We saw in the OKC game that RJ can create his own offense consistently. We also saw his biggest weakness, i.e. his lack of a 3 point shot. Until RJ can become more consistent hitting his 3s, he is never going to take that next step to quality starter/borderline all-star. So let’s talk about what I see wrong with RJ this year. RJ tends to start slow with his shooting and then improve as the season goes forward, only this year he caught CoVid and he is still working his way through the season.
In 2019, RJ shot .729 of his shots from 2p, he followed that up .708 in 2020, and he is only shooting .597 of his shots from 2p range this year. While his percentage of shots taken from 3p range has gone from .272 (2019), to .292 (2020), to .408 (2021) percent. So RJ is moving from 2p shots that he is good at toward taking more 3p shots that he is terrible at, which is why his shooting percentages are down across the board.
RJ shooting percentages around the basket (0-3 feet) are .568 in 2019, .605 in 2020, and .625 in 2021. So each year RJ has improved in his ability to finish around the basket. Yet, this year he is only taking .267 percent of his shots within 3 feet v 2020 when he took .325 percent of his shots from that distance and 2019 when he took .395 of his shots within 3 feet.
Beyond this shift in more 3s, RJ is no longer limiting himself to catch and shoot 3s. Last year, RJs 3point percentage went up primarily because he stopped shooting 3s off the dribble and limited himself to catch and shoot threes, mainly in the corners. This year, he is shooting more threes off the dribble and his corner 3 percentages have fallen off a cliff. The fewer 3s RJ takes in a game the better. He needs to limit himself solely to 3-4 wide open catch and shoot 3s. If he does this, I think his percentages will start to rise like they did last year.
The bottomline is that the Knicks have turned RJ into a jump shooter, which is something he is unable to be efficiently. RJ needs to get back to his strengths of driving and kicking to open shooters. He should pass on the 3s unless it is wide open and stick to driving the ball down the oppositions throat. If RJ does that, he will return to the mostly efficient player we saw last year. Ultimately, he will have to improve his 3 point shooting but the main thing he needs to do is get back to being efficient. Even if he is never more than a 17-18 point type scorer, if he can do it efficiently and continue to bring his defense, he will still be a solid starter.
I don't think there is anything wrong with R.J. Barrett.
Fans seem to forget (because this is his 3rd year) that he's still the 2nd youngest player on our entire team (@ only 21 years old).
He left after his Freshman year @ Duke and hypothetically speaking he should still be in NCAA college right now (as a Senior).
There is absolutely nothing wrong with RJ. He's just an NBA pup. And I'm 100% confident that bu the age of 23-24 he's going to develop into a two way perennial All-Star (and towards the end of last year was only a sign of things to come).
NYKMentality wrote:I don't think there is anything wrong with R.J. Barrett. Fans seem to forget (because this is his 3rd year) that he's still the 2nd youngest player on our entire team (@ only 21 years old).
He left after his Freshman year @ Duke and hypothetically speaking he should still be in NCAA college right now (as a Senior).
There is absolutely nothing wrong with RJ. He's just an NBA pup. And I'm 100% confident that bu the age of 23-24 he's going to develop into a two way perennial All-Star (and towards the end of last year was only a sign of things to come).
What you are not taking into account is that RJ has been under professional tutelage since a young child. His dad is a pro player. Nash is his god father. He has had exposure to a shooting coach since before college (I think).
These are not things that (I'd guess) 90% or more of the NBA players are exposed to at a young age, and that exposure should have set him up for MUCH further progress than he is at, even at a tender age of 21.
It's not your age necessarily, it's the years of exposure and exposure at higher levels that should set some of these guys apart.
Also, he has had a profession body at a much earlier age than most.
All of those factors are what makes me think he will not dramatically improve. He will get better incrementally for sure but I am doubtful for the big leaps.
His hard work and demeanor and personality will let him weather the storm of what is New York but I don't think it's really a determining factor given underlying talent and physical attributes.
martin wrote:NYKMentality wrote:I don't think there is anything wrong with R.J. Barrett. Fans seem to forget (because this is his 3rd year) that he's still the 2nd youngest player on our entire team (@ only 21 years old).
He left after his Freshman year @ Duke and hypothetically speaking he should still be in NCAA college right now (as a Senior).
There is absolutely nothing wrong with RJ. He's just an NBA pup. And I'm 100% confident that bu the age of 23-24 he's going to develop into a two way perennial All-Star (and towards the end of last year was only a sign of things to come).
What you are not taking into account is that RJ has been under professional tutelage since a young child. His dad is a pro player. Nash is his god father. He has had exposure to a shooting coach since before college (I think).
These are not things that (I'd guess) 90% or more of the NBA players are exposed to at a young age, and that exposure should have set him up for MUCH further progress than he is at, even at a tender age of 21.
