Exactly. Since Smith isn't a ball handler people make the assumption that he can't get his shot anytime he wants. That's not true. As you said, he's very good at getting his own shot off and he shoots a tremendous percentage when he does. As for, Smith vs Mobley and their ceiling, it's not even close. Both are good defensive players. Offensively, it's a mismatch. Smith is an elite shooter and he can get his shot off when guarded. Mobley isn't a good shooter. He's primarily a dunker. Smith shot 41% last year on shots from 24 ft and longer. That's deep range. Mobley gets most all of his points right at the rim. He's not a guy that you can give the ball to at the end of games. Sengun is a better offensive player than Mobley. Mobley's offensive strength is right at the rim. He shot a very nice 75.5% from inside 3 feet last year. From further out, not so nice. From 3 to 10 feet he only shot 38%, from 10 to 16 feet he was at 44.5%, from 16 out to the 3pt line he was 32.6% and from behind the arc he was at 25%. Smith has the possibility of being elite on both sides of the floor. Think a bigger Klay Thompson. Similar style coming into the league. Klay didn't dribble much (famously scoring 60 in a game while only taking 11 dribbles the entire game) and he could use his size against smaller guards to get his shot off. Also factor in that NBA rules highly favor offensive players. No matter how good a defender is, the stud offensive players will still get what they want. Think of Harden dropping a 40 pt triple double on Ben Simmons or even Jalen Green's first 30 pt game last year when he was guarded by the NBA's defensive player of the year Marcus Smart. The rules are stacked toward the offense. I'm anxious to see us run Sengun at the high post with Smith behind the arc. That won't allow teams to have a 2nd big hang back in the paint. KPJ and Green will have all kinds of driving room. There's not a defender in the NBA that can consistently stay in front of Jalen Green. If we can take away that 2nd big at the rim, he's going to be a nightmare for teams. If you teams do sag in, then Smith is going to get a bunch of open looks. Green and Smith pick and pops, there's lots of possibilities...
I agree wholeheartedly with what that dude with the Athletic said about Sengun…his defense just flat out scares me and worries me I could easily see him getting played right off the floor in a playoff setting because he’s getting targeted so much
My choice of Mobley takes absolutely nothing away from Jabari, who is a special player in his own right. (I'm glad he slid to us, perfect fit) It's a testament to Evan, and what I see him becoming.
"Ceiling" is kinda vague lol. Plus it is hard to tell cuz Mobley has 2+ years on Jabari, he is 21 while Jabari just turned 19 and Mobley has had 1 yr of NBA development Jabari hasnt even played on the court. But if we assume everything Jabari does well now carries over than I think Jabari has the higher ceiling: Frame: Jabari has perfect frame for a PF. He has body proportions of Al Horford but moves like Trevor Ariza on the court. He has PF/SF frame and as we can see with guys like Giannis, Al Horford, Lebron, Tatum, players like him have the ideal body type in terms of withstanding wear and tear at the NBA level. Both him and Paolo Banchero should have a long and relatively healthy career in the NBA. Mobley oth has a unique frame he is like a pogo stick or the blow up dummy on the road he is so tall and so thin. While being so thin and light does put a lot less strain on his joints, I think ultimately he is too thin to withstand full time contact like he already missed 11 games last year as a rookie. Defense: Mobley is a defensive savant whether perimeter or paint protection he can do it all. Jabari is only good at perimeter defense he offers a little paint protection but tbh its kinda unwhelming for a guy with his frame and length. Mobley is better on defense but st least on the perimeter Jabari aint far behind. Offense: This is where Mobley falls flat on his face. Jabari is a shooter with undeveloped handles but he is already an ISO scorer and shot maker, a lot of his shots in college were in 1on1 situations with a hand on his face. Mobley needs to be set up and babied on offense like the dude has the same efficiency as Jalen Green, except Green is hitting middies and 3s Mobley is shooting layups and dunks lol. Jabari is also better equipped to handle NBA physicality for a shooter and spacer he attempted more ftas than Mobley who primarily scores in the paint. In terms of ceiling in a perfect world who has the higher ceiling? For me Mobley because Mobley is already amazing on defense, if he can improve his offense then he will be better than Jabari. But who do I think will be the better player? IMO it is Jabari, I'm skeptical Mobley will ever fill out his frame without getting injured. I also like Jabari and his spacing more than Mobley's amazing defense and bad offense. Jabari's shooting and spacing abilities are imo a lot more unique than Mobley's more traditional repertoire. So while I think Mobley's theoretical ceiling is higher, realistically Jabari has a better chance of reaching his ceiling so I chose Jabari.
Jabari has elite shooting, a trait of dominance not found in Mobley. I would take my chance 100% of the time on that type of guy. So Jabari is a no brainer for me, it also depends on the parts on your current team. I feel Jabari fits in so well that it would be almost a negative to have Mobley.
