Official RJ Barrett Thread Part 2

[DreamTeam09]

rj again 22 pts on just 12 shots...6 dimes and 1 turnover...the 3 ball and free throws looks improved, hes been our most consistent efficient offensive player

He's playing like Olympic RJ. When he's running with the bench players, that's when he takes a more aggressive role on offense.

He's filling his role very well.

when he's played in Toronto as a 3rd option type next to a Pascal + Barnes or BI + Barnes we've seen the efficiency bump from RJ. You don't give credence to that because?

[tsherkin]

when he's played in Toronto as a 3rd option type next to a Pascal + Barnes or BI + Barnes we've seen the efficiency bump from RJ. You don't give credence to that because?

What are you on about? I literally just complimented him.

[NBA48mins]

Watch on YouTube

[Chokic]

Given raptors maintain their win pace heading into all star game will raptors represent 2 possibly 3 all stars this year? Or is that highly unlikely?Will Barrett represent the world team in the all star game this season?

[Madvillainy2004]

As much as wed probably want RJ replaced with a more 3/D guy i feel like his rim pressure is really important for us. Scottie/Ingram havent been amazing on drives so far and I think RJ brings something to our offense thats important.

[tsherkin]

Given raptors maintain their win pace heading into all star game will raptors represent 2 possibly 3 all stars this year? Or is that highly unlikely?Will Barrett represent the world team in the all star game this season?

If we're a 35-win team at the break (roughly 53-win pace as now), I imagine we'd have 2 All-Stars. Hard to see 3, but 2 would make sense.

Scottie is the obvious choice. Barrett or BI would be interesting. BI has been a 21/6/4 player for us on about league-average efficiency, but obviously he's made a large impact on how the other guys around him can play even while his 3 hasn't been falling, so that's been positive. I can only imagine he'll look even better by the break, so I'd gather it would be him as the 2nd selection.

With RJ, if he maintains, I dunno that 19/5/4 is gonna get it done as a 3rd All-Star. I don't care, because he's been playing well for us, but generally speaking I don't see the votes coming for him because the numbers don't pop and his D is still problematic despite his effort.

That said, we're like half a season away from the break, so a lot could change.

[tsherkin]

As much as wed probably want RJ replaced with a more 3/D guy i feel like his rim pressure is really important for us. Scottie/Ingram havent been amazing on drives so far and I think RJ brings something to our offense thats important.

I think we'd lose a lot from the offense without what RJ does. His D is much more of an issue than anything he doesn't bring on offense, for sure. RJ has been cutting and driving very effectively. 3 of his last 4 games have been rough from 3, but when he's hitting at even a decent level, then there's another dimension he brings to us and I think that'll stabilize a bit as we go.

We have several pieces who cause us struggles on D, after all. BI isn't exactly a lockdown defender himself, for example. At some point, we just have to accept that and roll on, because this team is going to win more on the basis of its O.

[PushDaRock]

As much as wed probably want RJ replaced with a more 3/D guy i feel like his rim pressure is really important for us. Scottie/Ingram havent been amazing on drives so far and I think RJ brings something to our offense thats important.

It's extremely important and he's the only one who can consistently do it on the roster.

Ideal world, we would have an elite 3+D wing defender in the rotation to supplement what Ingram and RJ lack. Really would be nice if Ochai and Walter who have the potential to fit that role would step up their play.

[PushDaRock]

Given raptors maintain their win pace heading into all star game will raptors represent 2 possibly 3 all stars this year? Or is that highly unlikely?Will Barrett represent the world team in the all star game this season?

If we're a 35-win team at the break (roughly 53-win pace as now), I imagine we'd have 2 All-Stars. Hard to see 3, but 2 would make sense.

Scottie is the obvious choice. Barrett or BI would be interesting. BI has been a 21/6/4 player for us on about league-average efficiency, but obviously he's made a large impact on how the other guys around him can play even while his 3 hasn't been falling, so that's been positive. I can only imagine he'll look even better by the break, so I'd gather it would be him as the 2nd selection.

With RJ, if he maintains, I dunno that 19/5/4 is gonna get it done as a 3rd All-Star. I don't care, because he's been playing well for us, but generally speaking I don't see the votes coming for him because the numbers don't pop and his D is still problematic despite his effort.

That said, we're like half a season away from the break, so a lot could change.

He wouldn't get in. You would need to be at least on a 60 win game pace to get 3 guys in.

[tsherkin]

He wouldn't get in. You would need to be at least on a 60 win game pace to get 3 guys in.

That's my thought as well, yeah. But it is fun to be ABLE to consider that we have 3 guys who are at least floating around the border of that level of play.

[PushDaRock]

He wouldn't get in. You would need to be at least on a 60 win game pace to get 3 guys in.

That's my thought as well, yeah. But it is fun to be ABLE to consider that we have 3 guys who are at least floating around the border of that level of play.

This season so far has gone about as well as we could have hoped. Not having a true #1 and instead having multiple scoring threats on the court at once has played out great so far. We are also winning games in different ways showing some adaptability and there's still room left to grow.

