Just how good is he as a defender? I haven't watched him play that much since he's been in the Least. He's been very bad at finishing at the rim this season, for whatever that means. Even worse than Jalen. Here is that same list with 2P% subbed in (still ordered from best 3P shooter to worst) Lonnie Walker - 52.4% on 4.3 attempts Aaron Nesmith - 56.4% on 3.7 attempts Isaiah Joe - 54.3% on 1.7 attempts Gary Trent Jr - 43.9% on 4.6 attempts Malik Monk - 48.4% on 5.3 attempts Ayo Dosunmu - 55.2% on 4.1 attempts Quentin Grimes - 43.9% on 2.6 attempts De'Anthony Melton - 43.7% on 4.1 attempts Ayo is one that jumps out at me as an excellent roleplayer, since he has a very good defensive reputation and he's been reasonably efficient on all three levels this season. Don't know if I see star potential given he's not elite in any category and doesn't have all that much usage--but maybe Cam ends up filling that role for us anyway.
Getting over the "Jalen Green sucks now" conversations - I find this whole situation incredibly strange. I get that Jalen was never a particularly efficient player but I mean he has regressed in so many ways year over year and that is just not a normal thing. It kind of ranks up there with Markelle Fultz forgetting how to score after a back injury - these things don't happen this dramatically every day to top 5 picks. I mean it's almost one thing for him to be a bust from the very first game but he had some special scoring nights he can only dream about now. I don't get it - what's going with him besides the "he sucks now" narrative?
I agree it's a strange trajectory, he doesn't appear to have any major off-the-court problems or injuries going on--guys normally get better, not worse, at his age. I can only speculate as to the causes, but I guess he only practiced on-ball ISO scoring skills and now he's being asked to actually play defense and play off the ball or run PnRs, and it's too much for him and too far outside his comfort zone.
I believe you made a good point earlier in the season about him needing to be in a different/wide open offense (paraphrasing)...It seems he's a square peg being jammed into a round hole here. The guy's thinking waaaay too much out there...on both sides of the ball. Change of scenery would probably do him wonders...a rebuilding team. The Rockets have grown and left him in the dust. He hurts us in too many ways right now. As heavy handed as I've been with JG (since we drafted him), I could see him growing, and really thriving eventually with the right team. That's why I think he's more valuable on the market than many folks realize. (the #2 pick thing factored in also)
Yeah - my hope at the time was he would adjust but that doesn't seem to be happening. The point I was making earlier in the season is that Udoka's offense is about making quick reads and being ready once you have the ball to either pass, make a move, or shoot. Everyone not named Sengun or FVV are being asked to play that way. The problem with Jalen is he has spent the last two seasons getting the ball and probing the defense to find a seem or catch a player out of position and that's the entirety of his offensive production but now he gets the ball and he has to be ready - and often times he isn't. He isn't in a consistent shooting position(so his set shots aren't close), he isn't paying attention to the defense when he doesn't have the ball so he makes poor reads once the ball makes it's way to him and he's often getting the ball poked away while he is trying to make those reads in real time because his handles aren't very tight. I think he looks better when he can "dance" with a defender but that's very explicitly NOT how Udoka wants anyone to play on this roster....it's a tough situation.
A few months ago, I think the Rockets could have gotten a full bag of used condoms for Jalen Green, now.....well, they might still be able to get half of that bag of used condoms for him.
Can we stop the excuses acting like Ime’s offense is holding Jalen back? no offense is magically gonna make u a competent shooter or finisher in traffic…those are fundamental skill issues
He has two major problems, he is too thin to finish and he shoots off script 3’s. When he takes threes within the flow of the offense he’s not that bad. I think that’s why Ime keeps saying he needs to improve his decision making. He definitely needs to work on these skills off the bench at no more than 20 minutes a night.
I think it just boils down to his lack of confidence and winning mentality. That’s something you have or you don’t…and it’s super underrated. If you are soft mentally you’re never gonna be a star. Stars are wired differently. It’s a big part of evaluating prospects. And it’s so lacking with Jalen. Add the fact that he was full of bad habits and lacked important fundamentals…those first two years reenforcing bad habits in a loser environment that breeds a looser mentality…it was the perfect storm. But without that hard nosed mentality Jalen was never gonna deliver on the promise of his talent.
I am actually cool with that, there are enough talents that did not even make it to the NBA........ It is just life. I am just advising not to be obsessed about any single player again.....
Your not referring to my post are you? I'm definitely not making excuses for Jalen - I plainly lay blame on Jalen for where he is falling short in Ime's offense.
Like others my assumption is that he plays his best box scores in an unstructured YMCA scenario. Ime is pushing a lot of responsibilities and reads and he is not used to using his brain.
It will be interesting because KPJ plays the same way, just shooting a tad better and more in rhythm.
Everyone reacts to pressure differently. Some folks excel, some do not. Despite the results, I think Jalen wants to play well. Be a better player. Maybe too much. I will guess that Jalen puts immense pressure on himself. So much so, that its having the opposite effect of the one desired. Thinking too much and playing tight. Trying to make things happen rather than let the game come to him. Jabari had this problem early on, but has managed to get past it. Jalen has not. If I am right, Jalen may have a future in the NBA after all because this is something that is likely to correct itself, eventually.
That’s it, exactly! comparisons to year 1 & 2 are pointless. That was exhibition basketball, this is competitive basketball. These are different sports. The guy wilts under competitive pressure as we suspected based on his personality. Absolutely nothing strange here, @glimmertwins
I don't believe in moving Green for marginal improvement. Grimes who seems to be the current en vogue trade proposal on CF..... like why would the Knicks do that in the first place? I would imagine it would be need to be a three team trade or we'd have to attach additional assets. People are too emotional about Green. He sucks right now but we don't have to panic and cut bait this season for something marginal. Ime has shown that he is fluid with his roster and minutes (maybe not fluid for folks that like constant changes) so I trust him to manage Green's minutes.
