The Official Jalen Suggs Thread

[pepe1991]

Before draft i thought Mobley is most talented prospect... finally i nailed draft pick didn't have good evaluation since Doncic

[nicnac215]

Frustrating watching him...he was never billed as a project but that is exactly what he looks like. He looks like he has no idea how to dribble a ball sometimes.

However, as is with a lot of rookies, sometimes all they need is one great game and they relax a little. It happened with Franz. If Suggs gives us a breakout game I think he will start to look more consistent going forward. He'll relax and the dribbling won't be so sloppy and he'll have a little more confidence when he takes a shot.

I always viewed him as the most raw prospect in the lottery

[PrimeThyme]

If I had to place my concern level with Suggs on a scale from 1-10 it would probably land somewhere in the 3-4 range.

It's still quite low, but it's not nonexistent which if I'm being honest is what I expected it to be at this stage after how high I was on him in the draft/college.

For the most part, I think it's a confidence and speed of the game issue for him. He's starting to get where he wants to on the court but just isn't exactly sure what to do once he does.

The shot will start falling at a higher clip eventually but It is a bit concerning.

This is someone who shot under 35% from 3 in college. At his size and with his lack of elite explosiveness around the rim, he's going to have to become an efficient high-volume shooter to hit his ceiling. The shot doesn't look hitchy or anything and he's not showing reluctance to shoot, it's just not falling. It will have to start.

I think some serious offseason strength training will go a long way for him. His lack of strength at the rim is a problem imo. Jalen shot 50% from the field in college. He's a more than capable finisher, I just think this size is currently holding him back.

Watching him stand next to Mitchell last night was even surprising. Suggs may have 3 inches on him height-wise but dwindles in comparison due to the sheer bulk and muscularity of Mitchell. It really helps Donovan around the rim too.

[RookieStar]

I just keep reminding myself how awful Trae Young's first two months were before I start to panic

Young was shooting just .377 FG% and .237 3PT% when he was 28 games into his rookie season.

Also, Cade and Green are shooting the ball like absolute crap too. I think Suggs needs to continue to start until Fultz gets back. Without Suggs in the game the ball just stops moving completely. We need at least one guy who can get it to his teammates.

it's s***tiest year to be a rookie in very long time.
NBA again allows handchacking ( kind a), there is new ball, fans are back in arena and in general refs don't treat guards like golden cows any more.

You have to put into context.. it's the worst time to be a rookie guard right now when the league is introducing bully-ball back. This means all those offensive moves and finishes otherwise its a foul by guards are not allowed anymore. Now wonder Mobley,out of all the rookies, is shining so bright right now.

[RookieStar]

No Barnes at top 2?

I'd go...

1. Mobley
2. Barnes
3. Wagner
4. Duarte
5. Giddey

As of now.

Cunningham, Suggs and Green have all had some brutally rough patches so far.

Its only 1 game but with Siakam back, Barnes has been looking average like all rookies except Mobley. I think Raps wil have a problem like us, we drafted a guard when right now the brightest star we have plays the same position. Kind of also with Mo and Vuc.

Anyway, hope they figure out that situation cuz it will be a shame if Barnes development would be stunted with Siakam back.

[RookieStar]

If I had to place my concern level with Suggs on a scale from 1-10 it would probably land somewhere in the 3-4 range.

It's still quite low, but it's not nonexistent which if I'm being honest is what I expected it to be at this stage after how high I was on him in the draft/college.

For the most part, I think it's a confidence and speed of the game issue for him. He's starting to get where he wants to on the court but just isn't exactly sure what to do once he does.

The shot will start falling at a higher clip eventually but It is a bit concerning.

This is someone who shot under 35% from 3 in college. At his size and with his lack of elite explosiveness around the rim, he's going to have to become an efficient high-volume shooter to hit his ceiling. The shot doesn't look hitchy or anything and he's not showing reluctance to shoot, it's just not falling. It will have to start.

I think some serious offseason strength training will go a long way for him. His lack of strength at the rim is a problem imo. Jalen shot 50% from the field in college. He's a more than capable finisher, I just think this size is currently holding him back.

Watching him stand next to Mitchell last night was even surprising. Suggs may have 3 inches on him height-wise but dwindles in comparison due to the sheer bulk and muscularity of Mitchell. It really helps Donovan around the rim too.

