Is Rudy our new point guard?

[Shooter]

I keep hearing about Miller getting traded, and it suddenly occurs to me that Rudy could be the reason why. He handles the ball well, and is a very capable passer, including making perfect lobs to Aldridge. Why couldn't he run the team???

This would give him the playing time he wants, keep Aldridge happy, and allow us to trade Miller for a younger player.

I'm not saying I want this to happen--I actually love Andre Miller--but it may be the thinking of the coaches and management.

Am I crazy, or could this happen?

 

[andalusian]

If this happens - we are lottery bound.

 

[Rhal]

Rudy has a hard time creating his own shot. I like him running point for a little but each game to confuse the defense but definatly not all the time.

 

[Shooter]

If this happens - we are lottery bound.

Really? Everybody is always complaining that Miller can't shoot, but we know Rudy can.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Rudy handles the ball OK in space, but he is absolutely NOT a good ball-handler when people press him ... and if he was our "point" this is going to happen 90% of the time he tries to bring the ball up the court.

 

[Reep]

Rudy handles the ball OK in space, but he is absolutely NOT a good ball-handler when people press him ...

I second this. I love the idea, but he would get picked apart.

 

[hasoos]

Really? Everybody is always complaining that Miller can't shoot, but we know Rudy can.

Lets put the qualifying terms up here for your statement, which should have been added. Rudy can shoot when he gets hot. He is super streaky. I think though he can improve.

Now here is why I think Rudy at PG makes sense. He has pretty much been playing backup point a lot lately with Mills being limited. Rudy is a decent playmaker who can see over the top of defenses, and IMO, could be a "Shaun Livingston" type of PG. He isn't going to kill you with speed. But he can see over the top of his defender and can shoot over most of them as well. He actually defends PG much better than he does SG, and would only probably have big problems against guys like Miller who are physical, or super speed demons like Rose. But who doesn't Rose kill each night?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Speaking of Shaun Livingston type point guards. I wouldn't be averse to trading for him.

 

[hasoos]

Speaking of Shaun Livingston type point guards. I wouldn't be averse to trading for him.

Yea, Hell now that I think about it, is he on a deal longer than a year?

 

[BlazerBeav]

I can see using Rudy at point with the second unit once Brandon is back, but if we're depending on him to be our starter at the point, we're dead.

 

[andalusian]

Really? Everybody is always complaining that Miller can't shoot, but we know Rudy can.

Yes, but if this was the case - the Celtics would have run Ray Allen as their PG instead of Rondo. You need passing ability (Rudy has that) and the ability to handle the ball under pressure in traffic (Rudy is really lacking there) to even consider it - so, if you replace Miller for Rudy, imho, we will be in real problem.

 

[Shooter]

Lets put the qualifying terms up here for your statement, which should have been added. Rudy can shoot when he gets hot. He is super streaky.

As opposed to Andre Miller, who is never "streaky." If you're talking about pure shooting ability, Rudy definitely comes out on top. Is Rudy a good enough ball-handler to deal with pressure defenses? I don't know. I suspect he is, though he may never be as good at that as Andre Miller. We know he can't post like Miller, since he doesn't have the strength.

I honestly don't know if we'd be weaker or stronger with Rudy at the point. I do think it's probably a possibility that the coaches have considered.

 

[Mediocre Man]

If this happens - we are lottery bound.

Cool, so there is a chance we could really improve ourselves instead of competing for mediocrity every year.

 

[hasoos]

As opposed to Andre Miller, who is never "streaky." If you're talking about pure shooting ability, Rudy definitely comes out on top. Is Rudy a good enough ball-handler to deal with pressure defenses? I don't know. I suspect he is, though he may never be as good at that as Andre Miller. We know he can't post like Miller, since he doesn't have the strength.

I honestly don't know if we'd be weaker or stronger with Rudy at the point. I do think it's probably a possibility that the coaches have considered.

