CoolBreeze44 wrote:Question for you all: Haven't you already seen the negative impact Ricky has during end of game situations? I know I have. Forget waiting for the playoffs, these things are evident today. We really struggle to get quality shots when the defense digs in. Invariably the ball ends up in Ricky's hands and he either has to take a low percentage jump shot (every jump shot is for him), or pass to a teammate who is covered because Ricky doesn't pull his defender out far enough. You've seen this many times if you've been paying attention.
My point continues to be that Ricky is a good player with a major flaw. Like him as a strong rotation guy. Don't like him when we need him to orchestrate the offense at crunch time.
Is Rubio the problem with the offense in crunch time or is some of what you are seeing a product of youth and inexperience? As you know from being in various levels of basketball teams that know how to play tend to get better looks at the basket no matter what guys they have in. The Wolves tend to have inexperienced guys on the floor in crunch time. Some of that is on the players and some is on Sam and the coaching staff. No Rubio isn't gonna bail you out in situations like that. However he MIGHT make a hustle play or a steal that gives you another shot to win the game. There were some times earlier in the season he made sole pretty poor plays late in games that had nothing to do with his trying to score. It seems like he has moved past those ugly moments which seemed sort of out of character for him. I guess what Inam trying to say is the picture of what a team would look like with Rubio (especially late in games that matter) still seems a bit unclear to me because of the roster and the coaching situation.
I completely respect that you have the position Rubio will be a problem at the end of games but I don't think it's an absolute fact either. It's a very solid stance that you and others have and plenty of reasoning to back it up. I think there is a somewhat decent possibility that Rubio ends up being good enough overall even with his weaknesses to play a role in this team winning close games when it matters. I get it is that's not something you want to bank on.
Reasons why AT THIS POINT I would keep Rubio in MN.
1. Rubio wants to be here and he has said it multiple times and has for a couple years. He took less money at the time to get a deal done. That doesn't make him a saint or anything or make him untouchable but I do think his desire to stay here and build something matters.
2. Rubio to me SEEMS like a guy that will do what it takes to win and shows it on the court. He plays hard with passion all that stuff you want from a player on your team.
3. I don't see a reasonable way at this time that if you move him you get something back that's equal or better. If we didn't get back a PG for him now it would be a very weak position for this team even if it does have some young in house talent like Lavine and Tyus that may be options. After the draft or this summer things could change but it just doesn't seem to make sense right now. If he can make it through the rest of this season healthy that makes him more valuable both to the Wolves and on the market.
4. Lots of scorers and Rubio can feed them
5. He plays D on a team that doesn't.