Minnesota Sports Forum

PorkChop wrote:Ricky goooood, Pork Chop baaaaad.

We could just end it right there as far as I'm concerned!

:thumb:

I wish I could see a decent highlight reel of them game. Good for Croatia they have some nice players.

I'm won't be surprised if Rubio don't play all that well in this tourney. Spain has options at PG and they have a collection of talent but how well does it fit together. It feels like Spain has been underachieving for quite a while now. Is it coaching? We will see how they come together but Rubio might be posting less of his fun poses with teammates pics now which is a bit of a shame. Lol

Spains guard play was erratic at best. I know Ricky didn't stand out but I also know he would be able to get the offense to run smoother earlier in the set. I kept thinking he should have been in there down the stretch. The Sergios are not better point guards.

Fortunately Thibs will make judgments based off of his own working relationship and said as much recently.

It seems like Gorgui Dieng and may be Kevin Love are the only players on the Wolves (present and past) that have truly benefited from the Olympic experience in terms of translating to better play as pros. Love benefited from being a young player in the league and being around the superstars, seeing their work ethic, etc. Dieng benefited because he is the alpha dog scorer on his Senegal national team. We've seen how his offensive game has expanded as a result.

I think about Summer League in the same way for a guy like Tyus. Even though we only need him to be a safe backup PG for our franchise, the fact he had the opportunity to play multiple games as THE focal point and central figure for the Wolves was probably a great developmental experience.

Unfortunately, Ricky has always played the same role or even a reduced role for Team Spain versus his role for the Wolves. While I don't begrudge him for wanting to play for his country, selfishly speaking, it's done nothing to enhance his NBA game.

Q12543 wrote:It seems like Gorgui Dieng and may be Kevin Love are the only players on the Wolves (present and past) that have truly benefited from the Olympic experience in terms of translating to better play as pros. Love benefited from being a young player in the league and being around the superstars, seeing their work ethic, etc. Dieng benefited because he is the alpha dog scorer on his Senegal national team. We've seen how his offensive game has expanded as a result.

I think about Summer League in the same way for a guy like Tyus. Even though we only need him to be a safe backup PG for our franchise, the fact he had the opportunity to play multiple games as THE focal point and central figure for the Wolves was probably a great developmental experience.

Unfortunately, Ricky has always played the same role or even a reduced role for Team Spain versus his role for the Wolves. While I don't begrudge him for wanting to play for his country, selfishly speaking, it's done nothing to enhance his NBA game.

Pretty much except that one game years ago when he was playing pretty well against Jason Kidd and Chris Paul. It hasn't been that positive since then. It feels like not just for Rubio's sake but maybe some other guys too maybe the last few years Spain could have let loose a bit and let guys play instead of for the typical (and well played) "euro" style where everyone passes and nobody is the star. I don't really know because I haven't seen them play much but that's sort of what I have wondered for a while and I am likely not alone.

monsterpile wrote:

Q12543 wrote:It seems like Gorgui Dieng and may be Kevin Love are the only players on the Wolves (present and past) that have truly benefited from the Olympic experience in terms of translating to better play as pros. Love benefited from being a young player in the league and being around the superstars, seeing their work ethic, etc. Dieng benefited because he is the alpha dog scorer on his Senegal national team. We've seen how his offensive game has expanded as a result.

I think about Summer League in the same way for a guy like Tyus. Even though we only need him to be a safe backup PG for our franchise, the fact he had the opportunity to play multiple games as THE focal point and central figure for the Wolves was probably a great developmental experience.

Unfortunately, Ricky has always played the same role or even a reduced role for Team Spain versus his role for the Wolves. While I don't begrudge him for wanting to play for his country, selfishly speaking, it's done nothing to enhance his NBA game.

Pretty much except that one game years ago when he was playing pretty well against Jason Kidd and Chris Paul. It hasn't been that positive since then. It feels like not just for Rubio's sake but maybe some other guys too maybe the last few years Spain could have let loose a bit and let guys play instead of for the typical (and well played) "euro" style where everyone passes and nobody is the star. I don't really know because I haven't seen them play much but that's sort of what I have wondered for a while and I am likely not alone.

