RJ's Attitude

[mo.st.dukie]

I actually saw a little of what the original poster was saying. I think some of it had to do with him struggling early on and honestly think a little of it is him not being "the guy".
I immediately said to my 12 year old son after a couple of his mistakes that I thought his body language was bad and about 20 seconds later K pulled him. In all honesty, RJ's play in the Army game reminded me a little of Tatum and his early season struggles before he figured it out and was unreal.

So perhaps a more accurate and constructive way to discuss this is to frame it as RJ is a young teenager who makes mistakes and is adjusting to playing college ball. Bobby Hurley and Quinn Cook both had times in their career when their body language was poor and both got the "sit down and watch tape of your poor body language" treatment from the coaches.

Saying that they have a poor attitude is more like an attack on their character and suggesting that they are a locker room cancer which couldn't be further from the truth with RJ. If the OP is actually a Duke fan he probably should have approached this topic very differently, and probably should not have made the thread title what he made it.

 

[SwatX1]

I don’t want to live in a world where we’re scrutinizing and counting how many high fives our BEST PLAYER gives out. I can’t live there.

THANK you.....

 

[DukeDenver]

I actually saw a little of what the original poster was saying. I think some of it had to do with him struggling early on and honestly think a little of it is him not being "the guy".
I immediately said to my 12 year old son after a couple of his mistakes that I thought his body language was bad and about 20 seconds later K pulled him. In all honesty, RJ's play in the Army game reminded me a little of Tatum and his early season struggles before he figured it out and was unreal.

This should have been the OP.

 

[Canadian Dukie]

R.J' s an alpha dog,he expects to lead way,when he does not,he gets frustrated,he's not used to having the quality of teammates he has this season,he will come to learn that he does not have to be the main guy every game..he's gonna be just fine..

 

[QC Dukie]

So perhaps a more accurate and constructive way to discuss this is to frame it as RJ is a young teenager who makes mistakes and is adjusting to playing college ball. Bobby Hurley and Quinn Cook both had times in their career when their body language was poor and both got the "sit down and watch tape of your poor body language" treatment from the coaches.

Saying that they have a poor attitude is more like an attack on their character and suggesting that they are a locker room cancer which couldn't be further from the truth with RJ. If the OP is actually a Duke fan he probably should have approached this topic very differently, and probably should not have made the thread title what he made it.

Nailed it

 

[GARY4plus3]

Where you been 4plus 3?? your keen insight has been sorely missed!

It's been a long six months, sold condo, bought a house, been trying to get settled in before the holidays (and hoop season). You just never realize how much crap you've accumulated over the years, until you move. Glad it's over, and glad to be back with on the board with you guys. Hope all is well with everybody. I've seen a some new handles on the board, welcome to all.

 

[Showenuff]

Welcome back Gary !

 

[topps coach]

Hey don’t really have a problem with his First post because it is a message board and they exist to give your opinion.My problem was with his reaction to another posters critique of it.One of my pet peeves is that you do not say anything on this board that you would not say to someone’s face.Imo I don’t think you go off on someone like that in person

 

[jnastasi]

I love his attitude. The kid has the Kobe “f you” mentality.

 

[Magnum45]

He had numerous traveling calls on him vs Army. He was probably frustrated with that. He needs to fix that but he's an elite player and he will no doubt.

 

[pisgah101]

Maybe RJ is jbsmooth and he’s been planning this the whole time. Be #1 go to duke, post on D1 when we didn’t accept him he decided to get the ultimate revenge

 

[jcdevilfan]

Very interesting read upon my return to my favorite place and time of the season. All I will say about this post is for everybody to keep your chin up, and just trust me when I say, chill out, relax, and enjoy this great group of kids, cause "IT'S GONNA BE OK!"
OFC

 

[Mpm277]

I didn't get a chance to watch the Army game that closely. But one of the things I've been most curious about in regards to this team is how RJ is handling sharing nearly the entire spotlight with Zion. The UK game left literally nothing to worry about but some are concurring, at least on some level, about the Army game. It's something I'll definitely keep an eye on tonight. I will say that based on interviews I've seen with the team, as well as watching Earn Everything, all of our freshman seem extremely close - even moreso RJ and Zion.

