If he had the opportunities of a former 3rd Overall Pick then he would have been much better than that Bari. Sadly the league favors the hyped ones in the first 2-3 years.
Agree with this but I do think part of DB's role here is to bring that tone setting to the younger players to start doing the same - particularly Tari and Jabari. At some point we need someone to take the role of the villain, of the guy never backing down, of the guy always playing aggressively and making even the simple things hard. Tari plays with a similar motor and embraces locking players up but he doesn't have the mean streak the DB has - he isn't necessarily a villain.....Jabari on the other hand I think has some of the nastiness but he hasn't necessarily had the body or motor for it but he could be that villain at some point.
...and just want to say - I have been super impressed with Tari this year. I remember his momma saying on twitter he had more skills as a scorer than what people were giving him credit for last year before he went down with the injuries but momma Eason was right by what we have seen this year. With a lot of things about Tari - there is always this sense of chaos around him that mostly works out. It's funny to see he plays similarly to his chaotic defense on offense where he takes these weird angles and has this unexpected shiftiness to his game which makes him unpredictable. I know it's a long shot, but I see a lot of young Kawhi to his game. I don't know if he has the same obsessiveness to efficiency of motion as Kawhi but the raw talent is similar. I just hope he stays healthy and keeps progressing but I'll buy a little into the idea that Tari has a small chance to be one of the best 2 way players in the league if he can keep it up because his reflexes, instincts, and feel are very much special. Tari keeps playing this way, I might have to buy more stock.
I’m really liking his handles, and it appears he might have developed a “cotton shot” — that turn-around jumper at the FT line. Also, looks better at the rim. I think he will surpass Trevor Ariza … quickly
Hmmmmmm.... Cue the Tari vs Bari chatter. They are the next group up for money talks. Bari has the size and greater potential... but Tari just kind of has "it" at a premium position, not star power but maybe super role player/wins an all star once.
I'm genuinely not convinced that Bari has the greater potential tbh. Tari's a significantly more dynamic player and way more of a playmaker on both ends. Bari's a solid defender and fully pedestrian on offense. Tari might not be much of a finisher inside (though he often grabs his own miss and puts it back regardless) but he makes more happen on either end and I actually don't think it's really that close either. Bari's "potential" has almost always seemed hypothetical to me, nothing tangible.
I think the thing working against Eason is that teams love clearly defined roles for guys that get paid star money. Eason is a jack of all trades who just kind of "does things" that help you win basketball games, often out of system. Shawn Marion is probably the best "star" comp I can think of for Eason, but I think he's likely gonna be capped at high level role player in the eyes of NBA franchises. Maybe he can do more if made a centerpiece, but I think he would have to seek out a lesser team to be given that opportunity. Jabari Smith, on paper anyway, has an extremely clear formatted role for the modern NBA, whether that's fair or not.
Bari was billed as a deadeye shooter and amazing defender. Tari has the better NBA career 3-point % and advanced stats. I can't really think of anything Bari does better, other than free throws.
Interesting perspective, I think you put time, money, and resources into the guy who does things to help you win. Even if it doesn't fit your idea of the typical mold of a star player. A unique talent you can't figure out isn't the talent's fault, the leadership needs to let that develop. Marion, Kawhi, Gerald Wallace, and others may have gotten written off by stereotypical roles or systems but were allowed to develop, flourish, and maximize thier talents to win. Ignore draft pick position, salary/contract and who you thought it would be. Who in reality is actually the player who helps you win games? Focus on developing those players as a priority imo.
Fully agree Eason has those def. traits like T Allen / young Artest & Klaw Leonard Tari has some of the most disruptive hands all time .....small sample size, but the proof is there every time he checks in, good havoc galore He's a keeper, especially for this current group/staff......Ime sees a better version of himself, if he could play Eason all 48min , he would
