Since Barrett’s injury Raptors offensive rating has plummeted to last in the league

[Indeed]

I don’t agree with this at all. Dick, Agbaji and Walter are all former 1st picks. They are making sub-MLE money but that’s because they are still on rookie deals. Dick and Agbaji are 3rd/4th year players. These guys should be providing something.

We aren’t asking them to replace RJ but these guys have played like G-league players since RJ has been out. I don’t know why you are letting them off the hook.

We have 3 non-rookie 1st round picks giving us nothing. That’s on them.

I’ll give some slack to Shead (his scoring game sucks but he at least defends and can create some for others). I was a Mamu skeptic from the beginning and there’s a reason he was available for the min. The Dick/Agbaji/Walter trio are all single skillset guys who aren’t even that great at their single skillset.

I don't understand why 1st round picks are expected to carry the offensive load.

Walter and Agbaji are projected to be 3&D, and Walter shooting 50% on two of the last five games, and shooting 40% over the season, so I am unsure what other expectation for a role player like him should be.

As for top 60 paid players, either they are very good on the defensive end who can cover others (eg. Gobert), or they are expected to carry the offense.

Per 48, our SG’s are currently providing around 14ppg on 45 TS% since RJ is out. You think that is acceptable output?

No one is asking them to carry the offensive load. We’re asking them to contribute in, at the very least, a way that isn’t the equivalent of playing a G-league player 48mpg.

Who is on your SG list?
Walter was not playing well?
Agbaji played very little minutes and got inconsistent minutes, and not known for offense, so it is fair for him?

As for our starters, they played well against better competition?

[Indeed]

These guys have shown more than they are currently contributing. Single skillset is a comment on what they are currently providing. Agbaji was a solid 3+D guard last year. He’s currently shooting 10% from 3. If Dick could repeat last year (or god forbid improve) he would be a competent backup SG. My expectations for these guys are not high but their current combined output is that of a G-leaguer. I’ll give Walter something of a pass as it’s only his 2nd year but 3rd/4th year players need to give you more.

The idea that these guys should get a pass because “they don’t make MLE money” is crazy. This is a clear opportunity for 1 of the young SG’s to show their worth and none of them have stepped up in any way and for whatever reason look worse than last year.

Raptors republic said it very well on this. Our problem is rim pressure, so you are not going to ask a shooter to do that. You solve a problem with the right tool.

Why do we have many shooters? Because we also have an issue with shooting, particularly at the PF position.

I don’t know what you expect. This is an imperfectly built team. If we don’t have 100% health the whole thing falls apart. You’d hope someone could step up but no one has, regardless of their salary.

Has anyone watched Barnes/Ingram/IQ over the last few years any thought “yeah, these guys can fill the rim pressure gap”? If you did I don’t know what to tell you.

Yet, we pay them like they can handle the offense. We are unlikely to have Barrett next season, so we are happy with our outlook on offense?

[Tor_Raps]

to the bolded: if you acknowledge they are single skillset guys (with gradey and ochai completely not on-ball creators) how can you reasonably expect them to "step up" to replace RJ? i mean specifically what would you have them do extra when they have single skillsets?

What is Gradey's single skillset? Dude cant even shoot at a league average clip, hes useless in every facet lol.

These were the picks the raptors got during their tanking seasons so youd hope youd get some help from these guys. There are 2 guys in the G League who seem like theyd be better than them right now.

His numbers are down this year but Dick can shoot. He gets respected as a shooter and that provides value. The posters who rag on his shooting refuse to acknowledge that he is taking some of the most difficult shots on the team (movement 3pt shooting). He’s far from perfect but he can shoot and teams have to respect it. Chasing around a movement shooter (as compared to someone like Agbaji) helps the offense, even if the shots aren’t always falling. He has massive holes elsewhere in his game but his shooting provides positive value on the offensive end.

Im not looking for moral victories... how about some damn results for a 3rd year player? Its thinking like this that has us getting very little results from majority of the roster.

Raptors could have signed McDermott for the minimum if we wanted a guy to provide gravity, at least hed actually make his shots lol.

[Truthrising]

Raptors record with RJ Barrett (12-5)
Raptors record without RJ Barrett (5-7)

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[PushDaRock]

Dead Last in ORTG over 12 games since RJ has been out. It's not all him alone but I think we are getting a look at how important generating some sort of rim pressure is to this offense.

[TeamDisgruntled]

Jakobe is shooting 43% from 3 over his last 15 I’m not sure what more he can really do. He could be more effective from inside the arc but he’s been playing fine.

Blaming Jakobe for our poor play is like saying the Cavs stink cause Sam merril could be better or something. Gradey on the other hand, that it’s own conversation.

Ultimately the offence has become stale without RJs rim pressure and the centre fiasco, despite mamus production, has been a major problem.

