Sore Nuts

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I think we can make the following conclusions as it relates to Ricky:

1) He's a very good PG when healthy that makes a huge difference to our team's success.

2) On the flip side, we have no one else on the team capable yet of stepping up and leading this team to victories when Rubio is hurt. Despite the hoped-for potential stardom of the likes of Wiggins, Towns, and LaVine, their record dating back to last year when Ricky is out is simply atrocious. Ricky's absence from the roster tells us as much about his importance as it does the talent on the rest of the roster. I realize these guys are young, but I'm anxious for the day that when Ricky is out, we don't go weeks on end without a win. It's ridiculous.

3) We need to strengthen the backup PG role and it's hard to see the answer on the existing roster. Darren Collison, your table is ready!

4) This isn't about Ricky's "toughness". It's about his body. We can get frustrated with how fragile his body is, but this dude is a big-time competitor as evidenced by his play.


P.S. Ricky went through full practice today :)

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Are you suggesting he couldn't be both the most important player on the Wolves when healthy, and yet because of his growing history of not staying healthy still be a detriment to the team as their singular quality PG?

I'm not with those who would trade Rubio at this point, but I do understand their frustration and know that the longer this history of missing games gets the less value he could bring back in trade. He is without question the straw that stirs the drink, but that drink is quite nasty when not it goes unstirred.

What bugs me about Rubio being the most important player is based on the fact of how we do when he's on as opposed to when he's off. I gotta ask though, how do we know that the Wolves wouldn't be as bad or even worse if Towns or Wiggins missed extensive time? We don't because they've been on the court. Rubio's importance stems more from an injury perspective more then a player prospective.

Uh, we have like years of data that backs this up, not just this season.

I can deal with people doubting Ricky's ability to stay healthy. That's legit. But I can't believe after 5 seasons of watching this team with Ricky in and out of lineups that this is still in doubt.

[TAFKASP]

Are you suggesting he couldn't be both the most important player on the Wolves when healthy, and yet because of his growing history of not staying healthy still be a detriment to the team as their singular quality PG?

I'm not with those who would trade Rubio at this point, but I do understand their frustration and know that the longer this history of missing games gets the less value he could bring back in trade. He is without question the straw that stirs the drink, but that drink is quite nasty when not it goes unstirred.

What bugs me about Rubio being the most important player is based on the fact of how we do when he's on as opposed to when he's off. I gotta ask though, how do we know that the Wolves wouldn't be as bad or even worse if Towns or Wiggins missed extensive time? We don't because they've been on the court. Rubio's importance stems more from an injury perspective more then a player prospective.

Just my opinion, but Rubio elevates everybody's game that plays with him. He doesn't just make the Wolves better at the 1, he makes them better at all positions. No other player on the team today raises the level of play of their teammates like Rubio does, not even close. KAT surely does on defense, and is showing signs of being that type of player on offense one day. Wiggins certainly makes the team better, but I don't see his impact making others better, not yet anyways.

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

Are you suggesting he couldn't be both the most important player on the Wolves when healthy, and yet because of his growing history of not staying healthy still be a detriment to the team as their singular quality PG?

I'm not with those who would trade Rubio at this point, but I do understand their frustration and know that the longer this history of missing games gets the less value he could bring back in trade. He is without question the straw that stirs the drink, but that drink is quite nasty when not it goes unstirred.

What bugs me about Rubio being the most important player is based on the fact of how we do when he's on as opposed to when he's off. I gotta ask though, how do we know that the Wolves wouldn't be as bad or even worse if Towns or Wiggins missed extensive time? We don't because they've been on the court. Rubio's importance stems more from an injury perspective more then a player prospective.

Just my opinion, but Rubio elevates everybody's game that plays with him. He doesn't just make the Wolves better at the 1, he makes them better at all positions. No other player on the team today raises the level of play of their teammates like Rubio does, not even close. KAT surely does on defense, and is showing signs of being that type of player on offense one day. Wiggins certainly makes the team better, but I don't see his impact making others better, not yet anyways.

but how can you even compare if Towns is elevating his teammates if he's always out there? You have nothing to compare it to. Players could look just as bad if you swapped Rubio and Towns, but you have nothing to go on because Towns hasn't missed time

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Alex, Just compare their "On" number, not their "Off" numbers. When Ricky is on the floor, we're +10 per 100 possessions. When Towns is on the floor, our +/- is 0. One number is not like the other....

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

Alex, Just compare their "On" number, not their "Off" numbers. When Ricky is on the floor, we're +10 per 100 possessions. When Towns is on the floor, our +/- is 0. One number is not like the other....

but Ricky's missing games as opposed to Towns sitting for minutes at a time. There's a difference if a guy like a guy like Zach whose going to look better going against backups and playing few minutes, then being over matched by having to play against starters and logging by minutes

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Alex, Just compare their "On" number, not their "Off" numbers. When Ricky is on the floor, we're +10 per 100 possessions. When Towns is on the floor, our +/- is 0. One number is not like the other....

but Ricky's missing games as opposed to Towns sitting for minutes at a time. There's a difference if a guy like a guy like Zach whose going to look better going against backups and playing few minutes, then being over matched by having to play against starters and logging by minutes

I guess I'm not following your argument. If you are saying that KAT is more effective than Ricky because he's healthy and playing, than I agree (even though he hasn't won a single game in his career without Ricky as his PG!).

If you are saying that Ricky's superior +/- are because of Towns, than why is Towns +/- so much worse than Ricky's? Or does he have some bizarre skill that only allows him to make Ricky look good, but no one else?

Again, the numbers I posted above aren't net On/Off numbers, whereby the person's backup situation and the bench could have an influence. They are purely the On numbers.

[TXviking [enjin:6602528]]

Somebody posted something similar to this in another thread. "management needs to be up-front with injuries".

I know when the injury first came out I wondered if it was the knee or the hammy. Game announcers even called it a knee injury a few times. Management really needs to be up-front with injuries and availability. Often our frustrations become larger than necessary, especially when we don't know the facts.

As far as is Rubio this or that. He is what management makes of it this season. If the training staff will not let him play, then he needs to get healed up and preform when healthy. When he is declared healthy, I'm sure he'll give us his best: great play maker, above avg. rebounder, good defense, and poor shooter.

But, if he returns too soon he has no value to the team. That would increase the chance for a long rehab and result in additional time/games lost. Likewise, he'll have no trade value for those that would rather cut-bait.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

When I saw the title of this thread, I thought Rubio had sore nuts this whole time

(I'm not smart)

[Porckchop]

It's not the 4 games hes missed this year . It's the 180 games or what have u he's missed in the past that understandably make people nervous when he starts missing games again. I think that's pretty natural reaction.