Lakers had been in a position to sag off him and make life tougher for his teammates with out going through repercussions due to Thompson’s restricted vary. It’s solely been one sport in the collection, however the query is beginning to creep up: Can Amen Thompson play successful playoff basketball along with his offensive limitations?
The Rockets might want to overcome Thompson’s weaknesses
Thompson ended up with 17 factors in the sport however shot simply 7-of-18 from the discipline. He was a whole non-factor on the perimeter, and even missed loads of appears inside the paint. By the finish of the sport, the Rockets had been higher off giving the ball to his less heralded teammates as a substitute.
But it wasn’t simply Thompson’s personal scoring struggles that harm the Rockets. As a crew, they shot simply 38% from the discipline, and Thompson’s presence was a serious purpose why. When he did not have the ball, the Lakers had been in a position to assist off him and put extra stress on Houston’s major actions.
The solely place the place Thompson was handled as a menace with out the ball was at the dunker spot proper subsequent to the rim. But the Lakers’ lengthy rim protectors had been in a position to disrupt his teammates and contest his pictures at the rim concurrently. It’s laborious to get any offense going when the protection has such a evident weak point to take advantage of, and much more so when they’re missing their best scorer in Kevin Durant.
But Thompson’s strengths as a defender and ball-handler are too nice for the Rockets to maintain him off the flooring. He can nonetheless ignite some offense for the crew by forcing misses and turnovers, or driving to the rim instantly. He did rating some powerful buckets in isolation utilizing his distinctive deal with and fast athleticism.
Houston has a problem with out a simple answer
Putting Thompson in positions to succeed offensively isn’t any small process, particularly in opposition to an intense playoff protection. Allowing him to deal with the ball extra is usually a partial answer, however nonetheless provides defenses the choice to pack the paint. Another repair may very well be a deeper structural change by surrounding him with extra shooters.
The Rockets’ solely high-volume 3-point shooters in Game 1 had been Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr. Neither shot an outstanding proportion, though they had been each respectable: 5-of-14 for Sheppard and 3-of-9 for Smith. If the Rockets can proceed to get potent capturing from these two and return Kevin Durant to the lineup, Thompson can discover avenues to assault once more.
After all, Houston was rolling offensively with Thompson not too long ago previous to Durant’s harm. KD’s unimaginable scoring gravity may very well be the answer by itself, however the Rockets and Thompson must adapt in his absence.
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