I wasn't comparing him to Miller. The facts are Rudy's shooting percentage for the last 2 years isn't even NBA worthy. .386 and .378 shooting percentages in the last few years = Out of the NBA in my book, unless you are making up for those stats somewhere else in a big way.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Rudy is not a point guard. Batum would be a better point guard than Rudy and he's no point guard either.

 

[maxiep]

I love Rudy, but he'd be a disaster as a PG. Perhaps he and Brandon could play together in a no PG lineup, but that would only be for limited minutes.

 

[blazerboy30]

I keep hearing about Miller getting traded, and it suddenly occurs to me that Rudy could be the reason why. He handles the ball well, and is a very capable passer, including making perfect lobs to Aldridge. Why couldn't he run the team???

This would give him the playing time he wants, keep Aldridge happy, and allow us to trade Miller for a younger player.

I'm not saying I want this to happen--I actually love Andre Miller--but it may be the thinking of the coaches and management.

Am I crazy, or could this happen?

You lost me at the bolded part. Rudy does NOT handle the ball well. Teams would eat him alive with constant pressure, and we wouldn't get into our offense. Having good vision and making exciting passes does not equal good ball handling.

 

[Minstrel]

Rudy is fatally flawed, as I've noted before. He has every skill necessary...except the ability to handle the ball in traffic. That ability, though, is necessary to set up everything else he does. He's a good finisher? Not so useful if he can't break a defense down and get to the hoop. He's a good passer? Not that useful if he can't beat his man off the dribble, create passing space and collapse defenses. He's a good shooter? Not so useful when you don't have the ability to either create space to get a shot off or make the defender worry about a drive so he plays off a bit.

Everything Rudy does needs to be set up by others. A point guard is a guy who needs to be able to set others up.

Rudy is a talented player but, unfortunately, he doesn't have the thing that glues all those talents together.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Rudy's Entourage:

 

[MARIS61]

Rudy is the second best ball handler on the team, far better than either Patty or Brandon, and with PT will could eventually be better than Miller.

Those who disagree need to offer evidence (good luck with that) to back their weak attacks.

But he'll be our starting SG by next year so the arguement is moot.

 

[MARIS61]

Rudy is fatally flawed, as I've noted before. He has every skill necessary...except the ability to handle the ball in traffic. That ability, though, is necessary to set up everything else he does. He's a good finisher? Not so useful if he can't break a defense down and get to the hoop. He's a good passer? Not that useful if he can't beat his man off the dribble, create passing space and collapse defenses. He's a good shooter? Not so useful when you don't have the ability to either create space to get a shot off or make the defender worry about a drive so he plays off a bit.

Everything Rudy does needs to be set up by others. A point guard is a guy who needs to be able to set others up.

Rudy is a talented player but, unfortunately, he doesn't have the thing that glues all those talents together.

Wow, you must have a Braille keyboard to be able to post here?

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Rudy is the second best ball handler on the team, far better than either Patty or Brandon, and with PT will could eventually be better than Miller.

Those who disagree need to offer evidence (good luck with that) to back their weak attacks.

But he'll be our starting SG by next year so the arguement is moot.

Where's your evidence?

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Rudy is fatally flawed, as I've noted before. He has every skill necessary...except the ability to handle the ball in traffic. That ability, though, is necessary to set up everything else he does. He's a good finisher? Not so useful if he can't break a defense down and get to the hoop. He's a good passer? Not that useful if he can't beat his man off the dribble, create passing space and collapse defenses. He's a good shooter? Not so useful when you don't have the ability to either create space to get a shot off or make the defender worry about a drive so he plays off a bit.

Everything Rudy does needs to be set up by others. A point guard is a guy who needs to be able to set others up.

Rudy is a talented player but, unfortunately, he doesn't have the thing that glues all those talents together.

PLUS ONE!!!!!

 

[Minstrel]

Wow, you must have a Braille keyboard to be able to post here?

 

[Blazinaway]

Yea, Hell now that I think about it, is he on a deal longer than a year?

didn't we take a look at Shaun last summer?

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

Rudy is the second best ball handler on the team, far better than either Patty or Brandon, and with PT will could eventually be better than Miller.

