Why didn't we see this at all this past season?

[KingSpeed]

I didn't see him doing anything like this this past season. We haven't used him to his full potential.

[video=youtube;MZh2eK5Mo-o]

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Kobe went for the steal and left Rudy a wide open lane to the hoop. Rudy can't get to the hoop when someone is playing defense on him.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Rudy's handle ins't that great ... Nate used him just fine.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Rudy's handle ins't that great ... Nate used him just fine.

I am just going to say LOL to that.

 

[Minstrel]

Rudy's handle was his biggest weakness, when I read prospect analyses of him. Great shooter, intelligent (though undersized for the NBA game) defender, very good passer...but suspect handle.

If he can develop really good ball-handling skills and combines that with his court vision, passing and shooting, he could be an All-Star. If he never develops a strong handle, he'll be a merely solid player.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I am just going to say LOL to that.

You're right, Rudy has an insanely good handle, what was I thinking

 

[alex42083]

This is the first I've heard about Rudy having really bad handles. I mean, he's not Chris Paul or anything, but I trust him every time he has the ball. He averaged just 1.1 turnover a game. I would actually like to see him put more in a role of a playmaker.

 

[Minstrel]

This is the first I've heard about Rudy having really bad handles. I mean, he's not Chris Paul or anything, but I trust him every time he has the ball. He averaged just 1.1 turnover a game.

I trust him, too. But the reason is not because he has really strong ball-handling skills but because he understands his limitations and makes good decisions. He rarely tries to dribble against defensive pressure or dribble-drive. He mostly catches and shoots or catches and passes. Beyond that, he moves without the ball. He doesn't expose himself to the possibility to committing turnovers off his dribble.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I trust him, too. But the reason is not because he has really strong ball-handling skills but because he understands his limitations and makes good decisions. He rarely tries to dribble against defensive pressure or dribble-drive. He mostly catches and shoots or catches and passes. Beyond that, he moves without the ball. He doesn't expose himself to the possibility to committing turnovers off his dribble.

winnah, winnah, chicken dinnah.

 

[alex42083]

I trust him, too. But the reason is not because he has really strong ball-handling skills but because he understands his limitations and makes good decisions. He rarely tries to dribble against defensive pressure or dribble-drive. He mostly catches and shoots or catches and passes. Beyond that, he moves without the ball. He doesn't expose himself to the possibility to committing turnovers off his dribble.

I don't think he was put in much position to create much though. We saw a bit of that in the preseason when he was leading fast breaks, throwing oops and behind bounce passes to Martell, throwing passes between the legs of defenders.
I think Rudy's got a lot more to offer with his creativity and handles, and am hoping he gets to play a little more free next year. He's more than just a spot-up 3 shooter, I think.

 

[shamelessblazer]

I trust him, too. But the reason is not because he has really strong ball-handling skills but because he understands his limitations and makes good decisions. He rarely tries to dribble against defensive pressure or dribble-drive. He mostly catches and shoots or catches and passes. Beyond that, he moves without the ball. He doesn't expose himself to the possibility to committing turnovers off his dribble.

Same with Steve Blake, too bad he's our damn PG! And he can't move off the ball at all to boot!

 

[THE HCP]

I think he was learning the NBA game last season. He has never played against this talent level. I think he will start taking it to the rack more next season. Shit the guy set the league record for 3's made by a rookie, I'm cool with that!

 

[DaRizzle]

Shit the guy set the league record for 3's made by a rookie, I'm cool with that!

Well a made 3 or a posterizing dunk or he is worthless! Trade this scrub!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

...because NBA teams play better defense than Team USA?

Agreed with all the stuff about dribbling: Rudy does not try to penetrate with the dribble. He'll pick up the dribble and take a long stride and hoist a runner, but not try to get into the paint with his dribble. This is one area where Sergio is clearly superior. (Actually Sergio may have the best handle on the team. His turnovers come from attempted passes rather than getting the ball poked away.)

 

[mgb]

Rudy's handle was his biggest weakness, when I read prospect analyses of him. Great shooter, intelligent (though undersized for the NBA game) defender, very good passer...but suspect handle.

If he can develop really good ball-handling skills and combines that with his court vision, passing and shooting, he could be an All-Star. If he never develops a strong handle, he'll be a merely solid player.

Do you have a link to that? I'm not calling you out or anything, I actually agree, but some comments on MB's blog has said Rudy should be our starting PG and it's the only time I've heard of him playing PG except for short stints with Roy when actually Roy is the PG.

His argument is this list of PGs:

http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/5/29/893086/so-theres-an-upper-limit

Which is a second part to this article which criteria is for a good match with Roy during the 4th quarter.

http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/5/29/893082/whats-the-point

 

[Sinobas]

Sooo...all of a sudden you have to be a wizard ball-handler in order to drive towards the hoop??? Nonsense. Rudy is perfectly capable of penetrating, he just has to do it more often.

 

[PapaG]

I didn't see him doing anything like this this past season. We haven't used him to his full potential.

I was in the sportsbook at 1am at the MGM Grand watching that game with about 200 other people. I jumped up and went NUTS after that dunk. The Knick fans sitting with us asked what I was doing since I wanted the USA to win. I reminded them I was a BLAZER fan, first and foremost.

What a fun memory.

 

[Minstrel]

Do you have a link to that? I'm not calling you out or anything, I actually agree, but some comments on MB's blog has said Rudy should be our starting PG and it's the only time I've heard of him playing PG except for short stints with Roy when actually Roy is the PG.

Here's an example, his Draftexpress draft profile:

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Rudy-Fernandez-22/

You just can’t concede Rudy any opportunity, because he will bury you with a barrage of shots in the blink of an eye. Enjoying NBA range, effective off the dribble and even fade-away moves, and extremely quick with the release of the ball, the only way to stop Fernández is to make him pay for his relatively limited ball-handling skills, especially with his left, and slashing ability. Indeed, Rudy struggles in pure one-on-one situations if he’s pressured, as it was exposed particularly in the semifinal. Suffering against aggressive on-ball defenses, he struggled trying to get rid of his opponent off the dribble, and given his prominence in Joventut’s offense, it almost cost his team the game.

Very inconsistent behind the arc (he went a combined 3/15), his production came in transition play and off-the-ball moves. Delivering a very nice defensive effort as all his perimeter teammates, Rudy is a big part of Joventut’s full-court pressure given his quickness and nice hands to come up with steals, ultimately allowing him to score easy points. Besides, in the quarterfinal game against Girona, he successfully anticipated the rival’s defensive transition to score in fast-break. His trademark dunks off alley oops were there too (two, truly spectacular, in the first game, one, actually more of a very forced layup, in the second). However, he wasn’t able to dissipate the doubts about his one-on-one game (particularly his first step and the real quality of his handles against close opposition), as he barely attacked his match-ups in pure individual sets.