That's what I predict as well. More screen, cuts, dive to rim. Double pin downs, Flare screens, back door passes. I'm salivating when I look at these offensive weapons. Tari is picture perfect in his role as Jabari is in his role. If you watch this video it shows just how vanilla our defense was and how easy our vanilla offense was to be guarded. One guy you see is Tari with LSU.........it's not that Tari was low B.B. I.Q..... It's more like he was operating in a pro like defense. Eason transition defensively is going to be quicker than people realize.
Exactly. It's still too early to tell. But I think it's safe to assume that this team will be built around Green and Smith (unless we get lucky again and get a top pick in the next draft). Everybody else is dispensable. After this season, we are going to use some of our assets to get quality veterans, either star level or high end role players. Sengun is a more rare commodity. I think he will likely stick. KPJ may or may not develop into a good PG. But even if he does, his kind is not hard to replace, if all we need is a decent combo guard as the third or fourth banana.
What if Smith is a dud? What if he is just a slightly more athletic Ryan Anderson? Im still cautiously optimistic regarding Jabari as a star level player.
This is why I said it's still early. Let's give it another season and see how these guys develop. But please don't compare Jabari to Ryno. They are nothing alike other than both can shoot 3s. Anderson was a notoriously bad defensive player. Smith's value is much more than just a shooter. The worst he can be is a 6'10 3&D player. Even if he doesn't develop into a second offensive option, his kind is very valuable every team wants and is hard to come by. On the other hand, the NBA is full of 6'4 athletic combo guards. I've been saying this. IF KPJ turns into a generational player, that's great, and we should keep him at all cost. But that likelihood is very low. Much more likely, if he becomes more efficient, he can be a good combo guard. If he does not fix his efficiency, he will be a below average guard and not worth a large long term contract. Notice I am not brining up his off court issues. I am giving it the benefit of the doubt that he will mature and behave. But honestly you know there's no guarantee and it is hanging on a thin line. And if any bad incident happens again, he may be out of the league in no time. Believe it or not, I am rooting for him. If he can pull it together, he will be an inspiring success story. And I hope that story happens with the Rockets.
Thats all fair. Im thrusting scenarios out there that may not be in good faith in order to make a point. We KNOW what KPJ can do in the NBA and if anything he should only get better with all the work he's put in. Same with Jabari. If he's HIM then with hard work and dedication he should be a difference maker, but he hasnt played a single NBA game yet. Still somewhat of a mystery, but just like with all of our players Im willing to give them the benefit of the doubt as a fan. Painting with a broad stroke in saying "at the very least he should be X" is hasty because we dont really know. If Jabari flames out he wouldnt be the first high pick to do so. Not what I expect to happen, but Im not going to crown him anything yet either he needs to earn it the same way all of these young players are expected to. Similarly do you think THIS is the pinnacle of KPJs career? He wont get any better than this? Saying Ryno = Jabari is not really different from saying "the NBA is full of 6'4 combo guards" is it? Kind of diminishing both players in their own way. Scoot was sandwiched between Lebron and Shai Gilgeous Alexander in terms of assists this year as a "combo" guard. His assists are in the same neighborhood as Steph and Giddey and higher than guys like Brogdon, Smart, Fox, Cade etc... so for me a more noticeable disconnect arrives when trying to amp up a rookie and what to expect from him and yet to look away when another younger NBA player on the team has already demonstrated some upward mobility in his skill set and is looking to take the next step. You didnt bring up his personal demons so I wont bring up the bad roster fit, multiple rookie inclusion and the obvious tank job that went on. Im expecting his scoring to take a noticeable increase and the assists should also continue to trend up ---- why wouldnt they with a better roster around him? Saying you want more efficiency and less off court problems is fine in the very same way that the "fanboys" say they expect a good year from him from the empirical data they've put forth. Just curious that anytime some positive footnote about KPJ gets released that a fine tooth comb goes over it looking for flaws and yet we're all ok with just anointing Jabari our next cornerstone without having played a single minute?
