On paper, when the pre-selection of the Canada was unveiled, RJ Barrett clearly emerged as the third most important player in attack behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray. But the second’s package, physically exhausted after a long NBA season with Denver, concluded with a title, changed the situation and further multiplied his responsibilities in the opposing half.
A preparation of five games later (three wins and two losses for Canada), we can only see that the Knicks winger is without question the second offensive option of the Canadian squad with his 16.4 points per game, behind “SGA », Offensive leader of his country as with the Thunder in the NBA.
” All in all it was amazing. Very effective in attack. His decisions are clean, he places himself well and attacks the circle. This is exactly the production needed from him “, Appreciated for example his coach Jordi Fernandez, after his 31-point card at 13/14 on penalties against Germany last week.
A player at ease in FIBA
An effective offensive production because relatively simple: the native of Toronto, finally as with New York, uses his physical power to swallow spaces and thus attack the circle, or he gravitates around the “playmaking” of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kelly Olynyk on an attack placed to draw behind the arc (or, once again, to attack the circle by punishing ‘closeouts’ that are too slow).
” He makes my life easier », added Jordi Fernandez, which confirms that RJ Barrett is in fact a free agent in the Canadian attack. ” I don’t call a lot of systems for him, because he manages to find his place in the attack without forcing. I am very satisfied with its performance so far. »
The difference however, in FIBA? ” The racket is wide open », he simply concludes, no doubt alluding to the fact that with the Knicks, the Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle or even Mitchell Robinson regularly occupy the racket in attack, but also to the fact that Canada often plays with Kelly Olynyk wide and therefore with Dwight Powell as the only real inner presence in the painting. ” I find it easy to attack the circle, and so when you have shooters around, with space, it forces the defense to choose its poison. »
And above all, this allows RJ Barrett to enjoy himself, probably even more than in the NBA, by playing fully to his strengths. France, Canada’s first opponent (Friday at 3:30 p.m.), is warned.
| RJ Barrett | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2019-20 | NYK | 56 | 30 | 40.2 | 32.0 | 61.4 | 0.9 | 4.1 | 5.0 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 14.3 |
| 2020-21 | NYK | 72 | 35 | 44.1 | 40.1 | 74.6 | 0.9 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 17.6 |
| 2021-22 | NYK | 70 | 35 | 40.8 | 34.2 | 71.4 | 0.9 | 4.9 | 5.8 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 20.0 |
| 2022-23 | NYK | 73 | 34 | 43.4 | 31.0 | 74.0 | 0.8 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 19.6 |
| Total | 271 | 34 | 42.2 | 34.3 | 70.9 | 0.9 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 18.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
Photo credit: Twitter / @FIBAWC