 

[OldasdirtDevil]

Very interesting read upon my return to my favorite place and time of the season. All I will say about this post is for everybody to keep your chin up, and just trust me when I say, chill out, relax, and enjoy this great group of kids, cause "IT'S GONNA BE OK!"
OFC

Glad to see you posting again, JCdevil.

OFC

 

[jcdevilfan]

Glad to see you posting again, JCdevil.

OFC

Thanks my friend, it's been a tough road for me since the end of last BB season. Health issues (old age) almost all winter, then had an accident in which I shattered my right hip & right wrist. Had to have a Titanium rod inserted into my leg, with big screws into my hip. Metal plate in my wrist. The re-hab was long and brutal, and to make things worse, I couldn't get on DI to spend time with my Duke buddies! I was able to get on once in a while to read a few posts, but just too uncomfortable to sit down for long.
Missed all the recruiting this year, but hey, I love this team and got a lot healthier during the Kentucky slaughter!! Huuuuuuuge win!
Go Duke!
OFC

 

[OldasdirtDevil]

Thanks my friend, it's been a tough road for me since the end of last BB season. Health issues (old age) almost all winter, then had an accident in which I shattered my right hip & right wrist. Had to have a Titanium rod inserted into my leg, with big screws into my hip. Metal plate in my wrist. The re-hab was long and brutal, and to make things worse, I couldn't get on DI to spend time with my Duke buddies! I was able to get on once in a while to read a few posts, but just too uncomfortable to sit down for long.
Missed all the recruiting this year, but hey, I love this team and got a lot healthier during the Kentucky slaughter!! Huuuuuuuge win!
Go Duke!
OFC

On my goodness, you have had a rough stretch, JC. I hope you're at the point your pain is tolerable. Get yourself healed up, and post when you feel able. You're in my prayers my friend, and I'm sure the entire DI board feels the same. Let's get another rout tonight, and maybe that will soothe a little of the pain.
Go Duke!

OFC

 

[DukeNation12]

Duke fans: “RJ is selfish”

RJ...... BET!

Goes out and drops a double double-maybe by half with asts lol currently 5 and 0 TOs

 

[TheDude1]

Posted this in the game thread, but...

GMan did say they had an interesting talk with K about communication, and body language on the court came up, that coach talked to the team about it. I don’t think our friend was the only one who noticed RJ being agitated out there

 

[Dad2ze]

His reaction was off I get it, but attacking his OP is part of the reason I stepped away from here last year. It's getting insane that people can't pose these types of questions without being immediately attacked...

Agreed but I guess his overreaction was what threw me off a little bit. Didn’t mind his OP but he went from Calm and Cool to a combo of Roy throwing his jacket and Boeheim stomping the floor in Cameron. Kinda how your troll friend seemed all Duke then turned out to be a stalker. All is good. Glad we can chat off here as well.

 

[Dad2ze]

Still say JBsmoove. Been planning his attack for 11 months. Not so fast...

Exactly. If I remember correctly JBsmoove also stalked a member of the board even calling out his wife and kids. As a newb you don’t react to a veteran board member by turning into Doyle Hargraves.

 

[skysdad]

The title of the thread should tell us all . Trouble ahead. I wanted to give him the benefit of doubt, I really did but the more I read it over and over the more I think he is a troll. When he went into the rage summed it up. What kind of fan does that on his 3rd or so post. OFC

 

[Dad2ze]

The title of the thread should tell us all . Trouble ahead. I wanted to give him the benefit of doubt, I really did but the more I read it over and over the more I think he is a troll. When he went into the rage summed it up. What kind of fan does that on his 3rd or so post. OFC

And then disappears without defending his actions or apologizing.

 

[SwatX1]

Maybe RJ is jbsmooth and he’s been planning this the whole time. Be #1 go to duke, post on D1 when we didn’t accept him he decided to get the ultimate revenge

Oh that's just WRONG!!

 

[BlueDevilWildcat]

And then disappears without defending his actions or apologizing.

I'll be happy to defend him.

I agree that I saw some grumpiness from RJ, specifically on a play in the Army game where Zion killed it, everyone else came over except RJ, who just kind of looked away. Before tonight's game they looked like besties so I'm not worried about it, but do wish the team was talked about more than just one guy.

Re: his f-bomb overreaction to being labeled a troll, I really think that using the T word should be an automatic timeout from the board. It's such a lazy way to mischaracterize the intentions of somebody you disagree with. If you're too lazy or too dumb or just have no desire to engage a poster you disagree with, just stay out of the thread rather than disparage their intentions. I imagine that's what set him off.

