The Knicks definitely didn’t play a good Game 2 against the Cavs and fans have come to expect much more from RJ Barrett.
Barrett was New York’s third overall pick in the 2019 draft, placed behind two superstar-caliber players and picked just ahead of Darius Garland, who cooked the Knicks for 32 points in the final game.
This summer, Barrett signed a massive extension and continued with an uninspired season, with limited signs of progression and some bad shooting and defensive stretches.
We also have to say that Barrett has dealt with a finger injury and needed to work out the role of him now alongside two stars, and although it has become clichéd, he is only 22 years old. However, many were quick to forgive his up-and-down regular season if he made it to the Knicks’ biggest league in a decade.
He so far he hasn’t done it. In two games, Barrett amassed 21 points on 6-of-25 shooting from the field.
There are many adjustments to be made and ways the Knicks can still win this series, but Barrett understanding that is not only critical for next week, but for the franchise’s years to come. If he fails, the Knicks are defeated by a one man against a tough Cavs team and will have to make a decision on a bankruptcy set to earn nearly $30 million.