60WinTim wrote:This is just my opinion, but I believe Rubio has been a poor scorer because he does not try to score. It's hard to be good at something if you don't make it part of your game. That has obviously changed in recent weeks -- Rubio is looking to score. Not exclusively, but he is making it part of his game.
Didn't Flip try demanding Rubio look to score more at one point?
Anyway, whether it is at the bidding of this coaching staff, or a change Rubio has taken on himself (maybe due to all the trade talk?), Rubio is now looking to score as well. If this is a permanent change, then I believe he will become a competent scorer, as he has shown the past few weeks.
[Edit: A Rubio that can score is a PG Thibs might decided to hang on to...]
Tim, I agree to a point. Rubio can't completely look to defer and be too passive, as it can really gum things up with our offensive flow. On the other hand, I've seen him take some heat-checks lately and they are simply not good shots. Guys like LaVine, Wiggins, and KAT are all allowed to take a heat check occasionally, especially when they are hot. But Rubio needs to focus on taking only good shots and only when there is no other better option (or the shot clock is winding down). He's just not efficient enough to be taking more shots than absolutely necessary.
But that's the kind of thinking that has made him a poor scorer his entire career. If taking a few "bad" shots is necessary for him to learn how to be a better scorer, then I don't have a problem with it. Now, if two years from now he is still taking "bad" shots, then, yeah, we can talk... :)
Tim, He's never going to learn how to be a great or even good scorer at this point in his career. What he's doing now frankly is not all that different than what he did prior to this year, especially his first couple of years in the league. The change we're seeing just seems more dramatic because of how passive and out-of-the loop he was at the beginning of the season. He's playing more like the Ricky of old versus some new version of Ricky.
Hicks123 wrote:Good points by all. I have always been on the side that says we need a better player/scorer at this spot. But I have also stated that his play lately shows that he CAN score when he puts his mind to it, and it really opens up opportunities for this team. In the past, there are just so many examples of him deferring on automatic layups and passing out to a guy for a 20 foot shot. That simply can't happen at this level. Many have compared Rubio and Rondo throughout the years, and the only major difference (despite obvious mental makeup) is that Rondo has always been good about taking advantage of scoring in the paint when available. I am less concerned with Rubio ever becoming a consistent scorer from distance, but rather I think he needs to get to the bucket and make the right play at or near the rim. This will bring up his efficiency, and also allow him to get to the line more. 3 point shooting is gravy as far as I am concerned.
Yeah, I know Cam always mentioned this too, but I am of the opposite view. His ability to knock down outside shots at a higher rate will open up more space for our main guys to operate. I just think that has a bigger overall impact on the offense as a whole versus his ability (or lack thereof) to finish at the rim.
60WinTim wrote:This is just my opinion, but I believe Rubio has been a poor scorer because he does not try to score. It's hard to be good at something if you don't make it part of your game. That has obviously changed in recent weeks -- Rubio is looking to score. Not exclusively, but he is making it part of his game.
Didn't Flip try demanding Rubio look to score more at one point?
Anyway, whether it is at the bidding of this coaching staff, or a change Rubio has taken on himself (maybe due to all the trade talk?), Rubio is now looking to score as well. If this is a permanent change, then I believe he will become a competent scorer, as he has shown the past few weeks.
[Edit: A Rubio that can score is a PG Thibs might decided to hang on to...]
Tim, I agree to a point. Rubio can't completely look to defer and be too passive, as it can really gum things up with our offensive flow. On the other hand, I've seen him take some heat-checks lately and they are simply not good shots. Guys like LaVine, Wiggins, and KAT are all allowed to take a heat check occasionally, especially when they are hot. But Rubio needs to focus on taking only good shots and only when there is no other better option (or the shot clock is winding down). He's just not efficient enough to be taking more shots than absolutely necessary.
But that's the kind of thinking that has made him a poor scorer his entire career. If taking a few "bad" shots is necessary for him to learn how to be a better scorer, then I don't have a problem with it. Now, if two years from now he is still taking "bad" shots, then, yeah, we can talk... :)
Tim, He's never going to learn how to be a great or even good scorer at this point in his career. What he's doing now frankly is not all that different than what he did prior to this year, especially his first couple of years in the league. The change we're seeing just seems more dramatic because of how passive and out-of-the loop he was at the beginning of the season. He's playing more like the Ricky of old versus some new version of Ricky.
Q you expect a guy that's bad at scoring to only take good shots while being somewhat more aggressive looking for his shot? So you also don't want him throwing any of those crazy passes and play it safe as a passer? I think you are being a little unrealistic although I get the basic point you are trying to make.
Mmmm, not sure I'm being clear.....I expect Rubio to take shots that are open and in the flow of the offense, including exploiting driving lanes when available. By his standards, yes, this might be "looking for his shot". By a normal NBA player's standards, it's simply playing in the flow of the offense.
This is in contrast to earlier in the season when Rubio was averaging 7 PPG. He was not only cut out of a lot of play making responsibilities, but he was also blatantly passing up open shots, which led to someone else taking an even more difficult shot at times. Not good.
On/off topic... Rubio's last 2 games vs. arguably the two best PGs in the league:
16 ppg
12.5 ast
Chris Paul:
3 - 9 fg
7 points
10 assists
Steph Curry:
10 - 27 fg
26 points
7 assists
Before that... Tony Parker and Patty Mills combined to shoot 2 - 14 fg.
And the game before that... George Hill scored only 2 points.
This is the fun Ricky Rubio. The guy for the first 30 or so games was a trainwreck. And a lot of that does have to do with being more aggressive offensively... shooting more. I posted his stats previously about 10+ shots then and now.
I bet if we go back several years, the Wolves win more when he shoots more.
AbeVigodaLive wrote:On/off topic... Rubio's last 2 games vs. arguably the two best PGs in the league:
16 ppg
12.5 ast
Chris Paul:
3 - 9 fg
7 points
10 assists
Steph Curry:
10 - 27 fg
26 points
7 assists
Before that... Tony Parker and Patty Mills combined to shoot 2 - 14 fg.
And the game before that... George Hill scored only 2 points.
This is the fun Ricky Rubio. The guy for the first 30 or so games was a trainwreck. And a lot of that does have to do with being more aggressive offensively... shooting more. I posted his stats previously about 10+ shots then and now.
I bet if we go back several years, the Wolves win more when he shoots more.
These are great stats...it also appears that Ricky is fighting over and thru (like when he trucked Iggy last nite, even tho it was a moving screen) screens better than ever before. Of course it helps when the other players are making their rotations like they are supposed to. Ricky looks like a guy that can lead a team to the playoffs, without being THE guy. Wiggins and Towns are alpha dogs, but they are still young and the added pressure if leading a team spiritually is probably too much to ask. Let Ricky be that guy.
