Yeah, more players improve their 3pt shooting over their careers than players who improve their FT shooting. Bad FT shooting usually signals bad shooting muscle memory. Improving 3pt shot is a matter of practicing. I've said it before. A good shooter usually don't just forget how to shoot and becomes a bad shooter the rest of his career. Jabari has been a good shooter since his high school days. Of course, if he doesn't bounce back his second season, then I'll give up on him.
So basically, if your team drafted Nowitzki or Durant, you'd be the guy saying they're more likely to flame out than be all time greats because that happens way more often right?
that right there puts things in perspective of how awful he’s actually been. Id imagine if you would give a back up C whose sole purpose was defense 30mpg and featured him on offense 15+shots would be the only way to get someone to play as bad as Jabari has been playing. Trade him in the offseason before it’s too late, because he’s clearly heading the Thomas Robinson path.
That's not a bad faith argument. J Sizzle specifically asked for examples of players playing/shooting poorly as rookies and eventually becoming top 30/40 players. Easy simply brought up some. If someone asks for an instance in NBA history of a rookie averaging less than 2ppg and eventually becoming an all-star and I answered Andrew Bynum that's not a bad faith argument. I'm simply answering the question. I wouldn't have used Durant in J Sizzle's question because Durant didn't play poorly at all and actually won ROY. Easy didn't try to imply that Jabari was destined for HOF greatness like Nowitski or Durant, or even that a turnaround was likely. He even said that if Jabari shoots poorly again next season then he'll pronounce him a bust, he's just not ready to make that call right now.
The problem with trying extrapolate a way to determine if Jabari will or won't be a great player is lack of sample size. Basically every one of the 30 greatest NBA players of all time was some kind of unicorn. The probability of any single Top 5, Top 10 or 1st round pick making that list is already small and unlikely before any of them ever play a NBA game. You will never have large enough sample size to create a single metric/stat or matrix of metrics/stats to definitely determine if Jabari, Green, or Sengun, will or won't become a star or a great player this early into their careers. Because eventually there will be or there already has been a star who breaks that rule. Also making these decisions are not in a vacuum. All you can do is compare the probability of one of those guys become a star versus other players you can put on the roster via draft or FA. If any of those 3 have a slightly higher percentage to becoming that guy than most of the other options, you have to take the chance. Because there are only ever a handful of that level of players in the league at time, and you generally need that caliber of player to win a title. Everyone is acting like Green, Jabari and Sengun are like 25-26 yo, with 4-5 years experience, and on high paid contracts. It is way too early to making any of these kinds of judgements.
True but up until about 2 weeks ago, his form was damn near perfect fundamentally. I'm not a professional shooting coach or anything but I played enough to be coached on your shooting form. There's very little you'd want fundamentally from what he gave you as a package.... other than actually MAKING the shots. Then for some reason about 2 weeks ago I noticed as other have two that he now has a hitch in his shot where its coming off the side of his hand a bit more. Back before that though you'd look at him shoot the ball and it would be inexplicable to see his shooting percentage. 9 times out of 10 if you have someone that has that good of a stroke from a fundamental standpoint, they are going to shoot a good percentage if they are getting shots in rhythm and not well guarded. What's happening with Jabari is just really odd, and I don't think anyone should be clowned for thinking this is not a top 3 prospect if you have a machine that builds a prospect to do what you'd what Jabari to do.... but humans are humans, and alot of the time what happens between the ears makes all the difference in the world.
The funny thing is, many teams in year FOUR are often still at this evaluation phase with prospects with similar results, and often those teams actually offer huge extensions to players like Jalen, or Sengun (Jabari... the same size is still too low, and production is too low). But with Jalen, and Sengun, offering this production in year 4 are often getting huge extensions. Is it "way too early"... well not necessarily, but we do have at least 1 more year with Jalen, and Sengun. With Jabari we have probably 2 more seasons before we absolutely have to make a decision on him before trading him. All three of these guys were drafted very young which makes it seem like we are having to make a judgement way too fast. We don't have to make a judgement this Summer infinitely, but judgement day is coming sooner rather than later which is why I might not be shocked if at least 1 of the 3 are part of a trade this Summer. Surprised but not shocked. I won't even be surprised if the Rockets sign Harden, and move one of them in order to get another vet. All this is a big reason why Clutch and others keep stressing on Rocketswatch, etc. that these are actually very important games for Jabari, and co.
It's WEIRD spending this much energy defending Jabari Smith of all people. It's so weird some of you have resorted to saying Durant played bad in his rookie season. Dude was AMAZING in his rookie season for a rookie, he just shot badly from 3. Comparing Jabari Smith's rookie season to Kevin Durant LOL smh We are all basically praying he defies all statistical odds and somehow turns into a good player on this horribly-run organization.
One thing people should remember here is the scouts are more often right than wrong. I might look for the numbers on this later but basically... The further you go down a draft the less likely there is a chance someone turns into an all-star player. Basically, the Butlers and Manu's are very much exceptions to the rule here. Jabari has a better chance at being a good player than the 30th pick in the draft, despite his slow start.
If these guys are still offering this level of play, why would they net huge extensions? If anything the extensions should be a discount even if the team think there is still promise. I would agree that all these games are big for all of them, but the issue is whether they learn from these games or not. I think we forget how hard it can be to correct fundamental issues midseason due to the grind. More often in season improvements are more the process panned out, not normally because they changed the process. I would be kind of stunned if they did this. Yes this team needs veteran players and presence, but I'm not sure Harden's play at the contract he would want fits that mold.
Well, draft position does matter, I'm not sure why people think it doesn't and yes, that is hyperbole. Jimmy Davis was a pick for example that had a bit of hype and the guy has barely played and when he does it hasn't been pretty. Again too, I don't care that Tari is better than the Jabari, this is irrelevant to me. The claim was that Jabari is the worst player on the team. He isn't. Stop trying to change it to "Tari is better than Jabari." Ok. cool. That's not the claim you were making.
Well there's a bunch of guys, especially at 19, that were having bad rookie seasons. We've named Dirk and Kobe and others but guys like Jermaine oneal, Tmac, Giannis, and I'm sure that list goes on. I think some of yall get too stuck on the 3rd pick thing and ignore the 19 year old thing, that's a BIG variable. Most 19 year olds struggle mightily in the NBA. If he's still doing this year 2? Concern shoots up... If he starts doing this year 3? You are basically considering cutting bait if you can at this point. But right now I imagine Jabari has a lot more on his mind than shooting off the court sure but on the court. I think it should be a big positive that he's still claimed to be a hard worker and that he HAS improved his handle a lot this year. He went from not being able to put it on the floor at all to being able to sometimes get to the rim. The other day, against the Nuggets was it? He actually crossed someone over, yes missed the layup, but no one had Jabari slashing to the rim like that at the start of the year.
Nope, Darko didn't even make the rising stars game, (Like other busts) I doubt he would have been on the rookie ladder. Like the things people take for granted around here the true busts don't get. Jabari doesn't HAVE to play 30 mins a night, he didn't have to show up on a rookie ladder, he didn't have to get picked for the rising stars. The reason he has been is because he actually hasn't been 'the worst' anything..well, worst shooter on the team I guess.