The Don is supposedly 6'3 with shoes.. wow so Suggs is hovering in the 6'5/6'6 range then? But yeah... nba rooks will always look puny to nba vets with access to strength/conditioning coaches plus other stuff. Hopefully by year 2-3 Suggs will also have hat body transformation.

[Xatticus]

Frustrating watching him...he was never billed as a project but that is exactly what he looks like. He looks like he has no idea how to dribble a ball sometimes.

However, as is with a lot of rookies, sometimes all they need is one great game and they relax a little. It happened with Franz. If Suggs gives us a breakout game I think he will start to look more consistent going forward. He'll relax and the dribbling won't be so sloppy and he'll have a little more confidence when he takes a shot.

I always viewed him as the most raw prospect in the lottery

Well he certainly wasn't the most raw given Primo and Kuminga, but yeah... I don't know why people kept touting him as NBA ready. I thought it was pretty obvious that it would take time. You always hope it doesn't, but it almost always does.

[nicnac215]

Frustrating watching him...he was never billed as a project but that is exactly what he looks like. He looks like he has no idea how to dribble a ball sometimes.

However, as is with a lot of rookies, sometimes all they need is one great game and they relax a little. It happened with Franz. If Suggs gives us a breakout game I think he will start to look more consistent going forward. He'll relax and the dribbling won't be so sloppy and he'll have a little more confidence when he takes a shot.

I always viewed him as the most raw prospect in the lottery

Well he certainly wasn't the most raw given Primo and Kuminga, but yeah... I don't know why people kept touting him as NBA ready. I thought it was pretty obvious that it would take time. You always hope it doesn't, but it almost always does.

I think it was his NBA ready body, vision, and defense. His on ball basketball skills are really lacking. Hopefully it was because he dedicated so much time to football before. He needs to work as hard as Cole if he wants to be special.

[pinoynurse]

He really needs to improve his handle, far to loose for a lead guard

He also really needs to learn how to shift gears. Right now he only has 2 speeds slow or fast

I didnt really scout him becuz i never thought he would fall to us but im really surprised by how…limited he is…despite all the hype. Still its early, he will be fine jist dont think the ceiling will be as high as some people initially thought

[drsd]

Before draft i thought Mobley is most talented prospect...

He has "Next Chris Bosh" all about his style and game. That is absolutely worth an overall #1.


..

[pepe1991]

Before draft i thought Mobley is most talented prospect...

He has "Next Chris Bosh" all about his style and game. That is absolutely worth an overall #1.


..

He might be bit better. Bosh never displayed so much ballhandling and ability to attack off dribble. Mobley literally goes coast to coast with natural dribbling motions, positions himself in post and displays ability to turn both shoulders and score. Despite being toothpick in terms of strenght.

[CarraT]

Before draft i thought Mobley is most talented prospect...

He has "Next Chris Bosh" all about his style and game. That is absolutely worth an overall #1.


..

I don´t know. For me Bosh was always overrated. He´s just a LaMarcus Aldridge who happend to play with Prime LeBron and Wade. Look at their per36min Career Stats, they are identical. In Toronto, as the Go-To Guy, he was just as succesfull as Vuc was with us.
Evan Mobley on the other hand has potential to be real special, because other than Bosh, he can dominate games as a defensive anchor. A really great big needs to be great defender, and that is what COULD seperate Mobley from jump-shooting bigs like Bosh, Aldridge (maybe Vuc), who can´t be the main guy on a winning team.

[pepe1991]

Before draft i thought Mobley is most talented prospect...

He has "Next Chris Bosh" all about his style and game. That is absolutely worth an overall #1.


..

I don´t know. For me Bosh was always overrated. He´s just a LaMarcus Aldridge who happend to play with Prime LeBron and Wade. Look at their per36min Career Stats, they are identical. In Toronto, as the Go-To Guy, he was just as succesfull as Vuc was with us.
Evan Mobley on the other hand has potential to be real special, because other than Bosh, he can dominate games as a defensive anchor. A really great big needs to be great defender, and that is what COULD seperate Mobley from jump-shooting bigs like Bosh, Aldridge (maybe Vuc), who can´t be the main guy on a winning team.

