“More than any player I can I can think of off the top of my head, I’ve never seen somebody make mistakes and then make good plays out of the same possession quite like Tari,” Rockets’ summer league head coach Rick Higgins said. “As we start to get his mistakes to creep down and down and down, we’re gonna see even more of the great plays shine.” Was reading a post somewhere to the effect that on defense everything looks like an opportunity to him, because to him with his defensive skillset and strength many more things ARE opportunities than would be the case for most players -- he doesn't pick his defensive battles he just goes for it EVERY TIME. It doesn't ALWAYS work out for him so sometimes it looks like low IQ, but it's not as low IQ as it looks because he's that good on defense... interesting theory, anyway, I thought. So, perhaps that, plus some reckless decision-making on offense at times in college?
Tari Eason is going to be the heart and soul of this team. We’re going to look back in a few years and realize that the 2022 draft was the turning point for our franchise. Idk… he just gives me Kawhi/Draymond/PJ Tucker vibes.
Moving on from Wood and replacing him with Eason and Smith Jr is a huge culture shift. It gives Green the keys to the franchise and adds two guys who I would consider intelligent basketball players. One thing I like about Sengun and Green is that they do not typically force bad shots. They will pass the ball if they can't beat their man. Jabari Smith Jr and Eason have shown the same caliber of basketball in Summer League. The Rockets are absolutely on the come up here. I wouldn't mind one more bad year if it lands Wemby or Henderson to top off the rebuild.
You're looking at it wrong. Rockets play great and Brooklyn sucks and gets the first pick in the draft
I can see the bball IQ things - you can tell he is very instinctual out there and he hunts the ball a lot so I worry about him losing good shooters on the perimeter when trying to help but hopefully he can balance just a bit more discipline to those instincts - ironically Jabari seems almost the opposite in terms of being much more disciplined of a player so maybe they will influence each other. Offensively - he’s not going to be the focal point on this team - if he just hits open shots and runs the floor he’s going to get 15 points a night as a starter(eventually) without having to create any offense on this team - that may limit some of the low bball IQ talk on the offensive side of the ball but it also may limit Silas’ dream offense if Tari isn’t a reliable passer. I see these as all workable things though - start working on the form of his shot so he has a higher release point(means he is going to miss more shots than he makes for a while), work with him on his disciple to the system on both sides of the ball, and place him in spots where you can rely on him on the offensive side and where he can wreak maximum havoc on the defensive side. I’m almost inclined to say match him up against the other team’s worst player to allow him to roam as a defender.
Eason returned to Garfield for his senior season as Roy came back following a one-year break.[1] He led his team to a 3A state title, recording 21 points and 14 rebounds against Paolo Banchero and O'Dea High School in the final, and received tournament MVP.[3][4]
Agreed that Tari is like an additional lottery pick for the rockets. Best part is how perfect a fit he is here. I originally liked him at the 4 next to Sengun but like him even more as an interchangeable piece with Smith along the front line. The future is bright if Fertitta will pony up to keep these kids together.
For once, I actually think CF is underrating an impressive Rockets rookie. This kid brings a lot of qualities/attributes that we need now, and nobody else on the roster can bring. Besides being big, athletic and instinctive, his motor is elite-elite, he actually seeks out contact, has a capable J, and might be our best rebounder from Day-1. All the "solid future role-player for us" predictions are lowballing this kid's potential. I think he's going to be one of our centerpieces going forward, especially since Jalen and Sengun are offensive-focused and Jabari, while being a 2-way guy, isn't half as physical or aggressive as Tari. He's gonna be the backbone of our young core. Assuming he keeps developing his handle and J, watch out. I see star upside.
My impression, from the minutes I’ve watched so far, is that Eason has navigated the court more intelligently than Smith. Good defensive anticipation and offensive motion.
I'd say they are both "smart" when it comes to defensive positioning. Offensively, hard to tell with all the Josh Christopher ballhogging and G Leaguers tripping over each other.
LOL, yeah. Watching Smith on this summer league squad, his offensive play has given major vibes of “What exactly is my role here.” Don’t know how many games we’ll win in this summer session, but we’re on our way to the ultimate goal of getting Christopher a better contract.
The rooks in general have put the sophs to shame in terms of BBIQ on both ends My least favorite part of SL so far (besides Garuba injury) has been grinding thru the terrible shot selection of Josh & Nix possession after possession I like TyTy's upside as a playmaker FAR more already For me, he already has the inside track to KPJ's main backup minutes Bari & Tari have been everything as advertised Basically anti-CWood As many have mentioned already, the culture change of this young core will be traced back to this offseason with exchange of 2 maniacal competitors for guys more worried about themselves
IIRC, he did terribly in the interviews and film sessions during the draft. Maybe that’s how he got the “low IQ” label and why he fell out of the lottery. I ain’t complain though. LOL
Or maybe it was the rockets who spread the rumors that Eason has low bball IQ so he would fall to 17 lol. Just blessed we got a very good player at 17th!