Those who disagree need to offer evidence (good luck with that) to back their weak attacks.

I disagree. Do you have evidence to back your assertions? (good luck with that)

Gramps...

 

[MARIS61]

Where's your evidence?

I'll take that as an admission by you that you have none.

My evidence is the team's performance since Brandon went out and Rudy finally got the ball and some PT. Nobody would dispute that the team is playing better now.

My evidence is Rudy is 11th in the league in steals/turnover ratio (7th among guards).

http://www.nba.com/statistics/playe...alified=Y&yearsExp=-1&sortOrder=5&splitDD=All Teams

My evidence is he averages only 1.1 TO's a game, despite being our backup PG much of the time.

My evidence is he has a TO rate of 2.3 per 48 minutes, despite playing both guard positions. 58 guards have worse rates, including Andre and Wes.

Poor ballhandling is easy to prove by stats when it actually exists.

I renew my challenge to the haters to put up or shut up.

 

[MARIS61]

I disagree. Do you have evidence to back your assertions? (good luck with that)

Gramps...

Done!

Now let's see you back up your view.

 

[Minstrel]

My evidence is the team's performance since Brandon went out and Rudy finally got the ball and some PT. Nobody would dispute that the team is playing better now.'

I made a sandwich the day Brandon went out. Nobody would dispute the team is playing better now. Clearly, the sandwich turned things around.

My evidence is Rudy is 11th in the league in steals/turnover ratio (7th among guards).


My evidence is he averages only 1.1 TO's a game, despite being our backup PG much of the time.

My evidence is he has a TO rate of 2.3 per 48 minutes, despite playing both guard positions. 58 guards have worse rates, including Andre and Wes.

I'm glad all these points can be addressed the same way. Saves time. Rudy doesn't handle the ball in traffic a lot and therefore doesn't rack up a lot of turnovers. There was a thread the other day asking why Rudy is only used as a spot-up shooter. This is why. To limit his weakness, i.e. turnovers.

Poor ballhandling is easy to prove by stats when it actually exists.

No it isn't, because a smart player and his coach can have him play a style that limits his chances to commit turnovers. If he had good ball-handling, he'd play a different style, but the stats don't record play style.

A clue to his playing style is how few free throws he draws. He gets 2.5 free throws per game on average. A guy who attacks the basket, like Bayless, averages well over double at 5.8. Rudy doesn't attack the hoop, because he can't. And because he doesn't try, he doesn't commit turnovers.

I renew my challenge to the haters to put up or shut up.

I don't hate Rudy. I like the guy. That's why I wish he could handle the ball in traffic and therefore be a terrific player.

 

[MARIS61]

I made a sandwich the day Brandon went out. Nobody would dispute the team is playing better now. Clearly, the sandwich turned things around.

I'm glad all these points can be addressed the same way. Saves time. Rudy doesn't handle the ball in traffic a lot and therefore doesn't rack up a lot of turnovers. There was a thread the other day asking why Rudy is only used as a spot-up shooter. This is why. To limit his weakness, i.e. turnovers.

No it isn't, because a smart player and his coach can have him play a style that limits his chances to commit turnovers. If he had good ball-handling, he'd play a different style, but the stats don't record play style.

A clue to his playing style is how few free throws he draws. He gets 2.5 free throws per game on average. A guy who attacks the basket, like Bayless, averages well over double at 5.8. Rudy doesn't attack the hoop, because he can't. And because he doesn't try, he doesn't commit turnovers.

I don't hate Rudy. I like the guy. That's why I wish he could handle the ball in traffic and therefore be a terrific player.

This is just so sad.

This is the weakest post of all the weak, unsupported posts I've ever read by you, and that's saying something.

Thanks for proving my point by providing no evidence of any kind to support your absurd opinion.

Your story about Rudy "avoiding traffic" is quickly debunked by watching any Blazer game. You should do that sometime.

BTW, the "I made a sandwich" line is getting old, and is pathetically desperate anyway.

Next time you have nothing of value to post, try to resist the urge to make shit up.