It's just reality of nba, your center /PF almost never can't be best player on championship team, just like 99,99% of PGs can't be.
PGs are simply too small so they get dwrafed in playoffs ( Curry is best PG in ages and still his playoff numbers are not on part to his regular season numbers and as best player he only won 1 ring, against Cavs who were rilddled with injuries ).
And centers struggle to handle ball into great positions in modern era and 3 point shooting diminishes their scoring value.

So basically, until you have superstar wing,you are not contender. Even fluke championships over last two decades like Raptors , Mavs( or even Bucks ) were won by star wings or very stacked ,well balanced teams. But most of the time it's Durant, Kawhi or Lebron winning whole thing on their star power (and now Giannis). But same still mold. Tall ballhandlers. Bigger than guards, more versitale, faster than centres.

[Bergmaniac]

Before draft i thought Mobley is most talented prospect...

He has "Next Chris Bosh" all about his style and game. That is absolutely worth an overall #1.


..

I don´t know. For me Bosh was always overrated. He´s just a LaMarcus Aldridge who happend to play with Prime LeBron and Wade. Look at their per36min Career Stats, they are identical. In Toronto, as the Go-To Guy, he was just as succesfull as Vuc was with us.
Evan Mobley on the other hand has potential to be real special, because other than Bosh, he can dominate games as a defensive anchor. A really great big needs to be great defender, and that is what COULD seperate Mobley from jump-shooting bigs like Bosh, Aldridge (maybe Vuc), who can´t be the main guy on a winning team.

Bosh became a really good defender later in his career, in Miami he focused on his defense for obvious reasons and become an elite pick and roll defender and a big reason why Miami's defense was so dominant. But as a rookie he was nowhere near Mobley on that end. Mobley has unbelievable defensive awareness and instincts for a rookie big.

[89Magicfan]

I’ll admit, I’m concern about Suggs. I thought he was a bit more advanced coming out. Granted I didn’t watch any NCAA basketball last year or two. I just saw videos. He looked liked a Lillard/Rose hybrid with better court vision and passing IMO but right now, I don’t know what he is. Keith Bogans with a bit more hops? Idk.

[RookieStar]

Let's face it.. everything that Suggs is doing would be worthy of a top-5 pick EXCEPT his shots aren't going in AND his dribble/ball handling isn't there yet.

Now the good thing about it is his shooting form looks good and his FT% supports that. It's just not going in. However, that can easily be corrected. As someone said, look at Trae in his first 30 games. Form looks good but his shots just weren't going in.

As for ball-handling, well based on what we read, this is the first time in 2(???) years where he focused solely on one sport. He was supposed to be a football player after all. So with more practice and reps, his handling can get there.

[drsd]

I’ll admit, I’m concern about Suggs. I thought he was a bit more advanced coming out. Granted I didn’t watch any NCAA basketball last year or two. I just saw videos. He looked liked a Lillard/Rose hybrid with better court vision and passing IMO but right now, I don’t know what he is. Keith Bogans with a bit more hops? Idk.

It is very hard to be a rookie guard. And he is on an unset roster. Wait til late-January to assess him.

[DiplomaticMagic]

I always saw Suggs as a Malcom Brogdon type before the draft.

It was his play in summer league that won me over a bit, him making game winning plays and disrupting a 2 on 1 fasrbreak by himself. After his first few weeks of NBA play, my original prediction seems more likely. But we will see.

I still rather have him over Barnes just based on fit, I dont see Barnes having the same impact he is being on our team instead. Plus I think I like Wagner more.

Mobley wouldve been a terrific get. But its still too early to call what Suggs is going to be.

[Skin]

Come away from the edge....

Suggs is just going through his development. His shooting will improve over time, but at least we can count on solid fundamentals in passing and defense. He's the right kind of player to groom because his potential is that of a winning type player.

Can't say the same thing about Cole. He may get his on the stat sheet, but he may not be a winning type player.

[pepe1991]

There are aspects of his game that are bigger red flags than his brick shooting.
His turnovers are sky high. Guy averages 3,5 turnovers a game.
Most of this comes from fact his ballhandling is nowhere near NBA level today.

In general rookie guards normally commit lot of TOs because they try things that aren't there. Suggs doesn't do that that often,his TOs are simply him not being able to secure ball.

As for shooting, i'm not ready to raise alarm 11 games into a season, but if we are in January or February and he still shoots like this, than yea, it will be issue going forward.