OT: Rubio struggling

[Fez Hammersticks]

Rarely would a 20-year-old basketball player be considered over the hill.

But Ricky Rubio set the bar high for himself with his precocious play. Along the way, he has won championships at every level. Rubio made his professional debut at 14 with DKV Joventut in the ACB league of Spain, mesmerizing spectators with his creativity and basketball acumen.

Instead, Rubio struggled. He shot 28 percent from the field, including 2 of 17 from 3-point range, and averaged 4 points in 25 minutes over nine games. Spain, the defending champion, lost in the quarterfinals. For the first time, cracks began to appear in the Rubio hype machine.

LINK

2010/2011 Stats:

Rubio:
5.6 PPG
5.1 APG
3.5 RPG
15.4 3PT%
29.5 FG%
25.0 MPG

Koponen:
13.2 PPG
2.1 APG
2.2 RPG
38.2 3PT%
42.3 FG%
29.3 MPG​

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Hard to believe that everyone drank that kool aid.

 

[Natebishop3]

Hard to believe that everyone drank that kool aid.

Well, I remember watching him in the Olympics and thinking he didn't look that special, but he was almost three years younger so I figured he was still pretty raw. I'm just not seeing the skills though. He's not even Jason Williams when he was with the Kings.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I'll admit that I was really high on him. His feel for the game and his basketball IQ at that age was impressive. Now I'm cooling on him. As he's gotten older his game has not progressed in any area.

A PG who can't shoot or finish at the rim is a recipe for disaster in the NBA as teams will sag on defense and force him to shoot. Sergio also suffered from cant-shoot-for-shit-itus, and that killed his NBA career.

 

[MickZagger]

Where's Rasta?

 

[jlprk]

People would propose a Blazer trade for him and I'd say, we already have him in Sergio, only 2 inches shorter. They'd answer that Rubio is much better on defense.

I've just never seen anything from Rubio. I have always wondered, "Where's the beef?"

 

[handiman]

Well, I remember watching him in the Olympics and thinking he didn't look that special.

Ditto. I've never been impressed. He seemed mature for his age, but that's about it. An early bloomer doesn't necessarily equate to anything.

 

[zeded]

I'm wondering if there's something lost in translation here. Brandon Jennings had pretty unimpressive numbers in Europe but has been productive in the NBA. Then again Josh Childress seemed to do well in Greece but has been quiet in Phoenix.

But while a low shooting percentage is never good, it could be partly a function of the system he's in. Well see when he gets here.

 

[handiman]

I'm wondering if there's something lost in translation here. Brandon Jennings had pretty unimpressive numbers in Europe but has been productive in the NBA.

I thought Jennings' issue was that he wasn't getting much playing time, being the young guy that was only sticking around for the year?

 

[illmatic99]

The Timberwolves continue to push him toward the N.B.A. as soon as possible, contending privately that they have a commitment from him for next season. But Rubio’s camp does not appear to be convinced.

“The bottom line is, why would he want to play in Minnesota?” a senior member of Rubio’s camp said this month. “He’ll continue to say all the diplomatic things, and Minnesota needs to keep his value up for trade purposes, but the family’s preference is to be on the East Coast, specifically New York, Miami or Boston. He wouldn’t be troubled if he has to stay another year.”

Ouch.

Givony later emphatically confirmed his source on Twitter.

BTW, Rubio is having a great game right now against Taurean Green.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'll be one of those guys being laughed at until Rubio gets here, I guess. I think he's going to be not just Jose-Calderon good, but Top-5-PG stellar.

He has otherworldly court vision (and I haven't seen one person deny this). He doesn't shoot much (or very well), yet he's still able to get occupy a defender enough to get his teammates set up for baskets. He's a good (if unconventional for the NBA) defender, not getting beaten very often and picking off a couple of steals a game.

I'd love the chance for him to potentially suck for us.

 

[illmatic99]

I'd love the chance for him to potentially suck for us.

I agree. You just can't place too much emphasis on Euro stats because there are so many variables involved.

 

[Minstrel]

I have been high on Rubio in the past, but his stock has fallen a little for me. I'd be very interested in him as a buy-low proposition, but I wouldn't pay as though he were a premium prospect.

I think he could still be potentially excellent in the NBA, but there's huge, huge risk.

 

[PapaG]

Hard to believe that everyone drank that kool aid.

I thought the guy was the most overhyped PG in history. I remember some posters on BBF even saying that as a rookie, Rubio would be the key to an NBA title and an upgrade over any PG on the team, even if it meant dealing LMA.

 

[PapaG]

I'm wondering if there's something lost in translation here. Brandon Jennings had pretty unimpressive numbers in Europe but has been productive in the NBA. Then again Josh Childress seemed to do well in Greece but has been quiet in Phoenix.

But while a low shooting percentage is never good, it could be partly a function of the system he's in. Well see when he gets here.

Jennings has a usage rate of 26.6, yet his PER is only 16.9.

That's a Usg/PER ration of 1.57, which is absolutely terrible.

 

[Natebishop3]

Jennings has a usage rate of 26.6, yet his PER is only 16.9.

That's a Usg/PER ration of 1.57, which is absolutely terrible.

Yeah, but he's only 21 years old. I think he's been pretty impressive for his age.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Hard to believe that everyone drank that kool aid.

I'm too lazy and drunk (woohoo! Go Packers!) to search for my posts on him, but I've never been much of a believer.

 

[Kaydow]

Ouch.

Givony later emphatically confirmed his source on Twitter.

BTW, Rubio is having a great game right now against Taurean Green.

Ahhh, Taurean Green . . . remember the extra 3 or 4 wins he helped the Blazers win in 2007?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I have been high on Rubio in the past, but his stock has fallen a little for me. I'd be very interested in him as a buy-low proposition, but I wouldn't pay as though he were a premium prospect.
I think he could still be potentially excellent in the NBA, but there's huge, huge risk.

Agreed. It would be one thing if he was just struggling in the ACB, because I don't think the Barca system really suits him, and he's been given kind of inconsistent minutes, but he didn't look good at all playing for Spain this Summer. Of course, he looked better than Claver, and Claver has really looked much better since Valencia changed coaches, so I dunno. Barca's woes have a lot to do with the fact that they rely HEAVILY on Navarro, and he's been injured. I still say "poor man's Jason Kidd" for Rubio, and Kidd eventually acquired a 3 point shot. The comparisons with Sergio are a bit silly, because Rubio won defensive player of the year in the ACB, and Sergio isn't getting minutes at all for Real Madrid these days. But hey, the REAL reason he's "struggling" is that he wants to panic the Timberwolves into trading his rights...

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Ouch.

Givony later emphatically confirmed his source on Twitter.

BTW, Rubio is having a great game right now against Taurean Green.

How in hell did Givony get published in the NY Times? America - what a country.

 

[Shooter]

Sebastian Telfair, the sequel.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Oh look: Rubio's struggling so much that his team is once again the #1 team in Europe.

 

[Natebishop3]

Oh look: Rubio's struggling so much that his team is once again the #1 team in Europe.

With those numbers he's putting up, I can see why.....

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Ouch! Those are brutal stats considering all the hype.