Minnesota Sports Forum

FNG wrote:USA beats Spain 83-76. Rubio leads all scorers on both teams with 23 points, but it looks like he had a terrible game. 1 assist and 5 TOs...ugh.

monsterpile wrote:

FNG wrote:USA beats Spain 83-76. Rubio leads all scorers on both teams with 23 points, but it looks like he had a terrible game. 1 assist and 5 TOs...ugh.

I didn't want the game but saying he was terrible seems a bit too strong. He also shot 46% from the field and hit all 10 of his FTs. Spain shot 40% from the field and had 20 turnovers so I would guess there were a lot of other guys that played worse.[/qu

I also didn't see the game, but it looks like it was an unusual game for Ricky. Sure, he led the team in scoring and was 10 for 10 from the line, but only 1 assist and 5 TOs in only 22 minutes does not sound like Ricky. He's carved out a successful career by facilitating and protecting the ball, and only looking for his shot when the other team gives it to him. Ricky ranks in the top 20 all-time in assist to turnover ratio, and most of the guys ahead of him are Hall of Famers. Only having 1 assist while turning the ball over 5 times is not Ricky's game, and it's not surprising to me that a guy who regularly puts up a positive +/- was a -4 for the game despite being the high scorer. I suspect he was having some fun in a friendly Vegas tune up game, and will go back to being the real Ricky once they get to Tokyo.

FNG wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

FNG wrote:USA beats Spain 83-76. Rubio leads all scorers on both teams with 23 points, but it looks like he had a terrible game. 1 assist and 5 TOs...ugh.

I didn't want the game but saying he was terrible seems a bit too strong. He also shot 46% from the field and hit all 10 of his FTs. Spain shot 40% from the field and had 20 turnovers so I would guess there were a lot of other guys that played worse.[/qu

I also didn't see the game, but it looks like it was an unusual game for Ricky. Sure, he led the team in scoring and was 10 for 10 from the line, but only 1 assist and 5 TOs in only 22 minutes does not sound like Ricky. He's carved out a successful career by facilitating and protecting the ball, and only looking for his shot when the other team gives it to him. Ricky ranks in the top 20 all-time in assist to turnover ratio, and most of the guys ahead of him are Hall of Famers. Only having 1 assist while turning the ball over 5 times is not Ricky's game, and it's not surprising to me that a guy who regularly puts up a positive +/- was a -4 for the game despite being the high scorer. I suspect he was having some fun in a friendly Vegas tune up game, and will go back to being the real Ricky once they get to Tokyo.

Dane Moore who has been watching the games has said Rubio has been a scorer and basically the bell cow type guy for this team not just a facilitator. Remember in 2019 Rubio was the FIBA world championships MVP so he isn't just a passer in this sphere. Spain also has a lot of guys that pass the ball including their bigs and guys like Sergio Rodriguez, Victor Claver (I think he is still playing with the team) and Rudy Fernandez. I think there is another guard I am not familiar with too. Watching the highlights Rubio had most of those point by the third quarter so the FTs weren't cheap at the end of game ones either. He is pretty good at drawing fouls.

Also in what world did you think Dakota Mathias would be on a team USA basketball roster? Cam Reynolds? What a time to be alive.

monsterpile wrote:

FNG wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

FNG wrote:USA beats Spain 83-76. Rubio leads all scorers on both teams with 23 points, but it looks like he had a terrible game. 1 assist and 5 TOs...ugh.

I didn't want the game but saying he was terrible seems a bit too strong. He also shot 46% from the field and hit all 10 of his FTs. Spain shot 40% from the field and had 20 turnovers so I would guess there were a lot of other guys that played worse.[/qu

I also didn't see the game, but it looks like it was an unusual game for Ricky. Sure, he led the team in scoring and was 10 for 10 from the line, but only 1 assist and 5 TOs in only 22 minutes does not sound like Ricky. He's carved out a successful career by facilitating and protecting the ball, and only looking for his shot when the other team gives it to him. Ricky ranks in the top 20 all-time in assist to turnover ratio, and most of the guys ahead of him are Hall of Famers. Only having 1 assist while turning the ball over 5 times is not Ricky's game, and it's not surprising to me that a guy who regularly puts up a positive +/- was a -4 for the game despite being the high scorer. I suspect he was having some fun in a friendly Vegas tune up game, and will go back to being the real Ricky once they get to Tokyo.

Dane Moore who has been watching the games has said Rubio has been a scorer and basically the bell cow type guy for this team not just a facilitator. Remember in 2019 Rubio was the FIBA world championships MVP so he isn't just a passer in this sphere. Spain also has a lot of guys that pass the ball including their bigs and guys like Sergio Rodriguez, Victor Claver (I think he is still playing with the team) and Rudy Fernandez. I think there is another guard I am not familiar with too. Watching the highlights Rubio had most of those point by the third quarter so the FTs weren't cheap at the end of game ones either. He is pretty good at drawing fouls.

Also in what world did you think Dakota Mathias would be on a team USA basketball roster? Cam Reynolds? What a time to be alive.

I did watch the game. Rubio looked really good. He was creating and hitting a lot of mid-range shots - similar to what we've been seeing in the NBA playoffs this year. His FG percentage reflects his solid mid-range shooting. He also did a nice job defending Damion Lillard.

lipoli390 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

FNG wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

FNG wrote:USA beats Spain 83-76. Rubio leads all scorers on both teams with 23 points, but it looks like he had a terrible game. 1 assist and 5 TOs...ugh.

