This Knicks team is being exposed...and it's a good thing. They are a medium talented team with no real superstar (sorry Ju) and need every piece playing at max capacity to put a scare into anyone (see last year). No need to jump off a bridge because they do have some young building blocks that can be productive bench guys eventually evolving into starters perhaps...but there is no real corner to be turned in our immediate dashboard view. What most intelligent Knicks fans were clamoring for was more minutes for Obi rather than pushing Ju out or forcing Obi in as a starter. That still makes sense but really...we are what we are and these are minor tweaks around a team that is not close to joining the creme of the crop teams. Patience once again is required for a franchise finally at least beginning to develop a workable plan for an ascent.
I think you're being pretty hard on RJ, considering he's still the youngest of the Knicks meaningful young pieces. Obi turns 24 in two months, RJ turns 24 in June 2024. I thought IQ's complete inability to create advantages for others was far more distressing. I thought IQ made horrendous decisions with the ball in OKC and TOR - I can't think of a single play where IQ set up a teammate with a good off the dribble move to shift the D. RJ had quite a few plays where he drove to the middle, scrambled the D, and kicked out to Grimes or Fournier... and they missed wide open 3s. I thought RJ provided more good than bad. (Would be curious to see how many potential assists RJ had in those two games if that's possible to look up?)
A big issue with RJ is he's not really a 3. He's a wing, but not blessed with the huge wing span of the Raptors front court uber wings like Barnes and Anunoby and Siakam (those guys look like the future of the NBA). For as many times as RJ got "taken to the woodshed" by OG Anunoby, I think it's fair to say Toppin got completed sonned by Siakim and Precious Achiuwa. Not to mention whoever was supposed to be covering FVV on the perimeter.
Far more concerning to me overall is that it looks like the Raptors have a real plan in place and a real solid young core, as well. I've certainly been guilty of overrating our young guys, but I think it's really concerning that the Knicks played two teams with young cores that completely outclassed theirs... and they aren't even really the young cores that are talked about as best in the league. The Knicks are in a potentially very rough place. I'm not one of those guys who overrates RJ. His upcoming extension terrifies me. As much as I like the kid... he can't shoot and he's not really a playmaker... so what is he?
Very concerning times in Knickerbocker land. Sorry to write so much. Thanks for your work and happy new year.
This Knicks team is being exposed...and it's a good thing. They are a medium talented team with no real superstar (sorry Ju) and need every piece playing at max capacity to put a scare into anyone (see last year). No need to jump off a bridge because they do have some young building blocks that can be productive bench guys eventually evolving into starters perhaps...but there is no real corner to be turned in our immediate dashboard view. What most intelligent Knicks fans were clamoring for was more minutes for Obi rather than pushing Ju out or forcing Obi in as a starter. That still makes sense but really...we are what we are and these are minor tweaks around a team that is not close to joining the creme of the crop teams. Patience once again is required for a franchise finally at least beginning to develop a workable plan for an ascent.
I think that's a really measured take. I think the FO is smart and willing to be patient. Lets see what the draft brings.
I think you're being pretty hard on RJ, considering he's still the youngest of the Knicks meaningful young pieces. Obi turns 24 in two months, RJ turns 24 in June 2024. I thought IQ's complete inability to create advantages for others was far more distressing. I thought IQ made horrendous decisions with the ball in OKC and TOR - I can't think of a single play where IQ set up a teammate with a good off the dribble move to shift the D. RJ had quite a few plays where he drove to the middle, scrambled the D, and kicked out to Grimes or Fournier... and they missed wide open 3s. I thought RJ provided more good than bad. (Would be curious to see how many potential assists RJ had in those two games if that's possible to look up?)
A big issue with RJ is he's not really a 3. He's a wing, but not blessed with the huge wing span of the Raptors front court uber wings like Barnes and Anunoby and Siakam (those guys look like the future of the NBA). For as many times as RJ got "taken to the woodshed" by OG Anunoby, I think it's fair to say Toppin got completed sonned by Siakim and Precious Achiuwa. Not to mention whoever was supposed to be covering FVV on the perimeter.
Far more concerning to me overall is that it looks like the Raptors have a real plan in place and a real solid young core, as well. I've certainly been guilty of overrating our young guys, but I think it's really concerning that the Knicks played two teams with young cores that completely outclassed theirs... and they aren't even really the young cores that are talked about as best in the league. The Knicks are in a potentially very rough place. I'm not one of those guys who overrates RJ. His upcoming extension terrifies me. As much as I like the kid... he can't shoot and he's not really a playmaker... so what is he?
Very concerning times in Knickerbocker land. Sorry to write so much. Thanks for your work and happy new year.