Knicks · What is really wrong with RJ Barrett? Is there a deeper problem? (page 10)

blkexec wrote:What’s wrong with RJ Barrett? Nothing. He’s exactly who we drafted.

If miles bridges was on this team, there will be a thread with the same title.

This team is built around 2 ball dominate half court players with an old school coach in a half court system. You grind it out on both ends.

RJ is not a half court player. He needs a system surrounded by players who play downhill. Maybe pair Brunson with ball would work. Charlotte pg ball plays downhill and would increase the tempo. Look how he made miles bridges look like an all star. He would have the same affect on RJ. And he’s tall enough to defend SGs if you pair him with Brunson.

Will be interesting to see which direction Leon goes in the off season. Or does he do nothing and continue to develop the yoots?

This is spot on. My thoughts exactly. I made the Barrett/ miles bridges comp in another thread.

Knixkik wrote:

blkexec wrote:What’s wrong with RJ Barrett? Nothing. He’s exactly who we drafted.

If miles bridges was on this team, there will be a thread with the same title.

This team is built around 2 ball dominate half court players with an old school coach in a half court system. You grind it out on both ends.

RJ is not a half court player. He needs a system surrounded by players who play downhill. Maybe pair Brunson with ball would work. Charlotte pg ball plays downhill and would increase the tempo. Look how he made miles bridges look like an all star. He would have the same affect on RJ. And he’s tall enough to defend SGs if you pair him with Brunson.

Will be interesting to see which direction Leon goes in the off season. Or does he do nothing and continue to develop the yoots?

This is spot on. My thoughts exactly. I made the Barrett/ miles bridges comp in another thread.

I kinda disagree. While they're career shooting numbers are similar, Miles doesn't have the same peaks and valleys in his percentages that RJ has from year to year. He is also a better finisher at the rim, halfcourt and transition, he can post up and drive. Bridges is a smoother offensive player and is more decisive in his rim forays. Also, his athleticism gives him a edge on defense.
Found this article that does a fair job of addressing his strengths and weaknesses.
https://thenbaunderground.com/player-bre...

A comprehensive statistical analysis is only coming at the end of part 2. In the meantime, I thought you might like to see some stats that can help capture some of the production from Bridges’ self/space-creation tool:

11 drives per game, with

60% TS on 6.1 TSA (7.4 ppg)

1.6 Unassisted Rim Makes per 75 (2.8 Assisted)

Fouled on 12.1% of shot attempts (81st Percentile)

Short of hand-tracking every Bridges game from this season, no measure will be perfect. However, these stats reinforce things are indeed happening with Bridges off-the-bounce.

How you guys can see this guy play and come up with stuff like "he's a bad fit" or "he needs to play uptempo" or "he plays with 2 ball dominant scorers"

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This is a guy with 270 NBA games and 9000+ minutes under his belt. Nobody here likes hating on RJ. He's a good kid. He's 22. He's NOT a good player. There are so many WTF are we watching moments with this guy. Either the FO really believes in him or its pure asset management and they dont to work on trades for a player who finished the season getting benched because he's getting locked down by Darius Garland

BigDaddyG wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

blkexec wrote:What’s wrong with RJ Barrett? Nothing. He’s exactly who we drafted.

If miles bridges was on this team, there will be a thread with the same title.

This team is built around 2 ball dominate half court players with an old school coach in a half court system. You grind it out on both ends.

RJ is not a half court player. He needs a system surrounded by players who play downhill. Maybe pair Brunson with ball would work. Charlotte pg ball plays downhill and would increase the tempo. Look how he made miles bridges look like an all star. He would have the same affect on RJ. And he’s tall enough to defend SGs if you pair him with Brunson.

Will be interesting to see which direction Leon goes in the off season. Or does he do nothing and continue to develop the yoots?

This is spot on. My thoughts exactly. I made the Barrett/ miles bridges comp in another thread.

I kinda disagree. While they're career shooting numbers are similar, Miles doesn't have the same peaks and valleys in his percentages that RJ has from year to year. He is also a better finisher at the rim, halfcourt and transition, he can post up and drive. Bridges is a smoother offensive player and is more decisive in his rim forays. Also, his athleticism gives him a edge on defense.
Found this article that does a fair job of addressing his strengths and weaknesses.
https://thenbaunderground.com/player-bre...

A comprehensive statistical analysis is only coming at the end of part 2. In the meantime, I thought you might like to see some stats that can help capture some of the production from Bridges’ self/space-creation tool:

11 drives per game, with

60% TS on 6.1 TSA (7.4 ppg)

1.6 Unassisted Rim Makes per 75 (2.8 Assisted)

Fouled on 12.1% of shot attempts (81st Percentile)

Short of hand-tracking every Bridges game from this season, no measure will be perfect. However, these stats reinforce things are indeed happening with Bridges off-the-bounce.

Bridges is a better player, I just believe we would run into similar issues as with Barrett.

Bridges can shoot and its a plus defender. Why are we comparing them. Bridges at worst would be a great 3&D player who gets open court buckets like Josh Hart manages to. He would be a HUGE upgrade regardless of "fit"

it feels bad for RJ because it sentiment among Knicks fans might make it seem like we hate the guy when really we just want something good about his skill set that we can hold onto. He's confident but his play just leaves a lot to be desired. Maybe he can take the Wiggins route later on his career but right now this team needs him and he hasn't shown up.

