Giannis. Lebron. He will absolutely catch some bodies using his size, but he can be blocked at the hole fairly easily with long mobile defenders too.
B Personally I don’t think either of those 2 ‘blow by’ their defender. They use a combo of muscling and 1st/2nd step to get by. I think we’re at just different definitions of ‘blow by’. I think like Jalen Green when I hear ‘blow by’. Giannis and Lebron more get into the body of the defender I think. I guess we’re deviating from the point about Paolo though. I’m not saying he will be able to get to the rim like Giannis or Lebron will, I have no idea. But if I’m not mistaken he was fairly good at it in college right? I would argue Paolo’s handle is tighter than Giannis’ which should benefit him.
This video shows some elite handling for a big guy, great footwork, good shooting (still a little hitch) but also shows him missing point blank dunks around 1:45 mark. Good build up hops, not explosive.
totally agree. I lean jabari #1 because if I'm picking a second or third best player, I want a guy who's game best fits that role. chet may not have the creation to fit that role, and paolo may not be efficient enough or have the defense to stay on the floor in the playoffs. BUT both chet and paolo have higher upside for sure, just lower floors. that being said, I think the margin between them is razor thin and the only reason anyone would have a strong preference either way all depends on what skillset you find most valuable for roster construction. I will say this, as I warm up to the idea of paolo, for him to be a star he only needs to build on skills he already has to become elite somewhere, rather than building skills in from the ground up.
Paolo has a solid first step but you don’t see him get by many people quickly. You see it with jab steps, footwork and handling. But a lot of times it’s off pivot jumpers.
yeah that's the risk. you never know 5 years later how you'd rank them, but if you're picking top 5 I think the hope is the guy is worth a max extension judging by one metric or another. I think all 4 guys from this year will get there. I like the webber and blake comparisons based on their skillset, but both were A+ athletes out of the draft making them clear cut Tier 1 guys. paolo isn't that, but he's got the same combination of skills as them. in today's nba he'll be given the freedom to play more point which is why I like the odom comparison as well. as you said, either way we're talking about a max contract guy who fits (offensively at least) with jalen really well.
I actually think he's gonna slip to #3 at this point with Orlando and OKC doing with PHX/SAC did in the Doncic draft. Saw some people comparing Holmgren to Luka saying people were doing the same thing and passing on talent like they did that year. But the biggest issue with Chet to me is that he just has never looked truly dominant. He's almost a little Shaedon Sharpe-y to me. Have yet to see a game where he popped off the screen and that worries me. Jabari is the one that I just dont get. I understand what makes him tantalizing but it's almost like taking Scottie Barnes with the #1 overall pick. 3 and D role player type that can't dribble and isn't terribly athletic in the half court. I think most Rockets fans who have reservations about Banchero are coming from Sengun/KPJ overlap (frankly I think Magic and Thunder fans are doing the same with Fultz and Giddey). Feels like everyone's drafting for "fit" instead of BPA. Kinda like they did with Luka.
The thing with Smith is how good a shooter he projects to be. Most 3 and D guys just shoot "well enough" to allow their defense to play. Smith should be a close to elite shooter, and not just standstill uncontested 3's. To say all he does is shoot is underselling just how valuable his shooting could be. People are drafting for fit, this is true. The best fit in the modern NBA is mobile, switchable, long players who will stretch the floor and be great defensively no matter the matchup. 2 appear to match that profile, one does not.
Thats fair and understandable. But you need a bucket getter first and foremost. If you don't have one of these players: Steph - Lebron (?) - Tatum - Luka - Giannis - Trae - Embiid - Kawhi - Morant You're not sniffing a title. Of those players, 2 are elite two way players. Three are passable defenders. The rest are average or downright bad. Know what they all have in common? They can break down the defense. They can penetrate. And they can all put the ball on the floor. Can Jabari or Chet be in this group? Maybe for Chet. I've seen flashes but I think Jiggy is right in some of his assessments that the kid just doesn't really demand the ball to flex those skills. He might be a guy who's just satisfied with his potential instead of offensive production. With Paolo the Rockets would have *two* of those guys. Jalen makes the Rockets situation so much easier because he's absolutely in that next tier of guys (Ant and Cade) that can become title level first options. That being said I think Paolo would be the leader of the young crew the minute he shows up. He just has that air about him. Jabari is a pros pro (kinda like EGo). Shows up, does his job amazingly. I've soured on Chet alot post combine. He talks too much and hasn't much to show for the bark.
