Sengun was there and the main guy 3 of those 11 games. The pace sped up but thats on Udoka and FVV being slow af. Sengun can play either pace and still excel. You said Green has always been the best player thats just not true at all.
Jalen's assists in tonight's game were exciting to watch. Hoping his assists numbers increase this season (averaging 3 assist a game).
Hated on Jalen for a few years but he is finally playing like a ****ing man and actually acting like he's the best player on the court Proud of him
I mentioned it more than a couple times last season. His body really just needed to mature and develop to what one would be able to withstand the rigors of not just an 82 game season but also the assault that their bodies endure within a 4 quarter game or even more. His game has also matured with that body maturity. We've seen the slow to fast pace bursts that we see from the greats and the ability to dissect the defense and pick his spots, rather than try to just take what the defense gives him. He's been much more aggressive but in a very balanced and intentional way. We knew he could do it, it really was just a matter of keeping these haters at bay and understanding that all he needed was a bit of time.
Harden/Green backcourt would be a beautiful symphony of downhill FU rim pressure, free throws and 3's. James has the equivalent of a GLeague team around him right now and they are still scrapping -- the irony.
Jalen has never consistently led us to wins in the 4th quarter. Usually 4th is when he would get shut down. The fact that he is rising to the occasion and scoring when the defense is the most intense bodes well for how he has grown as a player
What a luxury to be able to keep this guy in the game on those late possessions. No more worrying about his defense. He holds his own and makes plays. Now we can put a bunch of switchable defenders out there with him, and when we get the ball, he can get us a bucket or free throws. It changes everything.
Freddy dominates the ball a ton too and it doesnt seem to impact Jalen negatively. edit: Sorry Will this response was meant for @verysimplejason
He hurts the spacing and pace on offense too though. When he’s the hub he makes sense, but if Jalen is the guy we go to for buckets when we need them, Sengun as an offball offensive threat isn’t great
With the right matchup Sengun should be money on offense in game defining moments we cant forget that. Just because Jalen is coming to the rescue late in these games doesnt mean that we should continue to starwatch and hope he answers prayers every game. THAT is not sustainable. Sengun needs to continue to get comfortable with his outside shot and present himself as a competent pick and pop guy to go along with his playmaking from a 5 out offense. 41 is too easy to take away nowadays if the matchup is wrong and they are going to blitz Sengun in the post. He needs to get used to initiating from a face up position.
It seems that FVV is doing more off ball and letting Jalen initiate. Jalen has become the backup PG when Fred sits (although admittedly Udoka doesn't want Feddy's bench seat to get warm).
Freddy is #12 in the NBA in TOP. Jalen is like 17th or something like that. The whole team seems to be deferring to Jalen late in games, but that could become an unsustainable crutch. I'd love to have another perimeter playmaker that can apply pressure from all 3 levels.
