I think BBall IQ combined with skill usually results in very productive players. When you get athleticism too you get superstar players. So for me, here is where I rank our core 7 in BBall IQ. Players with Very high BBall IQ 1. Reed 2. Sengun 3. Amen Decent IQ - needs work. 4. Bari 5. Cam Low IQ - 6. Tari 7. Jalen I think it is clear you build around those top 3, and you fill in with others - and you add hustle players like Tari and Cam to change pace, but they aren't max players - at this time. Other high IQ players on our team FVV Jeff Green Adams Decent IQ Tate Nate Brooks How do you guys see it? DD
I think Cam is the lowest. Tari is just not talented on some ends, not an iq thing. Hard to judge Bari. Top 2: Reed, Sengun 3- Amen last - Cam others somewhere between Amen and Cam
I don't see Cam that way, I see great instincts, but I see bad habits......he plays like a young aggressive man - just needs to chillax and learn when to go 100 and when to go 80......but I can see your point too. DD
Cam easily has the lowest and yes I know he is young. He simply doesn't understand the team concept yet.
Against my better judgement I'll take the bait: 1. Sengun Most pro experience. Very polished. Reads half court sets really well. Knows where his teammates are at all times. Extremely craft footwork. 2. Amen IQ on offense not as high as Sengun but is a smarter defender than Sengun. That shooting stroke has to knock off some iq points. But ya he processes quickly. More than anyone below him on this list at least. 3. Reed Very undetermined. I was willing to not include him on the list at all because he hasn't played a NBA game yet. NBA games will have smaller windows for passes. Harder to separate from defenders etc. So we'll see if it translates 4. Jalen Best ball handler of the group. Can navigate a pnr offense with high usage with above league average efficiency. That requires IQ in things like screen navigation. Can playmake for others better than anyone below him on his list by a wide margin. Low IQ defender though improved this season 5. Jabari Not asked to do much complex things on offense so he's not utilizing much IQ on offense. Though he might have the highest IQ on defense on the team. 6. Tari It's hard to compare the last two. Tari is a pure energy high motor guy with good athletic traits which means he is everywhere in the court. Kinda a headless chicken on offense though. A supped up Corey Brewer maybe. But I'll put him higher than Cam because he understands what he needs to do on the team more 7. Cam His strength and athleticism is carrying him through right now. Averages more turnovers than assists. Someone has to be last and he's the most obvious choice.
Great post DD! Reminds me a lot of something I just posted Friday on page 737 of the Alperen Sengun is the Rockets Real Franchise Player Thread. Got to build around the brightest guys. For Rockets the high IQ guys are: Alperen Sengun Amen Thompson Reed Sheppard Those should be the Big 3. The next tier IQ is: Jabari Smith Jr Tari Eason Cam Whitmore Finally: Jalen Green The Rockets are SO DAMN LUCKY to get to choose between that much young talent to build around. Take your time Stone and choose wisely. #14729 Friday at 9:15 AM
Bbiq is not that hard to acquire. See lane, see teammate ahead, see defense is not set, move the ****ing ball. Ime needs to start teaching these basic fundamentals.
I think it's pretty clear that guys like FVV, Sengun, Amen, and Reed are the high BBIQ guys on the team and guys like Cam and Jalen basically share half a brain cell combined. The exact ranks are kind of irrelevant IMO.
This goes against his scouting report coming out of college, as Giovony reported that he dropped so far in the draft because he didn't remember or run plays. I don't pretend to know how much of that has improved if at all in the NBA, but I wouldn't be so quick to judge he's a high BBIQ player as of right now.
Alpi and Amen are clearly on top. Not really debatable. Amen has an edge because he's smart on both ends of the floor, but Alpi is getting there on defense. Jalen and Jabari are somewhere in the middle. Cam and Tari are on the bottom with Cam dead last. Both guys make some really bad decisions on a regular basis. We'll see about Reed. Seems likely he'll be above-average or better.
I think Cam is undeniably the lowest. I'd swap Jalen and Cam from your list and that's about where I'm at. Agree with the rest.
You think Tari has higher bball IQ? He dropped down because he has issues doing things like inversing sets in his head. He's an ultimate hustle guy with good athleticism. But high IQ?
The better question: Can BBall IQ improve as you age or will arrested development kick in? I'd like to present Shawn Marion as my evidence. "While he has the size to see the entire floor, Marion does not yet know the game and does not make good decisions all the time." Mr. Jay Bilas of ESPEN in 1999. 20 years later and the narrative changed. Our players are too much of gym rats to not improve their Bball intelligence.
