Rookie Discussion [19/20] [part I]

[Oscirus]

Ya I should've clarified, I watched the highlights. I was talking more about how did his overall game look. How was the defense, it looked like from the highlights that his shots came within the offense (one of my biggest issues with him not doing this enough), how was he moving off the ball.

I have a lot of issues with a lot of areas in his game. But I really do like the kid and if there is a kid that is going to somehow make it work its him. That dude's drive is ridiculous.

He looks like a 10 year pro. Very good decision making and consummate play on both ends. Maybe the tunnel vision thing at Duke was situational?

Thats good to hear and I hope he keeps it up. But Im going to have to see a bigger sample size before I say the tunnel vision is a thing in the past for him. Its how he has always played and there were multiple times last year when Duke fans thought the tunnel vision was over and he was playing within the team's offense. I remember after the horrific showing in the Gonzaga game, he put together a nice 4-5 game stretch where he was no longer forcing it and many Duke fans thought the Gonzaga game was the thing to end it. But after that 4-5 game stretch of good play he fell back to his old ways.

Again Im rooting for the kid and Im glad to hear he played well and smart in his 1st game. I hope it continues, just need to see more of it until I think his bad tendencies (its how he played prior to Duke as well) are done.

He's def gonna have tunnel games, he had a few plays like that in this one but I tend to believe if you're too passive out there you will get shut out of the offense especially as a rookie. As long as he doesn't get insane with it, should be fine.

[Marcus]

I posted it on the last page but..

Watch on YouTube

He plays with so much poise and confidence for a 19 year old. You can tell he was raised for this moment. The moment is never too big for him and it shows. When he finally gets a consistent jumper he's gonna be a superstar

Ya I should've clarified, I watched the highlights. I was talking more about how did his overall game look. How was the defense, it looked like from the highlights that his shots came within the offense (one of my biggest issues with him not doing this enough), how was he moving off the ball.

I have a lot of issues with a lot of areas in his game. But I really do like the kid and if there is a kid that is going to somehow make it work its him. That dude's drive is ridiculous.

He looks like a 10 year pro. Very good decision making and consummate play on both ends. Maybe the tunnel vision thing at Duke was situational?

always felt the tunnel vision thing was a him not understanding he doesn't have to do it all thing. RJ up till Duke had been the best player on the floor game in and game out for the most part and had carte blanche. Always said once he figures out he doesn't have to be that then he would change his game accordingly. I still don't think RJ is going to be the same player even as a baseline of what he currently is 4 to 5 years from now. He wants the greatness wayyyyyy too much to not adjust. I'm just waiting for whatever wrinkle he implements once teams start game planning for him.

[Marcus]

He looks like a 10 year pro. Very good decision making and consummate play on both ends. Maybe the tunnel vision thing at Duke was situational?

Thats good to hear and I hope he keeps it up. But Im going to have to see a bigger sample size before I say the tunnel vision is a thing in the past for him. Its how he has always played and there were multiple times last year when Duke fans thought the tunnel vision was over and he was playing within the team's offense. I remember after the horrific showing in the Gonzaga game, he put together a nice 4-5 game stretch where he was no longer forcing it and many Duke fans thought the Gonzaga game was the thing to end it. But after that 4-5 game stretch of good play he fell back to his old ways.

Again Im rooting for the kid and Im glad to hear he played well and smart in his 1st game. I hope it continues, just need to see more of it until I think his bad tendencies (its how he played prior to Duke as well) are done.

He's def gonna have tunnel games, he had a few plays like that in this one but I tend to believe if you're too passive out there you will get shut out of the offense especially as a rookie. As long as he doesn't get insane with it, should be fine.

and even more so on THAT team in THAT city. Couldn't have landed in a better spot though. Mentality wise that kid is build for that exact stage.

[Marcus]

Them Kentucky kids always seem to be good pros even if they were average in college. Obviously not all of them, but it's close to all of them.

Cal seems to do a good job of getting the majority of the kids he gets to buy into the concept of "this is what will get you paid". By that I mean scouts and HS B-Ball fans essentially know what these kids can do on the prep circuit when there's nothing anybody can do with them, Cal gets them to show NBA decision makers what they need to see to talk the guys with the bag into wanting to add that kid to this team. I think that's why things seem to open up talent wise for a good number of those kids once they take the blue and white off.

[Marcus]

Story of the night has to be PJ Washington. He's been great all preseason and carried it over to the real games.

He looks like a keeper and a legit contender for ROY.

He might be this season's Donovan Mitchell:

Read on Twitter

All i saw was the highlights so i know he got hot. How was the rest of his game?

[KingDavid]

Ja got hit all over the place yesterday the Heat even took hi m down on a clear flagrant foul that wasn't even call.

