Official RJ Barrett Thread

[TeamDisgruntled]

If you ignore the Houston game, this team of Yak, Scottie, Rj, Gary, IQ and Dennis has been right there with every team we’ve played, and we’ve played some good teams with that unit healthy. RJs defence isn’t great but ppl r way too quick to be calling Barrett empty calories already, correlating a depleted roster to RJ not effecting outcomes isn’t the move.

The Poeltl/Barnes/RJ/GTJ/IQ lineup has only played 19 mins together so far because multiple guys have been in and out of the lineup, but that lineup so far is a +17.6

That is really good to see. This team (ironically enough) now needs another 6'9" guy that can be a small ball 4/5.

Gradey and all the picks for Brandon miller.

[Hero_Panda]

Great to see Barrett doing well consistently, but to be honest if he wants to get to that next level he'll need a reliable mid-range game. Not Kobe-esque level but a level that poises a threat to defenders or as a falback if his way to the paint is denied.

[ConSarnit]

RJ's numbers in TO are insane.

34.4 MIN, 21.1 PPG, 7.1 REB, 3.5 AST, .551 FG, .364 3PT, .649 FT, .618 TS, 23.7 USG

This has to be the best 14 game stretch of his career and if it's not, it's gotta be pretty close. Everyone keeps waiting for the efficiency drop and he just keeps dropping 9/16 type games.

I went through his monthly splits for his entire career and he's never actually had a stretch like this.

He's genuinely taking very different shots with the Raptors. No mid-range, more at the net, less above the break threes. He's rebounding more which I've been impressed with his and his passing has been a bit better to. He's basically been an entirely different player.

If he shoots a bit worse, but his free throws go back to his rate earlier this year than we've got a really really solid player who is worth the contract.

I thought he would be an an anchor contract, and he's been the opposite. Our most consistent player over that stretch and he does not try to dominate the ball.

We've basically turned him into a "Rim + D" player.

% of assisted 2p makes:

Knicks: 40%

Raptors: 71%

He's taking career lows from 10-16, 16-3p and 3p as a % of his FGA. Career high in rim attempts.

[pingpongrac]

RJ's numbers in TO are insane.

34.4 MIN, 21.1 PPG, 7.1 REB, 3.5 AST, .551 FG, .364 3PT, .649 FT, .618 TS, 23.7 USG

This has to be the best 14 game stretch of his career and if it's not, it's gotta be pretty close. Everyone keeps waiting for the efficiency drop and he just keeps dropping 9/16 type games.

I'm super surprised by it and hope he keeps it up, but I can't shake the feeling of his stats not moving the needle for the team. Maybe it's just cause we are going to be losing games no matter what, for a while.

It's more than likely the latter because this team just isn't good right now. We saw a similar kind of thing in December where our two best players were playing at an extremely high level, but it resulted in a measly 3-10 record for the month; Scottie put up 24/10/6 on 62 TS% in December while Siakam put up 25/6/5 on 64 TS% yet our only wins came against Atlanta, Charlotte and Washington while we also lost some bad games to Charlotte and Detroit.

Outside of the horrific turnover at the end of regulation, Barrett had another good game last night. He's been really consistent in Toronto so far (14+ points in all but 1 game, >60 TS% in 9 of 14 games, 5+ rebounds in 10 of 14 games, 4+ assists in 8 of the last 11 games, etc.) which is a huge step up from his lack of consistency for the most part in NY. He desperately needed a change of scenery and the early returns in Toronto are extremely promising. I think he can potentially be a DeRozan in Toronto kind of guy on offence (25/5/4 kind of numbers) but with more focus on inside finishing and the ability to hit threes more consistently while also being a bit better of a defender. Probably more of a play finisher than a guy who runs the offence so often though.

[brownbobcat]

Great to see Barrett doing well consistently, but to be honest if he wants to get to that next level he'll need a reliable mid-range game. Not Kobe-esque level but a level that poises a threat to defenders or as a falback if his way to the paint is denied.

I'd like to see RJ utilize his butt like Lowry (I know) more often to create space in tight quarters. When he's too upright, he gets his shot blocked or affected more often because he doesn't have the elite hops. He needs to create space on the ground, not in the air.

[Scase]

RJ's numbers in TO are insane.

34.4 MIN, 21.1 PPG, 7.1 REB, 3.5 AST, .551 FG, .364 3PT, .649 FT, .618 TS, 23.7 USG

This has to be the best 14 game stretch of his career and if it's not, it's gotta be pretty close. Everyone keeps waiting for the efficiency drop and he just keeps dropping 9/16 type games.

I'm super surprised by it and hope he keeps it up, but I can't shake the feeling of his stats not moving the needle for the team. Maybe it's just cause we are going to be losing games no matter what, for a while.

