Official RJ Barrett Thread

[Statistician MK]

Based on this, getting RJ Barrett and the whole trade in general, turned out to be good for us!
(updated after tonight's game against the Hornets)

Plus, as a bonus, we got the best draft pick in the 2nd round. Most likely.

[aminiaturebuddha]

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.

I think part of it is the system and how he's being used. New York's offence is much more dependent on one-on-one play, trying to take advantage of matchups. Darko's system tries to get guys to carry forward small advantages created through various early actions. RJ seems to thrive in a role where he doesn't need to think too much, and can just get into motion quickly and use his strength and instincts to either score or make the right pass.

[XTC]

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.

Kobe took 27.1% of his shots from 16 feet - 3ptera converting at 40.2% Kobe also took 17.2% of his shots from 10-16 feet converting them at 43.0%

Demar took 28.4% of his shots from 16 feet- 3pters converting at 40.1% Demar took 22.9% of his shots from 10-16 feet converting them at 45.0%

Demar took more midrange jumpers and hit them better. I really do believe Demar is one of the GOATS of mid range scoring.

[Psubs]

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.

Kobe took 27.1% of his shots from 16 feet - 3ptera converting at 40.2% Kobe also took 17.2% of his shots from 10-16 feet converting them at 43.0%

Demar took 28.4% of his shots from 16 feet- 3pters converting at 40.1% Demar took 22.9% of his shots from 10-16 feet converting them at 45.0%

Demar took more midrange jumpers and hit them better. I really do believe Demar is one of the GOATS of mid range scoring.

Was it a hot take or did you have the stats on your clipboard waiting?

[mdenny]

I had heard RJ had a good reputation amongst players and coaches before he came here eve though he had so far underachieving somewhat. And you can see why. He's often been praised for his work ethic and maturity. It's a great addition in building a new team culture. At his current standard of play his contract bodes well for cap structure too.

[Son Goku 25]

I'm liking him more than Scottie recently just the way he plays and his attitude. I know Scottie is more talented and a higher ceiling but just my 2 cents.

[aminiaturebuddha]

I had heard RJ had a good reputation amongst players and coaches before he came here eve though he had so far underachieving somewhat. And you can see why. He's often been praised for his work ethic and maturity. It's a great addition in building a new team culture. At his current standard of play his contract bodes well for cap structure too.

He actually seems very Demar-like in that way. He may be a bit limited in his overall game, but his consistent work ethic and professionalism will be infectious and a great model for others on the team, especially if they see constant gradual improvement in his game.

[vanhill]

i feel that we should make RJ to be our first option, while scottie is going to contribute from different areas to make him a more all around players, kinda like when Siakam was playing here. We should also play Poeltl more, especially during the end of the game.

[Psubs]

i feel that we should make RJ to be our first option, while scottie is going to contribute from different areas to make him a more all around players, kinda like when Siakam was playing here. We should also play Poeltl more, especially during the end of the game.

Instead of Poeltl at the top getting the ball, put him in the dunker spot and use Scottie to pass. When Poeltl get it at the top he is 99% of the time passing the ball and not a driving or shooting threat from the top of they key. Poeltl doesn't even dunk out of the dunkers spot.

PG Topic
SG IQ
SF Barrett - Dick
PF Barnes
C Ware

[XTC]

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

Kobe took 27.1% of his shots from 16 feet - 3ptera converting at 40.2% Kobe also took 17.2% of his shots from 10-16 feet converting them at 43.0%

Demar took 28.4% of his shots from 16 feet- 3pters converting at 40.1% Demar took 22.9% of his shots from 10-16 feet converting them at 45.0%

Demar took more midrange jumpers and hit them better. I really do believe Demar is one of the GOATS of mid range scoring.

Was it a hot take or did you have the stats on your clipboard waiting?

Honestly just went to basketball reference after getting into this debate lol. His mid range mastery is beautiful. If I'm a coach I'm showing all my players (guards, wings, and bigs) footage of Demar working the post + mid range.

But I've personally always been a fan of Demar's footwork and mid range ability. He sadly never developed a 3 pointer, but if he did, he would be been a superstar. I'm a little biased as Demar is my favourite Raptor of all time.

Kobe>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Demar

But the one thing Demar has on him is mid range scoring/shooting. Kobe was better at making tougher shots.

Side note: Kevin Durant is the best midrange scorer/shooter of all time. Devin Booker is also very good.

[links135]

i feel that we should make RJ to be our first option, while scottie is going to contribute from different areas to make him a more all around players, kinda like when Siakam was playing here. We should also play Poeltl more, especially during the end of the game.

