Chapter 5: The Green Revolution Falls

There's not a lot that needs saying about where we are. As we pick up the pieces of the most brutally bad 3 years in Rockets history, we also pick up the pieces of a season that started with so much hope.

Jalen has to take his fair share of blame for where we are. After all he proclaimed our backcourt one of the best in the league, then proceeded to be one of the least productive starters in the league. His defense and character have come under heavy criticism this season and rightfully so. It's time to see what Jalen is all about.

There are some factors that have put unexpected pressure on Jalen's game and the alleviation of those factors after the season will boost Jalen's game before he improves anything. One of those things is that we have the dumbest starting line up in the league. Literally, they are all young and dumb and that makes things a nightmare. One of the things it destroys is spacing. Another thing it destroys is getting the ball in the right hands at the right time. Another thing it destroys is team defense. These things are bad on our team by design - that's how we're tanking. We're tanking by giving as few minutes to defensive anchors as possible, and as few minutes on the ball to our best floor generals as possible. If the brain of your defense and the brain of your offense are damaged, everyone is going to suffer. That's exactly what's happening. Almost the entire roster is shooting below expectations this season.

One of the big wins for this season that almost makes this season salvageable is Jalen's frequency of going to the line. I will argue with you all day about it: people who go to the line a lot when they're young are almost always successful in the NBA. This is a rarer talent to have/acquire than 3pt shooting of finishing through contact. With added strength over the years, Jalen looks to be a one of the league's juggernauts at the line and that tends to be a floor-raising quality in stars.

The big thing Jalen is discovering is he can make a highlight reel but a highlight reel doesn't make a win. The way those stats translate to wins is through defense and sharing the ball. It's very simple. He has to look in the mirror this summer

With 17 games to play, let's see if Jalen can take a step up and put 17 games together where he scores and gives effort on defense consistently. I have not changed my mind at all about Jalen Green. I believe that he will be a 30ppg scorer in this league on very good efficiency. He is one of the quickest players I have ever seen in my life and sometimes it takes time to harness that energy. A 24 year old 205lb Jalen Green with a slightly tighter handle is going to be a nightmare for defenses. I believe it was destined that he should be humbled this season and understand that the NBA is no joke.

In this new chapter, we see what Jalen is made of when the team is falling apart.