RJ is scoring 18 pts a game but he is shooting an abysmal 14% from 3. He has increased his FT% to 79%, which is good but unless he starts hitting 3s at least a 36% clip, he will become a huge liability on offense. I think the problem is he is taking too many off the dribble 3s. He comes off a pick and pulls up from the 3 point line. He is terrible at that shot and always has been but he took at least three of them last night. When he corrected his 3 point shooting in year 2, he stopped taking off the dribble 3s and started limiting himself to catch and shoot 3s. This year he has not been hitting anything but he can start correcting the problem by limiting himself to the catch and shoot 3s and then putting more focus on his balance and consistency. His shot has been all over the place and he is not even close with his misses. RJ should only be shooting corner and elbow catch and shoot 3s and everything else he needs to pass up and either drive or pass to another player.
TheGame wrote:RJ is scoring 18 pts a game but he is shooting an abysmal 14% from 3. He has increased his FT% to 79%, which is good but unless he starts hitting 3s at least a 36% clip, he will become a huge liability on offense. I think the problem is he is taking too many off the dribble 3s. He comes off a pick and pulls up from the 3 point line. He is terrible at that shot and always has been but he took at least three of them last night. When he corrected his 3 point shooting in year 2, he stopped taking off the dribble 3s and started limiting himself to catch and shoot 3s. This year he has not been hitting anything but he can start correcting the problem by limiting himself to the catch and shoot 3s and then putting more focus on his balance and consistency. His shot has been all over the place and he is not even close with his misses. RJ should only be shooting corner and elbow catch and shoot 3s and everything else he needs to pass up and either drive or pass to another player.
Wasn't his issue that his form is different every time he shoots, so impossible to be consistent.
My stab is:
1. New PG to adjust. Rhythm matters.
2. Defensive responsibilities.
3. New Pace.
4. A bit of new bulk. No much, jsut stronger.
5. Pressure of new contract.
6. The pace to shoot or pass.
Is it just one of these factors or all that aggregates in his head an has to get worked thru. I can’t tell. That his coaches are not telling him to stop tells me they are ok with him playing thru it. He has done it at this level already so its not anything foreign to him or the staff.
At some point it will be publicly addressed and we’ll know more.
Nalod wrote:My stab is:1. New PG to adjust. Rhythm matters.
2. Defensive responsibilities.
3. New Pace.
4. A bit of new bulk. No much, jsut stronger.
5. Pressure of new contract.
6. The pace to shoot or pass.
Is it just one of these factors or all that aggregates in his head an has to get worked thru. I can’t tell. That his coaches are not telling him to stop tells me they are ok with him playing thru it. He has done it at this level already so its not anything foreign to him or the staff.
At some point it will be publicly addressed and we’ll know more.
Maybe some of those factors were there last year as well?
Between him and Randle they need to back off so many 3pt shots. Especially contested or early in the possession.
RJs strength is attacking the basket. As is Randle's.
HofstraBBall wrote:Nalod wrote:My stab is:1. New PG to adjust. Rhythm matters.
2. Defensive responsibilities.
3. New Pace.
4. A bit of new bulk. No much, jsut stronger.
5. Pressure of new contract.
6. The pace to shoot or pass.
Is it just one of these factors or all that aggregates in his head an has to get worked thru. I can’t tell. That his coaches are not telling him to stop tells me they are ok with him playing thru it. He has done it at this level already so its not anything foreign to him or the staff.
At some point it will be publicly addressed and we’ll know more.
Maybe some of those factors were there last year as well?
Between him and Randle they need to back off so many 3pt shots. Especially contested or early in the possession.
RJs strength is attacking the basket. As is Randle's.
I think the biggest thing RJ is facing is #5- he just signed stupid money and now he feels he has to 'earn it'. I think it is part of what Randle struggled with last year. I think we under appreciate just how tough that is.
That and he never had good form!
For whatever reason he starts this way every year and then balances out as the year goes on. At least free throw shooting seems better.
I know it was preseason, but the form on his 3 was better. Squared his shoulders, quick release, follow through. Hope he goes back to what worked.
RJ has demonstrated good statistics in some months better than others. He showed a the last half of last season.
I can only guess at what if anything is in his head thru the first 5 games of the season.
