Amen Thompson is making impact no other point guard can match

With their win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Houston Rockets have now climbed to a 10-3 record, and, although there are still some wrinkles to be ironed out, they appear to have already configured their offense to be one of the most potent in the league.

What is most impressive is that, with the loss of starting point guard Fred VanVleet, every single one of the team's rotation players have had to acclimate to new roles this season. According to Tim MacMahon on Wednesday's episode of The Hoop Collective, this development may be turning Amen Thompson into one of the most impactful point guards in the league:

"They've got point guard who is an elite offensive rebounder, and that point guard, a lot of times, will bring the ball up, get them in their stuff, and relocate to that dunker spot where is a problem as a finisher and as a rebounder."

Tim MacMahon

Amen Thompson is a non-traditional point guard, and that is perfect for the Rockets

When VanVleet went down for the season, many had justifiable concerns about the team's lack of backcourt depth. While Thompson is a capable playmaker, he does not have much experience playing the position. Yet, given the nature of the injury and the makeup of their roster, Houston had no choice but to give Thompson the reins.

So far, he has impressed. Through his first 13 games, he is averaging 5.3 assists per 36 minutes on the court, well above his 4.3 mark and even approaching VanVleet's 5.7 from last season. He's also gotten much better at limiting turnovers as the season has progressed.

Yet, his greatest value comes in his ability as a cutter, finisher and offensive rebounder, granting the team a flexibility that is rare in the NBA.

Although Thompson's offensive rebounding percentage only sits at 6.3%, which would be the lowest of his career to this point, it still puts him in the top-ten at the guard position, and one would only imagine that this number will continue to increase as he becomes more comfortable in the dual role he has shouldered.

While it might not be in the way that most would expect a point guard to impact a game, Thompson, as long as he is still free to roam in the area of the court in which he is most comfortable, provides something that almost no other point guards can, making the Rockets' offensive versatility even more overwhelming.