Should Knicks be concerned about RJ Barrett's Summer League play?

Laimbeer · Post #1 » by **Laimbeer** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:09 pm

Barrett's 10-point dud on 4-of-18 shooting in his debut opposite the Pelicans and former teammate Zion Williamson on Friday was justifiable considering the magnitude of the game. That performance can be chalked up to nervous energy.

What he did in his second game against the Suns on Sunday at the Thomas & Mack Center, though, was far less forgivable. In a 105-100 overtime loss to the Suns, Barrett amassed this worrisome stat line:

8 points (3-of-15 from the field, 1-of-5 from beyond the arc and 1-of-4 from the free-throw line)
10 rebounds
2 steals
1 assist
1 block
4 fouls
8 turnovers

It looks troubling on paper, but it played out much worse in person. It got so bad that during a possession late in the fourth quarter, a group of fans yelled "No!" when Barrett touched the ball.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/should-knicks-be-concerned-about-rj-barrett-summer-league-play/ta7m2d1q91vu1bbib4gwx4jvb

fa2011 · Post #2 » by **fa2011** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:10 pm

It’s one game

mademan · Post #3 » by **mademan** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:10 pm

Yes.

Yes they should.

heatwillbeback · Post #4 » by **heatwillbeback** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:12 pm

To me the shooting isn’t s huge deal. The turnovers are a much bigger concern. He wasn’t asked to carry the offense at Duke and looks to be having trouble doing so efficiently.

Effigy · Post #5 » by **Effigy** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:12 pm

fa2011 wrote:It’s one game

It's two games.

Wait to see how Summer league goes. We all know that guys can have big numbers in summer league and be crap in real life, but I'm not sure it happens much the other way around. The competition he's facing now is nothing compared to what he'll see in the L. If he can't play well now, it's a bad sign.

Trey Young started slow in SL last year but was cooking by the end. If RJ does that, he could still be fine.

Rockice_24 · Post #6 » by **Rockice_24** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:13 pm

fa2011 wrote:It’s one game

Two actually.

But no they shouldn't. Anything with summer league means literally nothing.

Knox was great last year and it didn't translate so way too early to care.

thebigbird · Post #7 » by **thebigbird** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:13 pm

It's summer league, but they should be concerned about it because he had similar struggles in college. He shot 30.8% from 3 and 66.5% from the free throw line in college. The guy can't shoot.

Post #8 » by **MoneyTalks41890** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:13 pm

It's SL. Guys show out that will never pan out, and stars can stumble and go on to be great.

Ridicululz · Post #9 » by **Ridicululz** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:14 pm

It's summer league, so the performance shouldn't matter all that much.

Satch · Post #10 » by **Satch** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:15 pm

Are you thinking two summer league games are enough to get a real concern over?

mg · Post #11 » by mg » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:15 pm

I'm seriously not expecting much out of Barrett tbh except to be a volume shooter and a good passer.
The Dunc'd On podcast before the draft covered alot of his issues.

Magic_Johnny12 · Post #12 » by **Magic_Johnny12** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:15 pm

fa2011 wrote:It’s one game

Ehh, it's not really.

Everyone could see the painting on the wall for a long time even from the Duke days.

He's a more athletic Evan Turner.

thebigbird · Post #13 » by **thebigbird** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:16 pm

Rockice_24 wrote:
fa2011 wrote:It’s one game

Two actually.

But no they shouldn't. Anything with summer league means literally nothing.

Knox was great last year and it didn't translate so way too early to care.

I think there's a difference between looking great in summer league and it not translating to the league, and playing like crap in summer league but becoming good in the league. If you brought in people who didn't know his name and didn't know where he was drafted to watch him play, would they think he's an NBA quality player?

Post #14 » by **dakomish23** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:21 pm

Good. Get all the bad games out the way now

clyde21 · Post #15 » by **clyde21** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:22 pm

it's been literally a game and a half, for **** sake, in which RJ hasn't even played competitive and has been on a media tour essentially for months...

wtf are we even doing?

Forbes · Post #16 » by **Forbes** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:22 pm

I wouldn’t be concerned until the all star break to evaluate. Too many players look good in summer league because they are playing EXTRA hard to get a contract or more ply time. Meanwhile lottery picks come in coasting trying not to get injured before the season.

Middle Child · Post #17 » by **Middle Child** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:22 pm

Nope. Keep letting that thang fly Barrett.

levon · Post #18 » by **levon** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:22 pm

Isn't this who he was in college?

Crives · Post #19 » by **Crives** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:23 pm

I was really surprised the suns beat RJ and the Knicks... considering none of our rotation players or drafted rookies played.

Middle Child · Post #20 » by **Middle Child** » Mon Jul 8, 2019 8:23 pm

His jumper isn’t broken like you know who’s.

He’ll be fine with more reps.