To be fair... part of the love for Rubio in that game was that he was only 17 years old.

29 minutes. 6 points (1 - 3 fg). 3 assists. 3 steals. 6 rebounds.

For Rubio detractors or even Rubio realists, they can point to that game as yet another sign that Rubio hasn't made many meaningful or significant strides in his pro career and that should temper expectations moving forward.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

Q12543 wrote:It seems like Gorgui Dieng and may be Kevin Love are the only players on the Wolves (present and past) that have truly benefited from the Olympic experience in terms of translating to better play as pros. Love benefited from being a young player in the league and being around the superstars, seeing their work ethic, etc. Dieng benefited because he is the alpha dog scorer on his Senegal national team. We've seen how his offensive game has expanded as a result.

I think about Summer League in the same way for a guy like Tyus. Even though we only need him to be a safe backup PG for our franchise, the fact he had the opportunity to play multiple games as THE focal point and central figure for the Wolves was probably a great developmental experience.

Unfortunately, Ricky has always played the same role or even a reduced role for Team Spain versus his role for the Wolves. While I don't begrudge him for wanting to play for his country, selfishly speaking, it's done nothing to enhance his NBA game.

Pretty much except that one game years ago when he was playing pretty well against Jason Kidd and Chris Paul. It hasn't been that positive since then. It feels like not just for Rubio's sake but maybe some other guys too maybe the last few years Spain could have let loose a bit and let guys play instead of for the typical (and well played) "euro" style where everyone passes and nobody is the star. I don't really know because I haven't seen them play much but that's sort of what I have wondered for a while and I am likely not alone.

To be fair... part of the love for Rubio in that game was that he was only 17 years old.

29 minutes. 6 points (1 - 3 fg). 3 assists. 3 steals. 6 rebounds.

For Rubio detractors or even Rubio realists, they can point to that game as yet another sign that Rubio hasn't made many meaningful or significant strides in his pro career and that should temper expectations moving forward.

Part of me wonders what Rubio's trajectory would have looked like if somewhere in his formative years (age 16-19-ish), he was on a team where he was expected to be the lead dog in terms of touches, scoring, playmaking, etc. Instead, he entered one of the best pro leagues in the world outside of the NBA and immediately deferred to the vets as a pass-first PG. That makes him a pretty nice compliment to star-type scorers (which is why I think he's a great fit next to Wiggins, KAT, and LaVine), but he never really figured out how to "get his", something that may have happened in an AAU program or playing in much lower level pro league where he would clearly be the best player.

Q12543 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

Q12543 wrote:It seems like Gorgui Dieng and may be Kevin Love are the only players on the Wolves (present and past) that have truly benefited from the Olympic experience in terms of translating to better play as pros. Love benefited from being a young player in the league and being around the superstars, seeing their work ethic, etc. Dieng benefited because he is the alpha dog scorer on his Senegal national team. We've seen how his offensive game has expanded as a result.

I think about Summer League in the same way for a guy like Tyus. Even though we only need him to be a safe backup PG for our franchise, the fact he had the opportunity to play multiple games as THE focal point and central figure for the Wolves was probably a great developmental experience.

Unfortunately, Ricky has always played the same role or even a reduced role for Team Spain versus his role for the Wolves. While I don't begrudge him for wanting to play for his country, selfishly speaking, it's done nothing to enhance his NBA game.

Pretty much except that one game years ago when he was playing pretty well against Jason Kidd and Chris Paul. It hasn't been that positive since then. It feels like not just for Rubio's sake but maybe some other guys too maybe the last few years Spain could have let loose a bit and let guys play instead of for the typical (and well played) "euro" style where everyone passes and nobody is the star. I don't really know because I haven't seen them play much but that's sort of what I have wondered for a while and I am likely not alone.

To be fair... part of the love for Rubio in that game was that he was only 17 years old.

29 minutes. 6 points (1 - 3 fg). 3 assists. 3 steals. 6 rebounds.

For Rubio detractors or even Rubio realists, they can point to that game as yet another sign that Rubio hasn't made many meaningful or significant strides in his pro career and that should temper expectations moving forward.

