After a stellar start to the 2019-20 season, rookie guard, RJ Barrett, came crashing back down to earth against the Washington Wizards, as the New York Knicks failed to top 90 points in a disappointing loss. Losing 83-95, the Knicks will look to bounce back against the Boston Celtics in a tough matchup, and hopefully, Barrett can bounce back after a lackluster performance.
The Duke product shot 4-for-11 from the field and 1-for-4 from downtown, logging just nine points on the night. His -20 +/- rating was his lowest this season, but Barrett struggling was expected at some point. After playing lights out basketball and showing his immense potential and quality across four games, RJ proved he’s also human. The real test will be how he rebounds after a poor performance and if it will derail his fantastic start to the season.
The New York Knicks might be experimenting too much:
Head coach David Fizdale was keen to utilize Barrett as his starting point guard on Wednesday night. While he has played well in moderation at the position, Fizdale might have got enthusiastic about the idea of featuring him right off the bat.
Frank Ntilikina, the Knicks’ reserve point guard, finished the contest with seven points, four assists, four rebounds, and earned a +2 +/- rating. He was far more effective than Barrett at point guard, which makes sense considering his experience at the position and defensive expertise.
It will take significant time for Barrett to develop into a starting quality point guard if Fizdale elects to continue utilizing him in that fashion. I believe that the Knicks should keep Barrett as a shooting guard and move forward with Nitlikina at the helm, considering his defensive qualities and overall potential. Providing him with confidence could be the key to finally unraveling his potential, but inserting him into the lineup off the bench might hold him back from playing his best basketball.