First off, props on the Triple Double. Amazing play.
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That said, I am amazed at RJ's learning curve. Over the summer, there were reasonable concerns about RJ, or more accurately, about his style of play. It was assumed that he'd have some ball hog in him, that he would be a real weakness on D, and that his perimeter shooting would be a weakness.
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And, early evidence seemed to underline that. He shot well from 3 in game one, but that game was an outlier followed by poor perimeter shooting. Worse, he was easily baited into taking too many threes. His D was bad. He was a little selfish with the ball (Zags). Basically all he did was score, and that usually in transition or by attacking the rim.
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But he learned to play better, and more importantly, SMARTER.
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Look ball hogs do it from a place of competitiveness. It isn't that they don't care about winning. For most of their careers, the best way for a ball hog's team to win was for the ball hog to aggressively hunt his own shots. For RJ, even when he was on strong (if not outright LOADED) HS, AAu, or national teams, RJ was, by a huge margin, the best offensive option. To the point that what was a "bad" shot for RJ was a better option for his team than anything but an uncontested dunk for most of his teammates. So, his ball hoggishness was not purely selfish, with no thought or care for team success. He hunted his own shot because that was the best way to achieve team success. Some guys never learn otherwise, and far more only learn it after many years of failing in the NBA.
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It took RJ approximately 1/2 of his first college season. He's an alpha scorer who has learned that is OK, heck, NECCESSARY, to pass the ball. His play in the UL game was a 180 from the Zags game. That between the legs pass to Cam, a brilliant maneuver wherein RJ's body effectively and completely screened all defenders off Cam who made the tying 3 was amazing. And it was something that almost no alpha in the NBA would ever consider. He willing shares the spotlight with his teammates, and defers to Zion when appropriate.
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And his D is very good. He doesn't get much press on D, because Tre and Cam are borderline lockdown defenders, with Zion being a rangy shot blocker, all while Bolden is all over the court bothering folks. But RJ's defense has been good. Not freshman good. Just good. Almost zero top ranked, alpha scorers play this kind of D. He's not lockdown. But he's effective.
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Point being, RJ learns, and this applies that knowledge, amazingly quickly. Zion's absurd physical gifts, and aggression, allow him to do absurd things. RJ analyzes, learns, and applies what he's learned effectively instantaneously. Some NBA team is going to luck out.
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I can't imagine the NBA won't "fix" it so that the Knicks and Bulls don't get these guys.
.
That said, I am amazed at RJ's learning curve. Over the summer, there were reasonable concerns about RJ, or more accurately, about his style of play. It was assumed that he'd have some ball hog in him, that he would be a real weakness on D, and that his perimeter shooting would be a weakness.
.
And, early evidence seemed to underline that. He shot well from 3 in game one, but that game was an outlier followed by poor perimeter shooting. Worse, he was easily baited into taking too many threes. His D was bad. He was a little selfish with the ball (Zags). Basically all he did was score, and that usually in transition or by attacking the rim.
.
But he learned to play better, and more importantly, SMARTER.
.
Look ball hogs do it from a place of competitiveness. It isn't that they don't care about winning. For most of their careers, the best way for a ball hog's team to win was for the ball hog to aggressively hunt his own shots. For RJ, even when he was on strong (if not outright LOADED) HS, AAu, or national teams, RJ was, by a huge margin, the best offensive option. To the point that what was a "bad" shot for RJ was a better option for his team than anything but an uncontested dunk for most of his teammates. So, his ball hoggishness was not purely selfish, with no thought or care for team success. He hunted his own shot because that was the best way to achieve team success. Some guys never learn otherwise, and far more only learn it after many years of failing in the NBA.
.
It took RJ approximately 1/2 of his first college season. He's an alpha scorer who has learned that is OK, heck, NECCESSARY, to pass the ball. His play in the UL game was a 180 from the Zags game. That between the legs pass to Cam, a brilliant maneuver wherein RJ's body effectively and completely screened all defenders off Cam who made the tying 3 was amazing. And it was something that almost no alpha in the NBA would ever consider. He willing shares the spotlight with his teammates, and defers to Zion when appropriate.
.
And his D is very good. He doesn't get much press on D, because Tre and Cam are borderline lockdown defenders, with Zion being a rangy shot blocker, all while Bolden is all over the court bothering folks. But RJ's defense has been good. Not freshman good. Just good. Almost zero top ranked, alpha scorers play this kind of D. He's not lockdown. But he's effective.
.
Point being, RJ learns, and this applies that knowledge, amazingly quickly. Zion's absurd physical gifts, and aggression, allow him to do absurd things. RJ analyzes, learns, and applies what he's learned effectively instantaneously. Some NBA team is going to luck out.
.
I can't imagine the NBA won't "fix" it so that the Knicks and Bulls don't get these guys.