For sure. It’s not a knock on Paolo, he has the skill set to be effective and enough athleticism to not be at a disadvantage. I’m just trying to temper these Lebron comparisons. Lebron might be the most explosive, athletic and skilled player at that size of all time.
Yeah, I wasn’t cutting Paolo either, just tempering expectations on the unstoppable offensive bs some people are commenting on. In the right situation he is a Tatum type option. Lebron is unstoppable, Tatum is not. I like Jabari better, not necessarily because of fit, but because of his defense which almost certainly going to be elite. His jump shot is almost unstoppable much like Durant, even without the superior handles. Orlando is the perfect fit for Banchero and he might average 25 for them. With Jalen and KPJ, Banchero’s greatest asset is split 3 ways.
Just wondering how does Sengun stack up vs Banchero? I feel like at the end of the day the Rox will be choosing one over the other just cuz both those guys can't be the front court, they are too short and offer no perimeter defense and shotblocking. Everyone says Banchero's biggest strength is his creation and playmaking skills, well the same thing is true for Sengun as well, in fact if you look at his rookie highlight he had some crazy passes, it's just the coach didn't utilize him as the lead playmaker enough and allow KPJ and Green to dominate the ball. I feel like if the Rox think Sengun is good enough, they can trade down with the Pistons and select somebody else as well (Duren and Eason/Dyson Daniels?) OTH, if they llike Banchero more they should trade Sengun to either PIstons, NO or OKC and draft Jalen Duren or Mark Williams. Sengun and Green fit and Banchero and Green fit but I don't think a trio of Sengun, Green and Banchero is gonna accomplish anything. We didn't see a lot of this but I do believe Sengun can play 4 full time. And that should also be his best position in the NBA cuz 6'9 is way too short to be a center to begin with. He is good enough to be the primary facilitator and his handles are strong enough to drive coast to coast. Add his elite post scoring and you got the making of a mini Jokic if given the opportunity IMO. This is Sengun playmaking in the NBA. Not the NCAA vs a bunch of college kids...the freaking NBA:
I don’t think having three (or more) scorers in the lineup together is a bad thing. A lot of teams run with three guys who can create and score. But I don’t even think scoring is Banchero’s best asset.
Banchero is good in transition but is more a half court player. Holmgren excels in transition. Better rebounder so more grab and go opportunities. And just as good or better outlet passer due to his ability to see over everyone on the floor as 7 footer. And as skinny as he is just a better more physical finisher than Banchero or Smith.
It’s definitely between Chet and Paolo to me. I don’t understand those in Jabari land. He screams best 3&D guy in the league… which admittedly is a very high floor … but at #1 or 2?? idgaf… hope Orlando takes Jabari.
Who is the current best 3&D guy in the league? Klay, Kawhi, or Embiid? Either way worth a #1 pick. Jabari is far ahead of where those guys were as NBA rookies and the first 2 didn't even leave college as freshmen. He is farther along at a younger age than all of them. He actually is a year younger than Chet and 6 months younger than Paolo. The biggest thing about Jabari is how his game improved through the year in all the aspects of his game. This is what shows how incredible his potential is, while he may already be the best pure shooter and best perimeter defender in the draft. Also, the son of an NBA PF/C I think he will have some future in the post as well. Also 42% from 3 on 5+ attempts is crazy. Paolo is good too, but between their strengths, if I had to pick I would take the guy with the elite shooting over elite shot creation for fitting this team and most others needs. For their weaknesses, I think Jabari has a better chance of getting to Paolo's level of strength and shot creating off the dribble/finishing at the rim than Paolo has of getting to Jabari's level of perimeter D and shooting. Chet concerns me a little. I think people thinking he will gain weight or strength are naive, because he doesn't look like he has in the last year. But even without weight I think Chet can have an impact, he just will never be a PF or a C.
