rj hunter quandary or not

[rollie mass]

rookie year for a shooter with thin physique and having to learn offence and defense
then a 82 games schedule with trips to west coast and back to backs-
rj had to play man to man after playing zone in college
 he was being beat and playing catch up with length
 all the pressure and getting sporadic court time  hurt rj  andi think brad lost a bit of faith in rj
-but he was a rookie and i think there was a lot going on for a shooter having to play d and adjusting to speed of game in the first season
rj recently noticed a defensive footwork problem that he is correcting
correct me if i'm wrong but rj showed well in lane agility which should transfer to d
i would be saddened to see rj let go at the tender age of 22-it would be a setback for the development program and,there will always be another bentil type
so rj shot well in vegas and benched himself possibly not to hurt his stats shooting with sprained wrist,
 ainge gave him some stick for that
the coaches will know whether that roster spot is more important and whether someone can't ever make the leap for whatever reason -
this is becoming ever harder with picks and stashes next year and with ainges ability to find the likes of green,jerebko turner types -even isaiah
so shoot the lights out rj

[Moranis]

The main issue I have always had with Hunter, is he is called an elite shooter, but he was never an elite shooter in college and he played at a small school against mostly weaker competition.  His junior year (and last year) he only shot 30.5% from three and for his career was just 35.4%.  For a similar type player, look at Steph Curry.  He was over 40% for his career in college and never lower than 38.7%.  That is an elite shooter. 

Hunter is smaller (height is ok, but slim and weak), not very athletic, and if he is only a mediocre shooter won't develop into a NBA player at all.  He has to be a shooter, and I'm just not sure that he can be.

[Surferdad]

I don't think there's a quandary here.  RJ had an inconsistent rookie season.  He should be given a chance to make the roster.

Ainge is doing what any good GM should do:  Evaluate your personnel assets until you are satisfied you've given each one the proper shot.  Sully got a fair shot and DA parted ways.  James Young has been given a fair shot, IMO, so DA should cut him (unless he can actually get back a protected 2nd round pick).  Hunter and Mickey need one more chance.

[dannyboy35]

I don't think there's a quandary here.  RJ had an inconsistent rookie season.  He should be given a chance to make the roster.

Ainge is doing what any good GM should do:  Evaluate your personnel assets until you are satisfied you've given each one the proper shot.  Sully got a fair shot and DA parted ways.  James Young has been given a fair shot, IMO, so DA should cut him (unless he can actually get back a protected 2nd round pick).  Hunter and Mickey need one more chance.

I agree with all of this. I think it's a bit of a bummer that we may have to give up young because I think it's very possible he becomes the better player than RJ due to really good shooting. I think most believe young does have this ONE skill.
Hunter looks like he's better at everything else but as you've said, the stats don't tell RJ is actually a very good shooter. They're bench guys but at the same time this is one of those decisions where I wouldn't wanna be Danny.

[Snakehead]

I have a hard time caring about Hunter because he gets this shooter label but hasn't done it in the games at all.  He was weak shooting his senior year as well.  He has a lot to prove.

[TheSundanceKid]

The main issue I have always had with Hunter, is he is called an elite shooter, but he was never an elite shooter in college and he played at a small school against mostly weaker competition.  His junior year (and last year) he only shot 30.5% from three and for his career was just 35.4%.  For a similar type player, look at Steph Curry.  He was over 40% for his career in college and never lower than 38.7%.  That is an elite shooter. 

Hunter is smaller (height is ok, but slim and weak), not very athletic, and if he is only a mediocre shooter won't develop into a NBA player at all.  He has to be a shooter, and I'm just not sure that he can be.

I think he was a shooter at college who teams keyed in on. People said that with the pressure off the percentages would increase. Hasnt happened yet but shooting tends to depend on consistency of minutes too. He certainly has range and good technique.
I'd expect him to either make the rotation this year or move on after it. Same for Young, Bentil, Jackson. Assuming they make the final 15

[footey]

My observation of Hunter in summer ball: Has really increased his range in 3 point shooting, probably taking a cue from Curry.  He has good play making skills, but lacks the ability to make a play off the dribble. He is too slow.  I think his utility in the NBA is pretty limited as a result. Maybe a Korver type of career in the best case.  I like the kid, he seems to work very hard, but I just feel his lack of athleticism will limit him.

[ThePaintedArea]

rookie year for a shooter with thin physique and having to learn offence and defense

My misgivings about him also have to do with his body, but the issue goes beyond thinness; his shoulders, for instance, are really biased forward - biased joints are easily fatigued, more easily injured, harder to build strength across, and are harder to achieve fine motor performance with.

I'm rooting for him, but I'm skeptical about his NBA future.

andi think brad lost a bit of faith in rj

Think you're probably wrong about this; at any rate Brad gave him precious playoff minutes.

-but he was a rookie and i think there was a lot going on for a shooter having to play d and adjusting to speed of game in the first season

Good points.  I don't see him as a shooter, though; I think his upside is more like Evan Turner, a secondary ball-handler who can create shots for himself and others off the bench.

rj recently noticed a defensive footwork problem that he is correcting

Hadn't heard that, but good to hear.

