Official RJ Barrett Thread Part 2

[Scase]

Flagg, Barnes, and RJ and that'd be a solid core to build around.

It'd be an interesting start. Especially if Gradey finds his scoring rhythm.

Someone is going to need to learn how to shoot a 3.

[tsherkin]

Flagg, Barnes, and RJ and that'd be a solid core to build around.

It'd be an interesting start. Especially if Gradey finds his scoring rhythm.

Someone is going to need to learn how to shoot a 3.

Yep.

[earthtone]

Crazy RJ stat just mentioned on the broadcast, game 38 and he's already passed his high career high total for assists.

He's shooting more efficiently, doubled his assist rate, and is steadily improving his defense.

[GoRapstheoriginal]

Yeah! I heard that as well! Another great game tonight by RJ!

[hype_2004]

Steadily improving and he's getting more consistent, idiots here want to trade him when he hasn't hit his prime yet. A 24 yr old starting SG that can go to the foul line and get buckets are a rarity in the NBA, we have three points shooters perhaps we need to acquire more but not in the expense of trading RJ.

[PushDaRock]

His man D is honestly not terrible, probably about average and maybe even above average in some areas because he's quite strong and can body guys up that try and drive. Main thing is his lack of focus off the ball at times but that has been a team wide issue this year which seems to have improved significantly through this 7 game stretch.

Since December, he's shooting over 50% from the field and 36% from 3.

The FT shooting this month has been atrocious though. He's down to 45.5% this month. That just has to improve.

[LoveMyRaps]

Makes no sense to trade.

But it made a lot of sense to get a top prospect from this draft and pair 'em with RJ & Scottie.

Too bad that's not gonna happen anymore.

[tsherkin]

His man D is honestly not terrible, probably about average and maybe even above average in some areas because he's quite strong and can body guys up that try and drive. Main thing is his lack of focus off the ball at times but that has been a team wide issue this year which seems to have improved significantly through this 7 game stretch.

Since December, he's shooting over 50% from the field and 36% from 3.

The FT shooting this month has been atrocious though. He's down to 45.5% this month. That just has to improve.

Yeah.

So just to put it out there, FT shooting is costing RJ a full percentage of TS% on the season. It's obviously costing him more in January. He had a good December, posting a 49.4 / 35.3 / 80.3 slashline, but we all know he isn't going to do that consistently. But when he WAS doing that, it took him to 59.3% TS for 10 games, which was +1.9% rTS.

Prior to this game, he was doing something like 19/6.5/4.5 on 57.7% TS in January over 10 games. That's +0.3% rTS, and that's with 48.8% FT. Were he shooting just 73% at the line, that'd be a 60.9% TS month.

THAT would be really useful offense. 73% is something he's done before, we just need him to stop doing his best Old Shaq impersonation, and reasonable efficiency is attainable on this lower-usage plan we have him on. In January, he's at 25.7% USG, getting more passing support, and it looks like a viable way to deploy him. And then adding his nice passing on top of that is a cherry.

We'll see what happens, though. He's not good at the foul line, and a lot of those guys actually see a negative arc in their FT shooting in the second half of their careers.

[Ell Curry]

His man D is honestly not terrible, probably about average and maybe even above average in some areas because he's quite strong and can body guys up that try and drive. Main thing is his lack of focus off the ball at times but that has been a team wide issue this year which seems to have improved significantly through this 7 game stretch.

Since December, he's shooting over 50% from the field and 36% from 3.

The FT shooting this month has been atrocious though. He's down to 45.5% this month. That just has to improve.

Yeah.

So just to put it out there, FT shooting is costing RJ a full percentage of TS% on the season. It's obviously costing him more in January. He had a good December, posting a 49.4 / 35.3 / 80.3 slashline, but we all know he isn't going to do that consistently. But when he WAS doing that, it took him to 59.3% TS for 10 games, which was +1.9% rTS.

