PG: Notorious BI3 come thru (8-1 in last 9)

[PushDaRock]

After this game, we now have both a Top 10 ORTG and DRTG. Pretty impressive especially after an awful first 5 games defensively.

[Appostis]

Watch how sloppy and unpredictable the ball movement is.

lol also 5th in the league in turnovers, so they're taking care of it too.

You're literally taking a 1 game sample size and basing your opinion around it.

No, it's not based on one game. It's been a general trend that I don't have faith in their passing and execution.

I agree with you, the aggregate assist and turnovers numbers are good. But they don't execute at a high level yet, and that's something I think will become a pain point when they play better competition.

But like I said, I think they'll get there.

The general trend of being top 5 in both rebounds and turnover rate?

Can the team be top 5 bad in offensive rebounding next?

[Tor_Raps]

Who cares?

I'm not basing that opinion based off his rookie season so far, most rookies suck anyways.

I think his ceiling is closer to 25 ppg than his floor being 25 ppg.

It matters because his performance should be considered even more impressive. I see him being around 25PPG with DPOY potential... Basically a 1st team defense + 1st/2nd team all nba.

Anyways, we'll see how it goes.

But, there's nothing all that impressive about what he's doing as a rookie so far. He sucks right now just like most rookies do. Not sure how his age makes that more impressive?

Process over results for most rookies his age. Hes shown to be a quick learner at every stage hes been on... id be willing to bet we'll start seeing results as soon as the second half this season.

[kalel123]

A testament to how bad Hornets are that we still won.

I know RJ banged that last one in but he's definitely the weak link in the starting lineup.

When he’s struggling he forces it more when he needs to do the opposite.

I don't think he really forced too much, transition scoring is his game and he's going to be attacking every chance he gets. Maybe one or 2 of them was on the more ill advised side but he wasn't getting calls and smoked some easy layups there and that's why people are on him. I would complain more about his D this game which was awful.

He was just bad all around. Would've been a game where he offered next to nothing if not for that last one.

[PushDaRock]

It matters because his performance should be considered even more impressive. I see him being around 25PPG with DPOY potential... Basically a 1st team defense + 1st/2nd team all nba.

Anyways, we'll see how it goes.

But, there's nothing all that impressive about what he's doing as a rookie so far. He sucks right now just like most rookies do. Not sure how his age makes that more impressive?

Process over results for most rookies his age. Hes shown to be a quick learner at every stage hes been on... id be willing to bet we'll start seeing results as soon as the second half this season.

Which is fine, I'm just not seeing him do anything that amazing at the moment which leads me to believe he is a lock to be a Top 10 player.

[HiJiNX]

Knueppel is going to be a very good player. Super impressed by this rookie.

Same, Hornets could be better off giving the ball to Kon RIGHT NOW than running their offense through Ball. Kid's gonna be scary.

Kon clearly looks like their best player. He’s very good. And much more athletic than he looks.

[MainEvent]

8-1 and these highlights will help me forget about CMB getting destroyed by the rim lol

[PushDaRock]

When he’s struggling he forces it more when he needs to do the opposite.

I don't think he really forced too much, transition scoring is his game and he's going to be attacking every chance he gets. Maybe one or 2 of them was on the more ill advised side but he wasn't getting calls and smoked some easy layups there and that's why people are on him. I would complain more about his D this game which was awful.

He was just bad all around. Would've been a game where he offered next to nothing if not for that last one.

Better 2nd half and scored the game winner. If we are considering this a truly awful game for him, that's pretty good considering he's put up some real stinkers in the past.

[Raps in 4]

Knueppel is going to be a very good player. Super impressed by this rookie.

Same, Hornets could be better off giving the ball to Kon RIGHT NOW than running their offense through Ball. Kid's gonna be scary.

Don't worry, Ball is due a season-ending injury any moment now. Kon will get his chance soon.

[HiJiNX]

When he’s struggling he forces it more when he needs to do the opposite.

