He did save his threes for the fourth when it mattered. Those back 2 back threes really killed all the Lakers momentum.
Wasn't a bad game at all for a rook. 18 points on 17 shots with 6 rebounds and a block. If he was averaging that all season nobody would bat an eye considering his age. Hope he returns to being absolutely on fire next game though.
Efficiency was passable on offense, but he was one of the highest net impact from both teams and that's because of his solid defense.
We don't need a 20/10 from him every game. All we've been asking for is for him to shoot with confidence (and reasonable accuracy) and play his ass off on defense. We're finally seeing it. And I do believe that most of us are happy with what Jabari has been doing
Just jumping in here to say I'm so excited about this kid's career. He had a couple of 20 point games earlier, but seeing him doing it with confidence and swag is fun. Doesn't really matter who's guarding him does it?
https://theathletic.com/4310380/2023/03/17/nba-rookie-rankings-jalen-williams-jaden-ivey/ • Jabari Smith Jr. has started to progress to his mean as a shooter. A lights-out marksman at Auburn, Smith was one of the worst shooters in the league for the first 55 games of the season. But over his last 14 games, Smith is averaging 15.1 points and 7.9 rebounds while hitting 44.4 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from 3. In his last six games, he’s up to a blistering 50 percent from 3. His double-double performances against Boston, Chicago and Indiana were as terrific as the numbers showed. He looked like the kind of dynamic two-way shot maker the Rockets expected when they took him at No. 3 overall. He’s peaking at the right time to go into the offseason with some confidence, which was missing from his game over the first two-thirds of the season. • Tari Eason moves up to No. 8 because he continually makes an impact by playing hard. AJ Griffin falls from No. 6 to No. 9 because he’s outside of the rotation under new Hawks coach Quin Snyder. 1. Paolo Banchero | Orlando Magic 2. Jalen Williams | Oklahoma City Thunder 3. Walker Kessler | Utah Jazz 4. Jaden Ivey | Detroit Pistons 5. Bennedict Mathurin | Indiana Pacers 6. Keegan Murray | Sacramento Kings 7. Jeremy Sochan | San Antonio Spurs 8. Tari Eason | Houston Rockets 9. AJ Griffin | Atlanta Hawks 10. Jalen Duren | Detroit Pistons 11. Mark Williams | Charlotte Hornets 12. Jabari Smith Jr. | Houston Rockets 13. Andrew Nembhard | Indiana Pacers 14. Shaedon Sharpe | Portland Trail Blazers 15. Jaylin Williams | Oklahoma City Thunder
That’s what I asked reporters to ask when he first started going through his shooting slump - They won’t say who the shooting coach is but I think it’s “Lucas” and he’s had a habit with tinkering with players shots trying to speed them up … it’s why Jalen is so up and down. We need a true shooting coach for sure
I suspected this the whole time. It takes months to get accustomed to a new form. Professional Nba basketball trainer would tell you he would never mess with their form because the coaches would get mad if they started shooting worse. Meanwhile we have old-head Lucas telling all our rookies how his old head form works the best.
The Rockets should try to steal Chip Englland from the Thunder. He’s an “ old head “. But Chip Engelland helped overhaul Kawhi Leonard, Keldon Johnson, Dejounte Murray, and Tony Parker’s jump shots credited with allowing them to become better shooters. Each team he has been on staff for has improved its shooting ability throughout his tenure.
You have to LOVE that ability to just rise up and shoot over anyone. He'll improve on selection and getting to his spot in the coming years, but great also that he didn't look to get rid of it and was happy to take that shot
Who could've possibly seen this coming. Oh yeah people who don't overreact after their first 3 months.
