James Ennis 2018-2019 Season Outlook

[chaiway 415]

New Hou Gunner? Harden + CP3 + MDA can make guys look good. Latest RedBull?

 

Seems like the starting SF in an explosive MDA run Offense that has lost its wings (Ariza and LMAM).

Efficient role player that will hopefully thrive in a bigger role -

2017-2018, 22 min/gm, 7/3/1 on 47.4%/83.6% with 0.7/0.7/0.3 (3/stl/blk)

 

having a great preseason

25 min/gm, 11.2/4.4/0.2 on 58% (over 50% every game) with 1.8 stls (4 games w 2, 1 with 1)

 

Could be sneaky in 3s, Stls, efficiency

[CORTEz 870]

Drafted him with my last pick for this very reason.

 

He averaged 16.0 PPG / 4 REB / 2 AST and almost 3 3PM per game in a small sample size in 15-16 season with NO...Really hasn't been given a shot like that (in terms of getting 30 minutes a game) since then.

 

My "hope", is that he will fall directly into Trevor Ariza's role, and get 30 MPG. I think if that happens, he could be a Top-100 steal considering his T/O will likely be under or around 1.0.

 

This season's STAT predition: (with the BOLD being the important categories.

 

44.0 FG%, 78.0 FT%, 2.1 3PM, 12.5 PPG, 3.0 REB, 1.5 AST, 1.1 SPG, 0.2 BLK, 1.1 T/O

[chaiway 415]

36 minutes ago, CORTEz said:

Drafted him with my last pick for this very reason.

 

He averaged 16.0 PPG / 4 REB / 2 AST and almost 3 3PM per game in a small sample size in 15-16 season with NO...Really hasn't been given a shot like that (in terms of getting 30 minutes a game) since then.

 

My "hope", is that he will fall directly into Trevor Ariza's role, and get 30 MPG. I think if that happens, he could be a Top-100 steal considering his T/O will likely be under or around 1.0.

 

This season's STAT predition: (with the BOLD being the important categories.

 

44.0 FG%, 78.0 FT%, 2.1 3PM, 12.5 PPG, 3.0 REB, 1.5 AST, 1.1 SPG, 0.2 BLK, 1.1 T/O

 

Thanks for the prediction and agreed that his value will be tied to 3s, Stls and FG%.

I think he can do better on the Steals with how active he's been on D.

 

For reference, Ariza was easy top 100 due to 2.5 3s and 1.5 stls in 33min/g w/ houston last year on pretty crappy fg%. 

[fabrar 1,477]

He could be a sneaky good late round pick. He'll get a good burn being the main wing defender and might be a solid source of 3s and steals. I'd just keep an eye on him for now though. 

[DoctorLove 244]

Has Ennis secured the starting job?

[flippy 563]

courtney lee stats last season is what im hoping for him.

[hornrimmed_rambis 1,171]

58 minutes ago, DoctorLove said:

Has Ennis secured the starting job?

 

I'm looking very hard at this lineup, and don't see many options at the 3. They have career rollercoaster Gerald Green backing up the 3, then Melo and PJ Tucker at the 4. Neither one of them can come down at this stage in their careers to 3. They have Eric Gordon backing up at SG, and he COULD go up in some smallball lineups. But there's no reason to as long as Ennis hits open 3s, which he does.

 

So by default, he should start. He also goes up to 4 in smallball lineups.

 

Then, there's this, in today's Houston Chronicle: "How forward James Ennis earned his spot in Rockets’ starting lineup"

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/How-forward-James-Ennis-earned-his-spot-in-13308713.php

 

Here's a quote from that article.

Quote

The impact on opposing transition defenses has been so evident, Ennis is not adjusting to Harden and Paul as much as they are to him.

“I think he does an unbelievable job of running and playing at his own pace,” Harden said. “I just have to adapt to it. We love his pace, him able to get out and run the wings. He knows the more times he does that, the more opportunities he’ll get and we’ll get as a team when you have him and guys like Clint (Capela) running. It’s great for our basketball club to get out and put that pressure on defenses in transition.

 

You can't make up a more perfect scenario.

 

 

[CORTEz 870]

Yeah, I can't see how Ennis didn't at least do 1, if not both of these things:

 

1. Secure the starting SF position in HOU.

 

or

 

2. Secure at least 25-30 MPG....

 

My guess is that he secured both, and that it will be Gerald Green subbing in for him....Melo at the 4, with Tucker subbing in for him when they need to play defense.

[markus85 159]

Haha, you guys are really selling this to me here..

