Wolves in FIBA

[AbeVigodaLive]

The point I wanted to make with Parker was that he realized (and the coaches) he wasn't going to be a deep outside threat and his game changed to be more of a rim attacker. I think Rubio can make those same adjustments.

Tony Parker is a HOF player. I love how Rubio fans always find those rare finds like Kidd or Parker to try to show that there's hope for Rubio too.

What about the dozens or so other comparables like Brevin Knight who didn't pan out?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

The point I wanted to make with Parker was that he realized (and the coaches) he wasn't going to be a deep outside threat and his game changed to be more of a rim attacker. I think Rubio can make those same adjustments.

Tony Parker is a HOF player. I love how Rubio fans always find those rare finds like Kidd or Parker to try to show that there's hope for Rubio too.

What about the dozens or so other comparables like Brevin Knight who didn't pan out?

Maybe it's not appropriate to compare Ricky to Parker yet, but I think it's less appropriate to compare him to Knight. Knight never captured the attention of NBA fans and experts like Ricky does, and while there are many who see Ricky as having the potential for greatness, I don't recall "Knight" and "greatness" ever being used in the same sentence. I don't know that Ricky is ever going to fix his mid-range jumper, but I will be surprised if he doesn't greatly improve his ability to finish. Ricky is a magician with the basketball, and is fully capable of making the small adjustments needed to turn those layups into buckets and even "and ones". Combine that with playing for a coach who is more likely to let him play the way he wants to, rather than running the offense through a big man at the free throw line, and I'm convinced we will see a huge improvement in Ricky.

He's only 23 and may end up being as good as Tony Parker, but I think there is no chance he will ever be Brevin Knight.

[AbeVigodaLive]

The point I wanted to make with Parker was that he realized (and the coaches) he wasn't going to be a deep outside threat and his game changed to be more of a rim attacker. I think Rubio can make those same adjustments.

Tony Parker is a HOF player. I love how Rubio fans always find those rare finds like Kidd or Parker to try to show that there's hope for Rubio too.

What about the dozens or so other comparables like Brevin Knight who didn't pan out?

Maybe it's not appropriate to compare Ricky to Parker yet, but I think it's less appropriate to compare him to Knight. Knight never captured the attention of NBA fans and experts like Ricky does, and while there are many who see Ricky as having the potential for greatness, I don't recall "Knight" and "greatness" ever being used in the same sentence. I don't know that Ricky is ever going to fix his mid-range jumper, but I will be surprised if he doesn't greatly improve his ability to finish. Ricky is a magician with the basketball, and is fully capable of making the small adjustments needed to turn those layups into buckets and even "and ones". Combine that with playing for a coach who is more likely to let him play the way he wants to, rather than running the offense through a big man at the free throw line, and I'm convinced we will see a huge improvement in Ricky.

He's only 23 and may end up being as good as Tony Parker, but I think there is no chance he will ever be Brevin Knight.

1st 3 years in the league:

Knight:
- 9.0 ppg / 8.2 ast / 2.5 stl / 44.1% fg
- 9.6 ppg / 7.7 ast / 1.8 stl / 42.5% fg
- 9.3 ppg / 7.0 ast / 1.6 stl / 41.2% fg

Rubio:
- 10.6 ppg / 8.2 ast / 2.2 stl / 35.7% fg
- 10.7 ppg / 7.3 ast / 2.4 stl / 36.0% fg
- 9.5 ppg / 8.6 ast / 2.3 stl / 38.1% fg

Now, granted... Knight actually seemed to regress. And, Rubio has largely plateaued. But to compare stats from each guy's first three seasons and not acknowledge any similarities?

I don't care how popular Rubio is. Or how "dynamic" he is with fancy passes. If it doesn't translate to stats and wins, he's not a franchise saving player. He MIGHT be. But there is little evidence thus far that indicates he's going to make a huge leap to that level based on his fairly even first three years in the league.


[Note: Parker was shooting 55% fg and scoring 19 ppg with 2 titles by the time he was 23.]

