Jalen Green’s rookie campaign has been underwhelming. Not as bad as his dunk contest over All-Star Weekend where he only made one out of nine dunks, but still not great.
Why has it Been Rough for Green?
For starters, let’s remember how loaded this draft class was. Usually, we only get one or two players that are contributing at a high and efficient level, but this year it feels like there’s way more.
It’s also worth mentioning skill set and situation. It’s usually more difficult for scorers to transition to the league as opposed to guys who are great passers, defenders, or slashers.
Everyone can control how hard they work on defense as Davion Mitchell has done. Josh Giddey has impressed many despite the fact he is making the same reads he was in Australia. Then slashers such as Scottie Barnes can rely on physical traits to dominate in their role.
Pure scorers have a hard time typically. The pressure of producing against set defenses is unimaginable for a twenty-year-old. Then when you factor in the situation, things get more complicated.
Scottie Barnes got Nick Nurse (a potential hall of fame head coach.) Evan Mobley is playing next to two all-stars in Cleveland. Then, Jonathon Kuminga is on a stacked Warriors.
Most of us are still skeptical of Rockets head coach Stephen Silas, but we have not seen him with talent. The Rockets are also rebuilding from scratch as they had four first-round picks in the 2021 draft.
The Rockets neglected the point guard position in the 2021 offseason too. No offense to Kevin Porter Jr. or D.J. Augustin, but they are both better suited in different roles.
The lack of point guards puts even more on the shoulders of the rookie as no point guard is putting him in positions to succeed, and that is not something to be taken lightly.
What’s different now for Green?
At the deadline, the Rockets dealt for Dennis Schroder. He has most recently been mocked for rejecting an extension with the Lakers and settling for almost $80 million less than offered.
Despite what you want to say on the subject, there’s no denying he’s a viable option at point guard. He is still most suited in a spark plug role, but he’s also a veteran who is determined to get his money and do what’s necessary.
After seeing that he was going to stay in Houston too, his priorities are clear. He wants to set himself up for a payday. The best way for him to do that is to continue to try and improve as a facilitator and be a little more scrappy on the defensive end.
Overall though, Schoder is on a mission to improve his stock. This determination will result in him elevating the play of those around him.
Why Green will Breakout:
I’m generally not big on comparisons, but these two situations are similar. Last season, Anthony Edwards was not great before the all-star break.
Pre All-Star Weekend Stats:
| Name: | PPG: | FG%: | 3P% |
| Anthony Edwards | 14.9 | 37.1% | 30.2% |
| Jalen Green | 14.6 | 38.3% | 31.1% |
These numbers are virtually identical as they were both guys who needed help as they were constantly having to attack against a set defense.
After the break though, Ricky Rubio had been brought in via trade by the Timberwolves, which gave them a true floor general. In turn, Edwards’ numbers sky-rocketed averaging an astounding 23.8 PPG on 45.4% from the court and 34.9% from three.
It is not out of the realm of possibility we could see something similar for Green. He is athletic, but he can add so much more. He does a great job of picking his spots, gets plenty of elevation on his jumper, and has a smoothness to his game you can not teach.
Scoring is so mental. If Dennis can find ways for Green to get easier buckets to establish a rhythm, then the tougher shots won’t appear as difficult.
Expect Jalen Green to show up and show why he was the number two pick in a loaded draft class.
Article Written by Bradley Patten
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