How high are your expectations?! Garland just turned 22 and made the all star reserves. He's only in his third year, averaging a very efficient 19/8 on a winning team that's had some bad injuries. I know Garland isn't a superstar yet, but he's playing at a very high level and looks very poised IMO. Green is often compared to Zach Lavine who I think has been very underrated so far, but I actually prefer Garland's play style.
First, Garland is in his third year and not his fourth year. Garland is a nice player but not a star player. If Green is as good as Garland he won’t be a bust but I would be a little disappointed when there were players like Mobley and Barnes available.
In a draft with the talent in the 2021, and picking 2nd, I hope for at least a multi time all star. Green wouldn’t be a bust, but would be below what his expectations were. The 2021 draft had strong talent at the top. If Green is similar to Garland, then the Rockets will have to find someone better to lead the team.
Not trying to be a downer but - are we really calling his last game good? Yes, it wasn’t bad, his shooting efficiency was good - but looking at the stats, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 3 TOS, shooting only 3 FTs (making only 1). i see the potential and am glad about the last game - but I would set the bar for a good game a little higher…
If Green averages 20/5/4 next year, the Rockets will be thrilled. As far as defense goes, it isn’t reasonable to expect him to be a good defender next year… he is physically limited on that side of the ball and he doesn’t have great instincts thus far.
That's true and it's why I never wanted to draft an SG that high. Those types of players are good to have like Beal, Lavine, Booker, CJ, etc but I don't want that as the centerpiece of the team. That's why I wanted Cade or Mobley for sure. But I guess I have to accept the fact that we got our Robin last year and are still looking for our Batman now. If a true SG is gonna be the best player on champion team he has to be an absolutely elite perimeter defender like Kobe or Jordan. And BTW I think Kobe is the most overrated player of all time and absolutely hate his game so telling me he's still on track with Kobe doesn't really make me happy.
Dude, Garland is not much older and he is only going to get better. (2 years are not the world) Your disappointment could not be helped, I guess. Garland also seems to be a smarter bball player, just a little undersized.
100% agree, especially with the atrocious defense on this team, you added another questionable defender who has ways to go.
He is right actually but Giddey is not as talented as the rest. I think Giddey will be a very good player but it remains to be seen if he is a scorer at all. Jury is out on Suggs and Barnes cooled off. I do not think Jalen is as bad as his first 15 games suggested he was but the Houston team always needed someone greater than other mediocre teams because of the rich history of this city. While other middle of the pack teams would be satisfied with a 23/5/5 dude, this franchise needs a legit superstar to lead the team. A superstar that can get you a triple double on any given night. I think KPJ is probably the guy with the stats now. I guess you do not really understand what this team needs IMO. (Kobe Bryant is outdated in this era) (You ask yourself why? Because the FO is tad incompetent and I do not trust it to surround flawed stars with a competitive roster)
I don't really worry when my shooting guard has 1 assist and really 1 rebound. More concerned about the rebound bc that's hustle but it would preclude me from defining a game as good
Kobe is a dinosaur in this age because of his inefficiency from the 3 point land and the way he forces his shots up. Jalen won't be like him, he likely won't have the same Usage rate either. This has been a new era. An era of knowing where to pick your spots and shoot it.
Well even if you don‘t like Kobe - if he turns into him that would be pretty good. Overall, if I draft a SG 2nd overall I want a player, that can get you a basket when you need it. Not a guy, that scores 25ppg - a guy that can carry your team the last 5 minutes of the game or that can turn a bad 3d quarter around. And by carry I mean ideally on both sides of the court - be a pest on defense and create great shots for yourself and others (or hit the tough shots yourself). I believe Green can develope into this player. But until he gets there he either needs to just be a really good scorer or work on his all around game. Right now he is a project - a project that is behind schedule but still has all the potential in the world.
That's nice and all but that kind of player only showed up twice in 75 years. And both times, those guys were borderline sociopathic. Of course everyone would like to have a Jordan or Kobe but you have to understand that those 2 weren't functioning as normal human beings in order to become what they were. I'm not a Jalen hater by any means it's just that I want my star to be a STAR. The kind that the entire team is built around. And for a scoring guard to be that guy, in the entire history of the NBA, the only 2 guys to achieve that have had to work harder than probably anybody else.
No I wouldn’t set the bar this high. There are plenty of guys, that are really clutch. DeRozean comes to mind, Lillard, Doncic and plenty of others. And no, I am not saying he is a failure if he doesn’t manage to achieve those heights - but that would be the goal for me.
Right, but if you know how Siakim would develop, you'd have drafted him 2nd probably, no? Point is that great players don't always start off playing great, and its kinda insane for people to compare Green to Mobley at this point of their careers.
Donovan Mitchell. That’s my over/under bar for the level of player we need Green to become. I’m not saying they are the same type of player or have the same skill set. Rather, I just see Mitchell as a really good player that is a “top notch” starting SG in this league without question. But he is also outside of the top 15-20players in the NBA … not a franchise player, a player to be the alpha on a championship team. At least that’s what it looks like right now. My guess is that 90+ percent of the fans here would take it right now if Green developed into the caliber player that Mitchell is. Me personally, I’m not sure I would. I want a title. I don’t think Mitchell gets you a title. Mitchell could “doom” you to the almost contender status for a decade. If I knew we hit on next years top pick, I’d take it. Mitchell next to a true No1 star works. Since we don’t know how it shakes out yet, I take my chances with how Jalen Green develops. If he exceeds Mitchell somehow, as u likely as that might seem right now, fantastic. If he is Mitchell, hard to complain. If he is below that level, that’s a bust for a No2 pick in a great draft.
There was a quote I remember from somewhere, and I'm sure you probably have heard it too--players like Mitchell can't win you a title as the best player; they only get you close enough to break your heart. But like you said, Mitchell plus someone like Hakeem would be a true title contender without a doubt.
Personally I would be thrilled if he turns into a taller version of Donovan Mitchell. I am not sure, if that gets you a title - but then again, there are very few players that do. And I also don‘t believe, that Mobley, Cade or any of the other rookies turn into one of those players. (Harden hasn‘t won a title, neither has Jokic, Embiid etc.). In todays NBA you need a big 2 or big 3. And three players of Mitchells calibre (at different positions) would net you a pretty good chance at a title…
Is this true? I find it hard to believe anyone was saying to cut the #2 pick who is averaging 14 as a rookie. That said, Green is going to average 20+ once he has more strength and experience, it was always unrealistic to expect that from a rookie.
