New York Knicks: 3 issues for Tom Thibodeau to address
By Chip Murphy
2. Find out what RJ Barrett is
Basketball-Reference estimated that Barrett played 72 percent of his minutes at shooting guard, 27 percent at small forward, and 1 percent at the power forward spot. So, is RJ Barrett a slasher, a playmaking wing, or maybe even a point forward?
Despite drafting the kid, I’m not sure the previous regime quite had that one figured out. David Fizdale memorably started Barrett at point guard on opening night. Hopefully, Thibodeau has a better handle on things.
Barrett was top-five among rookies in minutes, points, and rebounds per game. His shooting percentages weren’t pretty — the free throw line was particularly troubling — but it wasn’t all bad.
RJ was heating up before the season was suspended with a 27 point game against the Rockets on March 2nd and a 26 point game against the Hawks in New York’s last game before the shutdown. The Knicks won both of those games.
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He needs some help. For starters, RJ needs to play with a point guard that isn’t Elfrid Payton. The Barrett issue also ties into the Randle issue. Randle isn’t part of New York’s long-term future, but he led the squad in field goal attempts and usage percentage.
Cleaning the Glass states that Barrett only played 379 possessions this season without Randle and Payton on the court. I’m sure Randle and Payton are good teammates, but the mood they created on offense was that Barrett wasn’t cool enough to sit at their lunch table.
The right floor general can make all the difference to even the most accomplished scorer. Look at what playing with Ricky Rubio has done for Devin Booker this season. Booker took fewer shots, and his usage decreased, but his scoring average stayed the same by shooting career-highs from the field and the line.
I have no idea if LaMelo Ball would have that kind of impact on Barrett’s game right away, but he can’t hurt. Signing Goran Dragic to a one-year Godfather offer is unlikely, but a potential reunion between Thibodeau and Orlando Magic legend D.J. Augustin is possible.