Consistency is what separates great players from good players
But he’s started so well, which hasn’t always been him
IsaacClarke47
He’ll regress to the mean, but Randle and Brunson improve to their means. Knicks will be good!
HokageEzio
RJ has gone on good stretches before. The question is can he maintain it for long stretches of a season and make it the norm and not a hot streak.
Jim-N-Tonic
Sometimes I wonder about peoples memories. RJ got that wierd broken hand fracture covering Luka, remember? It was a compound fracture that threw him off and he had to recover from and it seemed he was playing a little afraid of getting hurt, and finally got it together in the playoffs. The FIBA tourney came along and kept him going and in shape, and now we finally get to see him start a year off in shape and motivated.
bailaoban
Let’s check in at the all star break.
bullyj
I think so. He looks confident with the rock.
TomGNYC
Depends on what arriving means to you, I guess. It’s still early days but the stroke LOOKS better and backs up the statistical improvement. If by “arrived” you mean that RJ is pretty much the same player as last year with the additions of:
1. Improved catch and shoot stroke and FT% 2. Improved decision making, especially on drives 3. Defense back to where it was 2 years ago
Then I think yes, there’s a good chance he’s arrived. RJ actually shot much better last season from 2 and added a nice, little floater, so if you just improve his catch and shoot from 3 (or put it back where it was his second year) and his FT shooting, you’re going to get a mid-20s ppg guy with league average true shooting. Really, everything we’re seeing (except for the FT%) is something we’ve seen before for large periods of time (the decision making in the playoffs last season, the 2pt% last season, the catch and shoot at 40% his second season, the defense his 2nd/3rd season) so he’s mostly just putting it all together at the same time which is something that happens with experience.
Now, if you’re saying “arrived” is an all star primary playmaker/scorer, I don’t think he’s there yet and may not get there anytime soon. He’s not hitting pullups from 3 or even from 2 with any real volume. He’s best as a second option, coming off screens, curls and pindowns or catching and shooting open shots. There’s not a ton he can do as a primary ballhandler going against a good set defense unless he can just bully his defender down into the lane.
RJ’s a worker and he’s a big, strong wing, so I don’t put anything past him. He’s got such a weird game that he’s tough to comp to anyone else, but he clearly makes the team a lot better when he’s defending, shooting, and making good decisions. I do feel like the light has gone on for him to a great extent, but I do view him as a LIKELY second or third star rather than future number 1 option.
jamalma0
I hope he can keep this up
falconcountry
Great players keep the numbers up no 6/3/2 games and we good
11 Comments
Star J. Can he be a real 22+, 5 and 5 guy?
i think hes here
Great start
Consistency is what separates great players from good players
But he’s started so well, which hasn’t always been him
He’ll regress to the mean, but Randle and Brunson improve to their means. Knicks will be good!
RJ has gone on good stretches before. The question is can he maintain it for long stretches of a season and make it the norm and not a hot streak.
Sometimes I wonder about peoples memories. RJ got that wierd broken hand fracture covering Luka, remember? It was a compound fracture that threw him off and he had to recover from and it seemed he was playing a little afraid of getting hurt, and finally got it together in the playoffs. The FIBA tourney came along and kept him going and in shape, and now we finally get to see him start a year off in shape and motivated.
Let’s check in at the all star break.
I think so. He looks confident with the rock.
Depends on what arriving means to you, I guess. It’s still early days but the stroke LOOKS better and backs up the statistical improvement. If by “arrived” you mean that RJ is pretty much the same player as last year with the additions of:
1. Improved catch and shoot stroke and FT%
2. Improved decision making, especially on drives
3. Defense back to where it was 2 years ago
Then I think yes, there’s a good chance he’s arrived. RJ actually shot much better last season from 2 and added a nice, little floater, so if you just improve his catch and shoot from 3 (or put it back where it was his second year) and his FT shooting, you’re going to get a mid-20s ppg guy with league average true shooting. Really, everything we’re seeing (except for the FT%) is something we’ve seen before for large periods of time (the decision making in the playoffs last season, the 2pt% last season, the catch and shoot at 40% his second season, the defense his 2nd/3rd season) so he’s mostly just putting it all together at the same time which is something that happens with experience.
Now, if you’re saying “arrived” is an all star primary playmaker/scorer, I don’t think he’s there yet and may not get there anytime soon. He’s not hitting pullups from 3 or even from 2 with any real volume. He’s best as a second option, coming off screens, curls and pindowns or catching and shooting open shots. There’s not a ton he can do as a primary ballhandler going against a good set defense unless he can just bully his defender down into the lane.
RJ’s a worker and he’s a big, strong wing, so I don’t put anything past him. He’s got such a weird game that he’s tough to comp to anyone else, but he clearly makes the team a lot better when he’s defending, shooting, and making good decisions. I do feel like the light has gone on for him to a great extent, but I do view him as a LIKELY second or third star rather than future number 1 option.
I hope he can keep this up
Great players keep the numbers up no 6/3/2 games and we good