Every time Rondae Hollis-Jefferson hits one of those spastic short-midrange jumper things that he likes to take, you can see the opposing players deflate. It’s a great tactic for the Nets; have him spaz out and nearly commit three separate offensive fouls before improbably canning a horrible-looking jimbo right in the defender’s face and watch as the opposing coach throws his arms up in disgust and the defender trudges back up the court listlessly. A disheartened opponent is an easily-beatable opponent.
There is nothing “aesthetic” about RHJ’s offensive game. There never has been. He somehow gets it done through sheer force of will, not by any notable amount of skill. Though there is a skill in doing dribble moves that are so herky-jerky that no defender can contain them. That’s why RHJ stands for, for me, “Rondae Herky-Jerky”.
I’m still waiting for his brother, Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson, to make an appearance in the NBA, by the way. With Rondae succeeding despite his flaws, shouldn’t NBA teams be taking a flyer on someone with the same genetic makeup, genetics that make him almost impossible to guard?