RJ Barrett, New York Knicks. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
1: Prioritize securing defensive rebounds
Barrett has been relatively consistent at crashing the glass thus far as a pro, averaging at least five rebounds per game in each season of his career.
His numbers slipped a bit in 2022-23, recording just 5.0 boards each night. This can be partially attributed to the Josh Hart deal, as Barrett’s numbers started to dip exactly after the Knicks traded for the veteran wing.
The former number three overall pick often uses his upper body to drive through the chest of defenders and shrug off contact, but his strength hasn’t resulted in him being an elite rebounder just yet. Barrett had a contested defensive rebound percentage of just 12% last year, the second-worst mark among New York’s rotation players.
In other words, he’s tracking down and securing most of the easier boards but hasn’t always been willing to bang around in the paint and fight for the tougher ones.
The main reason why an uptick in defensive rebounding effort would help him out is that it presents an opportunity to run in transition.
Barrett is an adept transition player on offense despite not playing in a ton of “run-and-gun” lineups. He averaged 4.2 fastbreak points per game last year, the highest amount on the team.
His change-of-pace drives and crafty lefty finishes have routinely scorched opponents trying to get back and set up their halfcourt defense.
The only issue is that despite leading New York in transition scoring, Barrett only had the fourth-highest transition frequency among rotation players. One of the most obvious ways he can boost the volume of his fastbreak opportunities is by crashing the defensive glass hard, going coast-to-coast, and finishing at the rim.
It’s something that Hart has done regularly in his time as a Knick, which has allowed him to maintain an acceptable point total despite not being much of a scoring threat in halfcourt situations.
If Barrett can connect on standstill threes efficiently, improve his free throw percentage even further, and crash the glass to run in transition, he’ll likely get some All-Star votes in 2023-24.
https://t.co/8hMm0O8CpV <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"https://t.co/PBCBU8i5DF">pic.twitter.com/PBCBU8i5DF
<p>— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"https://twitter.com/nyknicks/status/1606476759011979265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>December 24, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>It’s easy to say he must become a more consistent shooter, but he needs to specifically operate better as a floor spacer for Brunson and Randle. In other words, improve his catch-and-shoot capabilities.</p>
<p>Barrett shot 32.3% on catch-and-shoot threes last year. That’s the worst mark of his career and a disappointing drop after he connected on 41% and 37% of those looks in the two prior seasons, respectively.</p>
<p>His inability to space the floor allowed opposing defenses’ to be more willing to double the Knicks’ leading scorers.</p>
<p>Brunson and Randle ranked within the top 10 of the most double-teamed players in the league, with both seeing extra defenders on at least 30% of their possessions each, <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"https://nbacourtoptix.nba.com/en/metrics/double-teams" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">according to NBACourtOptix of NBA.com</a>.</p>
<p>While Barrett was far from the only culprit that led to defenses collapsing on New York’s stars, his drop-off from previous seasons didn’t help either.</p>
<p>Even if his total shooting numbers from behind the arc don’t increase exponentially in 2023-24, he’ll still provide a boost to the Knicks’ offense if he can punish defenses who are eager to help off him by hitting around 38% of his catch-and-shoot looks.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Connecting from the charity stripe </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_116155" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-116155" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2200,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1297853903.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2200" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1297853903.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1297853903-768x528.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">RJ Barrett, New York Knicks. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h3>2: Increase free throw shooting percentage</h3>
<p>One of the areas of Barrett’s game that he’s always been adept at is getting to the paint and drawing contact. While the 23-year-old’s whistle hasn’t been generous, he’s still getting to the free-throw line at an admirable rate.</p>
<p>Barrett’s 5.4 attempts per game from the charity stripe were solid enough to rank within the top 30 of all players last season, slotting in between NBA All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Anthony Edwards.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">RJ getting crafty out there 🪣 <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"https://t.co/LEfTqSzRpS">pic.twitter.com/LEfTqSzRpS