It's more than likely the latter because this team just isn't good right now. We saw a similar kind of thing in December where our two best players were playing at an extremely high level, but it resulted in a measly 3-10 record for the month; Scottie put up 24/10/6 on 62 TS% in December while Siakam put up 25/6/5 on 64 TS% yet our only wins came against Atlanta, Charlotte and Washington while we also lost some bad games to Charlotte and Detroit.

Outside of the horrific turnover at the end of regulation, Barrett had another good game last night. He's been really consistent in Toronto so far (14+ points in all but 1 game, >60 TS% in 9 of 14 games, 5+ rebounds in 10 of 14 games, 4+ assists in 8 of the last 11 games, etc.) which is a huge step up from his lack of consistency for the most part in NY. He desperately needed a change of scenery and the early returns in Toronto are extremely promising. I think he can potentially be a DeRozan in Toronto kind of guy on offence (25/5/4 kind of numbers) but with more focus on inside finishing and the ability to hit threes more consistently while also being a bit better of a defender. Probably more of a play finisher than a guy who runs the offence so often though.

Yeah you're probably right, I just always expect the bottom to fall out with the way this team has been the past few years

[WaltFrazier]

Great to see Barrett doing well consistently, but to be honest if he wants to get to that next level he'll need a reliable mid-range game. Not Kobe-esque level but a level that poises a threat to defenders or as a falback if his way to the paint is denied.

Not Kobe -esque but Demar - esque would work

[raptorforlife88]

Another solid game. Another game where he made the right passes and was efficient. Corner threes and drives, 5 assists and only one turnover.

Honestly he could have taken more shots, but he did not dominate the ball at all. Chose his spots.

We're 15 games in and this could be a heater, but I'm also starting to wonder how New York failed to develop/utilize some really strong skills.

[HKBOY]

I can see RJ becoming an all star next season if he keeps this up, and everything he does well seem sustainable.

He could be a 25/6/5 player in his prime.

[XTC]

Great to see Barrett doing well consistently, but to be honest if he wants to get to that next level he'll need a reliable mid-range game. Not Kobe-esque level but a level that poises a threat to defenders or as a falback if his way to the paint is denied.

Not Kobe -esque but Demar - esque would work

Hot take... Demar had a better mid range game than Kobe.

Flame away.

[pingpongrac]

Barrett continues to impress. 21/7/4 on 63 TS% since the trade and everything he's doing looks sustainable. Maybe not quite to the degree of efficiency that he's at right now, but he honestly looks like he could handle some more usage and be a ~25 PPG scorer on above average efficiency with this team.

[aminiaturebuddha]

RJ had a another solid offensive game, but I was also really impressed with his defence today. He really fought hard, kept his feet moving, and made whoever he was guarding attempt to hit tough shots.

[LoveMyRaps]

Another solid game. Another game where he made the right passes and was efficient. Corner threes and drives, 5 assists and only one turnover.

Honestly he could have taken more shots, but he did not dominate the ball at all. Chose his spots.

We're 15 games in and this could be a heater, but I'm also starting to wonder how New York failed to develop/utilize some really strong skills.

His playmaker & passing has impressed me way more than his efficient shooting.

I'm so happy for RJ. Been pleading for Masai to bring him home for years now.

[Basketball_Jones]

We need a PF to shift Barnes down and RJ to shooting guard. He’s still playing well though.

[Tripod]

If he starts hitting 3's consistently, it takes him to a whole other level.

We need that 1 perfect piece to handle POA on D and hit some 3's.

[Raptorfan2012]

Is it reasonable to label RJ as a Paul Pierce type of talent or are they nothing alike?

[Brinbe]

Amazing what a change of scenery can do for a player. Looking like the possible DeMar to Scottie's Lowry and def a future core guy. TBD on IQ and the rest of what could go around the two. But the two are 22 and 23 respectively. We've got a bit of time to find out and build on this.

[Psubs]

Is it reasonable to label RJ as a Paul Pierce type of talent or are they nothing alike?

I feel like that is fair. RJ is more explosive than PP but Pierce seems to have a slightly higher IQ, thus more crafty. PP also played more years at Kansas.

[Psubs]

Great to see Barrett doing well consistently, but to be honest if he wants to get to that next level he'll need a reliable mid-range game. Not Kobe-esque level but a level that poises a threat to defenders or as a falback if his way to the paint is denied.

Not Kobe -esque but Demar - esque would work

Hot take... Demar had a better mid range game than Kobe.

Flame away.

Demar has pump fakes and works the 10-16 feet the best. Kobe was more 12-18.

[Psubs]

Another solid game. Another game where he made the right passes and was efficient. Corner threes and drives, 5 assists and only one turnover.

Honestly he could have taken more shots, but he did not dominate the ball at all. Chose his spots.

We're 15 games in and this could be a heater, but I'm also starting to wonder how New York failed to develop/utilize some really strong skills.

Brunson and Randle are lefties like Barrett and maybe dominated going left?