Could RJ play the point?

[Alleyoopster]

Most of us recognize RJ has a good handle on the game, e.g., makes smart passes, half decent defense, rebounding, etc. He's used mostly as a 2 with Stevens spotting him at the 3 point line much of the time. Lately, he seems to be more involved in the offense and shifts away from here from time to time. When he does get more involved in moving the offense he does well.

I'm wondering if he could handle the point guard position on a regular basis? Obviously, he can't dribble as well as Isaiah or Rozier, but he does have natural passing instincts that one likes to see in a play maker.
Is his passing good enough to make up for his dribbling deficiency? If it is, is he strong enough to play the point? Do you see this happening 2-3 years down the road? 

[CelticSince83]

Most of us recognize RJ has a good handle on the game, e.g., makes smart passes, half decent defense, rebounding, etc. He's used mostly as a 2 with Stevens spotting him at the 3 point line much of the time. Lately, he seems to be more involved in the offense and shifts away from here from time to time. When he does get more involved in moving the offense he does well.

I'm wondering if he could handle the point guard position on a regular basis? Obviously, he can't dribble as well as Isaiah or Rozier, but he does have natural passing instincts that one likes to see in a play maker.
Is his passing good enough to make up for his dribbling deficiency? If it is, is he strong enough to play the point? Do you see this happening 2-3 years down the road?

I don't think he has the lateral quickness to stay in front of other point guards or the one on one moves to create much via penetration.  He's so good off the ball with back cuts and the like I don't think there is any reason to put him on the ball.

[Sketch5]

Most of us recognize RJ has a good handle on the game, e.g., makes smart passes, half decent defense, rebounding, etc. He's used mostly as a 2 with Stevens spotting him at the 3 point line much of the time. Lately, he seems to be more involved in the offense and shifts away from here from time to time. When he does get more involved in moving the offense he does well.

I'm wondering if he could handle the point guard position on a regular basis? Obviously, he can't dribble as well as Isaiah or Rozier, but he does have natural passing instincts that one likes to see in a play maker.
Is his passing good enough to make up for his dribbling deficiency? If it is, is he strong enough to play the point? Do you see this happening 2-3 years down the road?

I don't think he has the lateral quickness to stay in front of other point guards or the one on one moves to create much via penetration.  He's so good off the ball with back cuts and the like I don't think there is any reason to put him on the ball.

Doesn't need to defend the other PG, if you have Smart or Bradley on the floor too. Bull's had Piipen run point when they had Armstrong,Paxon and Kerr as their official PG and none of them were really top notch defenders. Even Harper was guarding the point.

I think Hunter could get faster if he works at it, lighting fast? No. But good enough. I think Stevens will eventually have a system were 1 threw 3 and possibly 4  brings the ball up to get things started, it would add 4 to 5 seconds of offense when your not waiting to get the ball to the PG every time.
 

[loco_91]

RJ doesn't have to play the point for his passing skills to be put to good use. Even for someone who's primarily a spot-up shooter, it's really valuable to be able to make a pinpoint feed to a cutter. RJ to me has an ideal skillset for a role-playing 2 guard, and I don't see much reason to force him to play the 1, where his lack of slashing ability will be a problem.

But yes, in theory he could play some PG. Will be interesting to see if CBS experiments with this at all.

[TheFlex]

Perhaps not defensively, but offensively, Hunter reminds me a lot of Jamal Crawford. So yes.

[mgent]

No, lol, not in the same sense as IT/Turner/Rozier.

He might become a combo guard along the lines of Smart/Bradley.

[Ogaju]

one word answer,  Heck No.. okay two words!!

[feckless]

He played some minutes at point during the preseason, when Smart and Rozier were injured.  It did not go well.

[CroCorvus]

No because there's no need for it. He's a dead eye shooter. All you need is a capable big man and surround him with few players who can shoot, cut and penetrate.

[Rosco917]

I see no sign he has the ball handling skills or even the desire to play PG. As it is, he seldom plays off the dribble.

[moiso]

No because there's no need for it. He's a dead eye shooter. All you need is a capable big man and surround him with few players who can shoot, cut and penetrate.

He certainly has the rep of being a dead eye shooter, but at some point he is going to have to start making some shots.  He shot badly in his last year of college and he is shooting badly so far this year.  And some are ugly and miss by a mile. 
For now we can say he was overly guarded in college and isn't comfortable yet in the NBA.

[CroCorvus]

I really think that he is a starting sg material. He's young, long, athletic, right mind setup, hes coachable, seems like a great teammate and most of all seems like he has that cold killer instinct. He showed that in college. The league is a different team because he's still learning all the stuff. He does not have the ball in his hands like he used to do so that affects his game a lot. Nevermind, i thin he can thrive in Stevens system with the addition of quality bid to space the floor which will provide him enough time to lounch his bombs. He can partially mold his game to Ray Allens game or Kevin Martins game, or Kyle Korvers game...or for starters Avery Bradleys game (especially when he came) only wihout the full court press.... overall i really like this guy, think he has best chance to make it with us.

[rollie mass]

brad tried it once and rj hopes its the last-
-it would be nice to hear if he is deadly at practice,it looks like he is rushing his shot but i am sure that his defence and routes and passing are taking most of his attention-
he is getting substantial court time and he has to plugged in all the time because of his weight , rookie status and playing zone in college-hopefully santa leaves him his 3point shot for christmas

[hwangjini_1]

brad tried it once and rj hopes its the last-
-it would be nice to hear if he is deadly at practice,it looks like he is rushing his shot but i am sure that his defence and routes and passing are taking most of his attention-
he is getting substantial court time and he has to plugged in all the time because of his weight , rookie status and playing zone in college-hopefully santa leaves him his 3point shot for christmas

good points rollie. i have been impressed by hunter's intelligence on the court. and he is more athletic than i had thought he would be.

but his shooting, his supposed calling card, is not showing itself. but as you and others point out, let's not rush to judgement...as was the case here for some with bradley and others.

the celtics dont need hunter to be a starter now. they have the luxury of a deep bench and can allow him, along with rozier and mickey, to develop over time.

it will be interesting to see hunter et al in 2 years. by then we probably will know a lot more.

[rollie mass]

merry christmas hwangjini, i have really enjoyed his backdoor dunks,just so effortless and his drive down the middle and changing to left hand
he does so much right and its his ability to add to defence and offence with a almost seamless flow
 rj is swicthed on all the time
 i can't wait till it is 2nd nature-this kid does not play like skinny rookie from a small school-the shot is the last of his worries-the intricacies of pro defence and offence,the speed ,strength and athleticism is his concern now
this kid is getting rotation minutes and not making glaring rookie mistakes -he gets hung up on screens and is sometimes overmatched
i wonder what a season in gym and the offseason working on vertical and lateral drills-rj was up there in the agility test at combine and it shows-the shots will start to fall at some point

tp's for everybody