Click bait? https://www.theringer.com/2025/01/06/nba/least-improved-players-tyrese-haliburton-jalen-green Jalen Green, Houston Rockets The Rockets are an imposing, respectable, ascending team in desperate need of an All-Star-level perimeter scorer who can streamline efficient looks for himself and others … a.k.a. exactly what they thought Green would be when they drafted him second in 2021. Digest Green’s game in small bites, and it’s aesthetically spectacular. He’s a bewildering track star with pristine footwork and two propellers where his shoulder blades should be. But when you consume it as an entire meal, most of the production is a mirage. Green’s fourth year is shaping up to be what his (discouraging) third year was: about 20 points per game with volatile shooting splits. He’s still an inconsistent defender with atrocious shot selection. Right now, his true shooting percentage is not only the worst of his career but also second to last among all players who take at least 15 shots per game (minimum 20 games). He launches 5.9 shots a game after seven or more dribbles, which is more than Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving—a troubling mark that’s even higher than last season. [...] All the Rockets can do for the rest of this season is wait for an epiphany. Until then, Green’s assist-to-usage ratio is currently in the second percentile at his position. It illustrates a critical dilemma here: This is a guard who is wildly inefficient and does not make anyone around him better.
Jalen has improved in some aspects mostly on defense, but in the aggregate, his offense is still not that good and he has yet to show any improvement in shooting (outside of free throw percentage) or efficiency overall, I do view him as a positive for our team and his offensive explosions have won us some games
Green’s fourth year is shaping up to be what his (discouraging) third year was: about 20 points per game with volatile shooting splits. He’s still an inconsistent defender(—Houston’s defense allows 9.8 more points per 100 possessions with Green on the court, which is by far the worst difference on the team.—) with atrocious shot selection. Right now, his true shooting percentage is not only the worst of his career but also second to last among all players who take at least 15 shots per game (minimum 20 games).(—There are 61 players attempting at least 6.0 3s per game. Only six of them are less accurate than Green.—) He launches 5.9 shots a game after seven or more dribbles, which is more than Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving—a troubling mark that’s even higher than last season. The type of player Green—who turns 23 in February—can hopefully still be is highly coveted and extremely rare. The type of player he’s yet to evolve from, though, looks like Donovan Mitchell’s understudy. There are highs in that show but so much exasperation too. He’s yet to shake the tunnel vision Houston badly needs him to. There are too many examples to count of Green taking a contested, midrange pull-up while a teammate stands wide open one pass away. All the Rockets can do for the rest of this season is wait for an epiphany. Until then, Green’s assist-to-usage ratio is currently in the second percentile at his position. (—You guessed it: another career low!—) It illustrates a critical dilemma here: This is a guard who is wildly inefficient and does not make anyone around him better. There are things Green does well, and tantalizing flashes make it very hard to abandon him altogether. The three-year, $105.3 million commitment Houston made a few months ago is somewhat understandable. But the reasons that deal was three years instead of five outweigh most of his (fleeting) potential to be great. If the Rockets don’t see tangible improvement between now and the end of this season, there’s a good chance Green will be wearing a different jersey this time next year.
They arent gonna listen to you. Theyll just call you a hater. Doesnt matter how much truth youre spitting.
...if it's a Bill Simmons joint, it's definitely click bait. He practically wrote the book in sensationalist online sports "journalism" - only topped by ESPN's hot take shows.
lmao they have managed to "jate" him here by telling the truth lol so youre insinuating a jater is just someone who says true things about jalen green that you dont like lol
The telling sentence in that negative post is that 5.9 dribbles stat. The truth hurts a bit. Green does pound the rock for a guy with as much quickness and explosiveness. I can't understand why he can't develop a game around his first step. One dribble and put the defense in a bind. Then, the big question would be the one Cam Whitmore is trying to work out--how to pass when the D is closing in around you.
This isn't incorrect or click bait, thus far Jalen's 4th season hasn't been good overall... all of the improvement has been on defense and a lot of that has to do with scheme and a result of being surrounded with good defenders. There's hope that his last 2 good games will be the new norm, but a lot of that is probably more wishful thinking than anything. Either way, you can't fault anyone for being skeptical.
I'll co-sign @Reeko 's comments. You can always tell the truth when it's a bit of good mixed with a bit of bad.
I don't buy the "Jalen is the ultimate offensive ball stopper" idea thrown around here - it was definitely true in the Silas era but I don't think it's fair anymore. Not saying Jalen hasn't been bad, but I don't think that stat is as illustrative as you or the author thinks. I mean - Fred is fairly close to Jalen on that list and lacks any of the explosion in that first step. The offense here is push in transition and if not, get the ball to Fred or Jalen until the offense is "set" and then execute some sort of screen to get someone the ball while on the move...and then feed it to Sengun in the post. If Jalen has the ball it's typically where he has to get someone else the ball from offscreen action(dribbling the ball waiting for Fred to free from an Adams or Sengun pick). If Fred gets it, it's a pick and roll. You don't really have to dig that deep into the stats to find proof of what is holding Jalen back - dude just needs to take shots he can make consistently. He misses the easy ones too often where he is open or has created space for himself with that step. I think he has improved significantly at his shot selection and pounding the rock but he has a role on a team with a precious few ball handlers and he still struggles to make finish the play.
"I see him as a positive on the team" If you think that is what gets people to defend Green from hate, then you need to readjust what actual ridiculous claims that people push back on when defending Green. Maybe listen to the arguments and premises that are being argued.
His defense has improved dramatically. By my eye test he looks like a good defender. No improvement in offensive efficiency though which is his big red flag.
