RJ Barrett

The New York Knicks now know what they have in RJ Barrett

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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett

With the Washington wizards climbing back against the New York Knicks in their first preseason game of the season, third overall pick RJ Barrett iced the game with two clutch free-throws.

The second half of the contest showed why the Knicks are so high on Barrett and that the quality he displayed during college is transferable to the NBA. RJ played a whopping 39:20 minutes in his debut on Monday night, and head coach David Fizdale‘s confidence in the rookie paid off.

The New York Knicks are taking the right approach with their rookie:

Ensuring that Barrett gets plenty of playing time is essential in his developmental process. Working through the kinks in his game and adapting to the physicality and speed of NBA quality players requires live action. While the Knicks only have three remaining preseason games left, I anticipate Fizdale well continue to play him into the regular season. At just 19 years old, his potential is sky-high, and getting him on the floor, and building chemistry with the veterans is a priority.

“He’s 19,” Fizdale said of Barrett. “And he’s got to play. It’s the same thing I did with Kevin (Knox). These guys have to play, see situations and feel out the game. At the same time I wanted to have him out there because he was playing so well.

Barrett finished the nights with 17 points, three assists, seven rebounds, and turned the ball over twice. He shot .462% from the field and made two of six three-point shots.

While there’s plenty of room for growth, the first game was a success for Barrett, who dominated in the second half after a rough outing in the beginning. His 39.3 minutes lead the team, and only Kevin Knox trailed close behind with 29.4 minutes.

Knox scored 12 in the contest and tallied one assist and seven rebounds, but it was clear that RJ was the better player throughout the game and seems to have more potential at this point. Barrett provides excitement and optimism moving forward; in fact, the entire youth agenda for the Knicks should spur confidence.

 

Barrett Shines, Morris ejected; New York Knicks first preseason game

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The New York Knicks opened the preseason in Washington last night.  The Knicks were without their, possible, starting point guard Dennis Smith Jr., who is resting his strained back.

The injury to Smith Jr. is nothing serious, just precautionary measures.  This opens up time for Frank Ntilikina and Elfrid Payton to showcase their skills and heat up the battle for point guard minutes.

The Knicks, led by RJ Barrett and Marcus Morris with 17 points each, defeated the Wizards 104-99.

However, Morris was ejected for swinging his elbows then hitting Justin Anderson on the head with the basketball.  In his post-game interview, Morris said, “We not taking no sh*t.”  Morris’ actions were uncalled for, but the fact that the Knicks have an enforcer is nice, in a way.  It’s the New York Knicks turn to fight back.

Barrett was a bright spot throughout the entire game for the Knicks.  He was shut down Bradley Beal in the first half, but struggled offensively.  The second half was when Barrett settled in.   His teammates kept feeding him the ball, as Barrett had the hot hand in the second half.  He was aggressive and knocking down shots.  Barrett was 6-13 from the field, 46%.

The Knicks leader, Julius Randle had a strong Knicks debut.  Randle looked strong and quick when taking the ball down-low.  At times, he got a little too fancy with the passes, but was able to make provide solid assists to his teammates.

Mitchell Robinson was every where in the first half.  Blocking shots, rebounding, stretching the floor and dunking.  He also did a fine job at not fouling as much.  Of course, he had some dumb cheap fouls in the second half, but nothing crazy.

Frank Ntilikina played very well, despite a not so good stat line.  The main thing was Ntilikina was aggressive and not afraid to drive and take his shot.  This version is Ntilikina is a lot better than last season, coming off that high of performing well for France in the FIBA World Cup.  If he can perfect, the mid-range jumper, it can be deadly.

Taj Gibson provided good veteran leadership on the floor and was able to find his stroke from beyond the arc. Wayne Ellington is sharp-shooter with great form and a great addition to the Knicks.

Despite the score, the Knicks were up by double-digits pretty much the whole game.  The bench provided a good spark to the team and is very deep.

