I have a hard time seeing Jabari ever breaking down NBA defenses. That’s not even the worst aspect of his playmaking. Sometimes Jabari would be double even triple teamed and instead of passing the ball he would just force a terrible shot. This happened multiple times and it is concerning. If you draft Jabari #1 you are banking on him being your best player. Do you really want your best player to have 0 playmaking ability? How does that make any sense? How is he going to deal with traps and double teams at the next level? Or is the argument really that your top 3 pick will never command a double team because he can’t dribble so it’s fine? Also, a big man shooting 14% of his shots at the rim is very strange. That’s among the lowest of the low for any position. On par with Reggie Bullock coming out of college. Seems rather one dimensional on offense if you ask me. The efficiency concerns though I’m not worried about. He took a high volume of shots and a ton of 3 pointers where he was fantastic. He was just terrible at scoring at the rim. So he’s a guy that stands in the corner? That’s your #1 pick? You better hope his shooting doesn’t regress at the next level. Even the best shooters go through slumps and when he does, what exactly does he do for us on offense? The fact that the number one pick in the draft projects to be a good 3&D guy is frankly bizarre. I’d rather get a guy who can unlock Jalen Green and make him better on offense. I’d rather a guy who can be the man on a championship team. This dude screams role player. We should be drafting for upside. Jabari fans just accept all of these glaring holes because they are indefensible. There are some aspects of Jabari’s game that are inexcusable especially at his size. Who is this brilliant playmaker on the Rockets who will get Jabari consistent looks? And why wasn’t Jabari even listed on those Boxandone stats? Even Paulo was listed on defensive impact. Jabari completely MIA. Interesting.
Important to consider how stacked that Duke team was. There are like 7 NBA guys on that team. 4-5 potential 1st round picks. Paolo excelled in his role but again, he has a lot more in his bag. So does AJ Griffin for that matter. It’s interesting to think what Paolo could have done with more usage on a less stacked team. If the game plan wasn’t to funnel toward Mark Williams how different would his defense look?
I do believe Jabari is very very good on defense but otherwise I’m with you 100%. but for the fact that what he does do good makes his fit so amazing with what the Rockets have already - basically a Christian Wood but won’t make stupid mistakes, try and run a break and actually plays really good defense - I would even pass on him at 3.
Ya this is what i am talking about he been working with NBA players and preparing for the NBA since he was a teen in high school(jalen was the same way working out with Curry during the golden state title runs off seasons).
I do worry about his future based on his weird head. My data from the phrenologist suggests his large head and sloping brow projects him only as a top 10 player or a stage coach driver.
I think as draft day gets closer the Magic will begin to see this. I just dont see how you can draft a player who projects to be a 3 and D role player #1. I'm thinking Magic will come to their senses and draft Paolo #1, Thunder will take Chet and we'll end up with Jabari. Lets say we do get him though, he's a player that needs to be set up. Who's doing that? KPJ? Green? At this point I'm hoping Magic take Jabari #1 and we end up with Paolo. If we end up with Jabari I hope we can get TyTy with the 17 pick.
The thing is, Orlando has a ton of playmakers and high usage players. They just drafted Suggs, they have Fultz, they have Cole, they have Franz. Even WCJ is a good passer at C. That’s a lot of guys who can play on ball. I actually like the fit with Jabari there. I can’t remember where but I heard on a podcast someone talking about how Franz and Jabari could be a better version of Hedo and Rashard Lewis. A Franz, Isaac, Jabari front court would be an amazing defensive front court that can switch on everything. The Magic desperately need shooting as well. Jabari seems like a great fit in Orlando so let’s just keep our mouths shut and let them take him lol. If we were to get Jabari, I’d still be pumped fwiw. He’s still going to be a really, really good player I think. If we got him I really like D-Rocks idea to then trade for Jalen Johnson. Makes too much sense. I swear if I owned a team I would make D-Rock my GM. I’m not as high on TyTy as others. He’s a little too mechanical to me. For a playmaker I’d go with Jalen Williams who would fit extremely well on the Rockets and could address multiple needs if he hits. Also a fan of Kennedy Chandler
Jabari is an ELITE level defender. He will enter the league as one of the best forward defenders out of the gate. Defensive stats are very contextual. For example, it’s entirely possible Banchero was protected in most of his minutes by Mark Williams, and AJ Griffen was not. If you look at Jabari’s advanced defensive stats, he ranks in the 95th+ percentile in nearly every defensive metric. Jabari is also an ELITE shooter. Not good. Not ok. ELITE. Perhaps the best big shooter prospect in the history of draft. There is a reason he’s #1 on most boards. Yes, he has holes in his game…playmaking and finishing at the rim. But he’s starting out as a 19 year old with 2 elite skills. Most scouts are saying there is not a “best player on a championship team” in this draft, so you’re really just hoping whoever you get can be a #2 or #3. Jabari has a pretty clear path to that. Banchero has grown on me. I can see a path to stardom because his defense is workable and he MIGHT have 1 elite skill…playmaking. MIGHT. And while that probably is the most valuable skill any player can have, it is also the most rare. We will see. I’ll be excited either way, but if we were at #1, there’s no way I’m passing on Jabari.
this is all super fair. it’s hard to watch the Celtics and not envision JG/Paolo as they’re Tatum/Brown. One would expect the relationship the be switched though with JG as the #1 option for the Rockets and Tatum as the #2… but it’s easy to see them as almost 1a and 1b - you can envision Paolo as almost if not Tatum esque at his peak and JG as definitely better than Brown. There’s a lot of work around that needed. Every other player on that Celtics squad is super competent on both sides of the floor. But as a first step towards that. With Jabari… it feels more like Tatum and Horford… still need your Jaylen. Now, if Paolo ain’t it and you can get Jabari and you have the 2023 “awesome “ draft to add… that’s not bad, not bad at all.
Not only is defense a skill but it is a CRITICAL skill, especially in the playoffs. DEFENSE MATTERS!!!
And yet Jabari is #1 on more team boards than Banchero. Either you guys are the smart ones with your eye tests or the consensus of NBA GMs with their film study, scouts and analytics are the dumb ones.
Or conversely, how much worse would his defense look. And that Duke team had a ton of spacing on offense. Spacing is critical for a player that doesn't have an elite first step like Paolo, especially because iso is big part of his game.
I see Jabari a 6'10 Klay. In other words, a super 3&D guy. I don't think he will ever be the first offensive option on a championship team. But he has a very good chance of being the best defensive player and a very good second or third option on a contender.
Man if you told me right now that Banchero can be a bonafide engine on a conference finals or finals level team, I’d take it without a second thought. That skill is THAT valuable, and it gives you staying power. Look at Harden, Lebron, Luka…teams that have that kind of playmaker stay good for a long time. But also consider how rare it is for a player to reach that level. That’s what you’re of asking of Banchero. I think he could be that, but it’s not a given. Both Luka and Harden went 3rd overall, and in some way, it seems fitting that Banchero should go 3rd as well.
That's what I think. Green can create his own shot. With Green as our first option, we won't play like the Harden-centric Rockets or the Doncic-centric Mavs. We will have more quick movement and attack.
Actually now that you mention it theres a good chance Paolo could have been worse on defense. Kind of goes without saying Mark Williams and others helped his defensive rating. Still, I’d be curious to see him in a different defense. Spacing is a whole different animal at the NBA level and I truly believe Paolo will excel in the NBA more so than in college. I really feel like his high school tape is closer to what we’ll see. That’s assuming of course he reaches his potential.
