Jabari Smith Jr. - Auburn

[JMAC3]

Paolo is also 1.5 years older than Jabari. The reason Jabari is in a 4th option role is because the Rockets have Sengun who is clearly the best offensive player probably of the 2021 NBA draft, and then two guards in FVV and Jalen Green. I would argue that Jabari should be the 2nd option based on efficiency alone, but that's not how it works. Jalen has fallen off a cliff so you would see Jabari being the clear 3rd option and perhaps by the end of the year, 2nd option.

In reality Udoka has a team offensive set so everybody gets shots up in his system.

Paolo is 180 days older than Jabari, that is half of a year chief. Can we stop acting like a guy being 6 months younger is some massive disadvantage? Especially when they have the same number of years of college and NBA experience....

[Colbinii]

I’ve watched Rockets games where Jabari just floats on the court and doesn’t really do anything the entire game. I watched Magic games where Paolo looks like a future MVP and I’ve watched Magic games where he struggled scoring and held his team back. But he’s always an impact player and has agency over the outcome of a game.

If Paolo tightens up his scoring efficiency he’s an All NBA level player pretty easily. Jabari would need to transform his game entirely to have that level of impact on a game. As it stands now he looks like a 4th option who’s an above average shooter who needs offense created for himself but doesn’t create offense for others. He’s a good and versatile defender but not a world beater there either.

Paolo right now plays like a star having a below par game, whereas Jabari plays like an ordinary guy that every team has.

Paolo is also 1.5 years older than Jabari. The reason Jabari is in a 4th option role is because the Rockets have Sengun who is clearly the best offensive player probably of the 2021 NBA draft, and then two guards in FVV and Jalen Green. I would argue that Jabari should be the 2nd option based on efficiency alone, but that's not how it works. Jalen has fallen off a cliff so you would see Jabari being the clear 3rd option and perhaps by the end of the year, 2nd option.

In reality Udoka has a team offensive set so everybody gets shots up in his system.

1.5 years?

Maybe check your math.

November 2002 to May 2003 is 6 months.

[EvanZ]

Jabari is improving at a faster rate than Paolo by any metric you want to check. BPM, DARKO, etc. Not much question Paolo is better right now. But the final outcomes are far from being determined imo.

[FarBeyondDriven]

why are we arguing over a place or two in our rankings. From my recollection and after reading these threads everyone was kinda split between the top three guys with varying takes about how much, if any, separation there was between the three. Those were and are still reasonable takes and if someone's #1 is slightly better than someone else's #1 is it really worth fighting about? Nobody is winning bragging rights over this since pretty much everyone had the same top three but in different orders.

[EvanZ]

why are we arguing over a place or two in our rankings. From my recollection and after reading these threads everyone was kinda split between the top three guys with varying takes about how much, if any, separation there was between the three. Those were and are still reasonable takes and if someone's #1 is slightly better than someone else's #1 is it really worth fighting about? Nobody is winning bragging rights over this since pretty much everyone had the same top three but in different orders.

There’s a cabal of lap takers, cherry pickers and back patters who care a lot about showcasing immediate wins.


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[FrightCoward]

Jabari still floats on offense way too much for my liking, but he’s definitely shown great strides this year. Not taking him over Paolo or Chet in a redraft, so I think he fits right in where he was drafted as the third best player in this draft. He doesn’t have the offensive gifts of Paolo nor the overall game or Chet, but he’ll be a very good pro for a long time.

[JMAC3]

Jabari 7 pts last night, Paolo 43 pts.... but apparently Paolo is a losing player because his team lost and Jabari is a winning player because his team won lol

[Colbinii]

Jabari 7 pts last night, Paolo 43 pts.... but apparently Paolo is a losing player because his team lost and Jabari is a winning player because his team won lol

I like to think you have the ability to look beyond points and understand that most impact in a basketball game isn't actually recorded by the box-score.

But yeah, Paolo is going to have these nights where he is scoring exceptionally well and also turning the ball over 8 times. It is growing pains he will have as he learns how to be a #1 Option. He is supporting a 29% USG%, and outside of Himself/Wagner/Cole, the team is really deprived of offensive talent, which makes things difficult for Paolo at an efficiency level but easier for him at a volume level.

I'm looking forward to seeing him in a playoff setting, where defenses are hyper-focused on him, detailed on him as the #1 option and he is forced to work with what the defense gives him. Anthony Edwards is a player who has excelled in the post-season with his physical profile, ability to attack the rim and high-FT%. I think a lot of people lump them together as having similar trajectories.

But yeah, maybe we don't be so hyperbolic, spend some time understanding why Jabari Smith Jr is valuable [and it isn't because he projects as a #1 option] and why Paolo is value [He could become an effective #1 option].

