Is Rubio Elite?

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Neal page has a song everyone, Neal page..."3 coins in a fountain..each one..nobody??"

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I remember Chris Paul talking after he played against Ricky in international competition before Ricky came to the Wolves. I can't remember the exact quote, but referring to Ricky, Chris said that it was impossible to steal the ball from him.

Ricky is clearly one of the top 5 ball-handlers in the NBA. I'd put Curry at the top of the list followed by Chris Paul and Ricky. Not sure who my other two would be, but I definitely wouldn't have Harden in my top 5.

I don't remember this scene from Trains, Planes and Automobiles...was it in the uncut version?

[AbeVigodaLive]

I remember Chris Paul talking after he played against Ricky in international competition before Ricky came to the Wolves. I can't remember the exact quote, but referring to Ricky, Chris said that it was impossible to steal the ball from him.

Ricky is clearly one of the top 5 ball-handlers in the NBA. I'd put Curry at the top of the list followed by Chris Paul and Ricky. Not sure who my other two would be, but I definitely wouldn't have Harden in my top 5.

Here's the deal though... Harden can get to anywhere he needs to get to on the court at almost any time. Part of that is size. And athleticism. And part of it is his handle.

I bet it's pretty difficult to steal the ball from Jose Calderon, too. Doesn't make it worthwhile for his team if he's simply dribbling in place.

[Porckchop]

Keeping Ricky in front of ya and forcing him to take the shot is as good of strategy as trying to steal the ball from him. Having top 5 handles but abottom 5 ability to finish at the rim lessons any notion of him being an elite dribbler. It's like having Jordans fadeaway in you're reptoir but if you can't hit the shot who gives a shit!

[thedoper]

Keeping Ricky in front of ya and forcing him to take the shot is as good of strategy as trying to steal the ball from him. Having top 5 handles but abottom 5 ability to finish at the rim lessons any notion of him being an elite dribbler. It's like having Jordans fadeaway in you're reptoir but if you can't hit the shot who gives a shit!

I think this is a fair point. If you beat your man to the hoop and brick a layup who will remember. It won't make the highlight reel either even if it was creative.

[Lipoli390]

I remember Chris Paul talking after he played against Ricky in international competition before Ricky came to the Wolves. I can't remember the exact quote, but referring to Ricky, Chris said that it was impossible to steal the ball from him.

Ricky is clearly one of the top 5 ball-handlers in the NBA. I'd put Curry at the top of the list followed by Chris Paul and Ricky. Not sure who my other two would be, but I definitely wouldn't have Harden in my top 5.

Here's the deal though... Harden can get to anywhere he needs to get to on the court at almost any time. Part of that is size. And athleticism. And part of it is his handle.

I bet it's pretty difficult to steal the ball from Jose Calderon, too. Doesn't make it worthwhile for his team if he's simply dribbling in place.

Abe -- Sometimes you say some strange things. The question was whether Ricky is a top 5 ball-handler, not whether he's a top five player in value added to his team. Yet, when it comes to value to his team, we've been through this before and the stats clearly show Ricky adds a lot of value to the Wolves. Finally, Jose Calderon?? I think it's clear that Ricky isn't a guy who dribbles in place. And actually, I've never heard any NBA player lamenting how hard it is to steal the ball from Jose, although I'm sure it would be difficult for either of us. :).

[Monster]

I remember Chris Paul talking after he played against Ricky in international competition before Ricky came to the Wolves. I can't remember the exact quote, but referring to Ricky, Chris said that it was impossible to steal the ball from him.

Ricky is clearly one of the top 5 ball-handlers in the NBA. I'd put Curry at the top of the list followed by Chris Paul and Ricky. Not sure who my other two would be, but I definitely wouldn't have Harden in my top 5.

Here's the deal though... Harden can get to anywhere he needs to get to on the court at almost any time. Part of that is size. And athleticism. And part of it is his handle.

I bet it's pretty difficult to steal the ball from Jose Calderon, too. Doesn't make it worthwhile for his team if he's simply dribbling in place.

Abe -- Sometimes you say some strange things. The question was whether Ricky is a top 5 ball-handler, not whether he's a top five player in value added to his team. Yet, when it comes to value to his team, we've been through this before and the stats clearly show Ricky adds a lot of value to the Wolves. Finally, Jose Calderon?? I think it's clear that Ricky isn't a guy who dribbles in place. And actually, I've never heard any NBA player lamenting how hard it is to steal the ball from Jose, although I'm sure it would be difficult for either of us. :).

I don't really have an axe to grind with the list (kind of a fun conversation) but I'll bring up again the fact that's Rubio is able to create so much for his team despite basically not being a threat to score is something and has to be a credit to his ability with the ball in his hands. He also has that ability to handle the ball and draw crafty fouls just dribbling. He was doing that stuff as a 17 year old or whatever in the olympics. Steph Curry did get the ball stolen from him tonight by Leonard so that's gotta knock him off the list right? Jk Because I think Rubio had the ball stolen from him by Kemba that last preseason game if I remember right. I still remember one time that Brewer straight up stole the ball from Steve Nash who had crossed mid court a few steps earlier and was just typicallly dribbling and Brewer just took it and went down the court. Nash was a pretty good ball handler that play kinda cemented in my mind that's Brewer had one elite skill.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I remember Chris Paul talking after he played against Ricky in international competition before Ricky came to the Wolves. I can't remember the exact quote, but referring to Ricky, Chris said that it was impossible to steal the ball from him.

Ricky is clearly one of the top 5 ball-handlers in the NBA. I'd put Curry at the top of the list followed by Chris Paul and Ricky. Not sure who my other two would be, but I definitely wouldn't have Harden in my top 5.

Here's the deal though... Harden can get to anywhere he needs to get to on the court at almost any time. Part of that is size. And athleticism. And part of it is his handle.

I bet it's pretty difficult to steal the ball from Jose Calderon, too. Doesn't make it worthwhile for his team if he's simply dribbling in place.

Abe -- Sometimes you say some strange things. The question was whether Ricky is a top 5 ball-handler, not whether he's a top five player in value added to his team. Yet, when it comes to value to his team, we've been through this before and the stats clearly show Ricky adds a lot of value to the Wolves. Finally, Jose Calderon?? I think it's clear that Ricky isn't a guy who dribbles in place. And actually, I've never heard any NBA player lamenting how hard it is to steal the ball from Jose, although I'm sure it would be difficult for either of us. :).

Wait. What?

You might want to reread what I wrote... or did you quote the wrong post? I was championing Harden.

I was using Jose Calderon as the other extreme... not necessarily saying Rubio was just like him. Only that he also is hard to steal the ball from... but who cares... when it means relatively little in today's NBA. Nobody is routinely stealing the ball from any of these guys. And that's why I put a lot of stock in guys who can get to where they want to go most consistently.