Jalen Smith is an excellent acquisition. I loved all the positives that you pointed out: wonderful shooting, willing mobility, consistent floor awareness. I think his next steps will be comparable to his own developed AI: getting to that level of experience where he has so much game-based ‘machine learning’ in his instinctual memory, that he’ll make predictive decisions based on opponent flaws which he’s seen before. That’s when you start seeing the opportunistic blocked shots, pass deflections and steals. He’ll be making high-probability decisions based on all that he has seen already. If he can stay healthy, he has the physical skills and the obvious, ongoing study of the intricacies of the game to deliver scary upside.
If he takes the next step of understanding his opponents weaknesses, i have no doubt he can be an NBA starter for many years. But he has to show that before we can call him the starting C of the future and he'll have every opportunity to show that on the Bulls
Well, he sort of did the Vuc issue on that play where he let Caruso get a head of steam to the basket. It is a great finish by Caruso, but I also expected Smith to really affect that shot, and he didn't. It's just something for Smith to learn and continue to get better at, and I think he will improve. I just don't know how much he will improve at age 25.
Well said! Love the show!!!
Jalen Smith is an excellent acquisition. I loved all the positives that you pointed out: wonderful shooting, willing mobility, consistent floor awareness. I think his next steps will be comparable to his own developed AI: getting to that level of experience where he has so much game-based ‘machine learning’ in his instinctual memory, that he’ll make predictive decisions based on opponent flaws which he’s seen before. That’s when you start seeing the opportunistic blocked shots, pass deflections and steals. He’ll be making high-probability decisions based on all that he has seen already. If he can stay healthy, he has the physical skills and the obvious, ongoing study of the intricacies of the game to deliver scary upside.
If he takes the next step of understanding his opponents weaknesses, i have no doubt he can be an NBA starter for many years. But he has to show that before we can call him the starting C of the future and he'll have every opportunity to show that on the Bulls
Even on the pick and roll vs Caruso, he did get back and contest the shot. Caruso just made it.
Well, he sort of did the Vuc issue on that play where he let Caruso get a head of steam to the basket. It is a great finish by Caruso, but I also expected Smith to really affect that shot, and he didn't. It's just something for Smith to learn and continue to get better at, and I think he will improve. I just don't know how much he will improve at age 25.