Your looking at it wrong, the reason RJ is thriving is because he can play off the focus on Barnes. You can look at their ast% in 2024 to see how that works, RJ scores alot off assists while Barnes scores alot unassisted, which based off how the defence will play Barnes, gives RJ openings to score.

The only real issue is IQ scoring outside 3s, his 2 game hasn't been good here. Either way we play a pass heavy offence, which takes what the defence gives, with is big for RJ. Making him the 1st option won't help because teams aren't going to focus on him isolating inside the same way, it's not his game. He's not big enough as a wing and he actually hasn't really taken any midrange shots here either.

Reason it works well is RJ is great off the bounce from the perimeter with alot of crafty finishes, as opposes to say Siakam who just can't attack from the perimeter off the bounce the same way, he's more get the ball on the perimeter, then do some iso thing, unless it's a wide open drive.

TLDR RJs perfect in his role here on offence for now at least.

Man I've been going to town tonight ranting about the Raptors LOL. We might lose alot moving forward, unlike you know, the last 1.5 years, but at least there's things to talk about moving forward.

[mdenny]

I had heard RJ had a good reputation amongst players and coaches before he came here eve though he had so far underachieving somewhat. And you can see why. He's often been praised for his work ethic and maturity. It's a great addition in building a new team culture. At his current standard of play his contract bodes well for cap structure too.

He actually seems very Demar-like in that way. He may be a bit limited in his overall game, but his consistent work ethic and professionalism will be infectious and a great model for others on the team, especially if they see constant gradual improvement in his game.

Agreed on the demar thing.

And hey...just because someone diligently works on their game every summer doesn't mean they get the continuous results that demar did. Sometimes all the work in the world still doesn't produce results. Sometimes you can be magic johnson and it doesn't matter you ain't a gym rat.

But knowing that RJ is gonna ATTEMPT to improve at least lends to the possibility that he goes for a demar-like ascension from year to year.

In terms of his influence....and this might be a coincidence....but it seems to me that ever since RJ got here....scotty started attacking INTO contact instead of trying to go around it or fade from it. Pretty sure that shows in increased FTAs for scotty since the trade.

One thing's for sure....it seems like a long time since the raptors had a guy who could get to the line on possessions that don't necessarily look very promising. That's been a huge thing that has stuck out to me watching RJ so far - manufacturing free throw attempts by attacking the rim.

[bonjovi0308]

Does RJ have any hope and potential to improve his d?

[Thaddy]

He is looking like a long term piece. We really stole him off the Knicks. I love rooting for RJ, he's a professional and seems like a good guy. I have a feeling he's going to improve as a shooter.

[manjusaka]

Does RJ have any hope and potential to improve his d?

Defensively he will not be as good as OG. RJ has size length and strength. Maybe little bit slow feet against quick guards. But I believe with his effort he would be no problem covering forwards.

[OakleyDokely]

RJ is putting up star numbers as a Raptor.

21 PPG on 62 TS with 23 usage are incredible numbers. Didn't think it would happen. They've cut out all the midrange garbage and his efficiency has blasted off.

[And1Skip]

I find with his 3pt shooting, he simply needs to take them at that same corner - this is from the eye test and I'm sure if you look at his shot chart it will show the same. They also need to be wide open, and he seems to do a good job at not forcing 3's and only takes them when he is wide open. When he was struggling making 3's I thought he was taking too many from other areas like above the break - he just needs to focus on that one corner and he'll be super efficient.

[Brinbe]

cut out the longer 2s and has been a force attacking the rim plus hitting his 3s at a better rate. pretty damn good numbers, even with less USG compared to his Knicks days, and that's with his FTs being a bit wonky right now, which should bounce back. Really excited to see his continued growth. Should be good for another leap or so as he ages into his prime similar to DeMar.

[Raptorfan2012]

He is looking like a long term piece. We really stole him off the Knicks. I love rooting for RJ, he's a professional and seems like a good guy. I have a feeling he's going to improve as a shooter.

I do believe Masai has wanted RJ for a while now. He is definitely a long term piece to go with Barnes and IQ, but similar to Demar, can also be traded if a monster deal is on the table. In the meantime, RJ is already one of my fav Raptors on this squad. Yes, part of that is because is from the Toronto area, but he is also very talented and was a star recruit back in the day.

[YogurtProducer]

Actually blown away by how he has played so far. Efficiency jump due to the removal of the mid-range shot, but reality is if he wants to be a #1 guy in the NBA the mid-range shot is one he has to develop.

Pretty wild he has taken only 9 shots from 10ft-3pt land since he got here.