It has been clear to everyone, except Thibbs, that RJ is off and has been hurting the team. While he has continued the draw fouls, he cannot hit his 3s and cannot really finish his layups. The other players are starting to look reluctant to pass him the ball because he usually just jacks up a bad shot (or even if it is a good shot, he misses it). Reduce RJs minutes. It will be a good lesson for him to learn that efficiency is important. Grimes’ first extended game action results in 10 points and 8 assists (Grimes used to be a PG). Prior to the season, this was supposed to be Grimes breakout year. It is time Thibbs gets this kid on the court with regular minutes, and he needs to stop playing RJ 34-35 minutes. Reduce RJs minutes down to 20-25 minutes until he improves his efficiency and get Grimes in the game more.
RJ needs to learn the up and under. Or the headfake. He gets to the basket every time but once he is there he is too easy to block/ defend.
Maybe Grimes and RJ just aren’t very good. I don’t know that RJ needs to learn a lesson, but he does need to slow down and find his game. I feel like it’s been a downward trend for RJ from when he came into the league to know.
Maybe he needs to play the 2 or the 4 and for that, we might need a new coach.
Maybe grimes was not in shape and when you have planter facitious you just have to wait until it clears, then get in shape.
Then, when starting SF, Reddish goes down, you either play RJ or Evan?
Grimes was ready, so he played. No need to punish, or blame, or what ever.
Team is one game under .500 and RJ is a mess but team has limited options for NOW. IT will change.
Thibs went with RJ getting to the line, his passing and rebounding over Evan.
Looks like the team is firing on all cylinders and RJ is the outlier playing not so great.
This is what .500 looks like folks.
Love Grimes. Agree RJ is playing like shit!
But...Grimes was 1-5 from 3?
Did lock down Booker but same can be said of RJs defense.
Just think we have A LOT of guys that are inconsistent and can't shoot the three.
RJ is playing his way to the bench. He should have been benched a few games ago. It’s unbelievable that he is having this bad of a start to the season. I am growing to despise his game or lack thereof. I cringe whenever he gets the ball.
On a similar note, IQ can’t get by anyone anymore and that floater game has essentially disappeared. His 3pt shot is also hiding and doing a good job of it. Can’t even confidently say that he will make a corner 3.
Both players are playing scared. Both players can be traded at this point.
HofstraBBall wrote:Love Grimes. Agree RJ is playing like shit!
But...Grimes was 1-5 from 3?
Did lock down Booker but same can be said of RJs defense.
Just think we have A LOT of guys that are inconsistent and can't shoot the three.
We watched the same game? RJs defense was close to as good as Grimes. From the defensive positions, rotations, high IQ plays... Look, we all know RJ has other issues going on, but something has to give. I don't think he needs to benched, yet. But his minutes should have been cut the past few games.
If everybody is regressing then RJ isn’t the problem. We have to look at the bigger picture and remove the root cause.
Why are aome of these players regressing? IQ shot better as a rookie. RJ played better 2 years ago same with Randle.
We can change the entire team out for new players or change the coach and remove whoever was in charge of providing thibs a team he can coach and win. Too many disconnects from the top down to Harper on RJ and his slump. The FO drafted him and gave him his bag. He’s getting paid market price.
But this FO and or coach needs someone that can build a team.
Watched the redeem team for the first time and there is a great example of someone just adding individual talent and expected them to form as a team. But when dukes coach took over and was part of this team building process, they improved as a team and not as individuals. Granted they added kobe to help them get over the top. But it was the team that did it.
We don’t have a team, just a bunch of talented nba players. We need someone with a team building mindset. For example Leon will say wow Obi fell in the draft we should take him. Team manager will say, only if we plan on trading Randle. Maybe they would’ve traded down and actually got a player that fits with Randle instead of selecting a top 8 pick to be Randles backup.
There are fundamental issues going on that doesn’t seem to be a solution. And these things keep adding up. RJ is a hard worker. IQ the same. We all know drose and can’t say enough about Obi. But as a team these guys are regressing and it’s not just one category.
Grimes looks like a great backcourt partner to Brunson. He can shoot, defend and has just enough off the dribble to keep the defense off balance. He makes quick decisions. He’s very valuable going forward. He needs to start with reddish coming off the bench between RJ and grimes.
I must sound like a broken record by now....but, RJ should be playing against other teams 2nd unit.
HofstraBBall wrote:Love Grimes. Agree RJ is playing like shit!
But...Grimes was 1-5 from 3?
Did lock down Booker but same can be said of RJs defense.
Just think we have A LOT of guys that are inconsistent and can't shoot the three.
No, no you cannot say that. You literally are not watching closely enough.
I don't mean to pick on you directly, but anyone who thinks RJ is even doing a passing job or is even an average defender, I just can't take your opinions on defense seriously.
There is literally an ocean of difference - and we ain't talking about smaller ocean like the Indian Ocean, we up to Atlantic size and pushing towards Pacific - between what Grimes does and what RJ is capable of.