Part of me wonders what Rubio's trajectory would have looked like if somewhere in his formative years (age 16-19-ish), he was on a team where he was expected to be the lead dog in terms of touches, scoring, playmaking, etc. Instead, he entered one of the best pro leagues in the world outside of the NBA and immediately deferred to the vets as a pass-first PG. That makes him a pretty nice compliment to star-type scorers (which is why I think he's a great fit next to Wiggins, KAT, and LaVine), but he never really figured out how to "get his", something that may have happened in an AAU program or playing in much lower level pro league where he would clearly be the best player.

It's a fine line.

It sure does seem that his formative years background is part of what makes him such a unique (and polarizing) player today.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

Q12543 wrote:It seems like Gorgui Dieng and may be Kevin Love are the only players on the Wolves (present and past) that have truly benefited from the Olympic experience in terms of translating to better play as pros. Love benefited from being a young player in the league and being around the superstars, seeing their work ethic, etc. Dieng benefited because he is the alpha dog scorer on his Senegal national team. We've seen how his offensive game has expanded as a result.

I think about Summer League in the same way for a guy like Tyus. Even though we only need him to be a safe backup PG for our franchise, the fact he had the opportunity to play multiple games as THE focal point and central figure for the Wolves was probably a great developmental experience.

Unfortunately, Ricky has always played the same role or even a reduced role for Team Spain versus his role for the Wolves. While I don't begrudge him for wanting to play for his country, selfishly speaking, it's done nothing to enhance his NBA game.

Pretty much except that one game years ago when he was playing pretty well against Jason Kidd and Chris Paul. It hasn't been that positive since then. It feels like not just for Rubio's sake but maybe some other guys too maybe the last few years Spain could have let loose a bit and let guys play instead of for the typical (and well played) "euro" style where everyone passes and nobody is the star. I don't really know because I haven't seen them play much but that's sort of what I have wondered for a while and I am likely not alone.

To be fair... part of the love for Rubio in that game was that he was only 17 years old.

29 minutes. 6 points (1 - 3 fg). 3 assists. 3 steals. 6 rebounds.

For Rubio detractors or even Rubio realists, they can point to that game as yet another sign that Rubio hasn't made many meaningful or significant strides in his pro career and that should temper expectations moving forward.

Part of me wonders what Rubio's trajectory would have looked like if somewhere in his formative years (age 16-19-ish), he was on a team where he was expected to be the lead dog in terms of touches, scoring, playmaking, etc. Instead, he entered one of the best pro leagues in the world outside of the NBA and immediately deferred to the vets as a pass-first PG. That makes him a pretty nice compliment to star-type scorers (which is why I think he's a great fit next to Wiggins, KAT, and LaVine), but he never really figured out how to "get his", something that may have happened in an AAU program or playing in much lower level pro league where he would clearly be the best player.

It's a fine line.

It sure does seem that his formative years background is part of what makes him such a unique (and polarizing) player today.

Agreed Abe

I agree with your point about Rubio in that game against team USA. One other thing I will add to that game was how he was baiting the best PGs and probably 2 of the best Defensive PGs in the world into perimeter fouls. Even at 17 Rubio probably had an advantage with refs since I would assume they were international officials but still that was very savy for a guy that age etc.

Also I think it's easy to forget that another piece is some of those formative years were marred by injury. Rubio had that hand wrist issue that year around the Olympics so he couldn't shoot much less work on his shot. We know his NBA injury history. Not being healthy and having to constantly work back just to get back to what you were sure doesnt help progress toward improvement. Im hoping it's a good season for Rubio and the team even if he isn't anything more than what we have seen so far.

I'm not sure how Ricky playing more yesterday would have really helped Spain win. Sure you take away a couple bad turnovers near the end of the game from the other guys, but Croatia was playing so far off Ricky they might have been called for 3 seconds in the NBA and he wasn't hitting shots. It was basically 4 on 5 offensively when he was in the game. It all comes back to the struggles a team is going to have if your primary ball handler can't hit any shots. He couldn't hit the broad side of a barn so he was unplayable. That's just gonna happen at times with him.