RJ is not a high percentage, or quick release, shooter off the dribble. He can spot up for a decent percentage, but is best used as a driver/slasher.
They have run that same play for RJ twice (that I've seen) now, where RJ passes off to Duncan who throws a pass back to the rim for RJ. It has led to a dunk once and a trip to the line the other time. They need to run more plays like that early on to get him established.
Techically yes. Behind the scenes there is often discussion with players involved before the deal is done. I would suspect RJ was addressed before the deal was made as well as Bowen and the rest.
I could be wrong since I wasn't there. But I know it often happens in those types of trades.
Back to what to do with RJ. IMO...Just let it play itself out and I don't think there should be that big of a concern at this moment.
Too many people focusing on his contract. People, use your brains: RJ will never "earn" 15.1 million a year, even if he is the #1 option on a team. He's overpaid, and on this team, by a large margin. Just accept it so we can move on.
RJ does however need more plays called for him. Both Tim and Tony should be making a conscious effort to get RJ involved, even deferring to him on some plays. I think it will just be more time to build chemistry. Sadly, whatever chemistry is being built now could be shaken at the foundations by Manu's imminent return.
As one example of a successful RJ drive, please see signature of SpursRulez4eVeR.
More screen and rolls, less drive and kick.
A+ post. If you can't get over RJ's contract he will most likely never satisfy you.
His lagging performance is currently not satisfying...regardless of a $15M contract. He's not hitting his long 2s or 3s with consistency and hasn't been finishing around the cup off his dribble drives. He's just not producing.
Obviously for him to be an effective player (again regardless of contract size), he'll have turn that around.
Another game where RJ picks up the scraps of whatever is left after Tony and Timmy are options 1 and 2 out there. At least he made a fairly good play at the end and hit the clutch free throws.
No need to run plays for RJ until he learns to knock down a shot.
What do you mean? The guy a is a career 47% shooter. He's probably one of the players with the best jump shots we have. We're just not looking for him.
I also think he's a rhythm guy, not the instant-offense kind.
to me, it's on Pop. he's the coach. he's supposed to find a way to get the most out of his players. believe me, if RJ was on the Lakers, he wouldn't be so unproductive.
parker ignores him within the set spurs offense this is fact, especially when the going gets tough.
he never hesitates to dish it to bonner behind the line, or even the chosen son.
I think alot of it is parker gets pissed that RJ is not often in spots that are dish-worthy within our offense. I think time will fix this. But RJ also seems to have zero ability to get to the lane and the free throw line in our offense.
I'm not freaking out about it yet but his inefficiency on offense is costing us so far
I can only guess Pop is waiting for Manu to come back and see if RJ connects better with him.
We need to run him isolated on the post more...clear out one side of the floor and let him go to work.
Also TD is usually consuming the middle of the floor, making it hard for RJ to get to the bucket. For whatever reason, Tim always seems to be between RJ and the rim. I think Pop is the culprit...and the cure.
this is what it comes down to. yes jefferson is not being aggressive enough, once he does he will do great, but yea on the ther hand i've seen plenty of fast breaks with parker and jefferson, and parker cant throw an alley-oop pop knows rj gets plenty of points this way so im guessing he not opposed to it especially when t.p ends up screwing up the fast break so i can see both sides of the argument. and if you watch our fastbreaks rj is yelling for one and tony isnt comfortable with it
oh and like i said before start manu, and have rj off the bench and this will force rj to be aggressive.
If Manu's healthy enough to play with the Starters, I think this is the best Spurs option aside from playing both off the bench. But having them both off the bench is letting $24 million sit on your bench in just two guys.
RJ+Parker isn't an effective combination....always seems like an either/or with them two. If one goes off, the other stands around and watches.
he's absolutely horrible right now on both ends.
he can't create a shot and doesn't drive. he's only been aggressive one game all season and that was against the Raptors (i believe) when we were without Tim and Tony.
he cannot play with Tim. he just stands around like a doofus. he needs to play on the 2nd team with the quick guys like Manu, Hill, and Mason.
If it wins us games, who really cares?
So did RJ switch teams or sports?
He just looked absolutely lost out there tonight and seeing Tony call him out for being in the wrong spot on offense and almost causing a turnover by bringing his defender into the picture was pretty eye-opening..
It's been my belief all along that Manu would be the 6th-Man for pretty much the remainder of his career, but I'd be lying if I didn't think RJ and him switching spots wasn't a pretty decent idea; RJ's acquisition has never made that much basketball-sense to me, given his skill set, but I couldn't knock the actual trade or player because there's no doubt it was a good trade and that RJ's a good player; even if overpaid..
The small-forward in this offense works best as a spot-up shooter; it's why I thought a 2-guard like Carter was a better option, fit-wise. You play him alongside a guy like Bogans and you get a much better dynamic.
Paying a true small-forward in RJ that type of money and still having to play a guy like Bogans beside him to guard the best player, just doesn't make all that much sense.
What's done is done, though, and you've got to find a way to make lemonade.
I'd suggest, if Manu's healthy, they bring him off the bench where he could have a little more success exploiting the oppositions second unit, play a little small ball early with him at the 4 to get him out in the open court, play the two-man game with Tim and RJ while keeping your spot-up shooters on the floor, stress the importance of advancing the ball through the pass to initiate the break, and see if by the end of the game he's found a little more rhythm and confidence within the scheme.
If none of that works, the acquisition of a live chicken might be necessary..
After watching the Rockets game, it confirmed my thoughts on why RJ is not getting the touches he needs. Pop plays our 5 starters, you know who they are, they started 4 consecutive games, resulting in all wins. No complaints from Spurs fans there.
Now, here is the problem with the offense. Duncan and Parker play their two man game on the right side of the basketball court. Usually, it results in a positive result for the Spurs but no points for RJ. Jefferson usually is on the other side of the court. The only way he receives the ball from Parker directly, is when a cross-court pass is thrown. A cross-court pass is usually an ill-advised pass so Parker does not pass that often. One of those pssses result in a turnover. Jefferson does not get the ball in this set play.
The next play would be 4 down. Again, Jefferson stands in the corner. Not a good way to get some of his points. Duncan scores himself or swings the ball. Jefferson would be sealed up immediately when he gets the ball, he swings it. Therefore getting no shots.
Broken plays. This is where RJ is the most effective. Usually he attacks the paint with aggression resulting in free throws. Otherwise, he only takes jump shots in other set plays.
Jefferson's strengths like cutting to the lane is not being utilised to its fullest extent. These plays were usually ran with Bowen who is not a scorer. Bogans should be the one standing in the corner, not Jefferson. It may be better. Jefferson's passive at ude towards the game when Parker and Duncan is on the floor is not gaining him much sympathy anyway.
You would think he would have some isolation-type of plays when he's being guarded by Jason Kapono, one of the worst defensive players to ever play..he had the ball against him on the wing, beat him, but was roadblocked by Dalembert due to Duncan being on the same side..
give the guy some isolation plays..
When you have a 4th guy that has all-star level talent, you exploit mismatches involving him..Jefferson being guarded by Kapono is a significant mismatch..hopefully we'll see some plays for him in the 2nd half, and we'll see how RJ responds..maybe he'll fail, but he has to get plays like that when he's being guarded by scrubs..
rj got started early tonight
lets see what he does all night
he's gone invisible again
he had 5 points before tp took a shot
first 3 minutes of the game
tp had 3 shots
spurs tried to get him going early
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
