Minnesota Sports Forum

The Pork-o-Meter is volatile and subject to wild fluctuations, but Ricky has really disappointed me the last couple weeks. My game partner last night turned to me midway through the second quarter when Zach had 11 points, 5 assists and only 1 TO, and said "Geez...Zach is our best 2-way PG right now, and that's not good". I had to agree with him. Ricky seems to be a step slow on defense, has a shot that is broken, and doesn't show the passing flash he showed as a rookie. My POM is up to 60%.

longstrangetrip wrote:The Pork-o-Meter is volatile and subject to wild fluctuations, but Ricky has really disappointed me the last couple weeks. My game partner last night turned to me midway through the second quarter when Zach had 11 points, 5 assists and only 1 TO, and said "Geez...Zach is our best 2-way PG right now, and that's not good". I had to agree with him. Ricky seems to be a step slow on defense, has a shot that is broken, and doesn't show the passing flash he showed as a rookie. My POM is up to 60%.

He seems to be getting caught on screens when he tries to go over the top.

I know the team was ripped for going under so many screens previously. So is that partly why I'm noticing it a lot more?

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:The Pork-o-Meter is volatile and subject to wild fluctuations, but Ricky has really disappointed me the last couple weeks. My game partner last night turned to me midway through the second quarter when Zach had 11 points, 5 assists and only 1 TO, and said "Geez...Zach is our best 2-way PG right now, and that's not good". I had to agree with him. Ricky seems to be a step slow on defense, has a shot that is broken, and doesn't show the passing flash he showed as a rookie. My POM is up to 60%.

He seems to be getting caught on screens when he tries to go over the top.

I know the team was ripped for going under so many screens previously. So is that partly why I'm noticing it a lot more?

It could be, abe...I'm noticing it a lot more since Sam started harping about it. In a way I'm sympathetic because anyone who has played defense knows how much easier it is to go under screens if a pick is properly applied. But somehow Tay Prince seems to be able to fight through screens, while most of our younger guys can't. It's a mystery to me.

longstrangetrip wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:The Pork-o-Meter is volatile and subject to wild fluctuations, but Ricky has really disappointed me the last couple weeks. My game partner last night turned to me midway through the second quarter when Zach had 11 points, 5 assists and only 1 TO, and said "Geez...Zach is our best 2-way PG right now, and that's not good". I had to agree with him. Ricky seems to be a step slow on defense, has a shot that is broken, and doesn't show the passing flash he showed as a rookie. My POM is up to 60%.

He seems to be getting caught on screens when he tries to go over the top.

I know the team was ripped for going under so many screens previously. So is that partly why I'm noticing it a lot more?

It could be, abe...I'm noticing it a lot more since Sam started harping about it. In a way I'm sympathetic because anyone who has played defense knows how much easier it is to go under screens if a pick is properly applied. But somehow Tay Prince seems to be able to fight through screens, while most of our younger guys can't. It's a mystery to me.

Jim Peterson has improved so much as an analyst. I actually listen to his takes now. (I used to post them here to mock them because I thought he was a ridiculous homer when he first started).

Anyway, he said that a guard who can fight through picks is worth his weight in gold defensively. There's merit in that. But it's also easier said than done.

It does seem, other teams are better at it though. Watch how much space there is moving TOWARD the hoop when the Wolves are on defense vs. when the Wolves player is coming off the screen offensively. At least for the past few games, it's been alarming. Is this partly by design? After all, Rubio isn't an attacking type of PG driving into the teeth of the defense.

Abe, In terms of how our PGs use screens, Rubio's tendency is to stretch them out (as opposed to turning the corner sharply) in hopes of hitting the rolling big man with a pocket pass (which we haven't seen as much this year without Pek).

LaVine is more of a turn-the-corner type - as he should be given his elite quickness. But he has to get better and using the screen. He jumps the gun way too often and his guy easily evades the screen. One of the things these more experienced guards do is they are masters at setting up their defender for the screen. Zach has a lot to work on in this regard.

Q12543 wrote:Abe, In terms of how our PGs use screens, Rubio's tendency is to stretch them out (as opposed to turning the corner sharply) in hopes of hitting the rolling big man with a pocket pass (which we haven't seen as much this year without Pek).

LaVine is more of a turn-the-corner type - as he should be given his elite quickness. But he has to get better and using the screen. He jumps the gun way too often and his guy easily evades the screen. One of the things these more experienced guards do is they are masters at setting up their defender for the screen. Zach has a lot to work on in this regard.

I think we saw some of that with Jameer Nelson recently. That guy isn't beating too many guys with elite level quickness... but he's a savvy vet who knows how to use screens.

I better sneak in here quick and change my meter before anyone catches me.
Great game Mr Rubio. I award you a 75% pork o meter.

When he plays like he did in the games leading up to New York, I was 30 percent pork.

When he plays like last night, I am 100 percent grade A beef. 6 to midnight so to speak. That's the Rubio many have yearned for. Even when he makes mistakes, I think it's ok because his energy is so infectious to his team mates. Towns seemed to really be feeding of off him. Let's hope to see more of that.

Rubio has been teasing us for 5 years with good games like last night, but I'll stay just below 50% until I see him in a playoff series (which he may never see with us). If the offense where Zach continues to improve and Wiggy can learn how to shoot consistently, then I think that's a great linuep with Towns and Dieng/NB going forward.