Will the double big lineup be as beneficial to Smith as we think?
Let’s start this one off with a Jabari Smith Jr. quote from a few weeks ago, “I like playing the three…”
This quote stems from the recent double-big lineup Houston’s been running in which Jabari is able to play the small forward role in the offense. While there’s not all too much of a sample size to go off of, from what we’ve seen so far, Smith has vastly benefited from the change. Also benefiting from the new rotation adjustments is the overall play of the Rockets, as they’re currently on a nine-game win streak and back at the two seed in the West.
Over the eight games (before last night) in which this lineup has been featured prominently, Smith is averaging 15.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and has impressive shooting splits of 51/36/75. Not only has he improved his scoring numbers, but his efficiency has jumped up as well following a slow start to the season. A reason for that could be due to Jabari getting more opportunities to play on the perimeter each night and get matched up with smaller defenders allowing for easier shot creation. Another benefit of playing the three for Smith is the added pressure on opposing teams for rebounds. Having Jabari crash the glass with smaller defenders on him have caused him to be doubled on rebounds, allowing for guys like Sengun and Steven Adams to haul in more offensive boards. Over the past eight games, the Rockets lead the NBA in rebounds per game with 51.9 and are second in offensive rebounds with 15.4.
The shot selection for the former third overall pick has also seen some notable changes for the better. His spot up shooting chances have not only been increased, but so has his efficiency on said shots. Smith’s midrange has also become more incorporated into his game as of late, especially when matched up with undersized defenders on the wing. There’s also been a lot more self creation off the dribble going on for him, something that hasn’t really ever been a true component of his game. But when he’s at small forward, he’s finding new ways to attack his matchup and get downhill to the rim.
Now, beyond his scoring, Jabari’s incorporation in the double-big offense has been setting more ball screens than he was before. I’m sure there’s a multitude of reasons for this, but one that I believe sticks out the most is utilizing the size mismatches. Running the Green-Smith PnR combo often has proved to be a great move by Ime Udoka, best seen a few days ago in the 144-137 OT win over the 76ers. In that game, Jabari went off for 30 points, eight rebounds, and went 5/7 from three while attacking his defender primarily off the pick and roll down low.
But perhaps the largest takeaway to define if the small forward-Jabari experiment has been working or not is the Houston Rockets recent success. Since running the double-big lineup and moving Bari out to the three for a good bit each game, Houston is 9-1, with the only loss being the first game we saw the change. Houston’s offense has been looking extremely well, and also very unpredictable to opposing teams due to the versatility their double-big lineup brings. If this success can sustain moving forward, I expect Jabari to only get better on the offensive side of the ball and raise his season stats. It’s still early into this new role, but in the few opportunities he gets each game to be in it, Smith has proved it can be better in the long run for him.