Amen Thompson to Bounce Back in Houston Rockets' Second Game

After a poor showing in his debut against the Magic, Amen Thompson and the Houston Rockets are poised to showcase their talents against the Spurs.

In his NBA regular season debut, Amen Thompson's inexperience was displayed during the Houston Rockets season-opening loss to the Orlando Magic. Thompson scored eight points on an abysmal shooting and recorded a plus/minus of -34. 

On the bright side, Thompson never looked discouraged. He shot 3-for-10 and 1-for-7 from deep. That playstyle will bode well for Houston as they take on the San Antonio Spurs Friday night inside the Frost Bank Center.

The Spurs are headlined by Victor Wembanyama, but their anticipated starting lineup of Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Wemby, and Zach Collins does not have a player under 6-foot-5. 

The Spurs are big and lanky. While Wembanyama is able to shut down entire quadrants of the court by himself, his defensive efforts will most likely be focused on Alperen Şengün and Jalen Green, which would give Thompson some easy looks.

Thompson was not afraid to take the ball to the hoop against the Spurs in preseason.  / Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

While the Spurs do not have any bad defenders, they do not employ anyone with the lateral quickness or explosiveness to stop Thompson in transition, and his 6-7 frame and 7-1 wingspan allow him to elevate above any defender (aside from Wembanyama, but come on) and get a clean shot off. Now it’s just a matter of making them.

On the defensive side of the ball, Thompson is yet to flash any of his potential, but the Spurs are once again an optimal target for him to have a breakout game. The Spurs do not have a traditional point guard in the starting lineup, and Tre Jones could receive limited minutes off the bench. That means there will be fewer ball-handling skills, making it easy for Thompson to capitalize on some steals.

Additionally, Thompson’s reach makes hand-offs more difficult at the top of the key, as he can reach past a screener and poke the ball loose, resulting in some extra chaos.

After a demoralizing showcase in his debut against the Magic, Thompson is well-poised to perform as advertised against the Spurs.