Hopely JA learns that in the NBA teams will foul hard and is going to take a while to get respect from the refs.

Are you talking about that block from Silva?

[kulaz3000]

Barret looked amazing. Poised, great defense, good rebounder and a great slasher.

The only amazing thing I saw from his highlights was his energy and relentlessness, the kid plays really hard and is fearless. Besides that, I still question his athletic ability. He doesn't get much elevation, questionable length, and often times is slow. Plus, he seemingly has tunnel vision on the offensive end.

I was impressed by what I saw on the defensive end though.

[DaGawd]

Barret looked amazing. Poised, great defense, good rebounder and a great slasher.

The only amazing thing I saw from his highlights was his energy and relentlessness, the kid plays really hard and is fearless. Besides that, I still question his athletic ability. He doesn't get much elevation, questionable length, and often times is slow. Plus, he seemingly has tunnel vision on the offensive end.

I was impressed by what I saw on the defensive end though.

You haven't watched him in the NBA enough. Tunnel vision is the last thing I worry about with him this far. (He's our best pg for what that's worth..sad). He has good athleticism I feel like people listing his athleticism as a concern are making him out to be Luka Doncic athletically which isn't accurate. He's a good but athlete.. not freakish but more than adequate for the NBA level

[Illmatic12]

RJ was only able to score driving left . As teams start to get film on him, defenders are just gonna sit on his left hand and let him dribble himself
into bad decisions.

He’s gonna have to adjust , and at some point in his career will need a midrange pull-up in his arsenal

[Buzzard]

Hunter does not look like a rookie. He put up 14 and 2 on impressive 62.5 FG% and 2 of 3 from downtown. Reddish could not buy a basket but him, Bruno, and Hunter helped the Hawks defense hold the Pistons to 100 points. This is the same Pistons team that just lit up the Pacers for 119 points. And yes, I said Hawks and defense with a positive overtone in the same sentence.

Watch out for Hunter folks. By January, he could be scoring 16 to 18 points a game and not breaking a sweat with his efficiency.

[karkinos]

...
so rj barrett literally just went left the entire game is what i got from those highlights
if it works, great, no point in changing it. but i don't see how people are drawing any conclusions from this. he didn't have a great summer league and he hasn't shown me anything to prove he is more versatile.

[Mbrahv0528]

Hachimura debut time. Him, Morant and Zion will be the stars of this draft. All have very realistic All NBA 1st Team potential. I think multiple could win an MVP in the next decade (just stay healthy please!!).

Lol. Cobe White anyone?

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[Triples333]

Hachimura debut time. Him, Morant and Zion will be the stars of this draft. All have very realistic All NBA 1st Team potential. I think multiple could win an MVP in the next decade (just stay healthy please!!).

Lol. Cobe White anyone?

Sent from my SM-G975U using RealGM mobile app

Not seeing it.

[Chanel Bomber]

I'm obviously biased but there's a lot of substance in RJ's game. He's definitely not flashy, and there's no denying he needs to work on his J and his right hand. But his poise and his patience in the pick-and-roll is really impressive for a player his age. He's already the highest IQ player on the Knicks, even if that's not saying much. He's also a manchild right now, and he will bully his way to the rim against any defender in a few years, in a Kawhi sort of way.

It's all about the jumper.

[cjx]

The 2019-20 NBA rookie class shall be led by ... PJ Washington, PJ Washington, PJ Washington, you know what it is.

[Buzzard]

I went Barrett, Hunter, Morant. If there were four options I would have picked Washington as well. For me rookie shooters are the most likely to come back down to earth; so I like the defense and other things ( overall game ) the three I picked just a little bit better than Washington or the rest.

[Boardwalker]

Hachimura debut time. Him, Morant and Zion will be the stars of this draft. All have very realistic All NBA 1st Team potential. I think multiple could win an MVP in the next decade (just stay healthy please!!).

Lol. Cobe White anyone?

Sent from my SM-G975U using RealGM mobile app

Not seeing it.

Guess you're not watching him play. He's been very good.

[VCfor3]

Lol. Cobe White anyone?

Sent from my SM-G975U using RealGM mobile app

Not seeing it.

Guess you're not watching him play. He's been very good.

Coby dragged Chicago back into this game. I dig it.

Clarke is having a really good game too.

I think Ja needs conditioning. He starts the game really strong but then seems to be gassed at the end of the first half. Second half is then pretty rough. Love the kid and still think he'll be a stud in the long run though.

[HoopsterJones]

Coby White has an impressive showing so far. 25/6/2 on good efficiency and sparked a comeback win for the Bulls.

[MrBigShot]

Caught some of the Bulls game, Coby White aggressiveness reminded me of Ben gordon as a rookie, took and made some gutsy shots down the stretch.