[2022 NBA Draft/1-3] Jabari Smith Jr., F, Auburn

He's playing better. I won't consider him turning the corner until I see that inside game improve. Until I see him taking it coast to coast and putting someone on a poster instead of missing a weak layup.

These things should happen, and quickly, in my opinion.

 

He is strong in a lot of areas and I hope he keeps it up. For what you're asking for I think may take like 2 years or more. He is very weak around the basket. I bet he eventually fixes it though.

 

One of my favorite things from the Atlanta game was during a missed free throw near the end of the game. I loved the way Smith secured the rebound against the bigger and heavier player.

He often gets pushed around a lot in the paint, even by small but aggressive opponents. This time, he wasn't having any of that.

It was a small and trivial moment, but it was great to see.

 

Eat ****, Jabari haters.

 

So now we know you can spin shooting 6-17 as somehow impressive.

Really?

How is 6-17 impressive in any world?

 

What is fine?

If it does not sense for Porter it does not make sense for Green who turns it over just as much.

 

I think Green is a better distributor, will learn to turn the ball over less, and a better ISO player, if needed.

 

The inside game, i mean ive never seen an athletic 6-11 human struggle with laying the ball into an unguarded rim as much as him on super slo mo.

It actually doesn't matter - if he can give a volume 40% from 3 and good switchable defense he's a useful player. Not franchise changing but can also fit with any player or scheme.

 

Oh, for sure I agree. I'm just saying, he can be a bonafide superstar if he plays a more powerful game and can fix this mind-bogglong hole in his game. Granted, it was a concern at Auburn, too.

 

Where's the spin? He shot way above his norm efficiency level that game, which is great improvement.

What is there more to say.

 

I don't think he's going to be the interior presence on offense most hope he will be. Inside the arc, he just needs a hook shot and a turnaround jumper. Sort of like Dirk or Durant, something to punish smaller players with.

Main and most used weapon is always going to be the 3pt shot. He's a unicorn, don't make the mistake of trying hard to make him something he's not and then judging him by how he reacts to that. He could break all time 3pt records, he's not just a regular good 3pt shooter. Instead of working extensively on weaknesses, I'm more interested in raising his 3pt shooting volume to never seen before levels for someone his age. Let's see him take 10 per game at some point.

Combined with his elite defense for his age, his impact on games is going to be crazy good. He'll win you 2 playoff games in a series with his 3pt shot, and the rest of the games you'll have amazing defense and excellent spacing from him. Perfect pairing with Jalen and Sengun. Doesn't clog up the paint, spaces the floor.

I said it during the slump, Jabari is going to break some net impact rookie records this season. He said in his interview he had a lingering ankle issue and he feels as though he's got his legs back under him now. Whether that's true or not, I know that a shooter believing something is effectively the same as it being true.

Progress looking great.

 

I think his main weakness is ball handling, much like any pure shooter. Right now he’s giving me Bruce Bowen vibes but we really wanna see kwahi / KD / pg from him. Over the next few years he needs to develop his ball handling big time and his midrange/post up. He would be amazing.

I think part of his at the rim struggles are poor dribbles, he doesn’t trust it in traffic and picks it up super early while going 100 mph at the rim. Also he doesn’t trust himself to dribble into the midrange and make a decision (after attacking the close out). He needs the change in mindset that comes with excellent handles.

 

Gawd damn Tari's mom is ruthless, lmao!
Clowning her own son!

Notice Tari only shadow tapped Bari's head. he isnt crazy lol

 

I agree with your second paragraph for sure.

 

I was going to say former Knick Charles Smith, but that guy was just not very athletic.