[tsherkin]

He wouldn't get in. You would need to be at least on a 60 win game pace to get 3 guys in.

That's my thought as well, yeah. But it is fun to be ABLE to consider that we have 3 guys who are at least floating around the border of that level of play.

This season so far has gone about as well as we could have hoped. Not having a true #1 and instead having multiple scoring threats on the court at once has played out great so far. We are also winning games in different ways showing some adaptability and there's still room left to grow.

Yep. The offense has been fun to watch, and simultaneously effective. D has actually been pretty good, too, like "it's been half a decade since a Toronto team was this good or better on D" type of good. So that has been a MARKED change of pace for us, despite all of our kvetching, heh.

[anotherhomer]

As much as wed probably want RJ replaced with a more 3/D guy i feel like his rim pressure is really important for us. Scottie/Ingram havent been amazing on drives so far and I think RJ brings something to our offense thats important.

It's extremely important and he's the only one who can consistently do it on the roster.

Ideal world, we would have an elite 3+D wing defender in the rotation to supplement what Ingram and RJ lack. Really would be nice if Ochai and Walter who have the potential to fit that role would step up their play.

funny enough that norm powell would be perfect at the SG spot

EDIT: not perfect but fit really well, minus the ok defense

[NBA48mins]

Can we trick the pelicans to reunite RJ and Zion? Can we get Trey Murphy in return?

[mtcan]

Can we trick the pelicans to reunite RJ and Zion? Can we get Trey Murphy in return?

For the same reason you want Trey Murphy...is the same reason the Pelicans won't trade him for RJ.

Besides...RJ is our second leading scorer tonight...he ain't a problem.

[Tha Cynic]

As much as wed probably want RJ replaced with a more 3/D guy i feel like his rim pressure is really important for us. Scottie/Ingram havent been amazing on drives so far and I think RJ brings something to our offense thats important.

It's extremely important and he's the only one who can consistently do it on the roster.

Ideal world, we would have an elite 3+D wing defender in the rotation to supplement what Ingram and RJ lack. Really would be nice if Ochai and Walter who have the potential to fit that role would step up their play.

Pretty sure that’s what the Raptors are hoping for, or CMB at the 3. He can drive pretty well. Till then RJ is here to stay. IMO if there is a trade it won’t be till offseason when he becomes a huge valuable expiring contract.

The rim pressure is definitely something this team is seriously lacking

[YogurtProducer]

He wouldn't get in. You would need to be at least on a 60 win game pace to get 3 guys in.

That's my thought as well, yeah. But it is fun to be ABLE to consider that we have 3 guys who are at least floating around the border of that level of play.

There is an international team. So with injuries, RJ could be a replacement candidate for that team

[tsherkin]

There is an international team. So with injuries, RJ could be a replacement candidate for that team

Oh, right. I keep forgetting that they do weird crap with the ASG instead of just East/West anymore. And fully have been for a long time. I don't even watch All-Star Weekend, so I always forget.

[CPT]

He wouldn't get in. You would need to be at least on a 60 win game pace to get 3 guys in.

That's my thought as well, yeah. But it is fun to be ABLE to consider that we have 3 guys who are at least floating around the border of that level of play.

There is an international team. So with injuries, RJ could be a replacement candidate for that team

The international angle is interesting, I hadn't considered that.

Though IIRC, it still goes East/West All-Stars and then they are shuffled into two 8-man US teams and one 8-man World team.

The World team will be ridiculously stacked...like the last 7 years of MVPs + Wemby and Luka. I suppose Embiid could play for the US, but he's a fake MVP, probably won't be an All-Star, and would probably play for the world this time because they have a better chance of winning.

I'm an All-Star Weekend Enjoyer, but they are really trying their best to screw it up. Their attempts to maximize advertising and corporate sponsorships and minimize basketball are not fooling anyone.

Best on Best Team USA vs. Team World is something that people would be excited about and might even get the players to play hard, but nah, let's make this weird round robin tournament that not a single person alive asked for or thinks is cool.

Rant aside, it would certainly be cool to see some Raptor representation in the All-Star game.

[Dennis 37]

Given raptors maintain their win pace heading into all star game will raptors represent 2 possibly 3 all stars this year? Or is that highly unlikely?Will Barrett represent the world team in the all star game this season?

If we're a 35-win team at the break (roughly 53-win pace as now), I imagine we'd have 2 All-Stars. Hard to see 3, but 2 would make sense.

Scottie is the obvious choice. Barrett or BI would be interesting. BI has been a 21/6/4 player for us on about league-average efficiency, but obviously he's made a large impact on how the other guys around him can play even while his 3 hasn't been falling, so that's been positive. I can only imagine he'll look even better by the break, so I'd gather it would be him as the 2nd selection.

With RJ, if he maintains, I dunno that 19/5/4 is gonna get it done as a 3rd All-Star. I don't care, because he's been playing well for us, but generally speaking I don't see the votes coming for him because the numbers don't pop and his D is still problematic despite his effort.

That said, we're like half a season away from the break, so a lot could change.

All star games are weird. Players with elite defensive skills get selected, but nobody plays defense at the AS game.