Ok you can wake up from your dream now…..credit for playing hard last night and getting his usual 11 points, but let’s slow down on the Horry comparisons.
Reminder: Just because you're young, it doesn't mean you will get better with time. Especially for someone like Jabari who is so physically limited. A near 7 footer who grabs a rebound off a fastbreak, wide open and not only decides to lay it up but bricks it, has severe issues that age simply cannot fix. It's mindset. At least with uber athletic dudes, you can pray that the skillset eventually catches up to their athleticism.
And Jabari has scored 34 in a game yet OP doesn't think that's a flash yet 25 points is ? It's either or.
You have to "show flashes" in the most recent game or this board will turn on you and play a new round of "I can only support two or three players on this team at a time, which 3 is it this week?"
I was high on Jabari. But there's a clear difference between what Reed did last night and what Jabari has done up to this point.
Jabari bricked two layup at the rim in a row late against OKC, where if he had just a little more athleticism should have rises up for a simple put back. Jabari has flashed before in his rookie season with those game winners, but that feels so long ago. His iso plays were frustrating especially with a wide open Reed nearby Jabari didn't see. He's only 21 though but his ceiling might be a little lower than previously thought.
This. Reed controlled the game against the best team in the NBA (arguably). Hit threes, midrange, creative layups, found open guys, very good defense, etc. When a 6 foot point guard goes off, it hits a little different than the 6'10'' PF you expect to succeed with those measurables. And Jabari will succeed but he isnt the first, second, and barely third best player on a championship squad .
Those two blown layups deflated the team and caused OKC to go on a run. Jabaris problem is he's also soft.
Exactly. But to me, his mindset bothers me more than his game. You have guys in your class who are all stars, franchise players, you claimed to be upset going 3rd after believing you were going to be the first pick. Why are you so lackadasical? Where is the hunger? He was the third pick but he seems content with just being there and playing.
If you think Jabari is soft from last night’s game, I have no idea what you were watching. He was fighting like a maniac on the boards. He just missed some put backs (something Sengun has been doing all year) and suddenly he’s a p*ssy. He is 21 years old and is executing the role he has been given. He is a good role playing starter on a 6th seed in the West. That’s good enough for a 21 year old player that still hasn’t completely put on all the muscle his body will support. Be patient.
He always plays hard, he just doesn't always play very goodly basketball due to skill and coordination issues. Not really sure how putting on more muscles help him not miss wide open layups and not being able to ever dribble.
Jabari flashes were during summer league. He’s had basically 3-4 games over 25 points his career. He’s not that guy. If you’re fine with a 6-7 type player who is average…. That’s fine. I just won’t pay him anywhere what he will ask. trade him in a package and sign Naz Reid.
He misses less layups than Sengun. Should we abandon hope for him as well? He is a critical clog in our defense and rebounding. Why do you think Ime has stuck with him for so long?
If Naz Reid was drafted by the Rockets and was the third pick, CF would treat him like prime Hakeem. Naz is 5x the player Jabari is and yet Jabari is viewed as some type of core player.
My biggest question with Jabari is if hes happy in his role here. He's up for RFA next season and he could test it if the Rockets don't offer what hes looking for. The reality is that he just isnt skilled enough offensively to warrant the salary or reps he's going to demand. Naz Reid is an example of a role player that plays the Jabari role to perfection. Naz has better game feel and plays to his strengths better than Bari does. If Bari wants to be a bigger part of an offense, he's going to look elsewhere. Not sure what the max offer another team can give him but some desperate team with cap space and a high draft pick could definitely give him what he wants while their other young players develop.
