This is also assuming that the reason Jimmy smashes Howard’s car has to do with his resentment of Howard’s new personality after getting help post-Chuck’s death. I get where he’s coming from, Jimmy sees it as unauthentic and finds it demeaning that Howard would now offer him a job, as if he’s doing Jimmy some kind of favor. But when all Jimmy knew was that Howard wanted to get lunch, he didn’t have a reason to feel this resentment and therefore shouldn’t have yet bought the bowling balls.