I don't understand how he can shoot 50% from 3 in the preseason on the same diet of shots and then 15% once the season starts. I think the real issue is he does not fit the starting lineup. His efficiency will depend on how good he is at shooting while playing with the starters. With the bench he will get more chances in transition like that play he got with Obi.
Clean wrote:I don't understand how he can shoot 50% from 3 in the preseason on the same diet of shots and then 15% once the season starts. I think the real issue is he does not fit the starting lineup. His efficiency will depend on how good he is at shooting while playing with the starters. With the bench he will get more chances in transition like that play he got with Obi.
In preseason he was hitting wide open 3’s facing guys who are now in the G-league
RJ, for whatever reason, is just not a consistent shooter. He is below average.
martin wrote:RJ, for whatever reason, is just not a consistent shooter. He is below average.
I think he can get there. But his shot will never be pure. He'll likely always be streaky. Hopefully he ends up as slightly above average by the time the season is done.
Been a big supporter of RJ and do believe he will improve as the season progresses. That said, if he doesn't improve his stroke/form his ceiling will really be more an Iguodala-lite type of player that can be a starter but def not your A or B player. Let's hope he gets it going soon!
Three point shooting.
RJ-22%
JB-33%
Randle-24%
IQ-30%
HofstraBBall wrote:Three point shooting.RJ-22%
JB-33%
Randle-24%
IQ-30%
That’s pathetic shooting. Amazing the Knicks are 3-3.
martin wrote:RJ, for whatever reason, is just not a consistent shooter. He is below average.
For the 4th year in a row, spacing is a major issue for his efficiency on offense. Lack of spacing will prevent him from getting into a rhythm more often than not. Just the reality of most scorers who aren’t elite shooters.
Knixkik wrote:HofstraBBall wrote:Three point shooting.RJ-22%
JB-33%
Randle-24%
IQ-30%
That’s pathetic shooting. Amazing the Knicks are 3-3.
The funniest part is that of players in the rotation - Obi is leading the way with 50% 3pt shooting.
Rose, Reddish, Brunson and Fournier all shooting pretty well from 3.
Really accentuates the need for RJ and Randle needing to improve from downtown
I think this gets to the heart of many of our problems. Fournier can't play much D but shoots well so Thibs gives him mixed minutes to balance our needs. RJ can be the SG if he is surrounded with much better shooters - but on this roster he would have to currently play alongside Rose, Fournier, Toppin and Hartenstein. Randle to a lesser extent needs to be surrounded like RJ. Brunson is doing his thing and can play with most anyone.
So we really have to fix the RJ and Randle low efficiency and poor 3 pt shooting before anything else. If this were 1995 we'd have a hell of a roster but with todays 3pt emphasis we will continue to struggle unless we improve or replace one of RJ or Randle.
Knixkik wrote:martin wrote:RJ, for whatever reason, is just not a consistent shooter. He is below average.
For the 4th year in a row, spacing is a major issue for his efficiency on offense. Lack of spacing will prevent him from getting into a rhythm more often than not. Just the reality of most scorers who aren’t elite shooters.
Nope not for me. He gets enough wide open 3's. And for him to be a high level player, he has to learn how to make difficult shots around the rim or learn how to draw a foul or learn to make better decisions going to the basket.
If there is not spacing on the interior, he has got to make a shot from the outside.
martin wrote:Knixkik wrote:martin wrote:RJ, for whatever reason, is just not a consistent shooter. He is below average.
For the 4th year in a row, spacing is a major issue for his efficiency on offense. Lack of spacing will prevent him from getting into a rhythm more often than not. Just the reality of most scorers who aren’t elite shooters.
Nope not for me. He gets enough wide open 3's. And for him to be a high level player, he has to learn how to make difficult shots around the rim or learn how to draw a foul or learn to make better decisions going to the basket.
If there is not spacing on the interior, he has got to make a shot from the outside.
When he says spacing I think he means the inability for him to drive to the hope without it being crowded. He is always going to get open 3's as long as he shoots as badly as he has been because unlike us other teams actually use scouting reports. The spacing issue RJ has with the starters is that only one person is considered a shooter. So the lanes will be clogged and he is a terrible in traffic layup maker. So unless he is hot from outside his efficiency will be trash. With the bench him running with Cam, IQ and Obi will give him another avenue to contribute that he is more likely to excel at.