 

[chov1125]

I'll be happy to defend him.

I agree that I saw some grumpiness from RJ, specifically on a play in the Army game where Zion killed it, everyone else came over except RJ, who just kind of looked away. Before tonight's game they looked like besties so I'm not worried about it, but do wish the team was talked about more than just one guy.

Re: his f-bomb overreaction to being labeled a troll, I really think that using the T word should be an automatic timeout from the board. It's such a lazy way to mischaracterize the intentions of somebody you disagree with. If you're too lazy or too dumb or just have no desire to engage a poster you disagree with, just stay out of the thread rather than disparage their intentions. I imagine that's what set him off.

Wait what?!?! A troll is not trying to have a legitimate conversation, they stop in to drop a stick of dynamite and then watch from the clouds as everyone gets riled up. A troll should absolutely be called out. And everything that has transpired since only confirms my suspicion. Automatic timeout for using the T word, huh?

 

[Dad2ze]

I'll be happy to defend him.

I agree that I saw some grumpiness from RJ, specifically on a play in the Army game where Zion killed it, everyone else came over except RJ, who just kind of looked away. Before tonight's game they looked like besties so I'm not worried about it, but do wish the team was talked about more than just one guy.

Re: his f-bomb overreaction to being labeled a troll, I really think that using the T word should be an automatic timeout from the board. It's such a lazy way to mischaracterize the intentions of somebody you disagree with. If you're too lazy or too dumb or just have no desire to engage a poster you disagree with, just stay out of the thread rather than disparage their intentions. I imagine that's what set him off.

I’ve only seen one other person on here lose their mind and start with the cussing. He was called out by dukiej and he was a troll. The face he gave his opinion isn’t the issue. The problem was his reacton only 2-3 posts in.

 

[hart2chesson]

Hey don’t really have a problem with his First post because it is a message board and they exist to give your opinion.My problem was with his reaction to another posters critique of it.One of my pet peeves is that you do not say anything on this board that you would not say to someone’s face.Imo I don’t think you go off on someone like that in person

Well stated Topps... I have nothing against posting one's own views, because all of us see things differently. I was more bothered by the blow-up of the OP in his reaction to the other poster.

OFC

 

[SoCal_Dukie3]

Well stated Topps... I have nothing against posting one's own views, because all of us see things differently. I was more bothered by the blow-up of the OP in his reaction to the other poster.

OFC

Point is he was attacked from go (post 1). Is that the environment wanted here now? Yes, the second post was out of line but if you use that as reason to attack the first "borderline" or challenging post of someone new, then this place will lose more people. I remember posting a few challenging things after my intro/lurking post and of course was welcomed with "yea right" and "I smell troll".

Now before you go saying I'm soft, I'm not. We all need to have a backbone and society in general is way too PC. That said, let's give people a freaking shot before starting a rumble. Now if they come in blasting right away, I'll gladly jump in.

 

[2 skerz 3_rivals208847]

I'm pretty new to this board, mostly spent my time at DBR til they changed and then mostly at TDD. But still, not a huge poster. But couldn't love Duke anymore than I do, I assure you of that. So I posed this question at TDD but that place is about as active as a mall these days.

I started getting a sinking feeling during the Canada tour that I wasn't seeing a consistently good attitude from RJ. Little too emotive on fouls, body language when shots didn't fall, and just a lot of negative intangibles from his expressions. On the other side, he was super excited for his teammates to succeed and hit big shots and make plays. So there is obviously tons of good to be gleaned as well.

But this last game, I really started to see his attitude take a turn in the wrong direction. And I am going to make the big assumption that it has to do with Zion. RJ forced shots (which is fine, that is his aggressive nature) but completely passed up open passes that he had previously been willing to make. Especially one to Zion on a fast break.

His frustration was showing all over his face. There was a particular point on a stoppage where Alex goes to give RJ a five and he COMPLETELY ignores him and Alex just kind of does it anyways haha. His body language was really quite bad. If it weren't for his pointing out Zion on that wild tip-oop and still chest bumping him after one of his blocks, I would be really worried.

