He should aim to be the best Robert Horry he can be. Not disappointed with him this season so far. His advanced stats look pretty good. Like Jalen, he needs to accept that Sengun is the hub, and fit in. I agree with what @Clutch said about Jalen, except it applies to Alpi: The Rockets' core for the future is Alperen Sengun. That's it. That's the core. FVV, Dillon, Tari are definitely great pieces around Alpi. If Jalen and Jabari accept their roles, and the sooner they accept them, the more success we will have as a team.
I'm a big Sengun fan, and he's been improving on D faster than I expected this year. That said, no team in the NBA has a core of 1 player that doesn't suck. We also aren't going to have many more top 3 picks to complete that core, so we need other players to step up. Add to that, we aren't an isolation team any more - Ime requires ball-sharing.
The best thing to happen to him was not getting drafted #1. He would be looked at like a colossal bust if he was the first pick.
That’s why I would like to get a quality power forward. Jabari hasn’t had to work for anything and was handed a starting spot. He’s never had anyone breathing down his back to light a fire under his ass. If so he would be coming off the bench. He is the softest player on the team physically and mentally.
Overrated defense, no handle, no pass, average scoring. Fumbling times and times again with pressure. TBH he is the weakest and always was from young core. Make trade with him for PG and end this nonsense
This is what I don't understand about him. You were drafted 3rd. The two guys before you who you felt like you should have been drafted over(who remembers his draft day pouting) are lapping you right now and getting all the shine by the media. Why are you playing like you're just content being "a guy"? He'll be like his father, a journeyman. Guys like him don't just develop a killer instinct.
I don't think Bari is an Ime type player. Weak physically and mentally as a big is no good. I believe when Ime is talking about the team being soft he is talking about Bari a lot of the time. He hasn't shown the promise of Alpi or Jalen with his latest hot season ending stretch. Wouldn't be shocked if he ends up being one of the core 6 who is ultimately traded.
Was thinking the exact same thing. He is such a weak player, physically and mentally. This soft s**t ain’t gonna cut with Ime.
I like Bari’s long term outlook, but he did not show up today. He continues to be super tentative, and he can’t finish at the rim. I’m hoping with time, both those issues go away because the processing will get better with experience, and he’ll grow into his body and get stronger. Bari took a good step this year. Getting the shooting right was the most important thing and he did that. But he needs to take a big step in year 3. Lots of other things to work on. I’m still buying Bari long term as an elite 3&D 4 with size.
Did Jabari really take a step this year? His stats are almost the exactly the same as last year and the eye test kind says the same thing. I thought his best case scenario was Klay Thompson-esque but it looks like the ceiling might be more Khrs Middleton. I'll stand on my previous hot take where it would be team catastrophic if we were to max him. What concerns me is that his lateral quickness won't improve and I just don't see enough fluidity to ever make him a better shot creator. I think the only true pathway for him to be come an all-star caliber player is at the 5 and he needs a lot more sand his pants to ever make that a reality. Lots of yellow flags for me.
Yeah this narrative died with Jalen's emergence. Sengun will be a very good number 2 option next year though
He took a step but he’s still the 4th/5th/6th option … scoring wise He is similar to Jalen it seems as he needs touches to get rhythm - but Bari lower body is still weak so his post game is slow and clunky and he gets pushed off his spot His rebounding improved a lot but he’s not the vertical player I hoped he would be … if he had Stromile or Kemp leaping ability his ceiling would be way higher
