Jabari Smith Jr. - Auburn

[jman3134]

While I like Jabari, I think Chet will get picked at 1. Just a feeling.

[EvanZ]

I don't think anyone is arguing jabari smith shouldn't be a top pick or in the race to be #1.

I think that's exactly what some people here are arguing.

[EvanZ]

BTW, Anthony Edwards shot 52% TS at Georgia. Undraftable right?! LMAO

This isn't a POY award being handed out. It's predicting who is going to be the best player in the NBA in 5-10 years. I've got news for you, it's not Walker Kessler.

Nobody thinks it's going to be Walker Kessler but to say Jabari is the leader and the best player on that team is just not the case.

I sure didn't say that, not because it's not true (you can have that debate)...but because it has zero to do with how I scout guys for the NBA. The best prospect is not always the best player on a college team. It seems like you haven't learned that lesson yet.

[MotownMadness]

While I like Jabari, I think Chet will get picked at 1. Just a feeling.

Agree

[The-Power]

BTW, Anthony Edwards shot 52% TS at Georgia. Undraftable right?! LMAO

This isn't a POY award being handed out. It's predicting who is going to be the best player in the NBA in 5-10 years. I've got news for you, it's not Walker Kessler.

Nobody thinks it's going to be Walker Kessler but to say Jabari is the leader and the best player on that team is just not the case.

I sure didn't say that, not because it's not true (you can have that debate)...but because it has zero to do with how I scout guys for the NBA. The best prospect is not always the best player on a college team. It seems like you haven't learned that lesson yet.

I've followed this debate as a silent participant but you won't find a single person who claimed that. A lot of straw men being debated in this thread and I have the feeling that most of that is done very much on purpose to not have to engage with the actual points.

I personally believe that it's completely fair to wonder why Jabari struggles to create shots at the rim (whether it's ability, system, attitude etc.) and what implications this has for what he'll be in the NBA, while simultaneously having him as one of the best prospects in this draft.

But maybe I'm also just one of the many guys around that rank Kessler ahead of Jabari, who really knows.

[CptCrunch]

We have two Walker Kessler truthers here now?

Jabari's struggles with creation, handles, finishing, whatever you want to call it basically support the thesis that his ceiling is limited - a role player stretch 4 not that first option franchise player you want to draft with that first pick. (I might add who also doesn't rebound well)

Thus far over the few months, Jabari scaped from criticism while Chet's body and Paolo's NBA role has been picked apart.

[clyde21]

Nobody thinks it's going to be Walker Kessler but to say Jabari is the leader and the best player on that team is just not the case.

I sure didn't say that, not because it's not true (you can have that debate)...but because it has zero to do with how I scout guys for the NBA. The best prospect is not always the best player on a college team. It seems like you haven't learned that lesson yet.

I've followed this debate as a silent participant but you won't find a single person who claimed that. A lot of straw men being debated in this thread and I have the feeling that most of that is done very much on purpose to not have to engage with the actual points.

I personally believe that it's completely fair to wonder why Jabari struggles to create shots at the rim (whether it's ability, system, attitude etc.) and what implications this has for what he'll be in the NBA, while simultaneously having him as one of the best prospects in this draft.

But maybe I'm also just one of the many guys around that rank Kessler ahead of Jabari, who really knows.

any actual evidence that Jabari "struggles to create shots @ rim"?

[EvanZ]

But maybe I'm also just one of the many guys around that rank Kessler ahead of Jabari, who really knows.

This is just so so bad. Why do you even bother?

[EvanZ]

While I like Jabari, I think Chet will get picked at 1. Just a feeling.

Agree

NBA teams are going to like Jabari more and I don't think it's particularly close. Y'all have some learnings to do.

[MotownMadness]

While I like Jabari, I think Chet will get picked at 1. Just a feeling.

Agree

NBA teams are going to like Jabari more and I don't think it's particularly close. Y'all have some learnings to do.

Chets going #1

[EMG518]

BTW, Anthony Edwards shot 52% TS at Georgia. Undraftable right?! LMAO

This isn't a POY award being handed out. It's predicting who is going to be the best player in the NBA in 5-10 years. I've got news for you, it's not Walker Kessler.

Nobody thinks it's going to be Walker Kessler but to say Jabari is the leader and the best player on that team is just not the case.

I sure didn't say that, not because it's not true (you can have that debate)...but because it has zero to do with how I scout guys for the NBA. The best prospect is not always the best player on a college team. It seems like you haven't learned that lesson yet.

1.I never said you said it, but it was said in this thread hence it was talked about. You are not the only one in this conversation.

2.Im in 100% agreement, the best prospect is not always the best player and often not the best player on a college team.

3. You haven't contributed anything to this conversation. You have not addressed any concerns intelligently but seem to keep trying to insult others.

4.Go ahead, address the actual concerns for taking him #1 and explain intelligently why he is the clear #1 to you.

[EvanZ]

4.Go ahead, address the actual concerns for taking him #1 and explain intelligently why he is the clear #1 to you.

I've literally said all I need to say. You don't seem to be listening. You are overvaluing certain things (TS%), undervaluing other things (3PT shooting at his size and production at his age), and just not doing the work of projecting to the next level. I'm not sure how much more I can help you out here. At some point if you don't get it, that's on you. My only real concern about Jabari is he's not really an elite athlete, but neither are Chet or Paolo. Nor was Cade, but he was still the #1 prospect. Sometimes that's how it is.

