Chapter 8: Green Goes Nova

Hearing Ime talking about pace over and over again the past month or two was really the hint I got that something is going to change. Looking up Sengun's effectiveness at a fast pace was the second clue (he's just as excellent at any pace). Before Sengun went down, the team was trying as much as possible to push the pace. Sengun and Landale seemed newly encouraged to take 3pters, which would help our spacing. Things really seemed to be aligning for Jalen individually. From every direction, life was telling him to step up. Whether for his family or his career or his injury riddled team. That's when you discover what a person is mostly made of on the inside. If he were a selfish, lazy, losing player then this chapter would have gone in the opposite direction. People want to brush off his performances but I think this streak says a lot about his character and his commitment to the team. We needed him to step up and he has stepped up very quickly and hopefully it's mostly sustainable.

I know that Jalen is absolutely elite at beating his own man off the dribble on the perimeter. We just needed Udoka to see it to believe it. By pulling out the opponent's rim protector (or subjecting them to Amen) we've made Jalen's most elite skill (first step) so easy to convert into efficient points. He just has to beat the guy on the perimeter and sprint to the basket - he's clearly elite at that part of basketball. It's only when rim protectors are planted at the rim where he needs more strength and experience to be successful. Which rim protector is going to have time to beat Jalen in a sprint from the 3pt line to the rim? Very few, if any. The closest their rim protector can guard the rim is if they put him on Amen and he sags a little - that's not enough to catch Jalen. If he sags too much, Amen is punishing him. We really needed Udoka to see what he has at his disposal. This is not even optimal spacing yet - in fact we're playing with Jalen and Amen both of whom are not shooting well overall so in the future there could be even better spacing. If Sengun has a 3pt shot next season OR if Jalen improves his 3PT shot, this duo can carry us offensively. I think at least one of those guys is likely to come back with a better 3pt shot, if not both.

Another great game from Jalen. Doing what he's supposed to do against the worst teams in the league. Bringing consistent energy. Proud of the kid but still very much interested in how he does for the remainder of the season on both ends of the floor and in the win column.

 

In the first half of the season, we were playing extremely slow and crowded basketball. That's very difficult for a ball handler. Requires strength, skill and IQ. Doesn't require much athleticism. Playing that way plus with a traditional PG and a post player is on the absolute extreme scale of simulating playoff basketball. I don't think an average playoff game is even that slow anymore. It's good for the team to learn that, but that doesn't seem to be what the majority of successful offenses are doing these days.

That first half was like a boot camp for Jalen's handles and game. With all this newfound pace, opponents still getting set up and extra space it makes things a lot easier on the ball handler. So I think we're seeing a combination of his improvement and just a better system for his particular abilities.

 

You never know what to expect from Jalen. Most disappointing stretch of his career vs best stretch of his career - back to back. It’s getting hard to deny the hints of Nova now. Udoka flat out says what Jalen is doing is not easy. He says he has seen the improvement over the season.

Right now you can say Jalen has improved every single aspect of his game since last season on all sides of the ball. Has improved his defense, offense, passing, effort. I don’t expect him to put up 30+ every night to finish the season but just keep his effort, energy and efficiency up.

I find it doubtful that Udoka sees what’s going on and allows Jalen to go back to poorer shot selection. There’s something in it for Udoka now - a potential 25ppg scorer with good defensive effort for next season. A playin berth. If Jalen finishes the season well, Udoka will get credit for it.

I think he’s one more small offensive evolution away from being able to do this against good teams. Just keep tightening the shot selection. Be a bit more picky about 3pters and mid range jumpers. Replace 1-2 shots with 1-2 assists/passes per game.

If we finish at/above .500 after these injuries with Jalen leading the scoring it will be a major achievement for him and the team.

 

I had a weird dream about a year and a half ago that Jalen Green would end the Warriors dynasty at some point. Maybe it all comes full circle when we play them next, that would be sweet. Things have been strangely aligning to make a confrontation necessary. Specifically aligning withJalen.

We got exactly the type of game we needed from Jalen against the Blazers. Showing that this “streak” is about an improvement in choices rather than just a hot shooting streak.

The shot wasn’t falling early in the game but he still played some good defense (a few elite sequences), rebounded the ball, stayed active off ball, gradually figured out how to attack the opponent.

This was his best bad game ever, if that makes sense. It shows that perhaps his ceiling AND floor are higher now.