Prime Iverson type numbers on this 2025 streak. If the purpose of the AS game is entertainment, I can't think of 15 players in the West that would be more entertaining to watch than Jalen Green and of course Alpi. They won't just go through the motions. Jalen's game, Alpi's creativity and style are made for it. SGA and Chet are comparatively bland off the court. Whether this ASG or next, we have two really entertaining offensive players, it looks good for our future. My only fear is after this year Wemby is going to dominate C votes in the West so I'd like Sengun to establish himself early.
According to Will and Bradeaux, when Amen and Green start dating back to last season, Jalen averages 26+ ppg on over 60 TS%. Jalen currently at least an average defender so as a wing duo where Jalen is guarding the 2nd/3rd best perimeter scorer and they are suffocating teams on the wing. Teams will have to play perfect against us on the wing to win that matchup. FVV/Green/Amen are a great two-way trio on the perimeter when Jalen is good for 22-23 efficient points.
It's all a mirage. He's just having his usual empty stats ten good games v. the tankers at the end of the year, only it's just 20+ games midyear against all kinds of opponents and leading to wins. Oh wait .. that means he's actually really good.
His 3 pt shot selection looks much improved. Remember earlier in the year someone pointing out how much better he is at the catch and shoot 3 vs the movement 3s. He is up to 44% from the field and 36% from 3. I'd be happy if he just kept that up for the rest of the season.
yeah it’s hard to believe someone who shoots 88% from the line is a bad shooter, he just takes a lot of difficult shots.
Experts have said that great shooting and great FT% are correlated. There were times last night where I felt Jalen was going to go into a dumb 3 and he didn't. Instead he ran a screen action with Sengun or attacked the defense on a drive. Even if he turns it over on a pass to Sengun, I won't be mad at it. I'd much rather that vs him shooting a terrible contested 3.
If this is the Jalen we're going to get 80% of the time going forward, he may indeed be the Rockets "numero uno". It's pretty awesome to see him turn his career around like this, but more importantly, the Rockets ceiling is A LOT higher finally having a SG that can shoot.... and it's cool that it's the same guy.
Can't wait to get Jabari back and see what we look like fully healthy for the first time this season (with Adams).
@Portland, another really good game for Jalen, phenomenal shooting efficiency. Now up to 44% / 36% on the season and 22ppg. Objectively, Booker, Powell, Edwards, and Irving are probably still ahead of him in terms of full-season production. If JG had started this heater like 5 games earlier I think he would have a really strong argument to make the ASG even on stats. As it is, his best argument is the Rockets' record. Maybe he'll get in as a reserve just on that basis, but I'm skeptical.
Before I declare Green the "numero uno." I need to see him score efficiently when the 3 ball isn't dropping. I just need to see that relentless attack of the rim on bad shooting nights. I think he has Dwayne Wade like potential as a slasher. He just needs the mentality, and there have certainly been flashes of it that last two seasons.
Jalen Green making 36% from 3 and playing good defense is a very safe place to be for his future even if there's still another 1.5 years of development to absorb. People with his FT% tend to shoot better than league average so I guess there is hope he will be able to maintain his 36% the rest of the way. Finishing at the rim could be just about adding muscle and spacing now. If he just repeats his first half but very slightly better, his contract will start looking like a bargain. There's a realistic chance he finishes the season with 45/36/86 splits with over 57 TS%. That would be amazing given his contract. For perspective, that's much more efficient than both of Banchero's past 2 seasons (Banchero's efficiency is generally considered insufficient).
One big positive this season is his rim finishing has improved to 71% versus his 66.3% career numbers. I've definitely noticed an improvement on his layup skills. He's also shooting better from 3-10 feet. I want to see him bring up the number of rim attempts though. However, one path to be a successful player is certainly for him to just get better at making all those 3P attempts, which he appears to maybe-possibly have done. He's never had a problem creating space to get a decent look, he just hasn't been a good enough shooter to justify the shots. If that has changed, it might be okay for him to be taking a lot of three pointers. TBD.
I'm just riding the JG wave! Dude seems to have put it together. I have to believe the coaches have been working with him and it's starting to click. Against POR he didn’t take a shot for a good while to start the game (DB and Alpi show), but then he hit that 17 ftr and it was on! Love we're seeing our boy grow up before our eyes!!
