Jalen is more replaceable than Bari at this point. Finding tall bigs that switch and can shoot the three is like a premium in this league, one goes in the top 5 every year for this reason. Even if he doesn't get better (although honestly he's been getting better too) just being a stretch big and being able to switch reliably on defense means he's going to forever be overpaid in this league. Jalen right now is a fringe all-star SG, all you need from his spot is someone that can shoot the three and defend, which is easier to find at his height than Jabari. Jalen only raises his value is if he becomes a dynamic slasher ala Ja Morant or Westbrook in his prime, or if he becomes a true combo guard ala Harden in his prime and the latter I can never see him becoming but the guy is great at driving just doesn't do enough of it unfortunately. Right now, he's replaceable, not that I want to replace him mind you. I'm rocking with this core right now, don't see a reason to trade anyone unless its for a young superstar (like Ja Morant lol) but right now he's the most replaceable young guy we have. Tari is one of the best defenders in the NBA. Hard to replace. Amen is a unicorn type player where if he even gets an average shot he could become elite. Sengun is a low post jokic lite big. You can name the good low post bigs on one hand. Jabari is a stretch switchable big, more common, but you have to overpay one to have one on your team. Jalen right now is just a guy that can score and he does play good defense but if you replaced Jalen with a spot up dead eye shooter? Like if you replaced Jalen with Demond Bane would the team get worse? I don't think so. Might even get better considering Bane is a better 3 point shooter (at least career wise he's sucking this year) and this is not a knock on him. Bane is a great player, like unless you have Edwards or Donovan or Brown or something you're not complaining with Bane being your starting SG. Right now Jalen still has that magical P world going for him, potential. He's 22, so you hope it clicks. All the guy has to do is get more aggressive and drive more instead of settle too much. That's the next level for him.
Okay yeah, his best self is worthwhile something. I just don't like him blaming Sengun on Defense and him being arse on Offense and Alpe being nice and all passing to his arse. He is overrated and a loud idiot. Dyson Daniels plays much better now than this son of a gun. Jabari never heard of high stocks numbers.
Can you explain to us how you took 2 guys shooting 33% for their careers on 3's with Jalen having FIFTY PERCENT more volume, and you decided one can shoot and the other can't? That's before taking into consideration the degree of difficulty on Jalen's 3's is far higher. Jalen is undoubtedly the better shooter of the 2 at this point in their careers. I understand if you're personally optimistic about one over the other, that's fair. I, too, think Jabari will end up the better shooter. However, you can't then describe it as though one already is a good shooter and the other isn't "at this point". As for Jalen, he does need to get to the rim more, but that goes against everything the coach seems to say. In fact I watch every single Udoka post game and I don't think he's ever said Green should be more aggressive going to the rim. He's said at least half a dozen times that Green should not attack a crowded paint and he's comfortable Green taking as many of these "good shot" 3's that are coming to him. I know the Jaters have heard this and are ignoring it. So while me and you want him to get to the rim more, it certainly sounds like he would be going against the coach. If you crowd the paint and don't want him attacking a crowded paint, then he's not going to drive much. When his 3 is not falling, he'll go to the atrocious middy. He's in a position now where he has to do what he is least good at in order to keep the coach happy - and this is absurd. Udoka keeps playing him and starting him despite this maddening shot selection. We need him to get to the line more. He likes attacking the rim. Obviously, space the floor for him. Either Green forces it as superstar scorers do or you space the paint for him, there is no team that's going to give him that shot just because we showed up. If I'm Green, I'm betting on myself and forcing it to be honest. I'd rather show I can get FT's, hit the occasional 3 and play excellent defense, that's worth $35m per season. That's a net positive. Udoka can't bench him for that without looking foolish. If Udoka doesn't like it, we do what's best for us and trade Green. Would suck, but at the end of the day being consistent with a mediocre plan is better than being inconsistent with a great plan.
The issue is that Jalen is one of the bigger reasons why there's no space. If he can't shoot, there won't be lanes for him.... and we all know what happens when he forces it, he's essentially just praying for a whistle to bail him out as he gets blocked or misses. During his fluke hot shooting streak last season we saw what happens when he can make shots... so we know what needs to happen.... Jalen just isn't good enough right now to do it.
Jaters: "Im getting sick and gawd dang tired of Jalen losing us games" Normie Fan : "We are the 6th best team in the NBA right now" Jalen "Stan": He's shooting bad, but helping in other areas Jaters:
Jalen needs to play with pace and this team is the antithesis of that. You can't put him in situations where he has to outsmart his defender. He can't do it. He needs to be downhill all the time and the way this team is set up doesn't exactly conduce much of that unless the Terror Twins are in. This contract looks like it was designed for a potential pivot and it's looking more and more likely.
Yeah, except they can’t pivot until next summer. Hopefully, Jalen learns to shoot 3 pointers. You can’t force your way to the rim if the other team clogs the paint consistently. We desperately need Jabari and Sengun to be consistently good and willing 3 pt shooters if we want Jalen to drive and live on the FT line. The only other option is for Jalen to become a good 3 point shooter, like it or not.
Jalen can't finish at the rim, struggles to finish through contact, can't shoot 3s, can't shoot mid range, can't shoot floaters, can't create in the half court. He's an SG that can't SG. Stone gave him the contract and he continues to be more of the same. He's the worst player in net rating outside of our rookie and our injured backup center. At this point I don't even get mad at Jalen anymore. If he's on, leave him in. If he's not, we have alternatives. Luckily he had a little heater when Sengun's brain was still in Turkey. At this point the focus should be on other players that do seem to be making progress. When Jalen has a good game we can put it on the refrigerator for everyone to see.
I agree that is Jalen right now. He is 22 and just like Jabari, the Rockets aren’t going to give up on him based on 15 games to start a season. I, for one, have advocated for Jalen insurance for 2 years. Unfortunately, the Rockets hitched their wagon to Jalen until next summer with the unnecessary extension. I’d like them to add a Brogdon or Herro and do just what you said. If Jalen is cooking, let him cook. If not, put a reasonable replacement in for him. Another way is to just bench him and let Amen and FVV be your starting backcourt and bring him off the bench to play against 2nd teamers, who he could probably get some reasonable separation from.
We’re winning so no need to discuss team weaknesses or have worries about the future. We’re winning so we’re all good.
I don’t see the P word anymore. I certainly don’t think he’s a fringe all star. His numbers don’t show that and his game is pretty weak. He may eventually get better but at $36 mil per he has to actually start playing well. I’m completely out on Jalen and I think the contract extension was a very bad mistake. I pray we can move on this offseason without having to attach positive assets to ditch Jalen. I’m done with the coddling.
One thing I had not thought about is that extending Green makes him tradeable in the offseason to teams with 1st/2nd apron issues (i.e., can't do sign and trades). If the goal is Booker this offseason, extending Green was the only way Green could be in that deal.