I didn't want the game but saying he was terrible seems a bit too strong. He also shot 46% from the field and hit all 10 of his FTs. Spain shot 40% from the field and had 20 turnovers so I would guess there were a lot of other guys that played worse.[/qu

I also didn't see the game, but it looks like it was an unusual game for Ricky. Sure, he led the team in scoring and was 10 for 10 from the line, but only 1 assist and 5 TOs in only 22 minutes does not sound like Ricky. He's carved out a successful career by facilitating and protecting the ball, and only looking for his shot when the other team gives it to him. Ricky ranks in the top 20 all-time in assist to turnover ratio, and most of the guys ahead of him are Hall of Famers. Only having 1 assist while turning the ball over 5 times is not Ricky's game, and it's not surprising to me that a guy who regularly puts up a positive +/- was a -4 for the game despite being the high scorer. I suspect he was having some fun in a friendly Vegas tune up game, and will go back to being the real Ricky once they get to Tokyo.

Dane Moore who has been watching the games has said Rubio has been a scorer and basically the bell cow type guy for this team not just a facilitator. Remember in 2019 Rubio was the FIBA world championships MVP so he isn't just a passer in this sphere. Spain also has a lot of guys that pass the ball including their bigs and guys like Sergio Rodriguez, Victor Claver (I think he is still playing with the team) and Rudy Fernandez. I think there is another guard I am not familiar with too. Watching the highlights Rubio had most of those point by the third quarter so the FTs weren't cheap at the end of game ones either. He is pretty good at drawing fouls.

Also in what world did you think Dakota Mathias would be on a team USA basketball roster? Cam Reynolds? What a time to be alive.

I did watch the game. Rubio looked really good. He was creating and hitting a lot of mid-range shots - similar to what we've been seeing in the NBA playoffs this year. His FG percentage reflects his solid mid-range shooting. He also did a nice job defending Damion Lillard.

You have to wonder if Finch and Rosas are watching these playoffs and thinking about whether or not they are going to allow more guys to utilize that shot in their game. Personally I like what I think is more of the midrange shot that's just outside the paint (or even inside the paint extended around the court). I'm cool with really discouraging the Wiggins type a step inside the 3 point line shots but the ones where you get to a spot in some sort of rhythm could be good for some guys. I think that's an area that Rubio can have some success in and he probably isn't alone. I get the sense Finch is going to be more open to that than seemingly blindly following the system. I also don't think they are gonna be like "midrange for everyone!!!" which is probably a good thing.

It's also worth noting that the Bucks and Jrue Holiday have seemingly taken away that midrange game from Chris Paul the last couple games.

FNG wrote:I don't think you guys are going to convince me that "Midrange Shooting" Ricky is a good strategy for him. He may have had one good game from midrange, but we all know that he is never going to be consistently efective from there. Ricky has always known his strengths and weaknesses and has been effective playing to his strengths...facilitating, protecting the ball, driving to the basket, making free throws and taking the wide-open three if the defense gives it to him. Rubio-led teams are not going to win many games with him being the leading scorer and only having one assist and 5 TOs.

monsterpile wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

FNG wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

FNG wrote:USA beats Spain 83-76. Rubio leads all scorers on both teams with 23 points, but it looks like he had a terrible game. 1 assist and 5 TOs...ugh.

I didn't want the game but saying he was terrible seems a bit too strong. He also shot 46% from the field and hit all 10 of his FTs. Spain shot 40% from the field and had 20 turnovers so I would guess there were a lot of other guys that played worse.[/qu

I also didn't see the game, but it looks like it was an unusual game for Ricky. Sure, he led the team in scoring and was 10 for 10 from the line, but only 1 assist and 5 TOs in only 22 minutes does not sound like Ricky. He's carved out a successful career by facilitating and protecting the ball, and only looking for his shot when the other team gives it to him. Ricky ranks in the top 20 all-time in assist to turnover ratio, and most of the guys ahead of him are Hall of Famers. Only having 1 assist while turning the ball over 5 times is not Ricky's game, and it's not surprising to me that a guy who regularly puts up a positive +/- was a -4 for the game despite being the high scorer. I suspect he was having some fun in a friendly Vegas tune up game, and will go back to being the real Ricky once they get to Tokyo.

Dane Moore who has been watching the games has said Rubio has been a scorer and basically the bell cow type guy for this team not just a facilitator. Remember in 2019 Rubio was the FIBA world championships MVP so he isn't just a passer in this sphere. Spain also has a lot of guys that pass the ball including their bigs and guys like Sergio Rodriguez, Victor Claver (I think he is still playing with the team) and Rudy Fernandez. I think there is another guard I am not familiar with too. Watching the highlights Rubio had most of those point by the third quarter so the FTs weren't cheap at the end of game ones either. He is pretty good at drawing fouls.

Also in what world did you think Dakota Mathias would be on a team USA basketball roster? Cam Reynolds? What a time to be alive.

I did watch the game. Rubio looked really good. He was creating and hitting a lot of mid-range shots - similar to what we've been seeing in the NBA playoffs this year. His FG percentage reflects his solid mid-range shooting. He also did a nice job defending Damion Lillard.

You have to wonder if Finch and Rosas are watching these playoffs and thinking about whether or not they are going to allow more guys to utilize that shot in their game. Personally I like what I think is more of the midrange shot that's just outside the paint (or even inside the paint extended around the court). I'm cool with really discouraging the Wiggins type a step inside the 3 point line shots but the ones where you get to a spot in some sort of rhythm could be good for some guys. I think that's an area that Rubio can have some success in and he probably isn't alone. I get the sense Finch is going to be more open to that than seemingly blindly following the system. I also don't think they are gonna be like "midrange for everyone!!!" which is probably a good thing.

It's also worth noting that the Bucks and Jrue Holiday have seemingly taken away that midrange game from Chris Paul the last couple games.

I agree with your description of quality mid-range shots and how that can be a potentially effective part of Ricky's game. I also agree that Finch seems like a guy who will adapt the team's style to the strengths of his players and specific situations.