The Official Jalen Suggs Thread

[Skybox]

I’ve never understood why bigs (even at a HS level) can’t learn to hold a pick in one day’s practice…it just doesn’t seem very complex. A pick is basically an obstacle…if you don’t make contact before you run away, you didn’t set a pick. What am I missing? Vuc, who was basically a walking fundamentals camp did it too. Such an important and simple thing to insist on…it seems

This is my guess, the big guys see it as beneath them (because it's like dirty work) to do that since they've been dominating opponents in high school and college and once they get to the pros that attitude still persists.

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If they feel that's beneath them than they are playing wrong sport.
It really isn't rocket science, you need to choose side of ballhandler's hand to screen ( always easier to hanlder to attack on stronger hand ), take contact and roll out or roll in or relocate.

Screening is simply way to important in today's league to ignore. You see how Gobert and Adams screen their opponents and it's not hard to understand why guards with them thrive.
Since we play Gobert tonight, just pay attention how impacful his screening is and how much space it creates.

Yeah...it's not even about Steven Adams style "punishing" little guys who don't keep their heads up. It's not about giving the guards something to think about all game after an early jarring hit (like hockey)...it's about forcing the guy covering you to HAVE to switch, leaving you rolling to the basket covered by a guy half your size. Picks don't have to be selflessly done to support your guards, they can be a strong offensive move done to enhance your own offense. Coach will kill your guards if they don't reward a good pick-setter...Again, just a mystery to me (unless you just get hit in the crotch too often?).

[Knightro]

I’ve never understood why bigs (even at a HS level) can’t learn to hold a pick in one day’s practice…it just doesn’t seem very complex. A pick is basically an obstacle…if you don’t make contact before you run away, you didn’t set a pick. What am I missing? Vuc, who was basically a walking fundamentals camp did it too. Such an important and simple thing to insist on…it seems

They all know how to do it. They've all been taught it. They just don't want to do it.

If a big sets a physical pick, the odds of him getting the ball on that possession drop dramatically because he's more or less taking himself out of the play unless he's an athletic rim runner type.

All WCJ and Bamba want to do is get the ball and eventually put up a shot. That's why they slip or pop on every screen. That's all it is. They want to get the ball.

It takes a certain mentality and level of selflessness to want to set endless screens without much reward and a lot of young guys simply don't have either.

[Xatticus]

I’ve never understood why bigs (even at a HS level) can’t learn to hold a pick in one day’s practice…it just doesn’t seem very complex. A pick is basically an obstacle…if you don’t make contact before you run away, you didn’t set a pick. What am I missing? Vuc, who was basically a walking fundamentals camp did it too. Such an important and simple thing to insist on…it seems

They all know how to do it. They've all been taught it. They just don't want to do it.

If a big sets a physical pick, the odds of him getting the ball on that possession drop dramatically because he's more or less taking himself out of the play unless he's an athletic rim runner type.

All WCJ and Bamba want to do is get the ball and eventually put up a shot. That's why they slip or pop on every screen. That's all it is. They want to get the ball.

It takes a certain mentality and level of selflessness to want to set endless screens without much reward and a lot of young guys simply don't have either.

It's not that simple. You can teach someone to set screens in 10 minutes, but it takes years to master. You have to establish a rapport with every pick-and-roll ball handler you play with. It's next to impossible if the ball handler doesn't know what he is doing. Timing is everything and the angle that the guard takes is dependent on where the screen and his defender are when he is going around it. You don't have to make contact for a screen to be effective. The ball handler shouldn't charge to the basket after he turns the corner. You are trying to create space. There is no point in holding a screen if the ball handler takes the wrong angle. Many offensive fouls on screeners are caused by guards being too aggressive. We've actually forced a fair number of switches, but we have no idea how to take advantage of those. Anthony just backs up and runs an iso after it happens.

There is certainly some incentive to slip a screen, just as there is incentive for the guard to launch up a shot whenever he gets an advantage. There is no getting around this problem for as long as Cole Anthony is running our offense. We desperately need someone with a basketball brain that understands that the goal isn't to go out and fill up a box score.

I think a huge part of the problem is that the motive for every coach along the way is to win games, so you get a lot of young bigs that don't learn the fundamentals of the game. European bigs are just much better at screening in general because they are coming through a system that doesn't really value anything they do on the floor until it helps the senior team, so their development is focused on the end product as opposed to simply getting the best athletes on the floor and letting them beat up on some outmatched high school or AAU opponent.

Jalen Green is a perfect example. He is immensely talented. He has no idea how to play basketball. Houston is going to give him a max contract long before he ever helps them win games.

[thelead]

11 games in and not a single game above 43% from the field… Houston, we have a problem.

[nicnac215]

11 games in and not a single game above 43% from the field… Houston, we have a problem.

His defense is unbelievably good for a rookie. Hit deep 3 looks nice. He has a good assortment of finishes around the basket. However the ball control is killing him. It is pretty sad, I didn’t realize it was this bad. It’s very uncommon for a player to go from an awful dribbler to an average one quickly in the NBA. But hey, at least we have Cole. Jalen is essentially a defensive specialist. I can’t see him starting much longer, especially when Fultz is back.

