HOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 23: Jalen Green #4 of the Houston Rockets goes up for a dunk against Gui … More
Over the past couple of years, a narrative around Jalen Green has formed, that being he doesn’t influence winning to the same extent as many of teammates.
In last night’s playoff win against the Golden State Warriors, he silenced that narrative – at least for a while
The skepticism
Part of why Green has met skepticism from fans and pundits is due to a combination of things.
At 6’4, and just 185 pounds, he simply isn’t a big shooting guard. That raises questions as to whether he can consistently create himself high-quality looks, and whether he can influence games defensively when his shot isn’t falling.
Speaking of defense, it’s fair to say Green has been – at best – average if you look at the full spectrum of his career, and that’s probably being generous. While he’s made some improvements, and playing under Ime Udoka has at least made him more aware of his surroundings, the impact on that side of the ball still swings, and sometimes wildly.
You might be able to overcome inconsistent defense, if you then were to receive high-level consistent offense. Only, that isn’t the case. Green during the regular season was essentially a high-volume, mid-efficiency player, which doesn’t exactly meet the criteria of being a high-level, and consistent, offensive player.
Further criticisms include his overall lack of playmaking – although the ball mostly go through the hands of Fred VanVleet and Alperen Şengün – and that leads to a broader image of a player, who seems to be solid, but not much else.
The counter argument
While one game against the Warriors, where he dropped 38 points and made eight three-pointers, does not flip the narrative, it does raise a fairly serious question.
Does Green have to become a major all-around, two-way guy? Is that the criteria we lay at his feet?
There’s a sense of expectations that’s baked into his draft slot (second overall in 2021), but now that we’re four years, and over 300 games, into his career it’s allowed to change one’s perspective of what constitutes realistic expectations.
Yes, Green is probably playing in a role where he has been given too much offensive responsibility, for someone who isn’t super efficient.
But more than anything, that’s on the organization for not realizing the player that he is. The Chicago Bulls spent almost a decade miscasting Zach LaVine as the first option, when it was almost humorously obvious that he was much better suited to play off a primary shot-creator instead.
Green averaged 17.5 shots per game. He wouldn’t have been given that amount if the Rockets didn’t want to give them to him.
If anything, the organization at large has not structured their offense to where Green can effectively lean into his strengths, which he likely could if he was the third scoring option.
A healthier perspective
With Green dropping the aforementioned 38 points on the Warriors in a playoff win, he’s sending a message which could not be any clearer.
There are times when he can simply go off, and when those times are correctly applied, he can help you win games.
Houston are aware of the up and down play, which is why they handed the now-23-year-old an extension worth $105 million over just three years.
The organization simply didn’t wish to commit for longer, due to the fact that they aren’t sure about him in a leading role yet.
(Green has a player option for the third year of that contract, meaning he can opt out if his play has drastically improved by then.)
While Green is on the roster, two things of vital importance need to be remembered.
Firstly, he’s 23 and players at that age tend to improve as long as they’re in the right setting.
Secondly, he’s not in the right setting. At least, he isn’t yet, and especially not for as long as he is being asked to be the primary scorer.
The Rockets must use every bit of data Green gives them, and spend the offseason adding quality offense to the roster, as to see if their starting two-guard can blossom in a role that would more frequently allow him to pop as the secondary or tertiary guy.
Otherwise, what’s the point?
Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