[Kingsway_fan]

Raptors record with RJ Barrett (12-5)
Raptors record without RJ Barrett (5-7)

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He's the heart and soul of this team.. plays hard every game.. not afraid to take it to the rim... his absence shows... the contrast cannot be ignored by Raps management.

[Truthrising]

The Raptors are now 13-5 with RJ in the lineup and 6-9 without. He remains one of the most impactful offensive force for the Raptors.

[niQ]

The Raptors are now 13-5 with RJ in the lineup and 6-9 without. He remains one of the most impactful offensive force for the Raptors.

That's quite the rising of truth.

[Tha Cynic]

The Raptors are now 13-5 with RJ in the lineup and 6-9 without. He remains one of the most impactful offensive force for the Raptors.

He plays with force on offense - kind of like what Barnes does on defense. He’s not as skilled as Ingram, but seems to be kind of a glue guy for the offense since this team is so unskilled. Ingram is more of a jump shooter, but RJ plays with force which helps hide the deficiencies of this offense.

We also badly need another bench scorer and lack high end talent on this team and that has become the most apparent thing during this injury.

[Truthrising]

The Raptors are now 13-5 with RJ in the lineup and 6-9 without. He remains one of the most impactful offensive force for the Raptors.

He plays with force on offense - kind of like what Barnes does on defense. He’s not as skilled as Ingram, but seems to be kind of a glue guy for the offense since this team is so unskilled. Ingram is more of a jump shooter, but RJ plays with force which helps hide the deficiencies of this offense.

We also badly need another bench scorer and lack high end talent on this team and that has become the most apparent thing during this injury.

Indeed I’m ready to give up on Gradey and Ochai and instead find a bench scorer that can replicate why Barrett does ie fearless finisher, collapsing the defence and apply rim pressure. Someone like Cam Thomas, Bones Hyland or Malik Monk

[HiJiNX]

The Raptors are now 13-5 with RJ in the lineup and 6-9 without. He remains one of the most impactful offensive force for the Raptors.

He plays with force on offense - kind of like what Barnes does on defense. He’s not as skilled as Ingram, but seems to be kind of a glue guy for the offense since this team is so unskilled. Ingram is more of a jump shooter, but RJ plays with force which helps hide the deficiencies of this offense.

We also badly need another bench scorer and lack high end talent on this team and that has become the most apparent thing during this injury.

Indeed I’m ready to give up on Gradey and Ochai and instead find a bench scorer that can replicate why Barrett does ie fearless finisher, collapsing the defence and apply rim pressure. Someone like Cam Thomas, Bones Hyland or Malik Monk

Funny you mention Monk. I wanted him like four years ago when the Lakers let him go. Not sure why we didn’t grab him then when his value was super low.

[LoveMyRaps]

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[mathgeek]

Everyone looking for reasons to deflect blaming our bench SGs which is fair but I'm starting to think RJ actually is a big difference maker in the success of this team. I will admit i was dead wrong on his output for us. It's clear that him playing with force driving the ball looking for fouls and hitting the occasional 3pointer is what makes us tough to predict. Basically his role as another shot taker outside of Ingram is much needed. Scottie and IQ are clearly guys you can't always trust or rely on offensively.

[LascelleL]

RJ is a huge difference maker with his willingness to penetrate. He keeps a lot of defenses on the back peddle.

[Truthrising]

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[Airmiess]

The heart of the Raptors, the vocal minority of haters can't get rid of him. Its over.

[torsport]

I don't know if I'd agree that RJ is the heart of the Raptors.

What I would say is that RJ is just so additive. He adds without taking away. His addition is more limited to the offensive side of the ball, but he has improved on defense to the point that he isn't a complete liability/negative.

I think it's a really unique skill set in a player who can come on the floor, not demand the ball, and actually provide reliable options on the offensive end that unlocks teammates without them sacrificing their strengths.

This has been invaluable to this team build. I'm not sure it would work as well elsewhere. We've seen that RJ isn't as effective as a creator or first option, his productivity and efficiency drops. But on this team, he is essential to the offense working.

[ash_k]

Olympic tournament in Paris
1. Giannis 25.8
2. SGA 21
4. RJ 19.8
5. Jokic 18.8
6. Wagner 18.5

So when I heard Bobby talking about "efficiently" about RJ..This kind of Baseball mentality made you pay Quickley 35M per...Same kind of baseball mentality that got fans treating IQ as the "get" over RJ in the OG trade. This aint Baseball

RJ will always find a way to score 20 no matter what and with a moody-scorer like Scottie, he is the perfect fit as the "2nd" option behind BI.

[mtcan]

I have said it many many times before and will say it again...RJ deserves better than the trade talk and 6 man talk that some fools around here have been spewing since he arrived in Toronto.

I hope this proves you all wrong and he continues to make you eat crow. Honestly...some of the worst takes from so-called fans of the team.