It's not your age necessarily, it's the years of exposure and exposure at higher levels that should set some of these guys apart.
Also, he has had a profession body at a much earlier age than most.
All of those factors are what makes me think he will not dramatically improve. He will get better incrementally for sure but I am doubtful for the big leaps.
His hard work and demeanor and personality will let him weather the storm of what is New York but I don't think it's really a determining factor given underlying talent and physical attributes.
I really think his ceiling is bench role player. I am definitely not giving him 100M. 8-10M per year is where I’m at, let him go and test the market. I’ve never seen a player get his shot blocked at the rim as much as RJ. He has zero hops. Maybe he needs to slim down to gain some athleticism.
Nothing is wrong with RJ. The problem is the fans ignoring all his faults and placing high expectations on him.
Last season, someone on this board said that he was better than Ja Morant.
Funny
What’s wrong with RJ? Not a great shooter. Can post up, use both hands to finish, already has a nba body
So what is wrong? The nba rules right now favor 3 point shooting. In the 90’s RJ is a superstar
Philc1 wrote:What’s wrong with RJ? Not a great shooter. Can post up, use both hands to finish, already has a nba body
So what is wrong? The nba rules right now favor 3 point shooting. In the 90’s RJ is a superstar
RJ would have been a beast in the 90s for sure.
He needs to post up more, watching him in the raptor game actually do a turn around jumper off the back board on a smaller guard is more what he needs to do.
He’s a big guard, he should learn to score on smaller guards.
HoustonSprewell84 wrote:He needs to post up more, watching him in the raptor game actually do a turn around jumper off the back board on a smaller guard is more what he needs to do.He’s a big guard, he should learn to score on smaller guards.
This is THE one big advantage I see that RJ has. Realistically can only finish solidly on one side of rim. But he has got to use his body to better advantage
My biggest issue with RJ is that he doesn't seem to value each shot. He shoots like he knows another is coming and doesn't fully recognize the difference between what is good or bad
RJ has never been a spot up shooter and while he progressed a lot last season - his bread and butter is the slashing, posting and occasional wide open 3. He wanted to add shooting off the dribble this offseason - but needs to get back to basics before trying to add an additional layer to his game. I agree he's taking way too many 3pt shots and should focus more on his finishing around the basket (which has not improved this season). I still think RJ playing with Randle doesn't offer enough spacing for both players. Maybe a move to the 2nd unit for awhile would help both starters and reserves to play better/more efficiently.
he looks like a harrison barnes type of guy. not a terrible player but no franchise cornerstone.
martin wrote:HoustonSprewell84 wrote:He needs to post up more, watching him in the raptor game actually do a turn around jumper off the back board on a smaller guard is more what he needs to do.He’s a big guard, he should learn to score on smaller guards.
This is THE one big advantage I see that RJ has. Realistically can only finish solidly on one side of rim. But he has got to use his body to better advantage
I think he is a SG in the Derozan mold but just every early in his career and playing with bad spacing since he was with Zion in Duke.
The main problem is rj barret is coming back from covid 19 and there is no practice time because of new covid variants. Its going to take time for rj barret to get his legs back and his shooting back.
Imagine if we read these statement's clothed in velvet smoking jacket, draped with an proper ascot, smoking a pipe and spoken in fine British flair but with snobbery. It would be utterly preposterous!
Nalod wrote:Imagine if we read these statement's clothed in velvet smoking jacket, draped with an proper ascot, smoking a pipe and spoken in fine British flair but with snobbery. It would be utterly preposterous!
Imagine? I'm wearing one now while taking smooth pulls of opium from a pipe and watching Ryan Arcidiacono highlights, waiting for the snow to hit.
BigDaddyG wrote:Nalod wrote:Imagine if we read these statement's clothed in velvet smoking jacket, draped with an proper ascot, smoking a pipe and spoken in fine British flair but with snobbery. It would be utterly preposterous!
Imagine? I'm wearing one now while taking smooth pulls of opium from a pipe and watching Ryan Arcidiacono highlights, waiting for the snow to hit.
man, now I know I need to upgrade my life
Small moves: The RJ high light dunk was sweet, but the right handed drive just before it was exciting. That was a great play! Right handed drives are very important to his development!
My opinion is RJ develops a well rounded game. He is sneaky good.
wargames wrote:martin wrote:HoustonSprewell84 wrote:He needs to post up more, watching him in the raptor game actually do a turn around jumper off the back board on a smaller guard is more what he needs to do.He’s a big guard, he should learn to score on smaller guards.
This is THE one big advantage I see that RJ has. Realistically can only finish solidly on one side of rim. But he has got to use his body to better advantage
I think he is a SG in the Derozan mold but just every early in his career and playing with bad spacing since he was with Zion in Duke.
Not as fast as Derozan but definitely stronger
