Last year Green committed to playing defense at a respectable level. His offense sputtered because defensive effort takes a toll. But he ended with a 2.9 WS just on his defensive end of things; his offensive win share declined to a .2 (but credit due for putting in the work on the defensive side, he is so talented offensively that as his NBA conditioning keep improving, he will get back to par). So I think Jalen Green is setting himself up to demand a max contract extension. Of course he has to put it all together, but I’m thinking he’s about to take the all-star leap starting this season!
Plenty of things to critique Jalen on but how we interact is up to us. I'll totally agree that it could be better though. The cause of division among Rockets fans fall squarely on the handful of people that think they make our communal spaces better by blasting teammates, then blasting whoever disagrees. I'm also buying Jalen stock. It's a no brainer really, the way he's played this preseason and to end last season.
An addendum to my previous post. JG also needs to prove he can thrive with Alperen on the court...against good teams.
That's how our mental process should be. We should stop being divisive and unite under Jalen's superstardom.
It is funny that Jalen sympathizers were the first ones blasting Amen Thompson fans and Sengün fans ....... but I guess that can be swept under the rug. Whoever worships specialist scorers should be national treasure You know it goes both ways.
Hold until after earnings (mid January). Hoping for a Goldilocks landing. But well prepared for a potential black swan event .
On buying stock on Jalen Green, I'm buying the he's trade bait stock. He's absolutely amazing, he gets kept. Otherwise, I just don't know if the Rockets want to play hard ball in RFA or risk another team offering him a contract the Rockets don't want to match. I'm hoping he's absolutely amazing. I'm just resigned to the fact that I think he's running out of time to prove it before the Rockets have to make a big decision on him.
Why are you blaming JG for the actions of posters on this forum though? Its not his fault he doesnt even know you exist. When a poster calls JG divisive I laugh cuz what has JG done to divide Rockets fans? Its the Rockets fans fighting with each other of their own volition.
On JG I'm sold on him being here long term, he has shown he can play winning basketball. The question is how much he will go for I think the approach for JG is just tell him to get the best offer and then match that offer. Unlike Sengun I doubt other teams will give him the max.
I'll ride the FOMO for the first 18 games... 8 games against tankers, 11 home games, only 5 games against top defenses. The Rockets should be 13-5/14-4 and Jalen (and Sengun) should be averaging close to 25 points a game. If he were a stock, he is about to break out of his range. He usually starts slow, so this should be a welcomed quick start to the season. It is only the preseason, but he is under control on his threes. His middie is still a bit out of control (too much movement side to side and backwards).
I look at Jalen's future here in terms of not whether he's the guy or not, but Jalen vs what options are available to get in a trade. I just don't see alot out there that makes sense honestly. I think he'd be traded for a nice package in return if it put the Rockets in a better position to contend, but since I don't see that out there, I would buy stock in the assumption that the Rockets will keep him, and extend him at some point. The Rockets probably look at Jalen very similar to how the Kings evaluated Fox before they extended him. He's going to get better, and be a good player to borderline all-star. He's young, and he'll hold or increase his value vs his contract. .... Also people inside of the Rockets fan bubble here probably don't realize how popular Jalen Green is with really young NBA fans. I see it coaching youth sports for my kids. Little boys who like basketball love Jalen Green... and outside of Houston. He's much more of a star off the court than you guys think. That means something to the front office, and ownership in their decision making I'm sure.
That is what makes Jalen Green extremely dangerous to the next generation of young kids. They should aspire to be Jalen Williams and seek knowledge of basketball fundamentals than step back 3s and dunks.
Jalen Green, a menace to modern society. The Andrew Tate of basketball ruining the mindset of young men. Shame. This AI chat bot I'm replying to here goes on weird tangents. Showing signs of sentience.
Yeah I was just about to say something like that. What's worse for society... pollution, crime, inequality, the loss of freedoms..... OR.... THE STEP BACK THREE!!!! ... Allen Iverson was like everyone's favorite player growing up in my day. I think the youth will be okay if Jalen Green is extended.