 

What kind of minutes and lines are we thinking?

[DoctorLove 244]

Whew, @hornrimmed_rambis... you got me wanting to drop olynyk, McGee, or even josh hart for this guy.

[Kamura 375]

Damn man looking at his preseason numbers he's a legit 3 and D guy. If the steals are real he is basically ariza

[CORTEz 870]

24 minutes ago, markus85 said:

Haha, you guys are really selling this to me here..

 

What kind of minutes and lines are we thinking?

 

10 minutes ago, DoctorLove said:

Whew, @hornrimmed_rambis... you got me wanting to drop olynyk, McGee, or even josh hart for this guy.

 

If he starts and gets 30 MPG, I think we'll be seeing lines like this....(steals might end up being a little more too)

 

44.0 FG%, 78.0 FT%, 2.1 3PM, 12.5 PPG, 3.0 REB, 1.5 AST, 1.1 SPG, 0.2 BLK, 1.1 T/O

[hornrimmed_rambis 1,171]

19 minutes ago, DoctorLove said:

Whew, @hornrimmed_rambis... you got me wanting to drop olynyk, McGee, or even josh hart for this guy.

 

You're welcome. This is my role on the forum, apparently. Everyone has a role to play.

 

You guys have to read the whole article, which goes into D'Antoni's thinking coming in to the season, evolution, and current thinking. Summary:

 

1) Started camp thinking Gordon would slide up to starting SF in a full time smallball lineup.

2) Then saw Ennis play, and quickly got convinced his hustle on D made more sense alongside the old Harden/Paul. Makes sense. Leaves Gordon as 6th man.

3) Also notes that Ennis had 56% shooting on 3s in the preseason.

4) Also notes that Ennis can slide up to the 4, with Tucker at the 5, in super-smallball lineups.

5) Finally, the quote: "Ennis is not adjusting to Harden and Paul as much as they are to him."

 

[hornrimmed_rambis 1,171]

26 minutes ago, DoctorLove said:

Whew, @hornrimmed_rambis... you got me wanting to drop olynyk, McGee, or even josh hart for this guy.

 

Yes, I'm in favor of dropping Hart for Ennis. KCP is not going to just roll over and die.

[tongs 1,316]

Interesting. I'd love to see him morph into a younger Ariza, though less boards and steals. Looking like Hezonja is a good drop for him.

 

[CFN 1,484]

19 minutes ago, tongs said:

Interesting. I'd love to see him morph into a younger Ariza, though less boards and steals. Looking like Hezonja is a good drop for him.

 

 

I wouldn't drop Hezonja yet.

[Kriggly 261]

I wouldn't drop anyone you value for him.  He's going to be a defensive specialist, and will cede minutes to Eric Gordon and Melo to a certain extent.  If you just need a couple 3s and a steal from an end of bench guy then rip away.  But he's the 5th option in the starting 5 after Tucker and will most likely be out scored by both Eric Gordon and Melo.  

[Soafanforlife 366]

11 minutes ago, Kriggly said:

I wouldn't drop anyone you value for him.  He's going to be a defensive specialist, and will cede minutes to Eric Gordon and Melo to a certain extent.  If you just need a couple 3s and a steal from an end of bench guy then rip away.  But he's the 5th option in the starting 5 after Tucker and will most likely be out scored by both Eric Gordon and Melo.  

 

... so the same exact role Ariza has had the last 3 years...?

[hipriest69 816]

Anyone who steps foot on the court for the Rockets has value.  Hell I even streamed Nene a couple of times last year.  

[Kriggly 261]

1 minute ago, Soafanforlife said:

 

... so the same exact role Ariza has had the last 3 years...?

I think he'll get less shots and rebounds than Ariza per minute, and less counting stats total considering Ariza averaged more than 33 minutes every season over the last 5 seasons.  Ariza also was their 4th/5th option most nights offensively behind Eric Gordon essentially tied with Gerald Green, not their 7th.  

[XOrad10 1,126]

 

 Lets see what happens. Will he fulfill Ariza role? 

[DoctorLove 244]

18 minutes ago, XOrad10 said:

 

 Lets see what happens. Will he fulfill Ariza role? 

I’m watching very closely 

[hoopking 160]

ehh i think tucker is the guy to own?

[DoctorLove 244]

Seems that way. 

 

Thinking about an add

[chaiway 415]

first real game, the whole team seemed disjointed. 25 mins, 7 shots, 2 of 5 from three but very little else and only 1 steal.

May want to give him a little more time to see if he can get a few more shots and turn his activity into peripheral #s.