[EvanZ]

I think the weird thing here is the idea that some people "don't see how he's in the conversation for #1". I'm like that's just nuts. He's obviously going to be in the conversation. I'm not even saying you have to have him #1 or you're crazy. I can see rational people liking Chet more (I like Chet a lot myself). But the idea that you don't even understand how Jabari could be #1 is just wild to me. Just wild. It seems so obvious to many of us. Different strokes I guess. I thought it was obvious that LaMelo was #1, but some people didn't like him at all.

[CptCrunch]

I think the weird thing here is the idea that some people "don't see how he's in the conversation for #1". I'm like that's just nuts. He's obviously going to be in the conversation. I'm not even saying you have to have him #1 or you're crazy. I can see rational people liking Chet more (I like Chet a lot myself). But the idea that you don't even understand how Jabari could be #1 is just wild to me. Just wild. It seems so obvious to many of us. Different strokes I guess. I thought it was obvious that LaMelo was #1, but some people didn't like him at all.

But on the topic of LaMelo, show me some of your posts defending LaMelo as #1. Based on his stats on the Illawarra Hawks?

Those 37/25 shooting splits playing against sub-higher tier P5 talent?

[EMG518]

4.Go ahead, address the actual concerns for taking him #1 and explain intelligently why he is the clear #1 to you.

I've literally said all I need to say. You don't seem to be listening. You are overvaluing certain things (TS%), undervaluing other things (3PT shooting at his size and production at his age), and just not doing the work of projecting to the next level. I'm not sure how much more I can help you out here. At some point if you don't get it, that's on you. My only real concern about Jabari is he's not really an elite athlete, but neither are Chet or Paolo. Nor was Cade, but he was still the #1 prospect. Sometimes that's how it is.

You have said basically nothing the entire time. He is young and productive for his age and 3pt shooting at his size is not an intelligent explanation of why you should take him #1 over all and it doesn't address any of the points made to why people would question if he should.

[The-Power]

any actual evidence that Jabari "struggles to create shots @ rim"?

Only 14.5% of his shots are at the rim. That is a really low number. Compare that to, for instance, 41.1% for Banchero. Note that with ‘struggle’ I'm not even necessarily saying he couldn't generate more shots around the rim but that – for one reason or the other – he doesn't. And it's completely valid to ask why that is (because any offense looks to generate shots around the rim), to which extent this might carry over into the NBA and what that means for his overall scoring game.

[EvanZ]

4.Go ahead, address the actual concerns for taking him #1 and explain intelligently why he is the clear #1 to you.

I've literally said all I need to say. You don't seem to be listening. You are overvaluing certain things (TS%), undervaluing other things (3PT shooting at his size and production at his age), and just not doing the work of projecting to the next level. I'm not sure how much more I can help you out here. At some point if you don't get it, that's on you. My only real concern about Jabari is he's not really an elite athlete, but neither are Chet or Paolo. Nor was Cade, but he was still the #1 prospect. Sometimes that's how it is.

You have said basically nothing the entire time. He is young and productive for his age and 3pt shooting at his size is not an intelligent explanation of why you should take him #1 over all and it doesn't address any of the points made to why people would question if he should.

I said nothing, but you just repeated everything I said. LOL

[clyde21]

any actual evidence that Jabari "struggles to create shots @ rim"?

Only 14.5% of his shots are at the rim. That is a really low number. Compare that to, for instance, 41.1% for Banchero. Note that with ‘struggle’ I'm not even necessarily saying he couldn't generate more shots around the rim but that – for one reason or the other – he doesn't. And it's completely valid to ask why that is (because any offense looks to generate shots around the rim), to which extent this might carry over into the NBA and what that means for his overall scoring game.

i cant take this premise seriously until you guys actually give real evidence that he can't create his own shot. @ rim % is more indicative of his role than it is his ability at creating his own shot.

[EvanZ]

The other thing is he's playing with Kessler, a traditional big who clogs the rim. On that team Jabari's role is to space the floor. That's what Auburn does. It's like a 6'10" version of Klay Thompson basically. Seems so obvious but I guess everything needs to be spelled out here.

[The-Power]

any actual evidence that Jabari "struggles to create shots @ rim"?

Only 14.5% of his shots are at the rim. That is a really low number. Compare that to, for instance, 41.1% for Banchero. Note that with ‘struggle’ I'm not even necessarily saying he couldn't generate more shots around the rim but that – for one reason or the other – he doesn't. And it's completely valid to ask why that is (because any offense looks to generate shots around the rim), to which extent this might carry over into the NBA and what that means for his overall scoring game.

i cant take this premise seriously until you guys actually give real evidence that he can't create his own shot. @ rim % is more indicative of his role than it is his ability at creating his own shot.

Are you saying that you want to see evidence that he cannot create and if he just rarely tries, that's not good enough? That's akin to saying that someone who doesn't shoot 3s cannot be doubted for his shooting ability unless we actually see him fail.

As I already noted, I'm not even claiming that he can't create his own shot around the rim. I'm claiming that he rarely does. There can be multiple reasons for this – some more problematic than others – but it's fair to talk about them.

Let me ask you a question: do you think coaches tell him to not drive more or take players to the rim in the post? That his role limits him to shoot jumpers? I doubt that. And even if so (again: I doubt it), why do you think that would be the case? The only plausible answer would be limited ability. No coach in the world is going to prohibit a player to shoot higher percentage shots if the player could regularly create them. That's just not plausible.

When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras. It's very far-fetched to assume that a primary scoring option that rarely scores at the rim really wants to do it and has the ability to consistently do it, but is told not to do it in favor of lower-percentage shots.