Everybody is head over heels for the Duke freshman entering the new season, but after three games the jury is still out.
Sure you can look at his stats and see he scored 15 and 16 points against Belmont and Presbyterian, respectively.
Dig a bit deeper and you see that he already has a five-turnover game in which he had just one assist.
Then you look at his Michigan State stat line, which included five points, three assists, one rebound, and two turnovers on 1-of-7 shooting.
Sure the Dukies didn’t need Rivers to fend off an exhausted Spartans team 74-69, but it seemed like Rivers was taken aback by the venue. Playing at Madison Square Garden, he was tentative with the ball against a strong defense and played sloppy defense. Far too often he went for the steal and had trouble moving his feet on defense. The result was four personal fouls and a large chunk of time on the bench.
When he did take shots, he seemingly always went to the hoop with his right hand, and loses all of his aggressiveness when forced to the left. You’d think the son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers would know better.
He also looks like a toothpick around some of the other players on the floor. At 6'4'', 190-pounds, he needs to add some serious bulk if he plans on finishing plays after contact.
He also needs to exert more energy on the defensive end. Sure it’s a small sample size, but he is already showing tendencies of laziness and unwillingness to crouch into the proper stance. He gambles for the steal far too often.
I’m not saying he won’t be great. The athleticism he displayed in high school was off the charts. His confidence and shooting range are spectacular as well. Just remember that this kid is only 19-years-old and he may not be ready to be a dominant player in his freshman year.
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