[EvanZ]

Jabari 7 pts last night, Paolo 43 pts.... but apparently Paolo is a losing player because his team lost and Jabari is a winning player because his team won lol

Sigh


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[FrightCoward]

Jabari 7 pts last night, Paolo 43 pts.... but apparently Paolo is a losing player because his team lost and Jabari is a winning player because his team won lol

I like to think you have the ability to look beyond points and understand that most impact in a basketball game isn't actually recorded by the box-score.

But yeah, Paolo is going to have these nights where he is scoring exceptionally well and also turning the ball over 8 times. It is growing pains he will have as he learns how to be a #1 Option. He is supporting a 29% USG%, and outside of Himself/Wagner/Cole, the team is really deprived of offensive talent, which makes things difficult for Paolo at an efficiency level but easier for him at a volume level.

I'm looking forward to seeing him in a playoff setting, where defenses are hyper-focused on him, detailed on him as the #1 option and he is forced to work with what the defense gives him. Anthony Edwards is a player who has excelled in the post-season with his physical profile, ability to attack the rim and high-FT%. I think a lot of people lump them together as having similar trajectories.

But yeah, maybe we don't be so hyperbolic, spend some time understanding why Jabari Smith Jr is valuable [and it isn't because he projects as a #1 option] and why Paolo is value [He could become an effective #1 option].

Well said. I’m not going to ding Paolo too much for those 8 TOs, though, especially when he is the #1 (in a game without Franz) and on a team that provides no spacing. I think most players would struggle to be efficient at his age if thrown on that Magic team, they need shooters in the worst way. My biggest issue with advanced stats is that they don’t take the role a player plays on their team into a consideration a lot of the time. Paolo is asked to do so much more than Jabari and carry a load that a lot of young players would struggle to do.

[JMAC3]

Jabari 7 pts last night, Paolo 43 pts.... but apparently Paolo is a losing player because his team lost and Jabari is a winning player because his team won lol

I like to think you have the ability to look beyond points and understand that most impact in a basketball game isn't actually recorded by the box-score.

But yeah, Paolo is going to have these nights where he is scoring exceptionally well and also turning the ball over 8 times. It is growing pains he will have as he learns how to be a #1 Option. He is supporting a 29% USG%, and outside of Himself/Wagner/Cole, the team is really deprived of offensive talent, which makes things difficult for Paolo at an efficiency level but easier for him at a volume level.

I'm looking forward to seeing him in a playoff setting, where defenses are hyper-focused on him, detailed on him as the #1 option and he is forced to work with what the defense gives him. Anthony Edwards is a player who has excelled in the post-season with his physical profile, ability to attack the rim and high-FT%. I think a lot of people lump them together as having similar trajectories.

But yeah, maybe we don't be so hyperbolic, spend some time understanding why Jabari Smith Jr is valuable [and it isn't because he projects as a #1 option] and why Paolo is value [He could become an effective #1 option].

This conversation might as well be Cason Wallace is better than Cade Cunningham at basketball because advanced numbers.

[EvanZ]

Jabari 7 pts last night, Paolo 43 pts.... but apparently Paolo is a losing player because his team lost and Jabari is a winning player because his team won lol

I like to think you have the ability to look beyond points and understand that most impact in a basketball game isn't actually recorded by the box-score.

But yeah, Paolo is going to have these nights where he is scoring exceptionally well and also turning the ball over 8 times. It is growing pains he will have as he learns how to be a #1 Option. He is supporting a 29% USG%, and outside of Himself/Wagner/Cole, the team is really deprived of offensive talent, which makes things difficult for Paolo at an efficiency level but easier for him at a volume level.

I'm looking forward to seeing him in a playoff setting, where defenses are hyper-focused on him, detailed on him as the #1 option and he is forced to work with what the defense gives him. Anthony Edwards is a player who has excelled in the post-season with his physical profile, ability to attack the rim and high-FT%. I think a lot of people lump them together as having similar trajectories.

But yeah, maybe we don't be so hyperbolic, spend some time understanding why Jabari Smith Jr is valuable [and it isn't because he projects as a #1 option] and why Paolo is value [He could become an effective #1 option].

This conversation might as well be Cason Wallace is better than Cade Cunningham at basketball because advanced numbers.

Um not sure we're gonna need "advanced" numbers for that.

[Colbinii]

Jabari 7 pts last night, Paolo 43 pts.... but apparently Paolo is a losing player because his team lost and Jabari is a winning player because his team won lol

I like to think you have the ability to look beyond points and understand that most impact in a basketball game isn't actually recorded by the box-score.