I really like Jabari's defense and I believe Jabari is a better player than Mobley overall. Mobley is a great defender because he moves very well guarding 2-5 and really a solid shot blocker. Jabari can guard 1-5 and is a great perimeter defender and who can block and rebound shots as well. On the offense side, its not even close but Jabari is going to be a great defender in the NBA
I don't understand the point of these threads. Like seriously, why does it even matter? Mobley is his own player with his own strengths and weaknesses. Same applies to Jabari. They have totally different skillset and will be utilized differently by very different teams.
I think all 3 bigs this year will be better than Mobley in the long run. I don't think Mobley has the competitiveness or intensity of the other guys. It's possible he is the Tim Duncan type and the fire is just not as visible, but I don't get that impression. Without that, you got a Karl Anthony-Towns type who has all the skills but doesn't dominate or carry his team to wins. Chet and Mobley are the most similar, but I think Chet may be better at the things Mobley does well. Mobley is very good though and will probably be a fringe all-star for a long time. Also, I like all the talk about how Jabari can't dribble or create his own shot. People were saying the same thing about Jalen early in his rookie season, but he seems to have gotten much more comfortable with the ball in his hands. When you are talking about players so young, you should include YET, because it is impossible to be a finished project before your rookie season. I think Jabari will hear these critics and be even more motivated to prove them wrong. Imagine KD with the intensity and competitiveness of Kobe, KG, or Jimmy Butler. Compared to other wings, Jabari is behind in creating off the bounce. He doesn't deal with help defenders well or double teams yet. But he is 6'10. How many 6'10 players are able to beat a double team off the dribble or get to the rim off isolation against a guard or wing in a half court set? I would say only Banchero in this draft and only KD and Giannis in the NBA. Maybe about 10 NBA guys with that height could iso against a center. It's fair to compare Jabari to wings because he is a wing, but also compare the things he can do well not. His perimeter defense, ability to get his shot off, and shooting are already at the level of elite 3 & D specialists. Jabari's ability to pull up from anywhere off a couple of dribbles is elite. Mostly because he has developed making the toughest shots first. He shot 43 percent on some of the toughest low percentage shots in basketball. I think he will get to over 50% on those tough contested midrange shots. He also will get better at getting to the rim, finding the open man on drives, and getting easier shots.
The answer is probably Mobley, but the fact that there is cause to even question it means that we've got a REALLY good player.
combine the 21'/22' draft (without seeing any play in the league), I think the Rockets' big board probably would be: 1. Cade 2. Jalen 3. Paolo 4. Jabari 5. Chet 6. Mobely 7. Ivey 8. Barnes
Overall, he's a better fit for the Rockets, as they like stretch bigs that can light it up from the arc.
Jumpshots are not great shots just because he can get them off does not make them a good shot. I value offensive diversity more than having a good jump shot, you can take away shots from a good jump shooter, and if the shot is off what do they bring offensively? Name a current player that's an all-star who is so dependent on a jumper that can't create for others and is as poor at the rim?
Mobley is not primarily a dunker its obvious you don't really have a feel for what Mobley is offensively. He averaged almost 3 asst a game so he is a much better playmaker already.
Dirk disagrees. I watched that dude carve out a 2 decade career, two Finals trips and a title by being able to accurately shoot over anyone.
Dirk would not be Dirk in today's NBA he would be played off the floor. And since when is Smith, Dirk? He had far more offensive diversity in his game and was much greater in the post and dribbling. Maybe he does turn into Dirk but that's not him now and I am going by what I have seen him actually do.
Stop it. Dirk would kill the league today too. I mentioned Dirk because you said jumpers are bad shots. Not if you can shoot over everyone and make them. We may have a rare prospect that can do just that. The Dreamshake was a bad shot too ya know. Yes, he should work on his dribbling. He’s 19 and from all accounts lives in the gym.
I never said Jumpers are bad shots but all that is irrelevant because Smith is not like Dirk at all so why bring him up? Are you really now trying to bring up the dream shake? We don't know if he can shoot over everyone and make them at a high or efficient level in the NBA and it would be nice to know if he can do anything else offensivley. I will ask you this if he lives in the gym why is his offensive repertoire so limited? If he lives in the gym why is his dribble package so weak?
The Rockets got Green who is an amazing player. A guy that will be able to score at will and break ankles left and right. I know Banchero is a Webber type guy. And he’d of been great on the Rockets too. But I am seeing Green breakdown defenses and getting the ball to Smith for a plethora of 3 pointers, that will break games wide open. Essentially trading 2’s for 3’s. Center: Sengun PF: J. Smith SF: Eason SG: Green PG: KPJ That lineup has offensive and defensive abilities. With Christopher, TyTy Washington, Garuba, KJ Martin, and Tate. That lineup has the 7 first round picks from this and last year. Plus that line up has KPJ, Tate, and Martin. I think that lineup has a lot of potential. And I would rather have Green than Mobley. So regardless of if Jabari is better than Mobley, I think Jabari is the ultimate compliment to Green.
This is what I responded to: I brought Dirk up because he’s a clear example of a guy where a jumper is a good shot. Akin to a fading jumper being good for this guy we had that could hit them.
