The NBA's new season has been going on for more than two months, and the Rockets are undergoing a metamorphosis as they look to shake off the slump of the past two seasons, end the rebuild, and re-emerge in the West, and Jalen Green is an important part of that.
Green, the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, is hailed as the future star of the Rockets, with his amazing scoring ability and athletic talent, and he once shone in the G League, making countless fans go crazy.
However, his performance in the NBA has not been as good as it could be, with his shooting inefficient, his offensive options are subpar, and his defense leaves much to be desired. He lost even more confidence on the road, his stats dropped significantly, and his performance also affected the Rockets' record.
The Rockets brought in Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, as well as new head coach Ime Udoka, who were hoping to bring more experience and discipline to the young team, but Green struggled to adapt to the new system, raising concerns about his role in the team's changing strategy.
Can Green get out of the slump and get back into his form? Can he lead the Rockets to the playoffs and even compete for a championship? Can he become the next All-Star in the NBA? Let's take a look at his journey in the NBA, as well as the challenges and opportunities he faces.
Green's ups and downs
When Green joined the Rockets, he faced a lot of pressure and anticipation because he was at the heart of the Rockets' rebuild, and he was the future of the Rockets. The Rockets gave him plenty of playing time and shooting opportunities to play on the court, but he also had to take responsibility for the team, which is not easy for a 19-year-old.
In his first two seasons, Green went through a low point for the Rockets, winning only 42 games and losing 122 games with his teammates, finishing bottom of the league and not making the playoffs. However, Green also showed his brilliance, averaging 22.1 points per game in his sophomore season, his scoring prowess was amazing, his athleticism was amazing, and his talent was amazing.
| season | score | backboard | Assisting | 投篮ヒット点 | Three-point shooting percentage |
| 2021-22 | 17.3 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 42.6% | 34.3% |
| 2022-23 | 22.1 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 41.6% | 33.8% |
| 2023-24 | 17.4 | 4.4 | 3.2 | 40.1% | 32.9% |
Green's data
However, Green's performance has been inconsistent, his shot selection has been poor at times, his efficiency has been low at times, his defense has been soft at times, and his leadership has been lacking at times.
Green's new opportunities
In order to help Green grow, the Rockets have brought in some experienced players and coaches, such as VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and Udoka, and they hope to provide more support and guidance to Green as he adapts to the new system and plays.
VanVleet is an excellent point guard who won a championship with the Toronto Raptors, and he has a wealth of experience and leadership that can partner Green in the backcourt, giving him more passing and scoring opportunities, as well as providing him with more defensive help.
Brooks is an excellent scoring small forward who has played well with the Memphis Grizzlies, he has a tough style and consistent shooting, and he can partner with Green to give him more space and threat, and he can also give him more defensive pressure.
Udoka is a great coach with advanced tactics and philosophies, and he can give Green more trust and encouragement to play to his strengths in the new system, as well as more advice and corrections to improve his weaknesses in the new system.
The Rockets have shown some improvement in the new season, with a 15-12 record in their first 27 games, much better than the same period last season. Their offense and defense have improved, with the team's young players and bench depth showing impressive performance, especially Shin Kyung's significant improvement in scoring, passing, and defense, and Jabari Smith Jr.'s three-point shooting percentage has improved significantly from his rookie season.
While Green has been a bit inconsistent this season, he has also had outstanding performances in some games. For example, in the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 9, he scored 28 points and shot 73.3% from the field.
However, Green's efficiency does fluctuate at times. In the two games following that stellar performance against the Lakers, he scored just nine points and shot a disappointing 7.7 percent (1-of-13) shooting.
While Green's instability isn't a fatal issue for the Rockets, especially considering that most of the players on the team are very young, Green's consistency will be crucial if the Rockets are to have a chance to make the playoffs.
Green's away woes
Green's performances on the road have been particularly inconsistent this season. The Rockets' road record this season is just 3-10, in stark contrast to their impressive 12-2 record at home.
The Rockets' stability issues with rebounding and three-point shooting were particularly prominent on the road, which put them in a difficult position. Green's rebounding performance was mediocre and couldn't change the game, and his scoring ability on the road was even more stretched.
On the road, Green shoots lower from the field (38.4 percent) than at home (41.4 percent) and he's been fouled fewer times on the road, so his chances at the free throw line are correspondingly reduced. This suggests that he has become more cautious after leaving Houston. On the road, Green averaged 13.7 shots and 4.3 free throws per game, while at home, he averaged 15.2 shots and 5.2 free throws per game.
To be more effective, Green needs to be more aggressive in attacking the basket, especially when it comes to making fouls and creating scoring opportunities close to the basket. At the same time, he also needs to maintain a more consistent performance on the road to help the Rockets improve their road record.
Green's most successful games this season have all stemmed from his willingness to aggressively break through offense. However, when he relies too heavily on long-range jumpers and fewer hits to the basket, his performance usually becomes struggling. This pattern suggests that Green's efficiency is closely related to his offensive aggressiveness. As a result, he needs to find a balance between maintaining the threat of outside shots while increasing the number of hits he can make to the interior to improve his overall efficiency.
At the same time, Green will need to contribute more on the defensive end. His performance on the defensive end will have a direct impact on the Rockets' overall defensive efficiency. By strengthening his individual defensive ability and improving team defensive synergy, Green can help the team more on both the offensive and defensive ends.
Overall, Green needs to make improvements on both ends of the floor to help the Rockets get out of trouble and improve their road record.
Green's December dilemma
Jalen Green faced a huge challenge in December, averaging 13.3 points per game, shooting 34.2 percent from the field and 26.5 percent from three-point range. Compared to November, Green's data in December showed a significant decline.
Although Green averaged 13.3 attempts per game, which ranks third on the team, his shooting percentage was not as good as it could be. He shot just 48.7 percent from the restricted area and seemed to struggle to draw fouls from opponents, averaging just 3.6 free throws per game, down from 5.8 in November.
Long-range shooting also failed to be a lifesaver for Green. He shot just 26.7 percent from the 16-24 feet range and 27.1 percent from beyond 24 feet. This inconsistent shooting performance severely hampered the Rockets' offense in December.
Green's expectations
However, with the new year on the horizon, Green has a chance to turn things around under Udoka's guidance. Despite the occasional occurrence of poor hands, the Rockets have high hopes for the rookie to play a bigger role in future games and help the team compete for a playoff spot.
In order to achieve this, Green will need to adjust his style of play. Cutting back on unnecessary shots and waiting for easier scoring opportunities to come along could lead to better offense for the Rockets. At the same time, Green will need to learn to work better with his teammates to find easier ways to score.
While the rest of the Rockets struggled, Green's performance as the team's key scorer had a particularly significant impact on the team. Luckily, with plenty of time to spare, Udoka may show more patience with Green and help him out of his predicament. For Green, the key is to stay confident, find the balance of shooting and passing, and make smart decisions in the game.
#2023年度创作挑战#