Bar super high - number 1 option on a championship team

Bar high - all star

Bar above average - third “important” option when we get 2 all stars on the team

Bar mediocre - competent wing in the nba

Bar low/bust - inconsistent entire career. Doesn’t evolve. Only averages 10-13 points

joec32033 wrote:Barrett is my favorite player in this team. I love his style. But he NEEDS to finish better at the rim, and learn to close out games. He has missed several key shots this season. Also needs to get more consistent.

In the span of 4 minutes he won us, then almost lost us the game with his missed free throws.

joec32033 wrote:Barrett is my favorite player in this team. I love his style. But he NEEDS to finish better at the rim, and learn to close out games. He has missed several key shots this season. Also needs to get more consistent.

It's the consistency and decision-making that still make me scratch my head and go more pessimistic than most.

There are so many fast breaks where he puts his head down, clearly with the blinders on, and goes right at defender instead of making the simple pass to teammate for a very make-able bucket. I am going to try to dunk on Myles Turner, one of the best shot blockers in the league, instead of making this easy pass.

Or, literally WFT was that pass, multiple times a game. I get the young guy, almost rookie player, still 20 years old. But WTF with the passing/decision making.

And he can get hot from 3, and then also get another pass while wide open and not hit the rim. I don't even know what that is.

IMHO Barrett will never have a shooters touch. He will grind the hell out of his shooting form and make it mechanically better, but never a natural, instinctive, sweet shot.

Clutch? Hit some free throws at end of game when it counts. At least one of them.

I have no idea what his ceiling is and I do wonder about his fairly average athletic ability. But I'm confident both RJ and Obi will come close to maximizing their potential. What that ultimate looks like remains to be seen.

martin wrote:

joec32033 wrote:Barrett is my favorite player in this team. I love his style. But he NEEDS to finish better at the rim, and learn to close out games. He has missed several key shots this season. Also needs to get more consistent.

It's the consistency and decision-making that still make me scratch my head and go more pessimistic than most.

There are so many fast breaks where he puts his head down, clearly with the blinders on, and goes right at defender instead of making the simple pass to teammate for a very make-able bucket. I am going to try to dunk on Myles Turner, one of the best shot blockers in the league, instead of making this easy pass.

Or, literally WFT was that pass, multiple times a game. I get the young guy, almost rookie player, still 20 years old. But WTF with the passing/decision making.

And he can get hot from 3, and then also get another pass while wide open and not hit the rim. I don't even know what that is.

IMHO Barrett will never have a shooters touch. He will grind the hell out of his shooting form and make it mechanically better, but never a natural, instinctive, sweet shot.

Clutch? Hit some free throws at end of game when it counts. At least one of them.

Going back to his rookie year. Barrett has played poorly to start a game, followed by a strong second half which gives us the win. Maybe not highlight reel stuff, but clutch nonetheless.

One year of college and 3 coaches in a little more than a season. If Barrett had stayed at Duke for 4 years, we would see a more polished player. Taking a prospect after just one year means being patient while that player figures things out. I believe RJ will. On his way.

GustavBahler wrote:Cant lie, those missed free throws were frustating to watch. Barrett still had a great game, and played an important part in the W. RJ looks like a player who puts a great deal of pressure on himself to succeed. The free throw line is where all that pressure seems to come together. Cant power his way through a free throw. Has to stay calm, and make them.

Practicing shooting free throws with one hand used to help me. Makes it easier to build muscle memory.

It was tough to watch because he basically took over the game in those last 4 minutes. He looked like a superstar. Those missed Free Throws were killer. If we were playing a better team we probably lose that game.

martin wrote:

joec32033 wrote:Barrett is my favorite player in this team. I love his style. But he NEEDS to finish better at the rim, and learn to close out games. He has missed several key shots this season. Also needs to get more consistent.

It's the consistency and decision-making that still make me scratch my head and go more pessimistic than most.

There are so many fast breaks where he puts his head down, clearly with the blinders on, and goes right at defender instead of making the simple pass to teammate for a very make-able bucket. I am going to try to dunk on Myles Turner, one of the best shot blockers in the league, instead of making this easy pass.

Or, literally WFT was that pass, multiple times a game. I get the young guy, almost rookie player, still 20 years old. But WTF with the passing/decision making.

And he can get hot from 3, and then also get another pass while wide open and not hit the rim. I don't even know what that is.

IMHO Barrett will never have a shooters touch. He will grind the hell out of his shooting form and make it mechanically better, but never a natural, instinctive, sweet shot.

Clutch? Hit some free throws at end of game when it counts. At least one of them.

Almost every player in the league makes wtf plays. You seem to be holding RJ to a higher standard while perhaps ignoring the flaws in other players.

Knixkik wrote:

Welpee wrote:He's 20 years old. In this microwave society nobody wants to take the time to cook anything in the oven anymore. He's a hard worker with a great pedigree. He's extremely young and has improved from year #1 to year #2. This is his first season with a competent NBA coach. A player can't eliminate all of his flaws in one off season. We need to be patient with both RJ and Obi.

I have no idea what his ceiling is and I do wonder about his fairly average athletic ability. But I'm confident both RJ and Obi will come close to maximizing their potential. What that ultimate looks like remains to be seen.

I’m high on Barrett because I think he has the It factor to offset lack of explosiveness. Toppin is a different situation. He seems to just be facing tough competition for the first time in his life. Jury is still out with how he will adjust. Being almost 23 hurts but he will obviously get better. He needs to develop some go-to moves in the post. Just seems uncomfortable on the floor.

I think next year will give us a better idea of Obi's future. Randle is a great model to use for his off-season plan.

foosballnick wrote:

martin wrote:

joec32033 wrote:Barrett is my favorite player in this team. I love his style. But he NEEDS to finish better at the rim, and learn to close out games. He has missed several key shots this season. Also needs to get more consistent.

It's the consistency and decision-making that still make me scratch my head and go more pessimistic than most.

There are so many fast breaks where he puts his head down, clearly with the blinders on, and goes right at defender instead of making the simple pass to teammate for a very make-able bucket. I am going to try to dunk on Myles Turner, one of the best shot blockers in the league, instead of making this easy pass.

Or, literally WFT was that pass, multiple times a game. I get the young guy, almost rookie player, still 20 years old. But WTF with the passing/decision making.

And he can get hot from 3, and then also get another pass while wide open and not hit the rim. I don't even know what that is.

IMHO Barrett will never have a shooters touch. He will grind the hell out of his shooting form and make it mechanically better, but never a natural, instinctive, sweet shot.

Clutch? Hit some free throws at end of game when it counts. At least one of them.

Almost every player in the league makes wtf plays. You seem to be holding RJ to a higher standard while perhaps ignoring the flaws in other players.

?

When the discussion is about Barrett, what does statement "ignoring the flaws of other players" have to do with anything? I am literally talking about RJ and you want me to... discuss other players flaws?

Let's be realistic: RJ, given his age, has probably been in the top 1% of having been coached and exposed to higher levels of play at his age bracket for all kids at 20 years old who are slated for the NBA. His father was a pro player, he has been on the pre-NBA and international circuit for his whole life, and he has had a pro shooting coach for at least 2 off seasons (Hanson, regarded as one of the best). All things that 95+% of kids capable of getting to this level don't have.

The decision making he is executing shouldn't even come into question IMHO, they should be more natural and instinctive at this point of his pro lifecycle.

I've just never seen a player, when so wide open, miss the rim as much as he does. I don't even know how to fathom that

RJ is getting better and doing things he was not good at last year but he should be miles ahead of where he is IMO