I just think he’s too young to say he isn’t going to improve. look, I’m not gambling on some transformation into the next Kevin Durant. I clearly understand that isn’t happening. But I do think it’s reasonable that he ends up getting his shot back on track and ending up closer to 40% then 35%. it is a confidence thing and he’s young and shaken. The mid range jumper has looked fine the last few games. I also think that he will continue to fill out physically and I do think that is a big chunk of why there are inconsistencies with his shot. And that could continue for a couple years until his physical form is more defined as to what it will be in his prime. to go even further with that I would like to see him continue to put on weight and eventually play a lot of minutes as a stretch five. That is the only position that he will ever likely be able to create his own offense against his defender other than just his turnaround jumpshot. I also think relative to his contract. He probably is going to end up somewhat justifying it. I don’t think people will look back in four or five years and think we overpaid a ton or that whatever team has him overpaid a ton. there was a point early this year and last year where I probably would’ve been very very hesitant to trade him. I’ve softened on that a little bit. If it was the right deal, I would certainly pull the trigger. we’re definitely in a slump, but I think it’s a little bit over blown and I still expect us to be a contender. Not likely to win a championship, but I believe that as soon as we add a competent PG vet a lot of things will fall into place. there have definitely been recent coaching decisions that bother me. Leaving in Smith for so long the other game was one and not playing Reed nearly enough last night was the other. we are limited financially. I think we are just trying to weather the storm until we get into February.
Nobody in their right mind could come to this conclusion - dude has nothing to build upon to become incredible. Not the athleticism, not the skills, not the IQ.
I appreciate the optimism and I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility he improves his shot, obviously. Just not to the point where he’s worth keeping and continuing to pay. You say ‘back on track’ to close to 40% but his best season is just north of 36%. For a player who’s 3 pt shot diet is 90% open to wide open 3s, that simply won’t cut it. His on ball defense is also below average, rebounding is fine. Weakside defense is above average I’ll give him that. But when you look at him as a total player, there just has to be a better option for the price point. I’m not necessarily advocating for trading him yet but I think he needs to be brought off the bench and limited to 20-25 min a game, depending on if he’s shooting well. And it’s not like he’s regressed from something he once was; this has been his MO even coming out of college.
You see that’s my problem with all the theoretical posturing with Jabroni that’s been going on forever. It’s a theoretical problem that has no real solution. He’s not going to get there.
To my observation in all past 4 years since his first day, current jabari is about his ceiling. Given his lack of athleticism (stiff , cant dribble) skill (need môre arch in his shot) and low IQ (somehow cant observe himself - strength and weaknesses) I don't expect any significant leap in the coming years. I would rather have rockets invest in Tari who i think may still have room to grow. Trade Bari.
He had a bad stretch of games. Career 3pt is still at 34%, slightly below league average, but not terrible. I'm not looking at his ceiling, just what he is now; his contract is still Ok. There are other non-shooters on the squad, who I'm not going to call out on, the recent L-streak is on a lot of guys not just one.
He’s a reliable brick these days. Still a super role player. He just has such a flat shot and doesn’t jump high on those turn around fades. He should stop shooting though once he misses so many. Taking a tech free throw KD and missing was inexcusable.
A career 34% is not acceptable from this guy. That's the one area he's supposed to be, and needs to be GREAT in order to be an impact player worthy of starting. He isn't a good defender, or playmaker, he doesn't have a handle, he doesn't create, he isn't a special athlete, he doesn't drive, he doesn't have a post game. He's an okay rebounder, and a solid mid range shooter. His skillset is screaming bench player if he's not at minimum a good 3PT shooter.
Different guys are asked to do different things. Rebounding is mostly through Adams, Sengun, or Clint. If he's asked to stay near the corner, ball doesn't always fall that way. Playmaking is through KD, Reed, Amen or Sengun. Others may be better than Bari in those categories, in which case if he's not asked to those things, he shouldn't be evaluated in those categories as much. If guys like a DFS or whomever is healthy enough, I'm not against players starting over him. There ways to work with players instead of just trade trade trade. And if Jabari started having good games again, are folks here going to give credits where it's due?
On the first part of this post, I'm sure Smith could put up better rebounding numbers, but everything else it seems really far fetched to say he has potential to shine if given the responsibility. Jabari looks painfully limited and stiff in his current role as is. On the second part, the problem with Jabari now is his contract. If he we're making DFS money we could say "hey who cares if he's a bench level player right now, he's useful in that role, and maybe he will grow", but instead were paying him starter money and if he isn't delivering starter production he's actively hurting this teams ability to compete by occupying the cap that he does.
thats unfortunate Cod. KD’s feel for the game is infinitely better than Bari, let alone the shooting and ball handling. I’m out on Bari unless he takes a massive leap 2nd half of the season.
Being KD Lite is not good enough. Durant is valuable becuase he is way-above average in the shots that defense willingly concedes, willl take them in volume, and is a pretty efficient scorer as a result that will force doubles and bend defenses. Smith trying to take the same shots at average efficiency is something a defense is going to concede and not be very helpful. A Jabari dribble into an elbow jumper scares nobody, he ain't going to pass, he's ok at the shot, but a defense will live with that most of the time.
you point out the roles guys play on the roster. And I’m sure we both agree that Bari’s role is shooting and switchable defense. But he’s not shooting well. He’s never shot well enough for a full season to fill that role. I was convinced he was taking that leap before he broke his hand last season. But this season (yr 4) his shooting regression scares the hell out of me. I gave Jalen 4 yrs. I’m willing to give Bari the rest of the season. But if the guy shoots at or below league average again, I don’t understand how anyone can make the case that he fills the role we drafted him for. I think what bothers me the most about Bari is the lack of feel for the game. That’s just something you either have or you don’t. There’s a fundamental awkwardness to his game.
Smith’s role should be as a spacer and good defensive player and rebounder. We don’t need another Durant, some would argue we don’t need the Durant we have. If we trade Smith it is going to have to be for SF or PF, not the PG everybody is screaming for. If we trade for a guard, who plays PF if Tari is constantly hurt? I’m ok with Durant at PF, but would it be Okogie at Sf, what would that accomplish trading one inconsistent shooter for another. Jabari is 22 and is inconsistent like 22 years old are quite often. He is not untouchable, but it is short-sighted to trade any of our young players with potential, because of a coach that doesn’t know how to use them. As you are saying, what is the point of Jabari trying to do the same thing that Durant is already doing? We already have 3 players that prefer to work from the same spot on the floor in Amen, Sengun, and Durant why force Jabari into the same space?