Overall, this Knicks team is very enjoyable and a team the New York could fall in love with.  Yes, it was one preseason game, but this team is different.  A lot of talent on the roster to make some noise in the East if they play to their potential.  There’s a good mix of young, veteran presence and it could work.  The future seems to be bright.

New York Knicks: Analyzing the first preseason victory over the Wizards

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New York Knicks, Mitchell Robinson

The New York Knicks opened up the preseason with a dominant offensive performance, putting up 104 points on the backs of Marcus Morris, RJ Barrett, and Taj Gibson. Morris managed to get ejected late in the game, but the Knicks still held on and enjoyed a positive start to their preseason against the Washington Wizards.

Of course, there were ups and downs in regards to the young players and veterans on the team. Third overall pick RJ Barrett struggled to begin the game, missing his first three attempts from beyond the arc. He finished 6-13 on field goals, 2-6 from three-point land, and scored 17 points with three assists.

One of the apparent positive trends for the Knicks was their ball movement and assist totals. Julius Randle earned seven assists on the night, an unlikely statistic considering his past averages.

Gibson, on the other hand, finished with five field goals made and two 3-pointers on four attempts. He totaled 16 points and accounted for 17 total rebounds on the night. The Knicks bench showed fantastic potential and the quality to fill in admirably for starting players.

New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale chooses the vets:

David Fizdale elected to sit several of his youth players in favor of veterans to start the preseason. This was a positive move considering the lack of chemistry the veterans currently have with one another.

Ensuring options like Marcus Morris and Julius Randle start the season with a bit of playing time under their belts is a great thing and will help them succeed during the regular season. The two combined for 28 total points and a plus-one turnover ratio. They also accounted for 26 total rebounds and nine assists.

Point guard Elfrid Payton also earned 25 minutes of action due to the injury picked up by Dennis Smith Jr. Payton receiving preseason playing time makes the starting point guard position battle a little bit more interesting.

New York Knicks: RJ Barrett can start if defense improves

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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett

The New York Knicks shooting guard position is still up for grabs.  The Knicks do not have a player that is not guaranteed that spot yet.  But, RJ Barrett is working to be that guy as long as his defense improves.

Barrett has been working extremely hard on defense to prove he is capable of starting.  He told New York Post’s Marc Berman, “Really right now I’m working my tail off on the defensive end.”  He continued, “I’m just trying to get better there.  Coach always wants a defensive guy on the court, you know?”

Fizdale appears to want a more defensive minded team as compared to last year’s.  The defense last season was their Achilles heal and non-existent, for the most part.  The players that the Knicks added in free agency show that they are trying to improve the defensive approach.

Barrett was not the greatest defender in college and his NBA pre-draft scouting report mentioned that.  But, Barrett is more mature for his age.  He said on Knicks Media day that he wants coach to be tough on him.  Not many rookies openly have that mindset.  That is why he’ll grow and succeed in the NBA.

The Knicks do need a shooting guard that can score while also having the defensive qualities to shut down the opponents top scorers.  If Barrett can show that provide value on both ends of the floor, more so defensively and on a consistent basis, then he could be the starting two guard when the season tip offs.

It won’t come easy considering the shooting guard and small forward position will be tweaked a lot throughout the year.  Unless, Barrett can prove to Fizdale that he deserves that spot in his rookie campaign.  That will show great promise for the Knicks moving forward.

New York Knicks suffer preseason blow to point guard position

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New York Knicks, Dennis Smith Jr.

One of the more exciting position battles for the New York Knicks this off-season will be at the point guard spot. The likely winner of the battle will be Dennis Smith Jr., but he sat out Saturday’s practice due to a lower strain back, according to SNY’s in Bagley.

The injury to the point guard is no surprise, as he also dealt with something similar during the 2018-19 season, but he returned for the final few games. This issue will likely hold Smith out of Monday’s preseason opener against the Washington Wizards, with Veteran signing Elfrid Payton earning the start with Frank Ntilikina backing him up.