Prior to this game, he was doing something like 19/6.5/4.5 on 57.7% TS in January over 10 games. That's +0.3% rTS, and that's with 48.8% FT. Were he shooting just 73% at the line, that'd be a 60.9% TS month.

THAT would be really useful offense. 73% is something he's done before, we just need him to stop doing his best Old Shaq impersonation, and reasonable efficiency is attainable on this lower-usage plan we have him on. In January, he's at 25.7% USG, getting more passing support, and it looks like a viable way to deploy him. And then adding his nice passing on top of that is a cherry.

We'll see what happens, though. He's not good at the foul line, and a lot of those guys actually see a negative arc in their FT shooting in the second half of their careers.

Tonight is a perfect example of what y'all are talking about. After 3 quarters, RJ is shooting 50% from the field, 1/3 on 3s, 7 boards but no stocks and 2/6 from the line. If he's 5/6 from the line, that's a solid line. Good scoring, good boards, no stocks is rough, but that's enough to start thinking about RJ sticking around and trying to squeeze in another high salary piece in the 35-40M under the tax space we have (including paying our rookie but excluding Olynyk). But with the bad FT shooting, you really just have another empty calories 6/10 ass night.

[PushDaRock]

His man D is honestly not terrible, probably about average and maybe even above average in some areas because he's quite strong and can body guys up that try and drive. Main thing is his lack of focus off the ball at times but that has been a team wide issue this year which seems to have improved significantly through this 7 game stretch.

Since December, he's shooting over 50% from the field and 36% from 3.

The FT shooting this month has been atrocious though. He's down to 45.5% this month. That just has to improve.

Yeah.

So just to put it out there, FT shooting is costing RJ a full percentage of TS% on the season. It's obviously costing him more in January. He had a good December, posting a 49.4 / 35.3 / 80.3 slashline, but we all know he isn't going to do that consistently. But when he WAS doing that, it took him to 59.3% TS for 10 games, which was +1.9% rTS.

Prior to this game, he was doing something like 19/6.5/4.5 on 57.7% TS in January over 10 games. That's +0.3% rTS, and that's with 48.8% FT. Were he shooting just 73% at the line, that'd be a 60.9% TS month.

THAT would be really useful offense. 73% is something he's done before, we just need him to stop doing his best Old Shaq impersonation, and reasonable efficiency is attainable on this lower-usage plan we have him on. In January, he's at 25.7% USG, getting more passing support, and it looks like a viable way to deploy him. And then adding his nice passing on top of that is a cherry.

We'll see what happens, though. He's not good at the foul line, and a lot of those guys actually see a negative arc in their FT shooting in the second half of their careers.

Tonight is a perfect example of what y'all are talking about. After 3 quarters, RJ is shooting 50% from the field, 1/3 on 3s, 7 boards but no stocks and 2/6 from the line. If he's 5/6 from the line, that's a solid line. Good scoring, good boards, no stocks is rough, but that's enough to start thinking about RJ sticking around and trying to squeeze in another high salary piece in the 35-40M under the tax space we have (including paying our rookie but excluding Olynyk). But with the bad FT shooting, you really just have another empty calories 6/10 ass night.

honestly so strange right now because I think every 3 he shoots is going in and every FT he takes is going to be a brick

[brownbobcat]

His man D is honestly not terrible, probably about average and maybe even above average in some areas because he's quite strong and can body guys up that try and drive. Main thing is his lack of focus off the ball at times but that has been a team wide issue this year which seems to have improved significantly through this 7 game stretch.

Since December, he's shooting over 50% from the field and 36% from 3.

The FT shooting this month has been atrocious though. He's down to 45.5% this month. That just has to improve.

Yeah.

So just to put it out there, FT shooting is costing RJ a full percentage of TS% on the season. It's obviously costing him more in January. He had a good December, posting a 49.4 / 35.3 / 80.3 slashline, but we all know he isn't going to do that consistently. But when he WAS doing that, it took him to 59.3% TS for 10 games, which was +1.9% rTS.

