Pretty sure Jabari has Roosh blocked on Twitter after what was said last season, but it's nice to see people changing their tune when it pertains to young Shuttlesworth
I'm not a big fan of over-analyzing plays wrt pointing fingers. Like in football, some plays always work, until the defense adjusts. It is conceivable (because it happens all the time) for a well-executed play to be ungaurdable by certain defensive schemes. Fans love to try to find individual blame. But we don't always have to, beyond simply saying it was the wrong defensive scheme, and the coach needs to adjust. in this case, as long as Jabari sets a good screen (instead of Christian Wood ) and the defense doesn’t switch, Green is open, or Jabari is. Like football plays, the Defense must adjust their scheme to stop that.
Ah yes, I forgot, when players suck it always has too be someone else's fault.... brilliant as always.
In this case, for the reasons I stated, it most definitely had a ton to do with how he performed especially in the 1st half of the season. Porter wasn't the only reason, but he certainly had a hand in it. What's hilarious is even if you think he's "better" this year, it would only take a cold streak for you to be right back on the troll train. Great fan as always.
In the last 4 games (2 Preseason and 2 Summer League), all games coached by a real coaching staff with a real point guard, Jabari is 11/24 from 3 shooting 45.8%. All wins. He's also been the best player on the floor in every game.
Yes, another player being on the team was why Smith couldn't hit any open shots or play any defense.... seriously kid, seek help.
All the reasons have been given over and over again. You just do not want to admit that your love affair with the head case has you blinded from reality. Yes a player can affect another's performance. Yes a Coach with a horrible system can do the same. Yes a team clearly tanking can affect them as well. As for your boy, he had a negative effect on the whole damn team. Period. Do you not read? Have you been living in a cave? Move along.
Interesting quote from Green (Pels coach) last night was that the Pelicans didn't have ANY plays for Zion lol. I remember some people laughing and mocking about how Bari having no plays drawn up for him could make him look bad when the same exact thing (for unknown reasons) happens to Zion then Zion also looks bad. Pelicans fans wondering why their best player has no plays drawn up for him. Many of us were saying of course a player is going to look like a role player when you treat him like such. Just goes to show you how much all of this stuff matters. I mean I said that, it's a lot easier to take a shot with confidence if you know its your shot, meant for you to take, encouraged by the whole team vs...you just taking a shot that might not be stamped by the coach. The difference is, other than the hard work he's put in, but the difference is when Bari takes a shot now he knows its coach approved because the play ends with him taking that shot vs him having to think "Should I take this? Is this within the offense?" nope, he knows he's trusted to take and make shots because the coaching staff believes in him to do so. If you took prime Durant and ran no plays for him he'd also look a lot worse than he does. You're basically telling him to be a role player, which sure he could do, but it sure seems like a waste to do that. Rockets are treating 2023-24 Bari like he could be the team's leading offensive option while 2022-23 Bari was just given the role of a 3 and D guy.
The excuses have been made over and over... that doesn't make them valid. Let's hope certain players are actually just good this year so you won't have to make any more excuses and continue to embarrass yourself.
Jabari Smith wasn't taking shots from the corner last year. he took 72 overall from BOTH corners last year (he hit 36%) He took 139 and 117 from the break-to top area - a huge amount, and was 28 and 24%. He took 62 from top/ straight on (41.9%) It's not that hard to check this stuff. https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask?q=jabari+smith+shot+chart+22-23 Also as far as him now (as opposed to then) getting into his "sweet spots" - 2 of his 4 makes last night were corner 3's One was straight on (ish) one was in his cold zone in the break to top. https://www.nba.com/game/hou-vs-nop-0012300031/game-charts?watchRecap=true&awayPlayerShots=1631095
I think Durant would have forced himself into a self creation role like Green did his rookie year. Green was hid in the corner. But because he actually has self creation talent and ball handling skills he can force himself out of that whenever the ball gets to him. Jabari tried that last season but he lost the ball most of the time he tried. Rookie Durant would have easily forced himself into a primary self creator role on this Rockets team as a rookie. I have zero doubts about that. Durant had significantly better handles and agility compared to Jabari entering the league.
Nobody is comparing him to Durant the OG who is a Top 15 Player of All time. What Bari can do is to imitate his game to become the best version of himself. Bari can crack Top 60-100 All time players if he can reach his potential. And that is not imagining him on a true dynasty.
Jabari probably should imitate guys like Aldridge and Bosh more. I'm sorry but KD's handle of the ball and agility are multiple tiers ahead of Jabari when he entered the league. You don't want Jabari emulating Durant"s game. You want him to emulate a player like Bosh.
I don't know. His handle is looking pretty darn good right now. That said, if he lives up to Aldridge or Bosh he's done pretty good. But that turn around jumper and a few of those drives around the defender in the Indiana game is given me KD vibes. Either way, we win.
It's insane to think he actually looked like he had the most bust potential last season...goes to show what a real coach brings to a team. His shot is pure, he's a lot better on the drive and his mid-range turnaround is butter. I'm not sure he'll be quite the same level of scorer as Green could be if he breaks out, but as a two-way star I can definitely see Bari being the leader of the team.
Jabari does not and probably will not play like KD in anyway. KD is some once in a generation talent to be that coordinated at that height. Jabari is a modern day 3 and D player at 6-11 which is also rare.
KD now is not the KD when he was coming into the league. He is much more methodical and not as athletic given his injuries. He is not that quick no more but still getting to his spots. He also blocks more shots, plays more PF, posts up more, facilitates more etc. Jabari will never reach that fluidity and that body control but you can try amirite.
Nice! Take someones opinion on one situation and make it seem like they are referring to every situation where a player played bad to make that one take sound bad. Pretty sure he didn't say whenever any player sucks its someone else's fault. Let me turn this around for a moment, ah that's right when a player does bad it is always there fault. Coaching or the system never impacts players.
