I remember that one too. It was like he made it a point this game to show off some dribble moves a little. he definitely has it in him and it'll only get better, but he's smart about when to use it
Yeah I dont think Jabari will ever be a point forward, but that doesnt mean we cant use him in the pick and pop or have off ball screens to get him open. Even with only average handles, a good pump fake with his shot and size may be enough to get a good first step over a defender towards the rim. From there he can either pull up from mid range or dish it out to whomever is left open from the rotating defender (likely Sengun)
Cool I'll be looking for that to become a reality on the court in a couple months he sure looked just as capable on the perimeter as Jabari has on defense and INFINITELY more advanced on offense. Paolo will be fine defensively this expectation that "NBA starting defenders" are going to lock him up is strange or that most of the NBA will be able to score on him. Why throw out such a hyperbole regarding fouls when both Paolo and Jabari struggled in that department in their first professional game. Next game Paolo had 2 and Jabari still had 4 and in college Paolo still had a lower foul rate. Just really curious insinuations get thrown around. So many guys want to be right about diminishing his skill set and I think some of them will have pie in the face when its all said and done. LOL @ "Banchero was scared of Jabari" cmon bro. Which one looked more comfortable on the court and played their game? Yeah I know I know "but Jabaris teammates dont keep him involved" Paolo put the clamps on Jabari and then showed out on offense - that was my perspective. Most people who have been paying attention have noticed Bancheros defense in the Summer League. For the record Im ecstatic to have Jabari on the team and he will offer a vital skillset for winning critical games for us in the future and rarely talk about Paolo after making my case for over a year, but lets keep it realistic dont pretend to know the future while ignoring the present.
Awesome move. I hope he gets more comfortable with being a focal point on offense and wont need "good guard play" to set him up for success. He needs to be more heliocentric to fully capitalize on his measurables combined with his elite skill. If Jabari could offer you a consistent dribble package to the hoop he is the one who most closely resembles KD. Im hoping for the best!
Then there was no need to be bear hugging a guy if you could defend the guy outright. He won't be able to bear hug Morant, Tatum, Steph, Trae Young, LeBron, Embiid, Jokic, Fox, Jalen Green, and other quicker more proficient NBA players over summer league (G-league talent). Refs let Banchero be the show in summer league, but won't get the calls or no calls in the regular season. I saw Banchero try to get away with his reach around poke the ball from behind that he got away with in college/HS.....but was called a foul trying to do that vs Jabari. Banchero loves to do that because he is so often beat off the dribble. Doubt the refs let him get away with that at the NBA level. Will have to rotate to the perimeter more often to contest 3-pt shooters. Just drop coverage in the NBA ends up with the same result as Gobert in the playoffs. The good teams will take advantage of it. And I don't put a lot of stock in the Jabari summer league defense either. It's vs sub par quality. He hasn't faced LeBron, Embiid, Jokic, Trae Young, D Mitchell, Ja Morant, J Murray, Westbrook, Steph, Dillion Brooks, Tatum, Giannis, and countless others.
I don’t know why we have to make this a Paolo vs. Smith debate. Paolo was long gone when we made our pick. Personally I was leaning Paolo before the draft. I still believe he is the better all around player - but I also believe he needs to be the first option and primary ball handler to be his best and I am not sure, if you can win a championship with that - especially since most stars like to play with the ball in their hands. He might be something like the PF version of Donovan Mitchell. It is way easier to build a championship contender with Jabari, since he is great without the ball in his hands - but you still need that first option. Maybe that’s Green for us, but the good thing is, even if it’s not, Green can also be very effective playing off the ball. So we could add another ball dominant player to our core without robbing our two young prospects of their biggest strength.
Jabari doesn't need to be the focal point of an offense to be successful, though. Green, Porter, Sengun, will give Bari&Tari plenty of open shots as they get doubled. It's pick your poison all over again. Something that wasn't as prevalent here in the summer league because JC, Nix, and TyTy are cheap knockoffs off the starters that will be next to Bari&Tari. But the Dallas/Silas system will get start implementing and taking advantage of Bari&Tari getting their momentum moving towards the rim better off the ball as cutters. We will find out early if the Rockets are, "in it to win it" or "wimping out for Wembanyama" If we see no screens, PnR, and cutter action.....then we tanking. Tari is already showing to be efficient as a roller/cutter and the Vipers got new guys every season and it didn't hold them back from running the whole playbook. Jabari looks prime to be a Pick-n-Pop dude already. Just give him a prominent PnR ball handler to draw the gravity of the defense. Oh hello, Porter/Green! And hello inch of space for Jabari to get off a 10 footer.
You have a right to see the game how you wish. If you think refs are favoring Paolo already thats your own call to make. You say Paolo was bearhugging Jabari and I think thats just an excuse to make when Jabari didnt play up to expectation. A quick glance at the reels doesnt seem to produce that eye test for me not sure if you have some clips we could gloss over that would point out the "bear hugs" for discussion? Perimeter rotation has been fine from both of these guys in their summer league games. Yes Paolo gets beat off the dribble. So does Jabari. So does Chet. So does almost every player playing at this level. Im not too worried about rookie new blood having to contain and be mentioned with the guys on your list. They will get their day to shine and are the future of the NBA - these things take time. Good sign for Rocket fans is that Jabari is every bit as advertised on defense and his shooting has come around a little. If he can add to that package he will earn a spot among the best in the game.