I don't like being a downer, I LOVE RJ and our entire squad. I just hope that if there IS something there, that it is easily fixable and provides a good teaching opportunity. I feel like this team has a truly special chemistry, and I hope that we don't see that crumble because of ego. But I wouldn't blame RJ in the slightest if he felt like ALL of his shine was being taken by Zion. It isn't like its Zion's fault, but as a kid, I could totally see feelings of envy and jealousy forming.

Maybe it is way too early to tell. Maybe I am nitpicking and delusional. But I figured it was worth a discussion. So, do y'all see any attitude issues worth keeping an eye on or addressing by the staff?

We wo

**** off, really. You have no goddam idea who I am and if you read my post and thought it was a troll post you're a ****ing retard.

 

[HeLooks2MuchLikeDave]

I don't know if anyone noticed it last night (I think it was around the 12:30 mark in the second half), RJ was giving high fives on the court and Alex didn't notice him, so RJ made sure to get Alex's attention and connect on the high five. So there. Glad we could come full circle and put this whole thing to bed.

 

[nets on nets on nets]

I really hope I never have to read about high-fives being discussed again.
With that said, the only thing I wanna see out there is NO MORE chest-bumps with Zion, that dude is gonna hurt someone by chest-bumping them too hard.

 

[SwatX1]

We can all do or say things in frustration and aren't really how we feel or what we mean. Maybe RJ has done that and maybe he hasn't. All I know is from what I have seen, on and off the court, I believe this team likes each other, has good chemistry, shares the ball, and all have the same goal....win

 

[chov1125]

I understand what is being said and I don’t disagree with some of it. We don’t want to make a habit out of attacking new posters as it doesn’t foster a healthy dynamic and it dissuades people from joining the board and conversing. Open conversation is the very purpose of a forum such as this. With that being said we also need to protect the integrity of the board and if someone smells like a troll right from jump street I think he should be identified as such and swept away immediately rather than being allowed to linger around and disrupt future conversations. All that does is make a mockery of our board and persuade others to do the same. I believe that was the first poster I have ever labeled as a troll and I even hedged my bet by saying I was only leaning towards yes. Again nothing since then has changed my opinion, in fact I’m far more sure than I was back then. He went to multiple boards with a hot button topic that was likely to incite posters and then left like a fart in the wind. But yes we as adults should also be able to handle a word like troll and not blow a gasket. It wasn’t a mischaracterization, it was justified.

 

[hart2chesson]

Point is he was attacked from go (post 1). Is that the environment wanted here now? Yes, the second post was out of line but if you use that as reason to attack the first "borderline" or challenging post of someone new, then this place will lose more people. I remember posting a few challenging things after my intro/lurking post and of course was welcomed with "yea right" and "I smell troll".

Now before you go saying I'm soft, I'm not. We all need to have a backbone and society in general is way too PC. That said, let's give people a freaking shot before starting a rumble. Now if they come in blasting right away, I'll gladly jump in.

No "rumble," here just stating my views solely upon 2nd post.

OFC

 

[Showenuff]

I just like that our teams only weakness was a missed high five.

 

[dukephysics]

I don't know if anyone noticed it last night (I think it was around the 12:30 mark in the second half), RJ was giving high fives on the court and Alex didn't notice him, so RJ made sure to get Alex's attention and connect on the high five. So there. Glad we could come full circle and put this whole thing to bed.

Yeah, I think Alex plans to transfer before Christmas. He was intentionally avoiding RJ's high fives because he can't stand all the attention these freshmen are getting. I wouldn't be surprised if Jack and Javin join him.

 

[SwatX1]

I just like that our teams only weakness was a missed high five.

Yeah, if that's our biggest problem this year....hang on!!!

 

[dukehokie]

I really hope I never have to read about high-fives being discussed again.
With that said, the only thing I wanna see out there is NO MORE chest-bumps with Zion, that dude is gonna hurt someone by chest-bumping them too hard.

I counted 9 high fives, three hugs, two smiles, 3 “Let’s Go’s,” and 4 chest bumps from RJ. His averages are lower than Goldwire. Gotta bring that up.

 

[Mpm277]

I don't know if anyone noticed it last night (I think it was around the 12:30 mark in the second half), RJ was giving high fives on the court and Alex didn't notice him, so RJ made sure to get Alex's attention and connect on the high five. So there. Glad we could come full circle and put this whole thing to bed.

Are you saying Alex has an attitude problem?!

 

[SwatX1]

Are you saying Alex has an attitude problem?!

Hahaha!! Nice!!