jman3134 wrote:I hope I am not the only one who thought this: JJJ is overrated. What is the fascination with this guy's upside? He has 0 in between game and does not have the handle to get to the rim off the dribble. Shot is shakey at best. Glass work isn't there.
I'm definitely feeling better about moving him, but I can still see the upside. His defense is getting better and has been important. I don't think we beat the Lakers without it last night. His outside shot is super funky but works. My biggest issues are consistency, him not being physical enough in the paint to be even remotely okay down low on offense, and his reputation with the refs killing him.
He still has great spurts but is streaky on offense. His defense has previously been streaky too but it seems to have maybe settled into a more consistent level this year though that level is less than what most would have hoped for.
I've said all season JJJ looks to me like he put work in this summer on his post moves (the spin in particular), but he did so in an empty gym and never against defenders remotely close to nba defenders. He has his moves but not the physicality to implement them against opponents. Maybe more strength will help, but I think JJJ is just soft and in his head. Overthinking stuff instead of no thinking and just powering through (every once in a while he does and it is beautiful). He has done a little better with rebounding, but still a long ways to go with all things paint related.
JJJ's reputation with the refs lead to him getting no calls. AD and Dray each had a blocked 3pt shot against JJJ that really should have been fouls. When JJJ does get mauled in the paint is generally isn't called. And JJJ is quick to be called for some soft fouls due in large part to reputation (AD getting some star calls against JJJ for example). He has fully earned that reputation with the way he has fouled in the past, and it feels like he has done a little better this year, but I think it can mess with his head some and hurt his aggression.
Overall JJJ doesn't seem to have the upside to be what we all hoped. A quality center on defense who is mobile enough to handle switches on the perimeter and who can stretch the floor on offense while having some shot creation and dribble drive moves. I think he is more of a 3&D PF who can play small ball 5 if he has a decent rim protecting/help PF who will be okayish on switches for a 7ft dude. Clarke and X fit that PF role well enough that JJJ at 5 against opponents without a true C on the floor will work decently, but Ja still needs a true running mate. Maybe things will click with Jaren given how much time and learning opportunities he's missed due to injury, but at best it feels like he is an okayish 3rd guy.