@@Toronto Raptors

The NBA gave up on RJ Barrett…

  • July 26, 2024



The NBA gave up on RJ Barrett…

RJ Barrett has had to work exceptionally hard to overcome the bust tag he earned in New York. Despite being a big part of turning around the culture in New York, Knicks fans and media have made no secret of the fact that they wanted him gone. Well, he’s home now. And home cooking is different.

RJ was the #1 player for the #1 prep program in the country in 2019. After a productive freshman season at Duke, where he averaged 22.6 points 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists while posting 8.6 Box Plus Minus despite being on the same team as Zion Williamson, he went third to New York in the 2020 draft amidst expectations that his weaknesses at Duke would be fixed at the NBA level. 53% true shooting.. 66% FT shooter.. 30% 3 point shooter. RJ had work to do. And some feel he didn’t do enough.

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00:00 Intro
05:00 – What happened to Star J Barrett?
35:45 – 3 possible starting lineups for Toronto
44:30 – Ranking the top 12 Raptors on Upside
1:03:16 – Gilbert Arenas South Sudan beef
1:06:02 – How people see us…
1:22:40 – Rule of Thirds for life

He failed to improve on the areas fans were most critical of; defense, shooting, playmaking and finishing. He was miscast as a third option, deficient as a first option, and the narrative around him went from extreme hype to extreme critique.

Deemed a “Toxic asset” RJ spent last year proving the haters wrong. Under Darko Rajakovic and the Raptors, RJ Barrett retains some hope of regaining that shine he once had as a prospect. He’s a month removed from his 24th birthday. He’s coming off his FIRST EVER positive box plus minus stint with Toronto, just barely clearing 0 with a +0.1, largely due to his defensive woes dragging him back.

And yes, he is 24. He’s younger than Ochai Agbagi, Immanual Quickley, Davion Mitchell as well as rookie Brendan Carlson. Is it too late to expect a superstar? Maybe. But an All Star? We can talk about that. Because he has a LOT in common with another former Raptors all star who absolutely turned his career around at the age of 24.

I was looking at a graph of points generated relative to field goals attempted ranking out the most and least efficient scorers in the NBA over the past 10 years. RJ was FIRMLY on the downturn, heading right into DeMar and Westbrook territory. On the middle was guys like Kawhi, and on the high end were guys like Steph, LeBron, and Jokic.

Basically, the graph told me RJ took bad shots and missed a lot of them.

But something happened to RJ’s chart last year in Toronto. It turned upside down. The downward trend he was on went up for the first time ever. This happens sometimes. Let’s see if it can continue.

This live will also discuss the Raptors lineup for next season barring no trades and signings, who should be the Raptors 5th starter between Brown, Olynyk, Gradey and Walter.

#Raptors #Knicks #nba

6 comments

  1. i would pick lineup 2. I love Jakobe's size for defense, however I feel that he does not provide enough completness in his game to start. he needs a season just like gradey

  3. @pensarebasketball white on white crime = serial killing spree, rape, murder, to name but a few… white on white crime existing doesn't diminish other crime and crimes.

  6. I would go with lineup 3.

    Also, for a 2nd unit I would really want to see, the following. I would test this out in training camp at the very least.

    Scottie / Gradey / Chomche / Kelly / Koloko(assuming he's here)

    Let Chomche be the point of attack defender, just see what he's like moving his feet with quick ball handlers.
    If his guy gives up the ball, then Chomche can become a roamer.

    I think that would be easier for him.

    and then with the 905, they can work on his Centre Defense, let him be aggressive.

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