[Monster]

So someone posts a thread asking why the obsession about GR3 and people chime in about him and then I guess that adds to the support we are obsessed? What about the obsession of the obsession of GR3? Lol

GR3 and. 2nd round picks or even late firsts are where you can find hidden gems. Maybe you get a really good player like Manu or Chandler Parsons or Michael Redd or Stephenson or Ellis or Gasol. Maybe you get a solid rotation player like a Blair or Bud or Chalmers or Ramon Sessions or Isaiah Thomas. There is a pretty good list of 2nd round picks that became pretty useful over the years. I'm not saying not to be skeptical but I don't see why we can't get excited about a young guy like GR3. I remember how pissed people were that we didn't get DeJuan Blair when he dropped a few years ago. I remembering really wanting to take a shot at Lance Stephenson in that draft. I remember liking Danny Green a lot. Sure I'm cherry picking some guys I liked that at this point are nice players now but its just an example of guys that I've liked that turned out well. I liked Cole Aldrich and he hasn't done much of anything so far. Lol

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I'd like to see ratings on the court vs off the court from Rubio and Knight because without looking, I feel like that would tell a better tale. If not, then... *throws hands up*... Oh well.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I'd like to see ratings on the court vs off the court from Rubio and Knight because without looking, I feel like that would tell a better tale. If not, then... *throws hands up*... Oh well.

There's a stat out there to justify any position if we search hard enough.

Knight started as a rookie on a playoff team. His PER was 17.1, 16.6 and 15.3 his first 3 seasons. He bounced around as a backup for a few years, then resurfaced as a starter and had this line...

12.6 ppg / 8.8 ast / 2.3 stl / 39.9% fg (18.0 PER)

The thing is... both guys were/are clearly pass-first PGs with shooting woes that has tempered early success in the NBA.

Maybe Rubio will improve his shot. But every time we use Tony Parker as an example, I will find a guy like Brevin Knight.

Because SO FAR... he seems like a much more relevant/accurate comparison.


[Note: Brevin Knight had 8.4 WinShares as a rookie. Rubio's high thus far is 5.9.]

[Phenom]

Well all of this repetitive banter about J Kidd and Brevin Knight that has plagued this board for the last few years should be rewarded over the next year if Ricky does not sign an extension. This could very well be Rickys make or break year and he will either be Brevin Knight who the Wolves can let go or Jason Kidd and get maxxed out. Or he could be the same ol Ricky, sign a 43 million extension and the debate can rage on.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Well all of this repetitive banter about J Kidd and Brevin Knight that has plagued this board for the last few years should be rewarded over the next year if Ricky does not sign an extension. This could very well be Rickys make or break year and he will either be Brevin Knight who the Wolves can let go or Jason Kidd and get maxxed out. Or he could be the same ol Ricky, sign a 43 million extension and the debate can rage on.

Or, he ends up like Tony Parker.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Well all of this repetitive banter about J Kidd and Brevin Knight that has plagued this board for the last few years should be rewarded over the next year if Ricky does not sign an extension. This could very well be Rickys make or break year and he will either be Brevin Knight who the Wolves can let go or Jason Kidd and get maxxed out. Or he could be the same ol Ricky, sign a 43 million extension and the debate can rage on.

Or, he ends up like Tony Parker.

Once again, I never said Rubio would become Parker. I was merely suggesting players can make adjustments to their games. Just because he's been a pro since 16 doesn't mean anything to me.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Well all of this repetitive banter about J Kidd and Brevin Knight that has plagued this board for the last few years should be rewarded over the next year if Ricky does not sign an extension. This could very well be Rickys make or break year and he will either be Brevin Knight who the Wolves can let go or Jason Kidd and get maxxed out. Or he could be the same ol Ricky, sign a 43 million extension and the debate can rage on.

Or, he ends up like Tony Parker.

Once again, I never said Rubio would become Parker. I was merely suggesting players can make adjustments to their games. Just because he's been a pro since 16 doesn't mean anything to me.

That's where we disagree. For me, a 7 or 8 year sample size is plenty to tell me that Rubio is simply a bad shooter. That doesn't make him a bad player... but it does limit his ceiling as an NBA player.