Official RJ Barrett Thread

[DreamTeam09]

Y'all need to go watch some tape of Manu and see what he was able to do with his left hand. The ceiling on limited left handed players is different than the ceiling on most limited right handed players because you have to guard them differently than most of the league.

RJ and Darko talk about Manu in reference to RJ's game. I'm sure there is a source for that out there somewhere.

Part of the reason why RJ is now my favorite Raptor is because of how much his game since joining the team reminds me of Manu.

Other than not being great in the mid-range, I don't see much similarity in their game at all. Manu was just so good at contorting his way to the rim and RJ is a lot more robotic in comparison, not to mention being a better outside shooter.

More robotic compared to say Manu sure, similar robotic feeling to say OG, not a chance. I can kinda see the similarities, and it is a good person to mimic. The driving game is similar imo, RJ uses the euro steps, swing steps, and gets to either hand when driving

[MEDIC]

I think Darko was just trying to find a good player for RJ to model his game after. Someone that has similar strengths. Manu is a good one..

[MEDIC]

So the man ups his efficiency, but somehow he's the same player as he always was? I don't understand how anyone can say that seriously with a straight face. If he upped his efficiency, then he's a totally different player. "He's only good at C&S 3s and drives", what else do you want from him? Why on earth would u want him to be a mid-range scorer as well... I mean sure it would be nice if he's proficient in that range as well, but that doesn't mean he's not a good player. This was the exact same arguments I heard about the demar era "He takes too many long twos, should focus on driving and corner 3s" that was literally every topic of discussion for 5 yrs, and now we have a player who does those things, and we want him to be a efficient 3 level scorer after just turning 24 a month ago. Give that man a chance...

Agreed. He waa good at taking the two most efficient shots in the game after arriving here. Not really something to complain about.......

[PoundTown]

I understand some of the limitations people are putting on RJ, but he also looks to be an elite slasher and a good set shooter, and attaching the closing out defender on that set shot is another skill he is elite at. He fits really well into a ball movement type of offence. He is also slowly developing a post up game to bully ball certain matchups. He's getting quite strong. Someone said tunnel vision, and I don't think he had tunnel vision with us last year. We want him to keep that aggressiveness going to the hoop and looking to score and I think he did a good job of moving it once the defense collapsed on him. Hard to average 4 assists as an off ball player with tunnel vision.

[Westside Gunn]

Even if RJ can be DeMar, specially with DeMar's work ethic, that would be a huge win.

[deck]

Scotties scoring versatility potential is much higher than Rj, hopefully he takes another step this year. RJ has an extremely limited game that is very easy to shut down. Sag off him so he can't get a head of steam, and that's pretty much his entire game. He needs to become reliable from the 3 to spread the defence out a bit more.

Any solid team that game plans for him would shut him down pretty easily, just like DD. He's a decent stop gap, but he isn't a permanent solution, again, just like DD.

I can’t really take your opinion seriously considering you basically wanted to write him off when the trade happened. I don’t think you’re able to view his game objectively.

Take it however you want, bias doesn't change objective fact. He has physical limitations, and his game is shallow. Nothing has changed since we traded for him, he got more efficient over a small sample size, which is great and I hope he can keep it up. But that doesn't change the fundamental deficiencies in his game, same as DD, love him or hate him, his game is his game.

We changed his shot diet and put him in better spots, that's it. He hasn't suddenly become a different player, we're just using him smarter. Doesn't change his ceiling.

How do you reconcile your position if we consider someone like Lowry as a comparative example? Lowry is far more limited physically than RJ. When we acquired him, he was in danger of being out of the league. He was a good defensive player, but his offence was far worse than even NYK RJ. And on top of all of that, Lowry was older at the time when we acquired him.

And yet with all of that stacked against him, he went on to become a very effective player, and arguably one of the most effective players Raptors in franchise history.

Why is RJs ceiling set in stone while someone like Lowry was able to massively exceed his projected ceiling while objectively starting from a far more limited position?

[Chandan]

I can’t really take your opinion seriously considering you basically wanted to write him off when the trade happened. I don’t think you’re able to view his game objectively.

Take it however you want, bias doesn't change objective fact. He has physical limitations, and his game is shallow. Nothing has changed since we traded for him, he got more efficient over a small sample size, which is great and I hope he can keep it up. But that doesn't change the fundamental deficiencies in his game, same as DD, love him or hate him, his game is his game.

We changed his shot diet and put him in better spots, that's it. He hasn't suddenly become a different player, we're just using him smarter. Doesn't change his ceiling.

How do you reconcile your position if we consider someone like Lowry as a comparative example? Lowry is far more limited physically than RJ. When we acquired him, he was in danger of being out of the league. He was a good defensive player, but his offence was far worse than even NYK RJ. And on top of all of that, Lowry was older at the time when we acquired him.

And yet with all of that stacked against him, he went on to become a very effective player, and arguably one of the most effective players Raptors in franchise history.

Why is RJs ceiling set in stone while someone like Lowry was able to massively exceed his projected ceiling while objectively starting from a far more limited position?

Lowry was considered a decent PG, he was never in danger of being out of the league. I'd say he was regarded around what IQ is now around the league (but with a bit of an attitude because he was always fighting for playing time with Conley and butted headed with the coach)

[Scase]

I can’t really take your opinion seriously considering you basically wanted to write him off when the trade happened. I don’t think you’re able to view his game objectively.

Take it however you want, bias doesn't change objective fact. He has physical limitations, and his game is shallow. Nothing has changed since we traded for him, he got more efficient over a small sample size, which is great and I hope he can keep it up. But that doesn't change the fundamental deficiencies in his game, same as DD, love him or hate him, his game is his game.

We changed his shot diet and put him in better spots, that's it. He hasn't suddenly become a different player, we're just using him smarter. Doesn't change his ceiling.

