Jalen Green, or the empty chair policy

Last season, without changing the gesture of Jalen Green, which is not the most aesthetic because of the placement of his left hand, John Lucas had worked on the speed, the rhythm of the Houston player’s shot. The goal was to allow the rear to draw faster.

To prepare for his second season in the league, Jalen Green continued on this path with the assistant coach, who became a coach for a few days since Stephen Silas is positive for Covid-19.

“With Lucas, we were constantly in the room to work on my shoot”says the player at the Houston Chronicle. “Especially on its speed. I’ve always felt like a shooter, but I have to work on the speed of my shot and work on my hips. »

For this, John Lucas uses an accessory: a chair. Empty, it is placed in front or behind Jalen Green. “At first it’s awkward, especially when she’s behind me,” recognizes the sophomore. “I have to bend down and come back up. But it eventually pays off. »

Don’t drop your ball

When the assistant coach places the chair behind the player, it is to force him to draw faster. John Lucas announces each time “one-two” and Jalen Green must have shot before the “two”.

When she is in front, it is to prevent Jalen Green from dropping his ball. Thus, the latter moves less during its mechanics and its shot is easier to reproduce.

“He must be straight”, analyzes the former Houston player. “Sometimes he turns because I think as a kid he used to bring the ball to his hip. It will age and be more powerful, so it will correct itself. It is straightened, to obtain a straight line towards the basket. It seems to help him. »

After a 0/4 behind the arc against the Spurs, for the first game of the preseason, Jalen Green effectively raised the bar with two good performances: first a 4/9 against the Raptors then a 5/10 in Miami .