rj is a basketball player

[rollie mass]

rj's long arms are being underestimated, i am fascinated watching his defence as they allow him to recover and disrupt much like prince
rj turns and blocks and does so many little things right and
he doesn't disrupt flow but adds to it-

[colincb]

BS is noticing. Played a team-high 29 minutes last night.

[colincb]

BS was very complimentary to Hunter (and Amir) in his post-game interview:

“It’s pretty obvious just watching him, he really just has a feel,” Stevens told reporters after the game. “It comes pretty natural, little passes, simple plays, being able to put the ball on the money to people, understanding spacing, understanding where his opportunities are going to come. He has a pretty good feel for the game.”...

Hunter’s 3-point shooting is something the Celtics are certainly encouraged by thus far, but he’s continuing to show that he has more to offer.

“As he continues to make those shots and feels more comfortable, he’s going to be better,” Stevens said.

In addition to displaying a more all-around game offensively, Hunter hasn’t been as big a liability defensively as many feared. After three preseason games, Hunter’s defensive rating is 91.1 which is fourth among Celtics players averaging 20 or more minutes per game.

“Defensively, he’s way ahead of where I thought he would be,” Stevens admitted. “He’s just long and active.”

http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/hunter-continues-exceed-celtics-expectations

[pearljammer10]

I hope he takes Bradleys minutes and makes AB expendable. He will never be at ABs level defensively but I think with his length and athleticism he can fill in just fine while being miles upon miles better for us on the offensive end.

[SHAQATTACK]

BS is noticing. Played a team-high 29 minutes last night.

DA and CBS see the potiental and are speeding up his development .

All James Young sees is the smoke trail where Hunter has blown by him .

[rollie mass]

deceptive length,my son 6-5 and skinny with huge wingspan,there was a kid on his team older tough as nails, a small forward and had never been blocked and my son blocked him at least 5times,the player just could not see his length,all he saw was skinny-
rj had 4 steals and a block and i don't know how many times that  hand waving was enough to deter passes through the middle-skinny guys have to play smarter
young really bricked his first three but in 2nd half  had a good block for a 20yr old

does anybody see  KO as getting bigger and more aggressive--he really is filling out

[littleteapot]

I've been researching RJ Hunter's past extensively, and he is in fact not a basketball player. Despite a lot of surface evidence to the contrary, he is actually an alien cyborg who is attempting to infiltrate American society under the guise of being an NBA prospect.

[colincb]

deceptive length,my son 6-5 and skinny with huge wingspan,there was a kid on his team older tough as nails, a small forward and had never been blocked and my son blocked him at least 5times,the player just could not see his length,all he saw was skinny-
rj had 4 steals and a block and i don't know how many times that  hand waving was enough to deter passes through the middle-skinny guys have to play smarter
young really bricked his first three but in 2nd half  had a good block for a 20yr old

does anybody see  KO as getting bigger and more aggressive--he really is filling out

Same here. Seems to be growing up. It's a man's game.

[fairweatherfan]

This was the first game I could watch on a real TV instead of glancing at it on my work computer.  Was very surprised by RJ's lankiness - he seems to almost have a Tayshaun Prince kinda build (not as long of course).

Also noticed Olynyk looking bulkier, which is a good sign too.  Sully still seems irrelevant even with David Lee sitting out. 

[Rosco917]

deceptive length,my son 6-5 and skinny with huge wingspan,there was a kid on his team older tough as nails, a small forward and had never been blocked and my son blocked him at least 5times,the player just could not see his length,all he saw was skinny-
rj had 4 steals and a block and i don't know how many times that  hand waving was enough to deter passes through the middle-skinny guys have to play smarter
young really bricked his first three but in 2nd half  had a good block for a 20yr old

does anybody see  KO as getting bigger and more aggressive--he really is filling out

KO looks like he's beginning to turn the corner. What ever he did during the summer, plus just playing for the National team has helped. Even his feet look really improved, you can see the development in his body, he's actually starting to look rugged, as opposed to the dough boy.

[35Lewis]

Agree with everyone on this post so far except the alien cyborg.  I was telling my sons last night to look at how much more muscular KO is getting.  He's definitely working hard and he's smart enough to translate his game to the NBA eventually, hopefully this year.

RJ plays like a vet. I know it's preseason but he is doing the work and the research.  He seems like a tireless worker or perfectionist that will find a way.  It's hard not to get excited about RJ even if he won't make ESPN top plays.

Sully Sully Sully, man I'm so disappointed thus far but you can see his potential on the block.  I don't think he's a great fit for this team and I hope he continues, or starts, his journey to being in better shape. 

[Celtics4ever]

Sully Sully Sully, man I'm so disappointed thus far but you can see his potential on the block.  I don't think he's a great fit for this team and I hope he continues, or starts, his journey to being in better shape. 

It was a critical summer for him and although he did improve his fitness level some, it was not enough.  He has went from  a critical summer to a critical point in his career.  I think in the past, we had to play him, now we have options and every one of them is better on D than him.

[colincb]

More ammo on RJ:

http://www.celticsblog.com/2015/10/15/9538161/everybody-loves-r-j-hunter

[35Lewis]

Sully Sully Sully, man I'm so disappointed thus far but you can see his potential on the block.  I don't think he's a great fit for this team and I hope he continues, or starts, his journey to being in better shape. 

It was a critical summer for him and although he did improve his fitness level some, it was not enough.  He has went from  a critical summer to a critical point in his career.  I think in the past, we had to play him, now we have options and every one of them is better on D than him.

I agree. Not to hijack a Hunter thread but it's disappointing.  Speaking of critical point in a career, I couldn't believe that Jordan Mickey is sprinting down court at the end of the game on a guaranteed contract and PJ3 is half jogging.  Hasn't that been the knock on him in his career and yet here he is not disproving it.

[PhoSita]

This was the first game I could watch on a real TV instead of glancing at it on my work computer.  Was very surprised by RJ's lankiness - he seems to almost have a Tayshaun Prince kinda build (not as long of course).

Also noticed Olynyk looking bulkier, which is a good sign too.  Sully still seems irrelevant even with David Lee sitting out.

Olynyk looks like he's moving with a bit more purpose and fluidity, which is nice to see.  More confident in taking his shot.

RJ's build reminds me most of Kevin Martin or perhaps Danny Green.

I'd love him to turn into Tayshaun, but Tay is about 4 inches taller.


I really think this team might actually be best with neither Turner nor Sully in the rotation, as unthinkable as that may have been six months ago.