We have to get over this notion that just because RJ *tried* guarding the best player on teams that he is actually good at it. I applaud him for taking that role but he wasn't that good at it. Maybe average on his best day. Maybe he ruff and tumbled with guys last year, but the bro has dropped off considerably since last year.
TheGame wrote:It has been clear to everyone, except Thibbs, that RJ is off and has been hurting the team. While he has continued the draw fouls, he cannot hit his 3s and cannot really finish his layups. The other players are starting to look reluctant to pass him the ball because he usually just jacks up a bad shot (or even if it is a good shot, he misses it). Reduce RJs minutes. It will be a good lesson for him to learn that efficiency is important. Grimes’ first extended game action results in 10 points and 8 assists (Grimes used to be a PG). Prior to the season, this was supposed to be Grimes breakout year. It is time Thibbs gets this kid on the court with regular minutes, and he needs to stop playing RJ 34-35 minutes. Reduce RJs minutes down to 20-25 minutes until he improves his efficiency and get Grimes in the game more.
IMHO the make or break moment for Thibs will be when Grimes is grooving and showing the team he is out of the injury zone AND Cam comes back and is playing well.
If RJ continues to suck at that time and Grimes/Cam performing and Thibs starts RJ (or plays him more than those guys), he will lose team.
Rookie wrote:I must sound like a broken record by now....but, RJ should be playing against other teams 2nd unit.
I won’t sell out on RJ until he’s got more shooting around him. He drives into a packed lane every game. Get grimes going and get a center who can shoot and watch a difference. RJ needs space to operate. Hartenstein was supposed to bring shooting and playmaking at the center and those things are nowhere to be found, so we are stuck with the same issues.
Knixkik wrote:Rookie wrote:I must sound like a broken record by now....but, RJ should be playing against other teams 2nd unit.
I won’t sell out on RJ until he’s got more shooting around him. He drives into a packed lane every game. Get grimes going and get a center who can shoot and watch a difference. RJ needs space to operate. Hartenstein was supposed to bring shooting and playmaking at the center and those things are nowhere to be found, so we are stuck with the same issues.
well the next coach wont let Obi/IQ have a 2 game stretch where they shoot 1-20 combined. Unacceptable! How Thibs lets stuff like this (along with RJ's missing) is beyond me
Knixkik wrote:Rookie wrote:I must sound like a broken record by now....but, RJ should be playing against other teams 2nd unit.
I won’t sell out on RJ until he’s got more shooting around him. He drives into a packed lane every game. Get grimes going and get a center who can shoot and watch a difference. RJ needs space to operate. Hartenstein was supposed to bring shooting and playmaking at the center and those things are nowhere to be found, so we are stuck with the same issues.
What games are you watching?
First, RJ is literally getting many wide open 3's.
There are too many times RJ bully balls into a packed paint when there are guys wide open for alley opp (which is misses too much of) or guys on the perimeter fairly wide open. Or he telegraphs his passes for an easy TO.
Or RJ just misses the 5-10 foot completely wide open bunny. He doesn't need more shooting around him. His job IS to be that player that opens up stuff for other players.
Also, Thibs has tailored the offense so that RJ gets downhill with his left and other similar opportunities, he just doesn't know how to make in-game decisions.
Why does RJ need or even deserve the perfect team around him to get to an average NBA shooter?
RJ does look tired. He’s been overused last 2 years and it’s showing
martin wrote:
Macri is a fan of UK
...I've been saying Randle and RJ are a bad fit for years...You can add Robinson into the mix as well. Then we sign Brunson(who is our best player) who performs best in the midrange. So, that's 4 guys that play the most minutes together that are all most comfortable 10 feet and in.
All of these trade scenarios involving moving IQ, or Obi or Rose or even Evan are peripheral moves and wont fix the core issues. This core needs to be broken up if we are going to move this thing forward.
Not only do they not work on the offensive end, but the combo of Brunson, RJ, and Randle don't work defensively either...
RJ needa a new goal. To get back into the starting lineup. Not kidding. His game has hit a wall.
We didn't draft RJ third and just gave him a $105M to sit on the bench. We have no choice but to let him figure it out and hope he snaps out of this funk soon. Thibs could and should limit his playing time but sitting him would completely destroy him imo.
I do think Thibs and Brunson need to make an effort to get him some easy buckets. I know he's missing point blank layups at a crazy rate but get him something slashing to the hoop. And RJ himself needs to put in the extra work and play smarter. Concentrate more on defense and playmaking. Especially on those drives where he's met and with 3 defenders. Kick it out!
SergioNYK wrote:We didn't draft RJ third and just gave him a $105M to sit on the bench. We have no choice but to let him figure it out and hope he snaps out of this funk soon. Thibs could and should limit his playing time but sitting him would completely destroy him imo.I do think Thibs and Brunson need to make an effort to get him some easy buckets. I know he's missing point blank layups at a crazy rate but get him something slashing to the hoop. And RJ himself needs to put in the extra work and play smarter. Concentrate more on defense and playmaking. Especially on those drives where he's met and with 3 defenders. Kick it out!
Knicks run all sorts of PnR and DHO for RJ going to his left every game. And they pass to him when he is wide open at the 3point line. I'm not sure what more you can do.