How do you reconcile your position if we consider someone like Lowry as a comparative example? Lowry is far more limited physically than RJ. When we acquired him, he was in danger of being out of the league. He was a good defensive player, but his offence was far worse than even NYK RJ. And on top of all of that, Lowry was older at the time when we acquired him.

And yet with all of that stacked against him, he went on to become a very effective player, and arguably one of the most effective players Raptors in franchise history.

Why is RJs ceiling set in stone while someone like Lowry was able to massively exceed his projected ceiling while objectively starting from a far more limited position?

Well for one, Lowry was/is an outlier, so he's a bad example to use. But he was also in the worst year of his entire near 20 year career, his efficiency matched the best that RJ has managed until that 32 game block that boosted his performance.

I'm not saying there is no way RJ ever becomes very good, I'm saying it's unlikely. Lowry is also a much much smarter player, he has always, even in his houston days played the game very smart. His issue was his ego. Take a look at Lowry's advanced stats before joining the Raps, they were almost entirely positive, RJs have yet to be.

[RaptorLakerJay]

Do y'all think RJ Barrett could be a #2 option? Today's game against Greece, he was the leading scorer for Canada.

[gp2015]

Do y'all think RJ Barrett could be a #2 option? Today's game against Greece, he was the leading scorer for Canada.

He could be but then we need to find our SGA.

[Loso04]

Do y'all think RJ Barrett could be a #2 option? Today's game against Greece, he was the leading scorer for Canada.

He could be but then we need to find our SGA.

Quickley is in the lab

[Badonkadonk]

Been saying since the trade that if the Raps get the Team Canada version of RJ, he's going to make that trade and his contract look pretty silly.

Excited to see him in Darko's system again in a few months.

[Brinbe]

Looks to be in absolutely amazing shape. Think he's set up for a really good season to come.

[Thaddy]

Barrett is impressing me and he's doing as a forward. The issue I see with his game is that once teams catch on and put a bigger guy on him or have an above average interior defender he's going to crumble. The reliance on getting to the FT line while being an inconsistent shooter is also a concern.

I want to see more guard skills. He was supposed to have a creation ability when he came into the league? Where did that go? He should be comfortable using a screen and getting into a mid range look. As a rebuilding team making him limit his game to be more efficient doesn't make sense, he needs to be trying skills out and these skills should be under development not brushed under the rug.

Key points I want to see from him.

- Being assertive on defense
- Asking for picks and setting up the roll man or finding the shooter on the weak side or corners
- Stepping up on defense in a situation where the main defenders are in foul trouble
-Nailing above the break three point shots

[Tha Cynic]

Been saying since the trade that if the Raps get the Team Canada version of RJ, he's going to make that trade and his contract look pretty silly.

Excited to see him in Darko's system again in a few months.

His contact is already good. He will outplay it this season.

I doubt he can stay as efficient as last season, but if he is, we killed that trade. Right now it's about even with us slightly ahead due to the regularly recurring OG injuries. Quickley alone may be a great return for OG.

[Raptorfan2012]

RJ has a bit of Paul Pierce in him esp if he gets better on offence. Strong wing who can hit from long range when needed.

[raincityraptors]

RJ has the potential to lead this Olympics team or the Raptors in scoring. (Though he may not end up leading either)

Today he led Canada in:
Minutes
Shots/FGM
Points

When I brought up Manu earlier in this thread it was in reference to what lefty drivers can do.

They aren't the same players at all because one was speed and finesse and the other is a bull in a china shop.

However both manage to get to the left side because players instinctually guard right. I love watching lefties play.

He's getting more and more comfortable with on the ball reps he's getting. He's drawing double teams next year and they aren't going to be as physical as they are in FIBA. So this is a good sign for next season.

He's going to be our top finisher on a lot of nights while creating advantages with his cuts and penetration.

If he gets good rest before the season I expect a strong full season from RJ.

[LoveMyRaps]

I've been following RJ for a very long time, even before he commit to Duke.

This is exactly why I've wanted Masai to bring RJ home for years.

He needed a change of scenery. He needed to come home. He's always played well for Team Canada and I knew playing for his hometown Raps would unlock his true potential.

(Refer to OP)

[Westside Gunn]

This guy will be really good this year. What a game.

[Boogie!]

Take it however you want, bias doesn't change objective fact. He has physical limitations, and his game is shallow. Nothing has changed since we traded for him, he got more efficient over a small sample size, which is great and I hope he can keep it up. But that doesn't change the fundamental deficiencies in his game, same as DD, love him or hate him, his game is his game.

We changed his shot diet and put him in better spots, that's it. He hasn't suddenly become a different player, we're just using him smarter. Doesn't change his ceiling.

How do you reconcile your position if we consider someone like Lowry as a comparative example? Lowry is far more limited physically than RJ. When we acquired him, he was in danger of being out of the league. He was a good defensive player, but his offence was far worse than even NYK RJ. And on top of all of that, Lowry was older at the time when we acquired him.

And yet with all of that stacked against him, he went on to become a very effective player, and arguably one of the most effective players Raptors in franchise history.

Why is RJs ceiling set in stone while someone like Lowry was able to massively exceed his projected ceiling while objectively starting from a far more limited position?

Lowry was considered a decent PG, he was never in danger of being out of the league. I'd say he was regarded around what IQ is now around the league (but with a bit of an attitude because he was always fighting for playing time with Conley and butted headed with the coach)

When was Barrett ever in danger of being out of the league. I said when the trade happened there’s a reason why this guy was drafted 3ed overall you can see it in his skill set and it made no sense to me why people gave up on him already considering his age. Meanwhile people got so gassed on Gary Trent when we traded for him. It logically makes no sense however you want to spin it.