<p>— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"https://twitter.com/nyknicks/status/1621329198475517952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>February 3, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>The only issue is that his shooting proficiency at the line has remained below average, although there are signs he’s trending upward. His 74% mark on free throws last season isn’t great, but it’s substantially better than the 61% he shot as a rookie.</p>
<p>Assuming Barrett will be getting more trips to the line as he begins to enter his mid-20s and play with even more physicality, foul shooting could end up being the difference between him averaging 19-20 and 22-23 points per game.</p>
<p>Asking him to jump to a 90% free throw shooter in one summer is unrealistic, but if he can connect on close to 80% of his looks, it’ll help boost his scoring totals. More importantly, it’ll also help boost the Knicks’ overall scoring numbers.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Taking a leap on the boards </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_147858" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-147858" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1706,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1461145584-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1706" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1461145584-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1461145584-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1461145584-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1461145584-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">RJ Barrett, New York Knicks. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h3>1: Prioritize securing defensive rebounds</h3>
<p>Barrett has been relatively consistent at crashing the glass thus far as a pro, averaging at least five rebounds per game in each season of his career.</p>
<p>His numbers slipped a bit in 2022-23, recording just 5.0 boards each night. This can be partially attributed to the Josh Hart deal, as Barrett’s numbers started to dip exactly after the Knicks traded for the veteran wing.</p>
<p>The former number three overall pick often uses his upper body to drive through the chest of defenders and shrug off contact, but his strength hasn’t resulted in him being an elite rebounder just yet. Barrett had a <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"https://www.nba.com/stats/players/defensive-rebounding?dir=D&sort=DREB_CONTEST_PCT%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">contested defensive rebound percentage</a> of just 12% last year, the second-worst mark among New York’s rotation players.</p>
<p>In other words, he’s tracking down and securing most of the easier boards but hasn’t always been willing to bang around in the paint and fight for the tougher ones.</p>
<p>The main reason why an uptick in defensive rebounding effort would help him out is that it presents an opportunity to run in transition.</p>
<p>Barrett is an adept transition player on offense despite not playing in a ton of “run-and-gun” lineups. He averaged 4.2 fastbreak points per game last year, the highest amount on the team.</p>
<p>His change-of-pace drives and crafty lefty finishes have routinely scorched opponents trying to get back and set up their halfcourt defense.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">RJ moving through traffic 💪 <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"https://t.co/jBKiOSiokb">pic.twitter.com/jBKiOSiokb
<p>— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"https://twitter.com/nyknicks/status/1618774280979767301?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>January 27, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>The only issue is that despite leading New York in transition scoring, Barrett only had the <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"https://www.nba.com/stats/players/transition?dir=A&sort=TEAM_ABBREVIATION%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">fourth-highest transition frequency</a> among rotation players. One of the most obvious ways he can boost the volume of his fastbreak opportunities is by crashing the defensive glass hard, going coast-to-coast, and finishing at the rim.</p>
<p>It’s something that Hart has done regularly in his time as a Knick, which has allowed him to maintain an acceptable point total despite not being much of a scoring threat in halfcourt situations.</p>
<p>If Barrett can connect on standstill threes efficiently, improve his free throw percentage even further, and crash the glass to run in transition, he’ll likely get some All-Star votes in 2023-24.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="dOJRoDOkKC"><p><a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"https://dailyknicks.com/2023/03/20/9-players-new-york-knicks-gave-up-on-way-too-soon/">9 Players the New York Knicks gave up on way too soon</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="“9 Players the New York Knicks gave up on way too soon” — Daily Knicks" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/09/03/3-goals-knicks-rj-barrett-take-game-next-level/3/"https://dailyknicks.com/2023/03/20/9-players-new-york-knicks-gave-up-on-way-too-soon/embed/#?secret=EKa5YVj3gQ#?secret=dOJRoDOkKC" data-secret="dOJRoDOkKC" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div><!—pageview_candidate—>">