Smith Jr. is an extremely talented and athletic point guard, but injuries have derailed his career and held his development back at times. This is another reason that the Knicks will leave the spot open for interpretation and allow others to compete for the starting job.

Could Dennis Smith Jr.’s injury affect the New York Knicks starting lineup for the regular season?

Smith, who was brought over in the trade that sent Kristaps Porziņģis to the Dallas Mavericks last season, was the expected starter for the regular season this year. The injury certainly holds him back, but we shouldn’t rule him out as the starting option just yet. While the damage is something he has dealt with in the past, the timetable for his return has yet to be solidified.

Where does the remainder of the starting lineup stand?

With numerous veterans joining the team, the youth players won’t be given automatic starting positions the season. Marcus Morris projects to start over Kevin Knox, and Julius Randle will also steal minutes away from other players, potentially including RJ Barrett. However, starting Barrett would be in their best interest, considering he is the future of the team, and providing him with essential experience will help his development and progression.

Big man Mitchell Robinson will earn significant playing time right off the bat, mainly due to his potential and the optimism he provided last season on defense.

New York Knicks: RJ Barrett Must Develop Into a Solid Defender.

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It’s extremely important for New York Knicks rookie RJ Barrett to develop into a solid and impactful plus defender. The former Duke University star will be in great hands with Knick legend Bernard King within reach for advice and coach David Fizdale at the helm along with his talent development staff in training camp.

The defense will catapult RJ Barrett very fast in this league filled with scoring wing players. At 6’7″ tall with a 6’11” wingspan and 210 pounds of lean muscle, the sky is the limit for Barrett defensively considering he turned 19-years-old about four months ago. Barrett is already a physical specimen and defense is what Coach Fizdale is hammering into the potential future Knick star.

It’s very inspiring to hear that RJ Barrett is working his tail off defensively because it’s a sign that he acknowledges how important that end of the floor really is. New York City is a blue-collar town that loves defense and Barrett understands why learning the defensive concepts is so crucial for his development.

During the scrimmage at Columbia University on October 5th, RJ Barrett displayed very good athleticism on cuts to the basket, one which led to a ferocious two-handed dunk. The Knicks rookie also played point guard for his assigned scrimmage team and showed flashes as a floor general due to Dennis Smith Jr. being held out of the scrimmage due to a minor ailment. The maple mamba missed a few perimeter shots and also a few free-throws. The field goal is also an important metric Barrett must continue to work on. However, with RJ Barrett’s work ethic, shooting will develop in due time alongside maturity which he already shows at such a young age. The sky is the limit for the first-round selection by Scott Perry and the Knicks.

Overall, the Knicks are happy with their young talented 3rd overall selection in the 2019 NBA Draft. RJ Barrett is working hard and the NBA game might slow down for him sooner than most think. The defense will be key in the young stud’s career and he is underneath the right tutelage in David Fizdale and other battle-tested vets on the Knicks roster.

New York Knicks: What’s the catalyst for success during the 2019-20 season?

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New York Knicks, Julius Randle, Marcus Morris

The New York Knicks lacked a fundamental necessity for every team last season — consistent veteran players that have bought into the system.

Tim Hardaway Jr. was a prayer from the beginning, and the only veteran that helped the development of the rookies was DeAndre Jordan, a player who the Knicks tried to re-sign. With the loss of his talents, the Knicks went out and spent their available cap on tier-2/3 free agents.

Options such as Julius Randle, Marcus Morris, Wayne Ellington, Bobby Portis, and Reggie Bullock now represent the experienced group who will inevitably be expected to help the youngsters develop. The catalyst for success this upcoming season is ultimately how influential the veterans can be.

Randle, coming off his best offensive season with the New Orleans Pelicans, averaged 21.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. The Knicks needed a premium threat to help elevate the play of the entire team — his dedication to success was required, and he will be a massive help to the progression of players like Kevin Knox and RJ Barrett.