But yeah, Paolo is going to have these nights where he is scoring exceptionally well and also turning the ball over 8 times. It is growing pains he will have as he learns how to be a #1 Option. He is supporting a 29% USG%, and outside of Himself/Wagner/Cole, the team is really deprived of offensive talent, which makes things difficult for Paolo at an efficiency level but easier for him at a volume level.

I'm looking forward to seeing him in a playoff setting, where defenses are hyper-focused on him, detailed on him as the #1 option and he is forced to work with what the defense gives him. Anthony Edwards is a player who has excelled in the post-season with his physical profile, ability to attack the rim and high-FT%. I think a lot of people lump them together as having similar trajectories.

But yeah, maybe we don't be so hyperbolic, spend some time understanding why Jabari Smith Jr is valuable [and it isn't because he projects as a #1 option] and why Paolo is value [He could become an effective #1 option].

This conversation might as well be Cason Wallace is better than Cade Cunningham at basketball because advanced numbers.

If that is all you are gaining from my posts then you have serious reading disabilities.

[JMAC3]

I like to think you have the ability to look beyond points and understand that most impact in a basketball game isn't actually recorded by the box-score.

But yeah, Paolo is going to have these nights where he is scoring exceptionally well and also turning the ball over 8 times. It is growing pains he will have as he learns how to be a #1 Option. He is supporting a 29% USG%, and outside of Himself/Wagner/Cole, the team is really deprived of offensive talent, which makes things difficult for Paolo at an efficiency level but easier for him at a volume level.

I'm looking forward to seeing him in a playoff setting, where defenses are hyper-focused on him, detailed on him as the #1 option and he is forced to work with what the defense gives him. Anthony Edwards is a player who has excelled in the post-season with his physical profile, ability to attack the rim and high-FT%. I think a lot of people lump them together as having similar trajectories.

But yeah, maybe we don't be so hyperbolic, spend some time understanding why Jabari Smith Jr is valuable [and it isn't because he projects as a #1 option] and why Paolo is value [He could become an effective #1 option].

This conversation might as well be Cason Wallace is better than Cade Cunningham at basketball because advanced numbers.

Um not sure we're gonna need "advanced" numbers for that.

Lol. You probably think Mike Conley is better than Jamal Murray too.

[EvanZ]

This conversation might as well be Cason Wallace is better than Cade Cunningham at basketball because advanced numbers.

Um not sure we're gonna need "advanced" numbers for that.

Lol. You probably think Mike Conley is better than Jamal Murray too.

And you probably think Cade is better than Mike Conley.

[JMAC3]

Um not sure we're gonna need "advanced" numbers for that.

Lol. You probably think Mike Conley is better than Jamal Murray too.

And you probably think Cade is better than Mike Conley.

Is this a real comment? Go put it on the trade board and tell me if anyone in their right mind is trading Cade for Conley.

[EvanZ]

Lol. You probably think Mike Conley is better than Jamal Murray too.

And you probably think Cade is better than Mike Conley.

Is this a real comment? Go put it on the trade board and tell me if anyone in their right mind is trading Cade for Conley.

They won’t but right now Conley is obviously better. Or do you not agree?


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[JMAC3]

And you probably think Cade is better than Mike Conley.

Is this a real comment? Go put it on the trade board and tell me if anyone in their right mind is trading Cade for Conley.

They won’t but right now Conley is obviously better. Or do you not agree?

I do not agree. Cade is the superior talent, far better at basketball. He would instantly make the Timberwolves even better, the Pistons would be far worse with Mike Conley instead of Cade. Pretty simple

[EvanZ]

Is this a real comment? Go put it on the trade board and tell me if anyone in their right mind is trading Cade for Conley.

They won’t but right now Conley is obviously better. Or do you not agree?

I do not agree. Cade is the superior talent, far better at basketball. He would instantly make the Timberwolves even better, the Pistons would be far worse with Mike Conley instead of Cade. Pretty simple

Well at least now everyone can see how bad your takes are.

"The Pistons would be far worse" Literally could not be worse bro. Literally. Notice OTOH how much better the TWolves are this year.

This ain't hard bro. You just failed.

[JMAC3]

They won’t but right now Conley is obviously better. Or do you not agree?

I do not agree. Cade is the superior talent, far better at basketball. He would instantly make the Timberwolves even better, the Pistons would be far worse with Mike Conley instead of Cade. Pretty simple

Well at least now everyone can see how bad your takes are.

"The Pistons would be far worse" Literally could not be worse bro. Literally. Notice OTOH how much better the TWolves are this year.

This ain't hard bro. You just failed.

This is a first take reasoning lol... the 5th best player on a good team is better than best player on a bad team... cuz wins lol