I don't think playing at a faster pace is going to help RJ shoot better or finish layup's. He needs to a completely new training this summer cause he's getting worse, not better.

SergioNYK wrote:I don't think playing at a faster pace is going to help RJ shoot better or finish layup's. He needs to a completely new training this summer cause he's getting worse, not better.

It will end up being someplace else unless he has a Randle like reinvention but if we were to play faster he would be able to get into a better rhythm. He’s not much of a shooter but he’s a rhythm player and the pace of the game has a huge impact on his play.

SergioNYK wrote:I don't think playing at a faster pace is going to help RJ shoot better or finish layup's. He needs to a completely new training this summer cause he's getting worse, not better.

Don't think we need to dissect his play... He's really not that good. Terrible bust at Number 3 pick!

He just needs to see the ball go through the hoop a few times

ccch wrote:

SergioNYK wrote:I don't think playing at a faster pace is going to help RJ shoot better or finish layup's. He needs to a completely new training this summer cause he's getting worse, not better.

Don't think we need to dissect his play... He's really not that good. Terrible bust at Number 3 pick!

Calling him a bust still remains a terrible overreaction. At best he’s been underwhelming in his development.

RJ was just saving it up for the biggest game of the season. Respect to This for sticking to his guns and Nalod for preaching the gospel.

gradyandrew wrote:RJ was just saving it up for the biggest game of the season. Respect to This for sticking to his guns and Nalod for preaching the gospel.

Papabear Says

If not for RJ we loose the 3rd game Now what do RJ haters have to say about that

martin wrote:

I have an annualfast pass on the Knick BiPolar Coaster.
RJ is part of it.

Last game RJ made quick decisions and looked to pass whenever the defense collapsed. He had a great game because he was not forcing anything and he finally was able to hit his 3s. If this kid could ever fix his jumper, that would solve most of his problems. Shooting and his tunnel vision are his two greatest shortcomings. The tunnel vision is easily fixed as we saw last game. The shooting is the larger problem. He may need a new shooting coach because that guy he has been working with for the past three years has done little for him. Even if he has to take 600 shots a day, he has got to fix his jumpshot this summer.

blkexec wrote:What’s wrong with RJ Barrett? Nothing. He’s exactly who we drafted.

If miles bridges was on this team, there will be a thread with the same title.

This team is built around 2 ball dominate half court players with an old school coach in a half court system. You grind it out on both ends.

RJ is not a half court player. He needs a system surrounded by players who play downhill. Maybe pair Brunson with ball would work. Charlotte pg ball plays downhill and would increase the tempo. Look how he made miles bridges look like an all star. He would have the same affect on RJ. And he’s tall enough to defend SGs if you pair him with Brunson.

Will be interesting to see which direction Leon goes in the off season. Or does he do nothing and continue to develop the yoots?

Think it is as simple as improving his 3pt shot and learning to set others up. Kid gets 3pt shooting up to high 30's and averages 5 or more dimes ala game a he can be an All Star. Still notice his ability to get to the rim. Feel that is elite.

I may need to bump my, "we need an upgrade at SG" thread. Feel we would be at different level with that right now. Love Grimes but like Thibs, don't trust unproven youngins in the playoffs.
Still okay with progress though and vote for patience and trust with our youngins.

As for RJ, as I defended Randle in his so called "off year", I will predict a big bounce back year for RJ. However, as with Randle, if the right offer is out there, you have to be open minded with any of our players.

HofstraBBall wrote:

blkexec wrote:What’s wrong with RJ Barrett? Nothing. He’s exactly who we drafted.

If miles bridges was on this team, there will be a thread with the same title.

This team is built around 2 ball dominate half court players with an old school coach in a half court system. You grind it out on both ends.

RJ is not a half court player. He needs a system surrounded by players who play downhill. Maybe pair Brunson with ball would work. Charlotte pg ball plays downhill and would increase the tempo. Look how he made miles bridges look like an all star. He would have the same affect on RJ. And he’s tall enough to defend SGs if you pair him with Brunson.

Will be interesting to see which direction Leon goes in the off season. Or does he do nothing and continue to develop the yoots?

Think it is as simple as improving his 3pt shot and learning to set others up. Kid gets 3pt shooting up to high 30's and averages 5 or more dimes ala game a he can be an All Star. Still notice his ability to get to the rim. Feel that is elite.

I may need to bump my, "we need an upgrade at SG" thread. Feel we would be at different level with that right now. Love Grimes but like Thibs, don't trust unproven youngins in the playoffs.
Still okay with progress though and vote for patience and trust with our youngins.

As for RJ, as I defended Randle in his so called "off year", I will predict a big bounce back year for RJ. However, as with Randle, if the right offer is out there, you have to be open minded with any of our players.

I also think he is in between conditioning this season. I think he bulked up over the last offseason and his legs aren’t 100% there deep in this season. Completely solveabke. But those legs need rest. He’s 22. Some of those shots not dropping or not finishing in traffic are symptoms of his legs not being there.

In the season view it feels bad but in the long term he is going to benefit from that added bulk in his upper body.

This is kind of like Mitch Robinson last year coming back with 20lbs of muscle. Took him time to get his legs under him.

Can it be that RJ is too awesome?

martin wrote:

THIS

Have Evan Fournier work with him all summer on his shooting. Evan is under contract and help him transition to a coaching career by working with RJ.