The concerning Rubio

[Coolbreeze44]

Couple thoughts here:

- It is a good thing that teams are now guarding him on the perimeter. Maybe the shot doesn't go down as often but it opens up a lot more for us.
- We have seen him shoot better. So it's not a matter of whether he can shoot or not. It's can he become consistent with it? So far the consistency has certainly alluded him.
- I'd like to see him stop playing so much in a "box". I want to see the old Ricky flair on display. I think Adelman really stifled this in him. But it's part of who he is, and he needs to play dynamically.

[Porckchop]

Some of you might find this interesting. While the topic is about Blake and written from his point of view, I think some perspective can be gained in regard to Rubio. To piggyback on what Abe said, Rubio's shooting can be blamed on Rubio only. The reason for that I believe is he, up to this point, has not been healthy or committed enough to improving his shot. We are seeing changes, but as Blake alludes to in this article, fixing a broken shot takes more than a few weeks here and there. It takes months, and years, to rebuild something so ingrained in a person's body mechanics and mentality.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/why-aint-he-dunkin/

Nothing I haven't been saying for a long time. I have my doubts it's even possible for 99% of players . Even if they do, how many years are u gonna pay a guy to figure it out to the detriment of the team?

[Coolbreeze44]

Some of you might find this interesting. While the topic is about Blake and written from his point of view, I think some perspective can be gained in regard to Rubio. To piggyback on what Abe said, Rubio's shooting can be blamed on Rubio only. The reason for that I believe is he, up to this point, has not been healthy or committed enough to improving his shot. We are seeing changes, but as Blake alludes to in this article, fixing a broken shot takes more than a few weeks here and there. It takes months, and years, to rebuild something so ingrained in a person's body mechanics and mentality.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/why-aint-he-dunkin/

If I have a specialty as a coach, it's in teaching the jump shot. I tell my pupils that to improve your shot just a scosche takes about 20,000 reps. The best take 1000 jump shots daily to improve their craft. The best of the best MAKE 1000 jump shots daily. There is no substitute for good mechanics, and then ridiculous repetition at game speed.

[GymRat [enjin:6592663]]

Some of you might find this interesting. While the topic is about Blake and written from his point of view, I think some perspective can be gained in regard to Rubio. To piggyback on what Abe said, Rubio's shooting can be blamed on Rubio only. The reason for that I believe is he, up to this point, has not been healthy or committed enough to improving his shot. We are seeing changes, but as Blake alludes to in this article, fixing a broken shot takes more than a few weeks here and there. It takes months, and years, to rebuild something so ingrained in a person's body mechanics and mentality.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/why-aint-he-dunkin/

Nothing I haven't been saying for a long time. I have my doubts it's even possible for 99% of players . Even if they do, how many years are u gonna pay a guy to figure it out to the detriment of the team?

My take on his shooting is he's always been a respectable 3-point shooter. Our ridiculous offense and the marriage to the mid-range is what is causing more problems for our team than anything. If you put Rubio in a position to shoot 3's, where he has proven his worth, it will render the mid-range shooting percentages moot. In that environment, I'm more concerned with his ability to finish at the basket. If it were to causing problems for the team and spacing, then I'd probably have issues with paying him to be the starter on this team. I just won't change my mind at this point given our offensive philosophy.

[GymRat [enjin:6592663]]

Some of you might find this interesting. While the topic is about Blake and written from his point of view, I think some perspective can be gained in regard to Rubio. To piggyback on what Abe said, Rubio's shooting can be blamed on Rubio only. The reason for that I believe is he, up to this point, has not been healthy or committed enough to improving his shot. We are seeing changes, but as Blake alludes to in this article, fixing a broken shot takes more than a few weeks here and there. It takes months, and years, to rebuild something so ingrained in a person's body mechanics and mentality.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/why-aint-he-dunkin/

If I have a specialty as a coach, it's in teaching the jump shot. I tell my pupils that to improve your shot just a scosche takes about 20,000 reps. The best take 1000 jump shots daily to improve their craft. The best of the best MAKE 1000 jump shots daily. There is no substitute for good mechanics, and then ridiculous repetition at game speed.

