2025 NBA Playoffs: What’s Jalen Green’s Problem/Solution

With the Houston Rockets now down 3-1 against the Golden State Warriors in the First Round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, their inevitable elimination appears to be on the horizon. There are myriad reasons why their postseason will be cut short but none more than Jalen Green, who has underwhelmed in his first playoff run. In four games, Green has averaged just 15.5 points per contest, shooting 39.0 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from 3.

For reference, the 2021 No. 2 pick averaged 21.0 points per game in the regular season, shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from 3.

What’s Jalen Green’s Problem/Solution in 2025 NBA Playoffs?

On the surface, Green’s primary issue is his shot diet. Exceedingly confident, his shot-selection often seems to be the result of a rash decision. In fact, in the playoffs, 45.8 percent of his field goal attempts have come against ‘very tight’ (closest defender within two feet) or  ‘tight’ (closest defender within 2-4 feet) defense.

Of the shots he’s taken against ‘very tight’ defense, which were all two-point attempts, he’s 1-4 from the field. Such a low frequency of attempts doesn’t justify an attack on his shot-selection in this instance. However, the shots he’s taken against ‘tight’ defense are a different story.

Green is 8-16 on two-point attempts within 10 feet of the rim and 2-4 on two-point attempts that came outside of 10 feet. His inefficiency within 10 feet is particularly concerning, as these are shot attempts in which his rabid rim attacks have more bark than bite. That being said, he’s also 0-5 from 3 against ‘tight’ defense.

For comparison, Green is:

• 7-21 on the 3-point attempts he’s taken while ‘open’ (no defender within 4-6 feet)
• 3-6 from 3 when ‘wide open’ (no defender within six feet)
• 0-3 on the ‘open’ twos he’s taken outside of 10 feet

Getting Open

What is clear from looking at these numbers is that Green needs to get more open looks. This doesn’t necessarily mean he has to take more spot-up attempts. He’s actually been more efficient on pull-up 3s (41.2 percent) than catch-and-shoot 3s (20.0 percent). He’s even taken more pull-up 3s (17) than catch-and-shoot 3s (15).

Yet, this has as much to do with his ability to create space as anything else, which he can do more effectively on stepbacks than spot-ups. Furthermore, Green’s the type of shooter who’s very comfortable rocking himself into rhythm.

Of note, Green is:

• 4-16 on 3s he’s taken when touching the ball for less than two seconds
• 2-6 on 3s he’s taken with a touch time of 2-6 seconds
• 4-10 on 3s he’s taken with a touch time of six or more seconds
• 3-15 on 3s when he doesn’t dribble
• 2-2 from 3 when taking 1-2 dribbles
• 2-6 from 3 when taking 3-6 dribbles
• 3-9 from 3 when taking seven or more dribbles

A Consistent Theme

All of that can’t just be coincidence. Or can it?

• In 2024-25 (regular season), Green made 40.9 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s but just 31.6 percent of his pull-up 3s
• In 2023-24, Green made 31.6 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s but 33.5 percent of his pull-ups 3s
• In 2022-23, Green converted 35.1 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s to 32.7 percent of his pull-up 3s
• In 2021-22, Green converted 35.2 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s but 34.2 percent of his pull-up 3s

Ultimately, the enigmatic Green is a rather unpredictable player. Nevertheless, he’s consistently been better the more space he has.

2024-25 (regular season):

• 42.9 percent (3-7) on 3s taken against ‘very tight’ defense
• 28.8 percent (34-118) on 3s taken against ‘tight’ defense
• 34.3 percent (115-335) on 3s taken against ‘open’ defense
• 40.8 percent (82-201) on 3s taken against ‘wide open’ defense

2023-24:

• 20.0 percent (1-5) on 3s taken against ‘very tight’ defense
• 18.3 percent (15-82) on 3s taken against ‘tight’ defense
• 37.2 percent (115-309) on 3s taken against ‘open’ defense
• 33.5 percent (69-206) on 3s taken against ‘wide open’ defense

2022-23:

• 20.0 percent (1-5) percent on 3s taken against ‘very tight’ defense
• 34.3 percent (36-105) on 3s taken against ‘tight’ defense
• 30.3 percent (81-267) on 3s taken against ‘open’ defense
• 39.2 percent (69-176) on 3s taken against ‘wide open’ defense

2021-22:

• 50.0 percent (1-2) on 3s taken against ‘very tight’ defense
• 38.9 percent (21-54) on 3s taken against ‘tight’ defense
• 27.0 percent (58-215) on 3s taken against ‘open’ defense
• 41.2 percent (77-187) on 3s taken against ‘wide open’ defense

Thus, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka’s biggest challenge with regard to getting Green going is getting him open.

Ime Udoka’s Time to Shine

There are other areas where the 23-year-old could stand to improve. For example, if he was stronger, he wouldn’t have such a hard time scoring in traffic. However, he nor Houston has that type of time.

Instead, they need Udoka and his coaching staff to summon all of their mental faculties. Indeed, motivation tactics matter less than Xs and Os this time of year. Put more succinctly, Houston’s players should already be pretty motivated; they’re in the playoffs, many for the first time. Right now, the young team (and Green most of all) needs a different type of guidance though.

One that speaks to Udoka’s genius as a general more than his toughness.

*All stats courtesy of NBA.com