ESOMKnicks wrote:RJ settling into a habit of taking really horrendous mid-range mamba-style fadeaway shots, only he ain't a mamba yet. Still has to prove whether he deserves being compared to Kobe, TMac or Wade, or is Nick Anderson a more realistic comparison. Thibs needs to push the team into more open-court plays, to play up to RJ's strengths and get him going.

I was thinking the team was settling for 15 for jumpers. Not just Barrett. They take pretty inefficient shots. Bound to catch up with them.

Funny you posted a pic of Oscar as I was thinking his build when younger was similar to RJ’s. Remember Oscar was a 4 year NCAA player before he came to NBA so any comps even physically are just a bit abstract.
Oscar had an awkward almost mechanical shooting form. RJ is very mechanical. Oscar was physical in the paint. RJ at 20 years old is very much.
Now before anyone goes off saying I’m nuts for doing this I am not by any stretch saying RJ can be an alltime great. In fact. Oscar if he played in the present might be closer to Mudiay than what he was given how much the game has evolved. My point is RJ was fully 3 years younger than Oscar was when he came in the league and while not fluid like Kobe, it is very premature to consider putting a floor or ceiling on RJ. I’m impressed by RJ’s body control, ability to finish at the rim, draw fouls and creating space on his shot.

blkexec wrote:

Uptown wrote:RJ 7-21 from the field....

Well....lets see how thibs handles RJs minutes moving forward, especially when Burks 🤔 returns. Not only his shooting, but his defense was slacking also. He still played hard, but didn't look sharp on both ends. Burks is 1 of the few consistent guards on the team, with a reliable jumper....and he can penetrate the paint, plus play defense. So let's see if thibs is a smart coach and recognize this shift he needs to make, if RJ and Randle continue to show fatigue. Both looked tired or burned out that first half.

The whole team looked lethargic...keep in mind, not only are RJ, Randle and Payton playing a ton of minutes in games, Thibs is notorious for his long, grind it out practices. We don't have access to practice but it wouldn't shock me.

Randle and RJ are 1 and 2 in the league in mins played per game Thibs actually yanked RJ in favor of Rivers in the Utah game when Rivers went off. Would like to see more of that if RJ continues to force the issue and take bad shots. His freethrow % is up, but his fg % and 3 pt % are just as bad if not worse than last year.

Nalod wrote:ITs all good until knicks lose a game?
Young players not already superstars are uneven.
RJ is not fluid like Kobe. Rj’s shot is a bit mechanical to the point his release is not effective when he has to improvise off balance. Good point that he has yet to play 82 games yet.
Not sure we have to buy into this or not yet. RJ seems to adapt quickly. What I’d like to see is how he trends in 5-10 game samples to see a longer term type analytic.
Kind of like Mitch fouling. ALso, how does mitch accumulate his fouls. One can see in his count is down but what specific situations has he improved on NUMERICALLY. He is not reaching in frustration. IN the paint he is standing his ground or jumping vertically. All this adds up.
When we break down RJ, what is he doing right? What is the defense giving him that he is not executing? What is he doing wrong and when is he doing it? Is he working on specifics and is it “tolerable” as development “costs” thinking it breaks him thru.
The air balls by knox are a good example. He is keeping his arch which is good. The shots are sometimes when the 24 second clock is about out and he is forcing it. OK, take those out of out. Not so bad. Somethings are bone head moves, some are not.
what shots by any player are everything right but the ball goes “in and out”. Those are good shots and over time they do start to fall.
This is done by all players by most coaching staffs in the league at some level. There is a reason why Frank and Dennis other than contract were given opportunities. And why Trier was dismissed and not seen by any team. We can guess. some fans think they have to answers. some have no idea. some are just asking questions.

I think we all see the effect of coaching, but its hard not to be skeptical.

The wins have felt magical - heroic comebacks from unexpected sources.

The losses, well, they looked a lot like the wins (except for the missing comeback).

As more teams get into shape and start gelling, I think this Knicks team will have an even tougher time coming back from down 20.

They will need to figure out how to get ahead and stay ahead.

ESOMKnicks wrote:If RJ is being compared to Pippen, Frank would be a Ron Harper. Conditional on both becoming consistent shooters.

Im guessing RJ has shown more statistically than Pippen, to this point in his career. Who knows what happens from this point. Might not be as fast in transition, but Barrett isnt in peak condition yet.

Frank was the "heir apparent" PG from day one, for many. And no amount of evidence to the contrary, chsnged that opinion.

EwingsGlass wrote:

Nalod wrote:ITs all good until knicks lose a game?
Young players not already superstars are uneven.
RJ is not fluid like Kobe. Rj’s shot is a bit mechanical to the point his release is not effective when he has to improvise off balance. Good point that he has yet to play 82 games yet.
Not sure we have to buy into this or not yet. RJ seems to adapt quickly. What I’d like to see is how he trends in 5-10 game samples to see a longer term type analytic.
Kind of like Mitch fouling. ALso, how does mitch accumulate his fouls. One can see in his count is down but what specific situations has he improved on NUMERICALLY. He is not reaching in frustration. IN the paint he is standing his ground or jumping vertically. All this adds up.
When we break down RJ, what is he doing right? What is the defense giving him that he is not executing? What is he doing wrong and when is he doing it? Is he working on specifics and is it “tolerable” as development “costs” thinking it breaks him thru.
The air balls by knox are a good example. He is keeping his arch which is good. The shots are sometimes when the 24 second clock is about out and he is forcing it. OK, take those out of out. Not so bad. Somethings are bone head moves, some are not.
what shots by any player are everything right but the ball goes “in and out”. Those are good shots and over time they do start to fall.
This is done by all players by most coaching staffs in the league at some level. There is a reason why Frank and Dennis other than contract were given opportunities. And why Trier was dismissed and not seen by any team. We can guess. some fans think they have to answers. some have no idea. some are just asking questions.

I think we all see the effect of coaching, but its hard not to be skeptical.

The wins have felt magical - heroic comebacks from unexpected sources.

The losses, well, they looked a lot like the wins (except for the missing comeback).

As more teams get into shape and start gelling, I think this Knicks team will have an even tougher time coming back from down 20.

They will need to figure out how to get ahead and stay ahead.

We gonna come back from down 20 tonight?

Ira wrote:He has a good all around game except for one thing - his shooting touch.

He’s a decent rebounder. What else though?

Uptown wrote:Ultimately, RJ is a #2 option by default, because we are void of talent. Ideally, RJ should be a 3rd or 4th option. As a 3rd or 4th option, playing alongside a legit playmaker, and 2 players that command the attention from the defense, RJ will be able to be on the receiving end of slashing and cutting into the paint and finish along the baseline. RJ's game should be 15 feet and in, similar to Nick Anderson when he first came into the league.

Too many times, RJ is trying to create his own offense off the bounce which is a weakness of his right now and Thibs isn't doing him any favors by having him spot-up when Randle is in the post. And RJ continues to jack them up from 3...he has to realize, he's open for a reason.

+1