I agree wholeheartedly. And I also love your use of the term scosche. :)

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I don't know, some guys just never become good shooters, no matter how many reps they take. Some are able to adjust their mechanics, take the reps, and not revert back to old habits. Ricky is on a journey right now and it's hard to know where he'll end up.

What I do know is that his overall scoring efficiency gradually improved in each of his first three seasons:

2011-12: 47.6 TS%
2012-13: 48.2 TS%
2013-14: 49.1 TS%

He's at 47.6 TS% so far this season, but he's only played 13 games, with a major injury in the middle of it. We'll see how things shake out at the end of the year, but even if it stays the same, I still won't rule out the possibility of further improvement.

I think one thing that is easy to rule out is that he will never be a Nash or Curry or even Chris Paul. It will never be a strong suit, so all we can do is hope that he makes it less and less of a weakness over time.

[Coolbreeze44]

With Ricky it's really an unknown because from all indications he's never devoted the time to it. I'd be awfully surprised, given his hand-eye coordination, if he couldn't improve with proper focus and effort.

[AbeVigodaLive]

With Ricky it's really an unknown because from all indications he's never devoted the time to it. I'd be awfully surprised, given his hand-eye coordination, if he couldn't improve with proper focus and effort.

Then, that's on him. Shame on him, actually.

He's in year 4 in the NBA. He played professionally for several years before that. He's made (or guaranteed to make) about $60M by the time he's 29.

He should have been devoting an inordinate amount of time to such a critical part of the game.

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

I don't know, some guys just never become good shooters, no matter how many reps they take. Some are able to adjust their mechanics, take the reps, and not revert back to old habits. Ricky is on a journey right now and it's hard to know where he'll end up.

What I do know is that his overall scoring efficiency gradually improved in each of his first three seasons:

2011-12: 47.6 TS%
2012-13: 48.2 TS%
2013-14: 49.1 TS%

He's at 47.6 TS% so far this season, but he's only played 13 games, with a major injury in the middle of it. We'll see how things shake out at the end of the year, but even if it stays the same, I still won't rule out the possibility of further improvement.

I think one thing that is easy to rule out is that he will never be a Nash or Curry or even Chris Paul. It will never be a strong suit, so all we can do is hope that he makes it less and less of a weakness over time.

The thing is, yea Rubio works hard, no doubt about it. But he's going up against the best competition in the world and is playing in a time with the use of new technology and analytic's that defenses use to break down your every strength and weakness. He's 24, but that's pretty old to improve that much in this day in age

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

I have to chuckle at these comments....just a little. I said even earlier this year that we will be having this same discussion, perhaps until the end of Ricky's career. This guy is garbage at scoring the ball. Someone mentioned that "it isn't that he can't shoot, but rather he can't shoot consistently". Not to be a jerk, but duh! Every player that has ever played basketball for any length of time has gone through good stretches at one point or another. But the fact that Rubio is so wildly inconsistent is EXACTLY why he should be labeled as a guy that can't shoot or score. Some commented on his form improving earlier this season....I haven't seen 1 jumpshot this season that looks better than his previous form. Many reference his injury as the nagging issue. When does he get relief from this excuse? 1 year? 2 years? 3? Was horrible pre-injury, and is horrible post-injury. I guess I just don't see labeling any of his injuries as reasons why he isn't a good shooter. And I especially like the "he hasn't spent the time" and "he hasn't had the coaches" to get better. What? Being a part of the best European organization and team for like 5 seasons, and then spending 4 years in the NBA with specialized opportunity. What? Hasn't had the resources to become better? Are we saying he just spent his time passing to players, or against a wall, in practice and just overlooked a small fact that in the end, the ball needs to go in the hoop?

JUST STOP WITH THE EXCUSES!

I have always been a "Ricky Hater", but my young kids love him. So I have looked to embrace him to a point. I am learning to appreciate all the "other things" he does on the court, and I certainly see why some really like him. I think he is a great kid with some exceptional talents....they just don't revolve around scoring the basketball. This is why I wrote in an earlier post that I wouldn't dismiss a guy like Mudiay, because I don't feel like Rubio HAS TO BE our PG of the future. Like many positions on this team, the PG spot can, and should be upgraded if possible.