Another day and that extension all his nutcase fans still isn't there. Owning DD's sig for a month will be great. 20 million a year lol. How stupid can you be
They are brain dead and don't want to understand/learn, Verbal. I have a guy telling me recently that Harden wasn't running Point next to Lin/Beverley/Ty Lawson/Prigioni/Jason Terry....and that basically we played Harden at PG in 2017 and was an instant success. So Porter has to be an instant success and uber efficient his first full season (61 games) as well. It's ridiculous, nobody can ramp up to peak years or performance? Nevermind the multitude of years as a bench player with OKC and starting SG slash facilitator with Houston prior to 2017. And then who are they going to replace Porter with.......? TyTy, Scoot Henderson, Josh Christopher? Combo guards that are.......wait for it........less efficient at creating for others than Porter. Makes no sense. Im one of Jalen Greens biggest fans.....but I know Porter is better at running point, distributing and dribbling than Green right now. Can we win with Jalen Green at PG and Mathews/Josh Christopher at the 2.....yes. But Porter can be a force with decent players surrounding him as well. More than Brogdan, Brunson, Anfernee Simmons, Marcus Smart, and many others making about $20 million a year. Now that it looks apparent that Durant/Irving are saying with Nets. It just a matter of will Donavon Mitchell get moved? We might see Eric Gordon/Kenyon moved soon. Maybe an extension for Porter then (minimal or more)?
Wouldn't surprise me if someone like Eason would end up becoming a leader for this team. Green and Jabari are the obvious candidates but there is enough space for a surprise or two.
Its truly fascinating to see this fanbase so divided over a kid who is trending up. I find it hard to believe that a 22 year old is tapped out. Im excited to see him transform. He needs to get better on defense in a team concept and go back to finishing near the rim at a high level. They way he gets reduced among our own fanbase is what is remarkable since most of the basketball community notices the talent and the "most improved player" chatter is there. I expect some more movement right before the season; however; Im starting to think that Stone will allow KPJs play to dictate the contract next season. I think Stone would be fine paying him 20+ per season if he "proves it" so Im eager to see what happens. Over here guys say he may be out of the league after this season!
Pieces of the puzzle should theoretically fit. I hope Jabari is every bit the sniper he has been advertised to go along with a defensive presence this team sorely needs. Along the way if he can pick up a dribble drive and some back to the basket moves he could be a true force in the league.
I would be surprised if Stone pays him. Eric Gordon 23/24 is $20M non guaranteed. Porter money would slide right into that. Eric is aging and on the decline. Porter has the greater ceiling at age 22 moving forward. I'm telling you, the cheaper options are moving Green over, JC, TyTy, Nix or drafting Nick Smith/Scoot Henderson......too tempting for TF/Stone. Lol.
He is actually just the occasional slasher, shooter and vet presence. I doubt you could decline and age rapidly but yes, he shouldn't be counted on heavily as before.. Well, Eric did prove me wrong every season I pegged him as dross.
Does Eric have kids in school? He was going to be moved until he came out and said he wanted to stay. I'm sure he will be dealt this year with that last year non guaranteed. Go to a contender by the deadline. He would join the 76ers if Tilman would allow it. I expect EG to be traded and then find his way to the 76ers just like Tucker did. A round about way.
KPJ is as much of the core as Smith, KPJ has proven to be a above average player in the NBA unlike Smith. Why would KPJ detract from any of those players? Smiths gonna need as many playmakers and scorers around him as possible, at this point he is mainly a 3 and D guy and will not be a high usage guy. Again why would KPJ not compliment any roster, and why are you not asking the same questions of the other 2 especially Green who has a lot of the same skill sets as KPJ and is not as great of a playmaker and is a defensive liability? I have no problem with the question but that question can be asked about every player on the team currently.
Not worried about his shot at all. Think the summer league was more a nerves thing and bad guard play. With KPJ and Jalen slashing and dishing, he'll probably avg 2 or 3 triples a night on kickouts alone. Throw in Sengun's ability to draw the D and hit the open man or all the trailer opportunities he'll have and he's definitely going to feast. I love the optimism.
Simons and Brunson also played with much better players, they played off 2 all NBA type guys. Those guys also have played more NBA games. It's funny how we pick and choose things to bolster the narrative we want.
