Are people going to pick up on Green's handles tightening immensely? He always had creativity with his handle but it was always loose. When is the last time he got stripped from a loose handle? And he gets constantly full court presses to. His handle looks smooth and confident now. His handle has improved to a level where he can be a full time primary ball handler for long stretches and even entire games now. Ime is confident enough in Green's handles now where he can be the primary ball handler when FVV is on the bench.
His defence really improved in the last couple of weeks. He's no longer a black hole on defensive end.
Was bringing the ball up court ever much of a problem? While I think his handles are still too loose, the biggest problem was Jalen not realizing his dribbling limitations. The question I would ask is when was the last time he repeatedly tried to dribble through multiple defenders in traffic? This one recent change has been HUGE for Jalen. When he sees a second defender waiting, he doesn't recklessly drive and get stripped. It took KD much of his rookie season to figure this same thing out. Regardless of how long for Jalen, it's better to turn the page late than never.
His first two seasons I don't think a NBA coach could trust green to handle things like full court presses. So they definitely have been tightened quite a bit. Even Silas didn't.
Sorry, I meant vs. earlier this season, where (at times) his TOs were maddening and his handles looked worse than last year.
Pretty absurd advanced numbers in the last 15 games. 2nd highest net rating. Just behind Landale, but at twice the minutes played. Also very encouraging to see Amen right behind him. Highest +/- Probably the most absurd number of them all. He is the only Rocket where the team has a negative net rating when he is off the court, and by an incredibly large margin. Note that during this stretch, Green has practically played the most minutes (tied with FVV), so in the very short period of time that Green is off the court, the Rockets are significantly worse, but significantly better when he is on the court.
Really impressive showing from Jalen tonight that showed real growth. In the past this type of game is where Jalen would shrink, get disinterested, and finish like 3/13 with 6 points. He stayed engaged, played active, and got himself going. Still somehow ended up with 27 points. This new Jalen is so much fun to watch too. Keep it up!
Correct The game of sports is such a seesaw I think he went 3/13 or so in first half and went like 6/13 second half with 50% from three With an Ime Udoka cosign defense/effort via the playing time and post game shoutout (and halftime lecture)
Honestly man Jalen has found good SWAG. Like i remember harden and the boys would get hate for it and saying swag and swag kings and such. But it really is an embodiment. When you've got that feeling, that confidence, that mojo, your just locked, in that zone, is an incredible feeling. Its obvious Jalen is there right now and it's beautiful to see. Turn around 3s. One hand yaks. Crossover stepbacks. Hesi crossover drives. Its all a by-product of that "swag" or feeling of confidence.
You know I've been one of his biggest critics .... but I didn't ever really believe his handles were a problem, he's always had pretty good ball skills. I always said it comes down to shooting with Jalen, that's been the biggest inconsistency night to night .... One night he'll go 6/9 from 3 the next 0/6 and 1/4 rise repeat. He just has to limit those off nights which he has only 2 poor nights in the last 10 both of which were wins - SAS 1/10 and Sac 1/6. That's the biggest change - the ball is going in. Good for Jalen, good for the team and good for us fans. Hope he keeps it up.
So why is the ball going in more? You have to answer that question. This is exactly what it would look like if he were just improving. The beginning of a real improvement would look like he might be just having better luck shooting. We know what that looks like. It doesn’t normally come with better defense, rebounding, off ball play. The narrative that it’s all just a stroke of shooting luck is starting to sound highly questionable. His +\- when he has an off night shooting is better than ever in his career, he’s doing everything better even off ball and on defense. Is he getting defensively lucky too? That’s not luck. That’s better habits, choices, shot selection. Turns out 22 is not too old to improve those things. Imagine that.
Landale is definitely playing at an All time high as well.... no way a 28 yr old career backup is playing like a sure fire starter and All Star like that.
Nah. @fchowd0311 right. Jalen isn’t being stripped or having those costly turnovers at the rim or in the backcourt for easy transition points. I noticed it too. Not sure why his handles aren’t consistent at this point of his career but amen goes through it too where some games it’s tight and then other games he’s loose with it
