Nook…. You are consistently one of the most balanced persons on this board as far as analysis. I always enjoy and generally agree.
Udoka has handled that very well, he never came out and said it was Green's team but he has given him Top 3 minutes among starters..... He also benched him accordingly and galvanized him into action. Everyone could see that Sengün was the catalyst and best guy on the team for most part. Udoka did not need to emphasize any of that. It came naturally..... Whoever is hot from the group of Jabari, Jalen Green, FVV, Dillon, Uncle, Holiday will get more touches on any given night. (Context: Any player defends.. Fred is primary playmaker, Green, Tate, Holiday are secondary playmakers.....etc... Dillon is doing it on both ends)
It doesn't really help Jalen if we limit his ceiling in our minds... Why is it wrong for us to call him "Young Kobe" or "Young Jordan"? Everybody is calling this lousy foreigner as Baby Jokic??? Does this other guy really deserve to be called that? Hypocrisy is my number one hate.
If you want to view him as a young Kobe or young Jordan, you have that right obviously - but I suspect you will be let down. Ceilings for me are reasonable ceilings - 90% outcomes. There are always outliers. As for Green being a baby Jordan - when MJ was Green's age, he was a rookie and averaged 28/7/5/2.5/1 a game.... I don't think that it is remotely fair to put those type of expectations on Jalen Green. As for Sengun - he has warts to his game like all young players, but he is actually 6 months younger than Green, and he is currently putting up 21/9/6/1/1. Jokic at the same age as Sengun was putting 17/10/5/1/1.... so Sengun has arguably been as good as Jokic at the same age. Having said that - Sengun isn't the same as Jokic. He isn't as big and strong as Jokic and Jokic is the best passer in the NBA.
Last season, Green scored more given the opportunity at the same age...I think it's fair to at least call him Baby Kobe, which isn't even a high bar for him to clear. That blitzkrieg first step makes all the difference. Kobe, if they were the same age, wouldn't even be able to dance around the rim the way Jalen does. I respect how you feel about him, though.
I respect how you feel as well - and I hope you are right. I just personally see an all star shooting guard, but not a Hall of Famer.
Jalen doesn't need handles...he's lightning fast. Why are you not satisfied with everything Jalen has to offer?
Yeah, how dare us fans expect players to work on their craft, get better and earn those millions.....silly ****ing us..... DD
I have nothing against expectations to work and get better. I have something against calling players a bust that clearly have talent, are still very young, and suffered career malpractice under the coaching of Silas. The season is not even 20 games in yet for our young Rockets. Extreme takes such as calling Green a bust given all the circumstances makes anyone look as stupid as all the Sengun haters did the last couple years and the beginning of this season. Let's not be clowns people, plenty of those digging in right now and looking more stupid by the day on Sengun.
Yeah, those ceilings are unrealistic. I do think Green has some athletic ability like his leaping and hang time that is reminiscent of MJ but athleticism isn't nearly all you need to be on the level of him or Kobe.
Yeah - there is no doubt that Green in some ways is as good an athlete as Jordan, and I would argue is actually a better athlete than Kobe in some ways. There is just a lot that goes into being a basketball player. Do I think that someday Green can score like Donovan Mitchell? Yeah - I think there is a chance at that. Is it likely? No, but it is like a 25% outcome so it isn't entirely far fetched.
In my opinion, stats can be a little bit irrelevant when Jalen has that superstar vibe and style. When he is on the court, there is a sense that this guy is the franchise and this guy is a superstar in the making.
Ok, no one said BUST....i certainly didn't......my expectations for the number 2 pick in his 3rd NBA season and 4th as a professional are clearly higher than most..... DD
