Precisely. Right now Ime is doing the right thing giving minutes to those who earn it. Until Jalen can consistently provide offense and defense simultaneously, he's not helping the team.
TS% currently sitting at a pristine 61%, which is James Harden level. Not saying he's James Harden good, just that he absolutely should be a featured player right now, not just a guy that fits in where he can. Over these last 3 games it seems like he's started to realize this.
I know last home game he has to go to FVV and say give me the ball He needed to do that last night in 4th… it would have stopped the fronting on Alpi …they will prob notice it on tape since they have a couple days off
I’ve been as loquacious in my criticism of Jabari as anyone in here and after the first few games this season, I was very convinced he was going to be a utility big (meaning 15 minutes off the bench) at best. I’m obviously eating crow right now but I have to say, this particular crow tastes delicious. A few thoughts: 1) The key step in this turnaround seems to have been Jabari’s dedication to rebounding. He always rebounded decently but in the last month, he’s been really focused on it. That seems to have boosted his confidence which has now carried over into the other parts of his game. 2) The Rockets have to find a way to get him more shots when he’s hot. I’d be saying this even if he was still otherwise playing like ass but it’s even more critical given his success and Jalen’s unfortunate lack of scoring. There needs to be more 2 man plays with him and Alpi and more post up middies for him when Alpi sits. 3) I think he will fill out some as he ages, but I still think he will always be on the leaner side given his frame and will probably never be the strongest of PFs. I would prefer his physical training focus on coordination (particularly his footwork) and quick twitch reactivity* to maximize his ability to defend on the perimeter and to be a bit more explosive when jumping. *footnote- I have no idea if this is a real term in training so please share the correct terminology if it is not. 4) As far as the odds of him being a franchise player, he will have to develop a go-to move/shot that he can execute against almost any defense and show a little more ability to find the open man if that go-to move is covered. Right now, he is getting open looks that depend heavily on the gravity of other players - he hasn’t faced any defenses that are focused on him exclusively. We’ve seen in the past that he typically turns the ball over when doubled hard or trapped - he will have to master a couple different “outs” (slipping the double, passing out) that will discourage that kind of coverage. Can he become a (or even the) go-to guy? A month ago, I would have emphatically said no, but given his quick improvement. I will instead say “not sure about that.” But at this point, he is demonstrating he can be a top contributor at multiple facets of the game while still only 20. I’m be more than content if he stays that way and simply becomes more crafty as he grows up.
A year or so ago, there was a video of Jalen and Jabari jokingly interviewing each other. Jabari seemed thoughtful and mature; Jalen did not. It was just a short video, shouldn't make too much of it. But everything since has been consistent with the difference they showed then.
Good post. I do think the mid range turnaround is already a go to. He also seems to be getting the drive and then going into the jumper.
Jabari Smith Jr. 2023-24 Splits | Basketball-Reference.com Splits looking good. Nov Dec 60+ TS%, 41% from 3, rebounds, stocks, etc. Very impressive averages. I think it's safe to say these numbers suggest a little more than "a release valve" type of player, although his current usage is still of the "release valve" variety. With Sengun looking like the dude, I wonder if they can up his usage to that 2nd option territory with him keeping everything else level? Can FVV direct the offense through Sengun and Jabari and be the release valve for them? Or still being so young, maybe ask that Jabari stay in this role and not put too much on him too soon? I can absolutely live with Jabari being a 15/10 and good defense, highly efficient release valve this season. Just let him do this thing, we'll take the explosions as they come and worry about a bigger role in the future? Whichever way you go, I think you just have to appreciate the progress Jabari's made right now. This is the guy we wanted during the draft.
I really like how Jabari is adapting and altering his role to fit in better and excel. He's started crashing the glass recently and he's really good at it. Getting tons of offensive rebounds and putbacks, and also getting fouled because it's so physical under the basket. First year he had 1.5 OREB per game, this year through his first 17 games he had 1.5 OREB per game. In his last 10 he has 3 OREB per game and 4 FTA per game, which is way up. The other thing he's started to do is cut, something that nobody else on the team really does. We had KJ Martin who wasn't very good overall but he was a really good cutter and accounted for like 2-3 easy buckets per game just by opportune cutting. Jabari is making his way towards filling this role I think, it makes him a lot tougher to guard and also makes the Sengun post up tougher to guard in general. If you have to watch for him cutting youll give him more space and then he's even deadlier on the catch and shoot 3. Anyway it's nice to see him add new elements to his game and watching him evolve in real time. It's really cool to see that out of a young player. He's a totally different guy compared to last year.
Jabari is visibly more aggressive on the drive and on cutting. He has the ability to do those things. He just needs to know when to just rise and shoot and when to pump fake and drive. He's a good FT shooter. So getting to the rim and getting fouled can bump his scoring to the 25ppg range.
I'm so glad; I was wrong about Jabari. The kid took full responsibility after the loss against the Spurs in the 2nd game of the season and responded in a big way. The kid got benched in the 4th quarter of multiple games and responded in a big way. Jabari was benched in the first Pelicans game because Ime liked Uncle Jeff's defense on Zion better. Yesterday, Ime kept Uncle Jeff on the court again, but Jabari was not the one getting benched this time. He took it personally and delivered against the same team that got him benched earlier in the season. I'm so proud of him.
Good post. I'll just note that a franchise player needs at least a go-to move, an excellent counter off of that move, and the ability to find the open man. Think Dream with the jump hook which set up everything from the Dream Shake to the baseline jumper to the fadeaway in the lane. Sengun can already go either direction with his post-up from either side of the floor which is pretty rare. Jabari needs to keep nailing the jump shots and then develop some strong counters. You can already see him working on the drive, but he favors his strong hand too much on both drives and setting up his jumper. Another year or two of getting stronger, smarter, and more experienced--along with summers spent on improving handles--and he'll be a major problem for defenses.
I'll also note that the light is coming on for him--he's starting to realize he can just shoot over most defenders. His rookie year he seemed loathe to take a shot unless he was wide open.
