Rubio and Dunn

[Coolbreeze44]

The difference is you have twice as many wings as point guards on the floor. Unless you see Bazz getting a ton of minutes, I see more room for another wing behind Wig and Zach.

[Monster]

I just finished watching a November game Michigan State Vs Providence in the Wooden tourney via YouTube. I had no idea how the game turned out. I wanted to see Dunn play against a team that was good. Here are some thoughts.

Offensively Dunn was a wreck in the first half. Someone in the announcing crew said MSU was absolutely loading up on him defensively but it was still ugly.

Defensively all game he looked like the real deal. He did gamble and reach which led him to him picking up some bad fouls and in foul trouble. Oddly one of the other games I watched him last he fouled out of. He was all over the boards though really pursuing the ball and using his athletic gifts.

The 2nd half was much better. He had some terrific lead passes in transition. He got to some better spots hit a three and generally made some plays. He had a really sweet over his shoulder pass that like a few other passes didn't end in an assist because they weren't converted that seem like they should have.

He actually played at least 25% of the time off the ball with another player bringing up the ball and playing Initiating offense. He moved without the ball and it felt like if he was playing with a good PG he could have gotten some at least decent looks either for jumpers or around the basket (he got and easy dump off pass for one bucket). In addition there was plenty of other possessions he handed the ball off and worked around moving without the ball or tried to post up. In other words for at least this game he played some decent minutes at SG.

He finished with a nice stat line but I came away feeling like it was a mixed bag on the offensive side. There were times he did head scratching things and a few times lost his dribble. He missed back to back FTs at the end (didn't matter the game was over) and earlier missed a one and one trip to the line when the game was still in question for an empty possession so that low FT percentage showed up.

I was honestly looking for the guy to blow me away because I'm a homer fan and now genus on our team but came away thinking the idea that he will walk in and become a starting level NBA PG is expecting too much for his rookie year. His defense (and physical size/length) makes me think the guy can play minutes right away at both guard spots while also being able to handle the ball make plays move around etc. His rebounding for a guard will be nice right away as well. Let's be sure this guy can even be a rotation player before we hand him a starting job without even playing a minute in the NBA yet. He absolutely has some special qualities that does excite me.

Side note:

Be tile was terrific in the first half and then he sort of fell off the 2nd half. It sorta made a little sense why he was a 2nd round pick. If I was a Boston fan though I would be happy to have gotten him with that 2nd rounder. D Davis was part of the reason MSU went on a run and took over the game. His size/length was too much for Bentil to handle on the boards etc.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Good report, monster. As I watch some clips (not just highlights) of Dunn, there certainly are some things that impress me, but the word that keeps popping up for me when describing his offense is "uneven". His decision making at times is very bad for a senior, and I think that's why his assist to turnover ratio is so bad. I'm very seldom not impressed by his defense though.

Assuming they are both there, I'm looking forward to evaluating Dunn and Jones in summer league. Thibs favors defense, and Dunn is bigger and older than Tyus, so I have to believe he is well ahead of Tyus on the depth chart. But Jones is a proven winner and so steady on offense, he could surprise us and get osme minutes at backup PG if he quickly grasps Thibs' defensive schemes.

That gets me back to a thought that keeps coming up for me. There are a lot of teams that liked Dunn on draft night. I hope Thibs and Leydon are still picking up the phone and listening in case an offer comes in from someone like Philly or Chicago that makes our roster more balanced.

[Monster]

LST good thoughts. I am sure Layden and Thins will continue to pick up the phone and I'm not sure Dunn is untouchable but I do think a team is gonna kinda have to blow them away now that Dunn has been picked etc. I don't think Layden are so much guys that may be completely attached but they also seem like guys not interested in jacking around a young guy that they clearly like and respect where he came from etc. I tend to think of a team couldn't find a deal they wanted to take around the draft it's probably not going to happen.

[Phenom]

LST good thoughts. I am sure Layden and Thins will continue to pick up the phone and I'm not sure Dunn is untouchable but I do think a team is gonna kinda have to blow them away now that Dunn has been picked etc. I don't think Layden are so much guys that may be completely attached but they also seem like guys not interested in jacking around a young guy that they clearly like and respect where he came from etc. I tend to think of a team couldn't find a deal they wanted to take around the draft it's probably not going to happen.

I notice you keep calling him Thins. Is that some kind of ironic nickname for him?

[Monster]

LST good thoughts. I am sure Layden and Thins will continue to pick up the phone and I'm not sure Dunn is untouchable but I do think a team is gonna kinda have to blow them away now that Dunn has been picked etc. I don't think Layden are so much guys that may be completely attached but they also seem like guys not interested in jacking around a young guy that they clearly like and respect where he came from etc. I tend to think of a team couldn't find a deal they wanted to take around the draft it's probably not going to happen.

I notice you keep calling him Thins. Is that some kind of ironic nickname for him?

Lol that would be amusing but no it's iPhone auto correct at fault.

[Lipoli390]

Monster - Thanks for the run down on Dunn from that game. Your observations and concerns resonate with me. I ok with the Dunn pick and I'm working g hard to get excited about him. I love Dunn the person. He has a compelling story. But what's always bothered me is that in all the many highlight videos and the two full games I've seen of him he's never blown me away. I like his defense, but there's nothing in his offensive game that excites me. Even his defense doesn't get me out of my seat.

In contrast, watching Buddy shoot and score was inspiring. Watching Murray shoot and move with the ball like Kyrie Irving got me excited.

So I have this gut feeling that Dunn's going to be a disappointment compared to Buddy and perhaps Murray.

[Crazysauce]

I agree with lip on this. I really hope we are still lining up a trade with dunn. I like the guy but i think buddy will end up being better. Hoping i am wrong but this talk about dealing rubio because of him is a bit of a stretch. I really hope thibs waits at least til midseason to deal rubio. If he feels its best at that time i would be on board. Kind of how i feel with lavine. Feel these guys should improve with thibs and will either improve their trade value or thibs will realize he wants to keep them.

[Duke13]

Anyone watch the NC tournament game?

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Anyone watch the NC tournament game?

The one where he was in foul trouble the first half and still finished with 29/3/3 on 10/16 shooting, 3/5 from 3 and 6/8 from the line in 26 minutes.