I had let it go. I put alot of energy into propping up Paolo for a long time to have the rug pulled out from underneath me! Im Team Jabari and Houston Rockets all the way and have moved on, but some of the stuff that gets tossed around deserves a response and hopefully lead to some closure and apply that energy into supporting the current team and figuring out how to maximize the players and lineups moving forward. Personally I think its a little lazy to parrot some of the same talking points about Banchero when there is already professional tape on him to digest. HIs shooting hasnt been great (GO FIGURE ) but he's been a leader for that Magic team and has shown what a benefit a hub like him on offense is dude is almost unstoppable on offense - either he'll score or get to the free throw line. I dont expect it to stay static at the same level when facing All NBA defenders of course not, but the foundation is there to support that trajectory for the player without having to invent and maintain narratives is all Im saying.
If someone was bear hugging you the whole game, you wouldn't get in a rhythm either. But Jabari didn't help by allowing it.....Tatum and other NBA players won't allow it. Thus the Banchero will get exposed comment. I forget who you wanted? Was it Chet or Banchero? Or either just not Jabari or Ivey?
I agree. My preference in team building would have a collection of players that COULD be a #1 option and have the skill sets to support that type of versatility. Its OK that Jabari cant take the ball and break down a defense and score or distribute. Not yet, but maybe some day. I hope that Silas and the other coaches will be smart enough to use his elite shooting touch to open up easy looks for him using the movement you describe. I would love some Reggie Miller type sets. Im really high on Eason too, but if anyone needs to watch those fouls it would be him. Other than that there is nothing much to be critical about. It will be a learning season. I dont think we'll lose as much as last year, but I dont think we'll challenge for the play-in either. Next years draft has some intriguing players outside of Wemby and Scoot anyway so all wouldnt be lost with some marginal progress.
What is the purpose of this? still 2 dribbles and then into a terrible shot, yes he made it but that is a verry low percentage shot. It makes my point, his lack of dribble package will mean not many easy buckets, most wing type players can spin and still keep the dribble. I keep hearing Reggie Miller but can Shith shoot off the catch at a high level Miller can he shoot off the move like Miller? I don't remember seeing much of it in college. That's also the difference with Klay he runs off a screen stop and catches a pass and put up a shot cleanly, is that in Smith's game currently. It seems his shots come from spotting up are a 2 dribble pull up not much like what Klay or Steph do off motion, will be interested to see how he does with that stuff.
We really need to stop pointing out things that joe smoe can do at the Y on weekends. Nobody has said he can't dribble at all. The fact that people are pointing out such basic stuff really points out that there is not much there, we got people talking about a spin move at the free throw line and being to dodge a fallen teammate while dribbling. Really?
I think you can scheme shooters open if the philosophy to exploit that advantage is shared with the organization. If its going to be a bunch of hero ball again then Smith will find it hard to shine on his own until he can become an offensive engine that doesnt need any boost or support from his teammates. Instead of needing them to be keep him involved he will be the reason THEY are good. Thats the hope. Im trying not to wallow in self pity and doubt too much myself I can see the flashes of talent. You are entitled to have your concerns too since IMO they arent some fabricated beefs similar to what gets aimed at Banchero. Even last night there was a play where Jabari just looked bad with the ball and had it taken from him easy. Silver lining is that this thing is still in its infancy and the great players will rise above. Gotta give it some time.
Yes, you can scheme shooters open but that's not a sustainable foundation for an offense, especially in the playoffs. I am not wallowing I am just trying to extrapolate what kind of player he can be on a contending team.
Wasnt implying your own condition with the "wallow" comment it was meant more for my own position with the player moving forward and this draft cycle in general. Hopefully the finished form of Jabari Smith will be more than a 3&D player.
look at another replay that shows a different angle. There was no hand between him and the basket when he let go of the ball and he was really close to the basket. That’s a high percentage shot. But I am with you: he won’t create many easy shots with his dribble package. That’s not who he is (yet). But he can hit tough shots at a pretty good rate. What I still can’t understand is this: his handles are a glaring weakness thing. He is pretty secure with the ball - way more than Chet for example. He is just really selective with when he uses his dribble, and he isn’t very quick with his feet on offense so he can’t get much separation. But he can get to his spots with the dribble - he can cross guys over, even behind his back, he can use a spin or a fadeaway. And the moves and his handle don’t look awkward. Just a little slow. He can and will work on that. But his game will always be centered around jump shots.
He is the definition of fit with Jalen... they are kind of opposites in a way... I think it was best case scenario for the two of them. He's going to get a lot of open looks because of Jalen collapsing the defense and Jalen will see a lot more empty space between his man and the basket because of the threat Jabari poses.