The former Pelican has already begun attacking the lack of chemistry factor for the New York Knicks:

“It was amazing,’’ Randle said of team workouts several weeks ago. “Playing 2-on-2, 3-on-3. We got a lot of new guys — we signed seven, we got two rookies RJ [Barrett] and Iggy [Brazdeikis]. It’s important for us to get to know each other, spend time together on the court before training camp starts.”

 

“There’s a lot of new pieces. Everyone’s going to be trying to figure out their role. Coach [David Fizdale] is going to do a great job of helping us through that. If we want to be a good team and have a chance, we have to jump-start that process ourselves.”

Ball movement will be a focal point for the Knicks this season, according to head coach, David Fizdale. Rookie RJ Barrett is a sneaky-good passer, and Randle also will look to develop his game to help in that category. He averaged 3.1 assists per game last season, the second-highest amount in his career.

However, the responsibilities won’t only land on the shoulders of Randle. Marcus Morris is another player prepared to protect his new home.

“Old school Knicks. Protect the Garden. My biggest thing is no one’s coming in there and disrespecting us,” Morris said Thursday. “If anything, if you come in here you’re going to get a hard-fought game. The better team going to win but we’re not tolerating no disrespect and no one coming in here thinking it’s going to be easy. That’s the first and foremost.”

The Knicks seem to be in a much better place just one offseason after winning a dismal 17 games. Hopefully, the influence of veterans can help them develop into a competitive team.

New York Knicks: Kevin Knox opens up about RJ Barrett

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New York Knicks, Kevin Knox, RJ Barrett

The drafting of New York Knicks rookie RJ Barrett likely sent an appealing thought through the mind of 2018 first-round pick, Kevin Knox. After a horrendous rookie season for Knox, Barrett entering center stage and taking over the spotlight might be a positive thing, especially considering the pressure that was on his shoulders to perform. Knox was thrown into the lineup day in and day out despite his struggles, due to lack of better talent in the hopes that he would develop into an influential player in the NBA.

One year later, Knox had one of the worst rookie seasons in history and averaged just 12.8 points per game as a primary offensive threat. He collected just 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, showing not only that he needs far more time to develop his skills, but that he was not physically ready to take on NBA-level talent.

Barrett is facing a similar hurdle, considering his size and inexperience in the league. However, Knox gave him some essential advice and pointers to help him adapt quickly and overcome the challenges Knox failed to tackle.

Here’s what New York Knicks second-year player Kevin Knox had to say:

“He’s very confident in himself. Just the way he plays, he knows that he can really get to the basket. He’s a really underrated passer. I talk to him here and there. He’s a guy who knows he can bounce back. You’ve got 82 games so I mean one tough game is not going to discourage you the rest of the season. You’ve got to be able to bounce back in this league because there’s so many games. You play four games a week. One tough game is not going to affect you through the whole season.”

If there is one attribute about Barrett that nobody can object against, it is his work ethic. The third overall pick is wholly focused on developing into a premium talent at the professional level, and he does understand that bumps and bruises will occur along the way.

It takes time to adapt to the physicality and speed of the NBA, but Barrett has a solid group of mentors to lean on. Players like Julius Randle and Marcus Morris will help him exponentially in achieving this task, but playing time is the essential factor here, and he needs plenty of it this upcoming season.

New York Knicks: Who will be the starting guard during the 2019-20 season?

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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett

The New York Knicks starting lineup will not be set in stone any time soon.  From all of the new faces putting on a Knicks uniform, the starting lineup will be continually changing.

Here are three New York Knicks players we know will likely be in the starting lineup:

The point guard should be Dennis Smith Jr., and it is his job to lose. At power forward, Julius Randle and the new Knicks center and blocking sensation Mitchell Robinson.

After that trio, the shooting guard and small forward positions are up for grabs.