Prior to this game, he was doing something like 19/6.5/4.5 on 57.7% TS in January over 10 games. That's +0.3% rTS, and that's with 48.8% FT. Were he shooting just 73% at the line, that'd be a 60.9% TS month.

THAT would be really useful offense. 73% is something he's done before, we just need him to stop doing his best Old Shaq impersonation, and reasonable efficiency is attainable on this lower-usage plan we have him on. In January, he's at 25.7% USG, getting more passing support, and it looks like a viable way to deploy him. And then adding his nice passing on top of that is a cherry.

We'll see what happens, though. He's not good at the foul line, and a lot of those guys actually see a negative arc in their FT shooting in the second half of their careers.

It's bizarre, I was just looking at this too and how badly his FT% is affecting his overall efficiency. This is complete speculation, but he's been taking slightly more short middies lately and I'm wondering if re-integrating that into his game is messing with his mechanics.

[tsherkin]

It's bizarre, I was just looking at this too and how badly his FT% is affecting his overall efficiency. This is complete speculation, but he's been taking slightly more short middies lately and I'm wondering if re-integrating that into his game is messing with his mechanics.

His proportion of mid-range shots is so small, though. 10-23 is basically non-existent, and not different than just after the trade last year, when he already had the FT issues.
But we'll see. He seems to alternate decent/weak seasons at the line. I dunno what's going on, but he's definitely been better than this over the bulk of his career to date, so we'll have to see what happens. I've been saying that a lot lately, lol. But I guess I'm trying to open a door to be positive about RJ and all that. It's difficult, but he does some good things for us, and the FT% is specifically the main issue holding him back from the baseline efficiency which would have me grumbling less. Which means his shot-making isn't a huge issue, his improved playmaking remains relevant, etc. There's lots of silver lining, I guess, even if his efficiency is challenging at this volume with our broader offensive issues.

73%. It's doable. He's done it before. If he can get back there, we've got something to work with.

[LoveMyRaps]

So happy we have him.

He's a keeper.

[Boogie!]

Crazy RJ stat just mentioned on the broadcast, game 38 and he's already passed his high career high total for assists.

He's shooting more efficiently, doubled his assist rate, and is steadily improving his defense.

No potential capped out.

[Boogie!]

It’s crazy people keep talking about potential and players taking leaps in their game… Rj is the one person who’s actually improved a significant part of his game (passing) and yet the talk from detractors is that he’s still a weak link on his team. I have not seen a significant skill leap from anyone else on this team other than him so far.

[LoveMyRaps]

The RJ haters have disappeared into thin air...

[Boogie!]

There were talks when we acquired him of modeling his game after ginobli and he looks very ginobli esque right now. Yet ginobli is a hall of fame player, everyone talks about how much of an underrated beast he was and then we have our fan base that wants to make him expendable at 24 years.

[tsherkin]

There were talks when we acquired him of modeling his game after ginobli and he looks very ginobli esque right now. Yet ginobli is a hall of fame player, everyone talks about how much of an underrated beast he was and then we have our fan base that wants to make him expendable at 24 years.

Manu was a much better player, though, so that makes some sense.

But if RJ can remain competent at the foul line, coupled to his improved playmaking, we've got something to work with.

[PushDaRock]

His man D is I think at a level where he is probably a bit above average. He stone walls some of the bigger wings in the league that try and drive on him. He's even been getting a bit better off the ball as the team has become a more cohesive unit defensively with more reps.

This was the kind of game where he didn't have great shooting numbers but his impact was noticeable out there. Missed some bunnies and had contact on a lot of shots at the rim where he didn't get any calls.

[mtcan]

The RJ haters have disappeared into thin air...

20 pts 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 2 steals...ya that guy is 6th man material. lolololol