Jabari Smith Jr. & Tari Eason Slow Down Jayson Tatum As Houston Rockets Beat Boston Celtics
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) discusses the Houston Rockets big-time 111-109 win at home against the Boston Celtics that came down to a final defensive stop on Jayson Tatum by Jabari Smith Jr. & Tari Eason. Jabari’s growing confidence on the offensive end, Rockets defensive switching scheme without Alperen Sengun in the lineup, Jalen Green insanely hot start then struggling the rest of the game but stepping up big at the end when it mattered most, Kevin Porter Jr. with one of the best playmaking games of his career, Rockets with no answer for Jaylen Brown defensively, what does Jabari’s success at the center spot mean for the future of Sengun and more.
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29 Comments
I've been waiting for Jabari to come alive this season. He has the most upside on the team. Unlike Jalen or Sengun he has supreme talent on both ends of the floor.
Seems like the best thing to do is to trade Sengun this off season. The bruthas over in Houston seem to not like him. Both a large percentage of the fan base and coaching staff. Would be best to move him to a team where players like Sengun historically succeed.
It’s obvious that Kevin is still dealing with that toe injury. He was hobbling around most of the game. And didn’t have the same speed he usually plays with. Hence the defensive struggles.
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Sengun has to add strength or a better shot this off season in order to stay on the floor more. it’s really just about matchups. though neither of sengun nor jabari can stop bigger centers at this point.
Y'all be fighting for that great white hope😂 It hurts……you're ridiculous.
How do I get in on that LOCKEDON league?
It's obvious that KPJ sucks.
The center position is your defensive foundation. It is ill-advised to build a house when the foundation isn't right! JABARI HAS A SOLID DEFENSIVE SKILL SET (INSTINCTIVELY, NATURAL), AND IS THE BEST FOUNDATIONAL PIECE TO MOVE FORWARD. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT DEFENSE YOU KNOW IT WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Bari playing like a top 3 pick
It's so much better to just stay away from this toxic fan base. People ignore so much stuff, and have such terrible opinions.
All these players have flaws and strengths, and are still at the beginning of their NBA careers. They have a long way to go before they are settled into who they will be. And are still showing lots of growth. No one is to blame for their losing, but all of their youth is the "problem." Which will continue to close as they get more experience.
In regards to people trying to pit the players against each other. They are TEAMMATES!!! They are working together to try to get better and all seem to share the same goals of improving and eventually competing.
Basketball is a strategic sport as well as physical. And players with different body types and tendencies are better and worse suited to different things.
Jabari is more switchable, but still doesn't have the height the rockets really need consistently at center. Sengun has the weight, but lacks height, conditioning, and natural defensive sense.
So they need a rim protector besides sengun no matter what. In order to cover for sengun's weakness. Which jabari does already help with. And they will only get better the longer they play together. As well as improve physically. The whole team will, no one on the roster right now is close to their peak… Maybe boban who knows.
But if the rockets are lucky enough to get wembanyama and harden. That would solve their two biggest problems right there.
I have felt for a good while now that sengun is a point forward (P4) and garuba is a power forward. And they need a real rim protector. Wembanyama would be perfect. In part because his possible synergy with sengun, in a similar manner to him and wood or jabari.
And the rockets can lean into their hybrid organic style, that while takes time has still been showing plenty promise. Because when the rockets are actually at their best. Isn't when sengun, or kpj, or green, or any specific person is the center of focus. It's when they are all sharing and working off each other. Both offensively and defensively.
I’m sure Segun will be a desirable trade piece by other teams this offseason or next
I think you are right on about KPJ–he needs to show his ability to facilitate on a more consistent basis before we have faith that he is the long-term answer as point guard. An underrated element of this game was how Tari looks so comfortable as a starter. He's going to give the Rockets a lot of flexibility going forward, especially as his three-point shot continues to develop.
I think the guard play on defense is fundamentally worse than Alpy – if it were better Alpy wouldn't looks so bad. His play on defense is not good either but he can become more athletic with time, just like Jalen can get stronger. The question is how long will this take and will everyone be patient enough to let it happen? Will everyone wait around another three years? KPJ is a mystery to me – he is an offensive talent but his defense needs to be better and just doesn't play like a facilitator. Is emotional antics are an unwanted distraction and may be keeping the Rockets from signing vets. Jabari will probably develop more quickly than Jalen or Sengun – though it hasn't turned out that way so far. Jabari's versatility will let him play with anyone so don't go trading Sengun until you see if he can't make some defensive improvements and develop a 3 ball. I think he has one but its been under warps. The team could use a shot blocking backup big man – this could mean Garuba becomes the odd man out – with that three of his maybe he could be more of a 4. A lot of "ifs" here – it is just too soon to tell. We have the get the coaching and system established first – any big moves with these guys now would be foolish. However, we do have a lot of young players and it would help to grab a few vets and cull the young guys. The draft may determine the what happens, Amen or Ausar may make Jalen expendable. Scoot makes KPJ expendable. Wemby makes Sengun and Jabari expendable.
Yes, push Sengun out please. So we can watch him on a proper team with a proper coach. I'd like see what he's got in a non-loser team.
This is Tari’s opportunity to take hold at the 4 spot
Sengun and Jabari can work together
KPJ did a great job running the offense we are winning games with him facilitating 🤷🏾♂️
Awesome stuff I do feel that until some decision is made doing the off-season coaching among other things then everything they do is very questionable. What direction is this team headed to. Can’t wait until we settle coach first then draft picks
I said I’ll eat my words if Jabari got it together and I do appear to be having to eat my words
Sengun still our best player? It's been over a week since this podcast made this announcement lol
What sengun brings us on offense is better than what we miss from him on defense or isn’t lik the Ryan Anderson situation we had a while back
Rambling on about Sengun he didn’t play 😂
Tate almost lost the game for the Rockets. Silas was too stupid to take him out. Thank God he fouled out. I only hope to be entertained for 3 quarters watching this team. But we have played well lately and I wanted to see a win. Glad we got it. Had we lost, the players would have been devastated.
If KPJ shows improvement in the final weeks of the season expect Silas to come back as coach. Bwahahaha!
They going to foolishly get rid of Sengun..
We've tried Sengun has the starting 5 this year. Let's give Jabari that same opportunity next year. I'd like to see what that looks like!
Jackson, Sacramento and Denver will look good during the season BUT not the playoffs. Building a team with a offensive minded Center, will not win in the playoffs.
The pg is not the one who brings everything together, your star player is the one who brings everything together i don’t know one team who’s franchise player is not the pg but the responsibility of the team is on that pg and not the franchise player