He's got a wide range of skills, a testament to a good work ethic.  You can run offense through him, he has good habits and instincts, throws ahead on the break, can operate in close quarters in pick and roll situations, handles with both hands, has a repertoire off the dribble.

there will always be another bentil type

Good point.

this is becoming ever harder with picks and stashes next year and with ainges ability to find the likes of green,jerebko turner types -even isaiah
so shoot the lights out rj

I agree.  The Celtics are "ahead of schedule" but there's no turning back; signing Gerald Green for insurance is a sign that player development is now taking a back seat to winning games in the regular season and reaching the ECF. 

If RJ can shoot productively from deep, it's a game-changer for him. 

He's got a LOT of work to do on his body.

[Moranis]

The main issue I have always had with Hunter, is he is called an elite shooter, but he was never an elite shooter in college and he played at a small school against mostly weaker competition.  His junior year (and last year) he only shot 30.5% from three and for his career was just 35.4%.  For a similar type player, look at Steph Curry.  He was over 40% for his career in college and never lower than 38.7%.  That is an elite shooter. 

Hunter is smaller (height is ok, but slim and weak), not very athletic, and if he is only a mediocre shooter won't develop into a NBA player at all.  He has to be a shooter, and I'm just not sure that he can be.

I think he was a shooter at college who teams keyed in on. People said that with the pressure off the percentages would increase. Hasnt happened yet but shooting tends to depend on consistency of minutes too. He certainly has range and good technique.
I'd expect him to either make the rotation this year or move on after it. Same for Young, Bentil, Jackson. Assuming they make the final 15

Possibly, but his worst year was his last year, and yet statistically he wasn't that much different as a focal point.

[rollie mass]

TP for everyone on analysis of rj
 i loved watching rj in his first summer league and into early season
he ran his patterns and didn't impede flow of offense and there were the nice pocket passes
something happened to rj an injury but when he was sent down to red claws he didn't have it and once subbed himself
his first game for claws point wise was okay but % was still off
at the time i thought maybe he plays better up
did rj sustain an injury last season a shoulder problem perhaps

i assume rookie year is tough on everybody,a period of incredible change and emotional highs and lows
the end of part time basketball being insulated in college atmosphere
 to intense competition, nba speed of game ,further 3 point line, strength and quickness and length,being criticized by press and fans to applauded to criticized-playing in huge stadiums,missing shots,rushing shots being blown by on defense or out muscled on post ups, running into screens set by 280 lb guys,switching onto super quick, skilled point guards
sitting,getting garbage minutes ,being yanked for mistakes-thats a rookie season for celts-blowing coverage on korver twice in playoffs-ouch
just a rookie season  on the celts
and then second summer league shoots 47%-got his feet cut and came down flat on his back that hurt -yabusele should have put a hit on that guy-a slight sprain to wrist but enough to alter a shot so that was it and a parting jibe by ainge-

[dannyboy35]

I think since Stevens development took a back seat. Phil Pressey anyone??

[ThePaintedArea]

I think since Stevens development took a back seat. Phil Pressey anyone??

I wouldn't argue too strongly with you.

Coaches have powerful incentives to win - and that's as it should be.  In the last couple of years we've seen a coach reach the Finals and then get canned in the middle of the following season.

If you want a winning culture, you have to build it from the beginning of rebuilding, have it present every day.  Coaches should not tank, ever.

I was really talking about management - the signing of Gerald Green means that the precious floor minutes available for a James Young or an R.J. Hunter will be few and far between.

Management has to take a longer view than coaches or players.

[CelticPride2016]

RJ Hunter has proven nothing. Where he has the huge edge over Young is that he seems to get the basketball big picture. He has the skeleton blueprint for a quality two-way game.

People are correct he needs to start shooting better or he's gone sooner or later.

He looks like he could be the shooting guard version of Tayshaun Prince. He has a smooth unique game. If Hunter can ditch the deer eyes in the headlight, he will have a long NBA career. He is redundant to no one if he starts shooting well.

Jaylen Brown can play shooting guard. We have Green, Smart and Bradley. Hunter must be sweating a bit and we'll see what happens. I think one more year is enough to figure him out. He doesn't even have to play much. He just has to show he is developing and on schedule to be a quality rotation guard. It's about building the assets.

If we cut Young, the odds are close to 0% that will burn. If we cut Hunter, it could backfire. Hunter is similar to Smart in that a lot of what they will get for a final grade is based on how good or bad they shoot.

[2short]

Rj to me.  Solid player who isn't going to loose minutes by making mistakes or over shooting.  Does everything well but nothing great.  Good bbiq , if he can improve 3's he can help team.  I'm not looking at him as a starter but more a guy you can call on for 10 minutes one night, dnp next night, 20 minutes next game.  Team player who doesn't think he's better than he is and will step up when needed.  Not to compare them but most of the time when young is on the court he is hurting the Celtics.  I want my team filled out with guys who are top notch players, subs who can fill roles and occasionally have the big game and last guys who play roles and don't hurt team.

[Eddie20]

One of the biggest issues with RJ, who is actually one of the nicest players you can meet, is that he was really ball dominant in college and was a facilitator for much of the offense. I think that it would've been much more beneficial if he had gone to a bigger school and had a similar role to where he would've at the pro level. It would've made the transition to playing off the ball, and all the nuances that go with it, much smoother.