Damyean Dotson was a strong candidate to begin the season as the starting shooting guard. However, due to his right shoulder not fully healed, Dotson might not be ready for the start of the season. That leaves it wide open for other players.

Next up would be, Allonzo Trier, Frank Ntilikina or RJ Barrett.  It is going to come down to who performs better during camp and the preseason. The same goes for the small forward position.

However, since trading away Tim Hardaway Jr. in the Kristaps Porzingis trade, the Knicks are without a go-to scorer.  Hardaway Jr. was not the best go-to option, but it was feasible for the time.

Ntilikina is coming off a strong performance in the FIBA World Cup for France. His offensive production improved, but you would not know that from just looking at his stats. Ntilikina averaged 19.5 minutes, shot 43.6% from the field while averaging 8 points per game. His numbers do not reflect the aggressiveness and confident outlook he gained through the World Cup.

Ntilikina could a reliable option to start at shooting guard since he brings an excellent defensive approach to the starting lineup.

The Knicks are looking forward to Trier taking a big step forward this season. Well, the Knicks are looking for a lot of their guys to make a big leap forward.  Everyone knows that Trier can score, but it is the defense that will need to improve this camp and preseason to let him be a starter.

Then, there is the 3rd overall pick Barrett. The skills and potential are there, but not at an NBA level yet.  It will take time for him to develop a more consistent shot.  His confidence grew as the Vegas summer league rolled on, so fans know he is just scratching the surface.

Some fans would want to see Barrett start immediately since he was the 3rd pick.  Also, he appears to be more mature then people think and if he wants to learn the hard way then what better way to toss him into the fire in the NBA.

Our picks for shooting guard who be to first start with Ntilikina.  Show him that you have the confidence in him, stemming from the World Cup to be a starter in the league.  He needs trust in his coach and player to succeed.  If that does not work, juggle Barrett and Trier until you find the right fit.

Coach David Fizdale will be experimenting with the lineup a lot at the beginning of the year.  Smith Jr., Randle, and Robinson appear to be the only three that will be the consistent starters.  It will be a battle for remaining shooting guard and small forward positions.  Fizdale will juggle with those two positions to find out what works best with the other three starting locks.

New York Knicks: RJ Barrett explains his biggest challenge as a rookie

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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett

There is no question that New York Knicks‘ third overall pick from the 2019 NBA draft, RJ Barrett, will need time to develop and refine his skill set as a professional basketball player. Barrett enters the NBA is one of the most highly touted college prospects, coming out of Duke. He took a second fiddle role to Zion Williamson who took over collegiate basketball by storm, but RJ still has the capabilities to develop into a top-notch player at the next level.

Notes from the first training practice for the New York Knicks:

During the Knicks’ first practice, Barrett was asked about the physicality of the NBA and how difficult it will be to adapt.

“We got the vets here — big, strong guys, definitely a different level of physicality,’’ Barrett said Tuesday, via the NY Post. “I’m going to get used to it. I’ve got a good body.’’

Facing off against veterans like Julius Randle and Marcus Morris in practice will undoubtedly help Barrett not only grow as a player but as a teammate. The offensive side of the ball comes naturally to Barrett but stopping players on the defensive front will be a challenge, as it is for those rookies.

“Really right now I’m working my tail off on the defensive end,’’ Barrett said. “I’m just trying to get better there. Coach always wants a defensive guy on the court, you know? So if I could do that starting out. … It’s funny. If you’re smart on how you do things and keep your movements precise, that will even give you an advantage or help you keep up with a stronger guy.’’

However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t categories that he needs to work on in regards to his offense. Barrett’s three-point shooting was well below average at Duke (30.8%). During the summer league, he shot just 23% from behind the arc — considering the additional length at the professional level. Adjusting to the difference in court size and player quality in the NBA is undoubtedly a hurdle Barrett will need to leap over, but he has the support and athleticism to do so.