I don't think he really forced too much, transition scoring is his game and he's going to be attacking every chance he gets. Maybe one or 2 of them was on the more ill advised side but he wasn't getting calls and smoked some easy layups there and that's why people are on him. I would complain more about his D this game which was awful.

He was just bad all around. Would've been a game where he offered next to nothing if not for that last one.

My biggest pet peeve with RJ these last three games is he refuses to throw the hit ahead pass to Barnes. And it blows up our transition opportunities. Barnes is far and away our best transition creator and the fastest guy on the team in transition with the ball — just give it up and streak to the basket RJ, you’re gonna get it back. Or he will drive into three guys and look off an open shooter to do it. It IRKS me haha.

[niQ]

Top 3 baby!!

[LLJ]

RJ is weird in that he's at his best when he's the overlooked wide open 3rd option but occasionally he seems to chafe at that role and try to be a hero when it's clear to everyone Ingram and Barnes are the two guys above him on the pecking order.

[Potential]

Hornets need to see what they can get for LaMelo + they'll have a top 10 pick in this great draft

[Appostis]

Top 3 baby!!

Top 3?

[anotherhomer]

10 pages, looks like the interesting is coming bakc

[PushDaRock]

RJ is weird in that he's at his best when he's the overlooked wide open 3rd option but occasionally he seems to chafe at that role and try to be a hero when it's clear to everyone Ingram and Barnes are the two guys above him on the pecking order.

He had 1 turnover and missed a bunch of makeable shots at the rim, I think it's a bit of an exaggeration to say he was really forcing it. If he goes 10-16 instead of 7-16 making the bunnies he missed, suddenly he's not "forcing" it anymore and has a good game instead.

[anotherhomer]

RJ is weird in that he's at his best when he's the overlooked wide open 3rd option but occasionally he seems to chafe at that role and try to be a hero when it's clear to everyone Ingram and Barnes are the two guys above him on the pecking order.

He had 1 turnover and missed a bunch of makeable shots at the rim, I think it's a bit of an exaggeration to say he was really forcing it. If he goes 10-16 instead of 7-16 making the bunnies he missed, suddenly he's not "forcing" it anymore and has a good game instead.

i wouldn't say he was forcing it....the refs weren't giving him the calls

[everdiso]

They're still feeling each other out, and obviously they don't compare to our championship squad (either in talent or quality of play) but I'd hardly call them the "worst passing Raptors team I've seen". I mean, the Bargnani led years still existed.

Yeah, in fairness it's been a while. But the Ford / Calderon teams were pretty slick from what I remember.

In any case, yes, probably an exaggeration which distracts from the main point. Which is to me that it's the area that has a lot of room for growth, and lots of good signs of promising chemistry starting.

I think we're used to having quality game management PGs for our past "good" teams. Lowry was such an impact player for us at that position and ran the team so well for so many years that he's kind of the franchise standard. This might be the first time we might have a "good" team where our best QBs are our PF and backup PG. And I feel like that's still a source of underlying awkwardness for both Scottie and Quickley.

I don’t think it's awkward at all tbh.

The last thing this team needs imo is a traditional PG who initiates most every set and whose only strength is passing. That works against the strength of the team which is that all the starters can initiate and create their own shots and all are comfortable both scoring and passing and don’t really care who gets theirs.

The bench is filled with more limited players so that's where having a more traditional PG helps more - guys like gradey jakobe battle ochai mamu cmb aren't guys who you want having to playmake for their teammates or who can easily create their own shots - they function much better with a floor general like shead helping them get the ball in good scoring situations.

[OhCanada]

Its so good that we just won a game with our defence and our two best players had big blocks at the end of the game. When your most talented players are using that talent to compete defensively your gonna do well. This creates a moment for the coaches to reinforce positive habits and when your leaders are the ones setting those examples the rest of the players will do it as well.

Very exciting team we have here.

[DreamTeam09]

I like that how our big 3 attacks in different ways. RJ wants to get downhill, Barnes wants to bully you, BI wants to go over the top.