[thelead]

11 games in and not a single game above 43% from the field… Houston, we have a problem.

His defense is unbelievably good for a rookie. Hit deep 3 looks nice. He has a good assortment of finishes around the basket. However the ball control is killing him. It is pretty sad, I didn’t realize it was this bad. It’s very uncommon for a player to go from an awful dribbler to an average one quickly in the NBA. But hey, at least we have Cole. Jalen is essentially a defensive specialist. I can’t see him starting much longer, especially when Fultz is back.

I think it's a combination of him being a poor shooter and him pressing to have a great game. Once he makes one, he starts heat checking... and the dribbling is another issue altogether. At least he is proving to be elite on defense. Hopefully he puts in the work and figures things out. I expect a rookie pg to struggle but to not put ONE game together at a respectable shooting percentage is a bit worrying.

[yoyojw17]

11 games in and not a single game above 43% from the field… Houston, we have a problem.

His defense is unbelievably good for a rookie. Hit deep 3 looks nice. He has a good assortment of finishes around the basket. However the ball control is killing him. It is pretty sad, I didn’t realize it was this bad. It’s very uncommon for a player to go from an awful dribbler to an average one quickly in the NBA. But hey, at least we have Cole. Jalen is essentially a defensive specialist. I can’t see him starting much longer, especially when Fultz is back.

I think it's a combination of him being a poor shooter and him pressing to have a great game. Once he makes one, he starts heat checking... and the dribbling is another issue altogether. At least he is proving to be elite on defense. Hopefully he puts in the work and figures things out. I expect a rookie pg to struggle but to not put ONE game together at a respectable shooting percentage is a bit worrying.

People are writing the kid ff way too quickly. But... i will agree... he need to be taking a step back and put him in a position where he can learn at a better pace.... by lessoning his expectations. To be honest with you .... moving him to the bench and having him as the backup point guard could do wonders for him and the team. Let him be the captain of the second team... and not trying to force things in order to be an impact on the starting unit.

No joke... RJ deserves some recognition for what we have seen recently on both ends of the court!

[Knightro]

11 games in and not a single game above 43% from the field… Houston, we have a problem.

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.

[Bergmaniac]

Suggs has made only 20 jump shots (on a ghastly 22.5 FG%) in total so far and already has 39 turnovers. I love his defense, but offensively he has been brutal.

[JF5]

11 games in and not a single game above 43% from the field… Houston, we have a problem.

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.

[pepe1991]

11 games in and not a single game above 43% from the field… Houston, we have a problem.

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.

[Last Guardian]

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.

[tooler]

I think it's a combination of him being a poor shooter and him pressing to have a great game. Once he makes one, he starts heat checking... and the dribbling is another issue altogether. At least he is proving to be elite on defense. Hopefully he puts in the work and figures things out. I expect a rookie pg to struggle but to not put ONE game together at a respectable shooting percentage is a bit worrying.

I think you’re right. He started off well last night with a couple makes and then decided he’d test Rudy Gobert twice at the rim. I like the aggression but come on now.

(Leave that kind of stuff to Franz. Zing!)

In other words, I think he could put a decent FG% together by sticking with what he’s good at, but he seems to want to try everything all at once. Maybe the coaching staff has given him the brightest of green lights to learn by doing. That’s the only explanation because otherwise you’d think they’d curb some of his shot selection by now.

[RichCollab]

I’m ok being patient Suggs and giving him opportunities on the court to grow. He may be one of those players who make a big leap second year.

[MoMM]

There was a 3-play segment y'day that he wasn't able to cross the middle of the court, then shot a brick and then another silly TO.

He is too raw at this moment and should go to the bench once Fultz is back.

[basketballRob]

Have a feeling Suggs will end up like Bamba. Why do you draft a PG when you already have 4 on the roster?

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[drsd]

11 games in and not a single game above 43% from the field… Houston, we have a problem.

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.

If there was a re-draft today simply based on current performances, it would be Mobley at #1 and F-Wagner at #2. Kuminga is the winningest rookie with Moody, but they are both horrible so far.


..

[MoMM]

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.

If there was a re-draft today simply based on current performances, it would be Mobley at #1 and F-Wagner at #2. Kuminga is the winningest rookie with Moody, but they are both horrible so far.


..

No Barnes at top 2?

[Knightro]

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.

[JF5]

Have a feeling Suggs will end up like Bamba. Why do you draft a PG when you already have 4 on the roster?

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Lol, let's not get crazy here... Suggs has the BBIQ/Hustle/Defensive Prowess/Relentless Motor that Bamba wishes he had.

Suggs is just so raw offensively... But you can see if he works at it consistently with the tools at his disposal. He can be one of the best offensive players in the league.

He's strong, can get to rim at will, finish in traffic at times, and the mechanics on his jumpshot are good. Add that with his pretty good BBIQ and his work ethic, barring injury he could be like Brandon Roy/Jimmy Butler/Dwyane Wade-eque type Star caliber player.