New York Knicks: Why they will misuse RJ Barrett in 2021-22

There are some people within NBA circles who believe that New York Knicks wing RJ Barrett, will take a big leap in his third season. An NBA scout told Ian Begley of SNY on September 22nd that he expects Barrett to take a significant jump in year three because he loves the game of basketball and has a hard work ethic.

However, it is unlikely that Barrett could take that leap in year three because he won’t be in a position to showcase the strongest areas of his game. Barrett is most effective when he is the primary ball-handler.

For example, Barrett has spent 19.4 percent of his possessions in transition, averaging 3.4 possessions per game over his first two seasons. He has shot 49.7 percent from the field on 2.5 shots, averaging 3.3 points per game.

Let’s take a look at the roster construction of the New York Knicks should put a bigger spotlight on RJ Barrett’s weaknesses.

After his transition work, Barrett has done a significant portion of his offensive damage as a pick and roll ball handler, averaging 5.1 possessions per game. Barrett is making 38.2 percent of his shots on 2.3 attempts per game. He has averaged 3.8 points as a pick and roll ball handler.

Unfortunately, Barrett will see some of his pick-and-roll possessions get taken away because the team has two players on its roster who spend a lot of time within that offensive set. For instance, Kemba Walker has spent 49.1 percent of his possessions in the pick and roll over the past six seasons, averaging 10.5 per game.

Walker’s backup, Derrick Rose, also likes to spend a lot of time in the pick and roll, spending almost 50 percent of his possessions in that offensive set since 2015, averaging 6.9 per game.

These two players’ histories within the pick and roll put Barrett in an uncomfortable position. The team usually likes to have three players behind the arc when they are running the offensive set, with the ball handler and center being the only players inside the arc.

For example, Elfrid Payton had the ball near the top of the key early in the first quarter of a home game against the Wizards last season. He held the ball for a few moments until Mitchell Robinson came up to set a screen.

While Payton and Robinson were in a pick and roll, Julius Randle, Frank Ntilikina, and Barrett stood behind the 3-point line. Payton proceeded to go over the screen until he got past the free-throw line. Payton would pass the ball to Barrett for a corner three, which he missed.

If Rose and Walker maintain their statistical profile, they will likely account for 72.5 percent of the team’s possessions as they averaged 24 per game. Their presence probably leaves 6.6 possessions for Alec Bruks, Evan Fournier, Immanuel Quickley, and Barrett.

Unless the Knicks increase their pick and roll, Barrett will likely spend a lot of time behind the 3-point line next season, which has been his weakness. Barrett shot below 33 percent in his lone year in college and his first year in the NBA on at least 3.5 attempts.

Barrett has only had one good regular season behind the arc when he shot 40.1 percent on 4.3 attempts during the 2020-21 regular season. Unfortunately, Barrett couldn’t carry his shooting statistics into the playoffs, only making 28.6 percent of his attempts on 5.6 shots per game.

The only avenue Barrett has left to succeed in transition. He led the team in the set averaging 3.3 per game. Barrett was efficient, shooting 52.4 percent on 2.4 attempts per game, averaging 3.6 points per game.

In conclusion, the construction of the New York Knicks roster is likely to force Barrett off the ball, which is the weakest area of his game.