I do have to give you credit, you were far more patient than the RJ fanclubbers dared to be. Seemed like early in the season before a month had even passed they were dancing about with their clothes off, dropping 'lols' and taunting like crazy.
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For all you guys criticizing RJ, what about Pop who wouldn't run any plays for him. He made him the player he is now, camping in the corner and making space for Manu and Tony down the lane. I sometimes watch the games and I see Tony slashing trough 3 defenders and RJ is alone, yet he still won't pass the ball.
I've been watching RJ play since he was in the league, and yes he can slash to the basket and it's disgusting what Spurs made of him. Also, lol at Bonner being in the team, that guy is a freaking joke, wonder how he plays on the team with best record.
Can't believe Jefferson/Bonner make a combined 11.4 million. Fucking waste of money and it's only going to get worse. 12.5 million next year, 13.8 million in 2013, 15 million in 2014. Duncan took a paycut for THIS?
This thread continues to feel pointless. It's like blaming Edie House in Miami and give Lebron, Wade and Bosh a pass when they don't win.
And if you're going to talk about his salary, well though luck, where were you when the Spurs took his fat contract from the Bucks.
Last year RJ played in the payoffs like he played in the regular season. No confidence in his long range shot, too afraid to stand behind the 3 point line.
Tis year he's still 4th or 5th option on the Spurs offence and his role his limited to shooting 3 pointers but he's making them at a 43 % wich is far better than expected.
Come playoff time the only thing I expect from him is to show effort on D and shoot those 3's.
You obviously don't get it, do you.. You can't change a player in 1 year, when he has been playing differently for 10-15 years. He was a slasher and had solid mid-range shot.
Now you expect him to camp in corner whole game and pray for a ball from some gracious teammate so he can knock it down. Guy shoots 5-7 balls per 30+ minutes and you expect him to be efficient, please..
If he could get a few more balls, and get some confidence from getting layups and dunks, his shots would start to drop more easily. He scored 20ppg without J. Kid as a Net, and he did score 20ppg playing for Bucks without a brilliant point guard.
There was a 1 play for him at start of the season where he would run by the Duncan's screen and catch it on alley-oop, but that was it. I would be pissed of if that's what I get whole season, his confidence probably started going away and he know just does what his "team" asks from him and doesn't complain, because they win. At least they did.
RJ is good. Only problem is, alot less plays are being run for him... no more alley-oop lobs, and he was at his most effective early in the season when guys like Parker, Hill, and Manu were fast-breaking with him leaking out. We were running teams into the ground and scoring 120+ points a game... Why the Spurs went away from this I don't know. Blame the coaching I say, but RJ is fine, he's hitting his 3's and defending well, he's just not getting many shot attempts.
Doesn't he realize he's making me look bad?!
I think he's in a slump . . . but there is an heightened sense of concern because he's . . . well . . . RJ tbh. Hopefully, he will break out of it for the playoffs. He played very well last season against the Mavs after playing terrible all year. This year he has developed his role, but it is in hibernation right now. He needs a game or two, where Pop gives him some touches to try and kick start his mojo. I think he's in a sort of basketball atrophy right now and he needs to be involved more.
The absurd amount of bad three point shots the Spurs are taking right now aren't doing RJ any favors.
Even right now, RJ is better than he was last year, but that isn't saying much.
Of course, he doesn't get a lot of touches, and with literally no true PG on the floor, as was the case yesterday, things can only get worse for a player that struggles to create his own shot.
But I was really disappointed with the lack of aggression he displayed against the Blazers. He's a veteran and should have stepped up for a depleted team. Instead, he was just a by-stander.
One thing I noticed during the last couple of months: Even if RJ penetrates, he seldom takes it all the way to the rim. Most of the time, he opts to pass the ball out to the perimeter again. That was certainly different earlier in the season.
he is better than last season.......did i expect more? YES!
at least he was better in the first half of the season.......:depressed
At this point the best we can hope for is to trade him for someone else's bad contract in the offseason and hope that player can produce more or fit a bigger need.
He isn't better than last season. I have proven this already. With his improved shooting (not for the past month or two though) he is at best a wash. He has declined in pretty much every statistical area except for shooting %.
At this point even getting someone like Corey Maggette or Andris Biedrins in return whose contracts are similar in length and money, would probably take including some draft picks or young prospects though. And those guys careers have nose dived as well.
I agree, I was all for rj when he was playing well earlier, but now he's pulling the dissapearing act, even worse than last year.
lol 14 empty points
It doesn't matter when fucking blow on defense. Same song, different verse.
This thread makes for good reading.
Especially page 9.
But to be fair, RJ did raise his playoff 3 pt% to 35%. :lol
I've had a lot of fun with this thread and the RJ support crowd has had to eat a ton of crow...but I'd be lying if I said I was happy being right. Early in the season he really did look like the extra work was going to pay off...but he quickly went back to what he was before.
I'm just going to copy and paste my initial argument from the very beginning.
Hopefully some comprehension skills have developed over a year for some?
This was posted 10/23/2010.
Even though R.J showed some improvements this year throughout 80-85% of the regular season and the first two playoff games, he was absolutely pathetic the past 4 games and much of late in the year. Which obviously contributed to the Spurs abrupt demise this post-season. Spurs need to do what they can to get rid of him. I personally believe packaging Blair and a late first round pick can get some negotiations going. (For those who are asking why Blair--Blair's contract will be up in 2 years anyway; his salary value will go up 500-600%. Meaning it's highly doubtful Spurs would consider resigning an undersized big at that price anyway. Therefore trading him now should be easy. Especially if they are rebuilding, which most likely will be the case. Therefore sweetening a RJ deal with Blair has to be considered now.)
If they can get rid of Rasho and Malik's contract, I'm hoping they can get rid of R.J's. Only time will tell.
But yeah, R.J was fucking pathetic the past 4 games. Jesus. Ultimately, Ruff, Nono, benefactor, HH, DPG and many others were right on him not being able to provide enough when it mattered. (Even though that never was my main argument against them.)
It's been a fun ride guys. But the championship window is sealed shut for a while tbh..
I commend you for standing by him bro. I know it sucks that things happened the way they did. Again...I wish I could have been wrong...because RJ coming around could have been the small spark needed to get the Spurs at the very least out of the series with the Grizz.
Never really stood by him. I stood by the front-office's decision trying to make chicken salad with the extra chicken.
Fortunately for the Spurs, R.J's contract doesn't hinder the rebuilding process.
They gave him pretty much house money tbh. Which was the main reason I didn't see a problem with his contract even though I believed he was overpaid.
It's pretty easy for some to figure out.