This is where the platonic ideal of Jabari Smith clashes with reality He doesn't guard the perimeter, he is generally stationed on the 3 point line - he is just not a good point of attack defender - he tries , he gets low, but smaller quicker guards go right around him. I remember the one time he really looked good was against Giannis and his more deliberate battering ram style about a year ago. That's really it though
I agree with you 100%. I like Jabari, but nothing he does stands out and while he still has the "potential" tag on him, we really should be looking to upgrade his position, either before the trading deadline or prior to the start of next season. Although he has had some impressive games from time to time, everything I see out of him is that he is just going to be a really good role player in this league, and although we need those kinds of players on our team, I think we could get so much more out of that position.
The Rockets should be looking for a star regardless of position (i.e., getting a star isn't PF specific). That said, the trading deadline or start of next season really don't apply to Tari and Amen. Either get a star or upgrade him with either Amen or Tari. On what he can be, guys that can shoot and defend can be incredibly valuable. He's got the quick shot that he could become a great shooter at the NBA level. His defense is weird. He seems to be there a lot on his man, but his contest just isn't as good as it should be considering his length. I'm more confident on the shooting than the defense improving. I think he's starting because the Rockets really want shooting around Sengun and long term they see Jabari having a leg up on Amen and Tari due to the quick release. I'd move Jabari to the bench for Tari despite how much people want to get rid of Brooks instead. I want 2 of Brooks, Amen, and Tari in the game at all times. I'm not completely against starting both Amen and Tari, but I would prefer to make changes to the starting lineup slowly as for the most part as the Rockets are winning the starting lineup minutes.
FWIW, I think Jabari will be a decent 3 & D stretch 4 eventually. I don't think he will ever be a "star" but you can win a title with him and I think he can hit big shots. His long term career in Houston hinges on how much we think we can sign him for - if a team is willing to overpay him for the potential of a #3 pick, then they are probably going to get him because I think most in Houston aren't willing to break the bank with Tari and Amen and even Reed on the horizon. I think it's just going to take time with Jabari - it might start clicking when he is 26/27 years old. He's got all the physical skills but he doesn't have that dawg in him - he plays too much 'inside the box' defensively where he is trying to stay in front of a player but he isn't trying to make players uncomfortable like you see Tari and Dillon doing and he doesn't have the overwhelming athleticism that Amen has to allow guys into the spots they want to get to and then quickly swallowing them up when they try to shoot or pass. I think he has a mean streak but he is maybe a little too polite to be a defensive threat at this stage. I think he will learn eventually but right now he is thinking too "what is the correct way to play this" and not enough create havoc/trust your instinct/be a disruptor. That's why guys hit their shots when he is guarding them because they are used to shooting with a hand in their face in that exact same place. He seems stronger - but as always, he need to continue to add strength to his frame so he can guard bigs more as well.
He’s definitely capable of playing mean or with high intensity but it does seem that it usually takes something to get him going. If he gets shots at the start of the game to build an offensive rhythm or gets into an altercation he plays harder than his standard. We really should either draw up plays for him early or have Dillon or Tari in his ear hyping him up before the game.
With Jabari recent performances out of the group. He's lookin quite expendable. Our expectations for this man is quite low since folks are mostly focused on green and sengun. Im not sure if it's a confidence thing or he just isn't good
He's fine - the problem is patience, everyone wants to be a contender yesterday. His delayed development might work in our favor in the grand scheme of things - we don't have the budget to pay star prices for everyone. We know he isnt going to be a "numero" - and given Jalen and Alpi - that seems okay because we still need people to surround them with and Jabari can be the right guy with only minimal development. It's maybe disappointing for what people thought he could be but that's on ya'll for thinking every top 5 pick has potential to be a star when the data says there are weaker and stronger draft classes and the last 2/3 have either been top heavy or just weren't particularly good.
Jabari is valuable but not so much as starter currently. I think we would appreciate him more off the bench
He is barely 22. He has a body that will allow him to put on more strength. His potential is still really high, and for the most part he doing what he needs to do. His 3 pt shot will come back to norm around 37-38%. He is doing a good job on the boards and his defense is above average with potential to be much better. Patience is thin for this fan base.
Frye is a very good comparison, although Frye was a bit better and more reliable from three. Great post of us thinking he’s the next Durant when in actuality he’s more like Frye. I’ve said it since almost day one….he’s a decent backup, but not a starter on a legit contender. I got massively flamed earlier in this post for saying he’d never ever average 15 points per game and I still 100% stick with that prediction.
I am thrilled with the idea that Bari’s putative ceiling is solid role guy; presuming, of course, he isn’t pad like a Top-3 pick.
I’m laughing while read this. Frye was a bit better form 3? Oh really hunh? Frye that was a year older than Jabari is now as a rookie? The Frye that did not shoot over 33% until he was 26 years old which Jabari would be 5 years from now. Jabari is a much better rebounder than Frye. Will have more rebounds than Frye by the end of the year than 5-6 years than Frye again at a much older age. Good rationale and reasoning all around! I mean really Can you any other Rocket player comparisons? I would love see them.
I think he's already proven to be a more physical presence as a rebounder, especially on the defensive end, than he was projected. And he's made sizable gains in handling the ball. Any dribble was a turnover waiting to happen when he broke into the league. Jabari's lack of fluidity/flexibility and the sheer limits of his explosiveness remain puzzling. If he can add more leg strength, his form is too good to be this bad as a shooter. While we'd like to fast-forward through these growing pains, he is still maturing with all of that. He won't be Jason Tatum or Robert Horry, but I think something in between remains possible. That's a player who will help contribute to winning.
In a nutshell, he plays small and below the rim and not above the Rim....... As a very big player, that is almost unforgivable. It robs him of those moments when the team is down and you need him to make a power play quickly inside. If he thinks his bread and butter are jumpshots, he is just one of those guys that is going to play away from the basket.
Quickness is just as important - he doesn't just play small and below the rim, but he also plays super slow. I don't think it's a physical limitation - from what I observe, he's just not a an intuitive or quick thinker on the court and so he's always a second or two late in his reactions. It's why he's a poor cutter and his stocks are almost nonexistent.
It's been very obvious to me since early in his second season that he's a PF/C. He seems to believe deep down he's a SF/PF. Once he makes up his mind, he'll commit to the toughness needed for the role. All we really need from him is to get better at 3's and defense. If he's going to add something extra, let it be a deadly hook shot or turnaround jumper. We really don't need him to drive to the basket like a wing. There are plenty of max-worthy players who don't do that and he can always develop that slowly. Anyway eventually the NBA teaches you or you lose your spot. He's a good kid and a hard worker, I think he'll figure it out. His shooting will bounce back soon.
