Ricky is out

[AbeVigodaLive]

For me, Rubio is an average starting PG in the NBA... at best. Could that change? Maybe... that's what I find so odd about the guy... we're still holding out hope for him after 4 years of a plateaued career. (Sorry, I don't see marginal at best gains... especially in categories he still sucks balls at is "improvement" in any other sense than sugarcoating it).

That being said, Rubio has a certain something that makes him likable. But we're on Year 5 and things haven't panned out yet. That's a loooonnnnnnnnggggg leash. EVENTUALLY, that leash is going to have to be shortened. And I think that's why this is a very important season for Rubio.*


[Note: The days comparing him to Flynn, Avery, Williams, et al are long gone. When do the Wolves get compared to other NBA players from teams that actually get to .500... and beyond?]



* I could have copied and pasted that from a post I wrote this time last season...

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

I'd like to see a little more fast breaking and lob city this year with Bjelica bringing up the rear (like Love did) and camping out beyond the 3 pt line. We don't have the 3 point shooters like other teams, so we've got to wear down opposing defenses with our youth and speed. With Pek out and Towns in, we should be able to do more of that now with Ricky. Our D isn't looking good yet, but I'm confident with Sam and KG, that will turn around.

[Porckchop]

Could you provide proof that he is working on his game?

You can improve your stroke sitting in a chair. That is actually a great exercise to work on your off hand believe it or not.

I don't want to step on The SP's toes, but there is plenty of documentation out there that Rubio is a hard worker vs. sitting on his azz. Last year after he hurt his ankle, he used the time to work on his shot with Mike Penberthy : http://www.businessinsider.com/ricky-rubio-working-with-shooting-guru-mike-penberthy-2015-2

And after the season, he worked on getting stronger and improving his shot more by taking 100-200 shots a day: http://www.thescore.com/news/803076

I have no idea why anyone would think Rubio is lazy. He's always in shape and puts forth full effort in any practice or game I've watched.

I always get a kick out these kinds of quotes. What's the magical number of shots? 100? 500? 1,000? We read these quotes about dozens upon dozens of players. And it's always used to create our narrative about "improvement" or "dedication" or whatever.

Heck, Ray Allen takes 300 shots before every GAME. How many is he taking on his off days? Ricky Rubio taking 100 - 200 shots per day doesn't mean he's working harder than anybody else... nor does it mean he's working less than other players. Personally, I find it a meaningless stat. Many high school kids are taking that many shots (or more) every single day.


[Note: Considering shooting is obviously his greatest vice... I'd opt for Rubio shooting MORE than most other players in his practice time.]

Has there been a season on record that Ricky wasn't working hard on his shot?

[Coolbreeze44]

I'd like to see a little more fast breaking and lob city this year with Bjelica bringing up the rear (like Love did) and camping out beyond the 3 pt line. We don't have the 3 point shooters like other teams, so we've got to wear down opposing defenses with our youth and speed. With Pek out and Towns in, we should be able to do more of that now with Ricky. Our D isn't looking good yet, but I'm confident with Sam and KG, that will turn around.

Lloyd, where does this confidence in Sam come from?

[Monster]

I'd like to see a little more fast breaking and lob city this year with Bjelica bringing up the rear (like Love did) and camping out beyond the 3 pt line. We don't have the 3 point shooters like other teams, so we've got to wear down opposing defenses with our youth and speed. With Pek out and Towns in, we should be able to do more of that now with Ricky. Our D isn't looking good yet, but I'm confident with Sam and KG, that will turn around.

Bjelica at times should be leading the break and based on what I have seen out of him he will be up the court quickly most of the time not trailing for a 3. Also I have to comment again that Pek when healthy was an asset to a running team offensively. He ran the floor got easy baskets in a number of ways.

I am sure this team will run plenty this year. Why? PG play. Last year a lot of guys weren't getting up the floor alotnofnthe season? Why? Who was going to pass them the ball? Lavine? Martin? Once Mo was traded the best guy feeding players in transition was probably Brown. This year you have Rubio hopefully healthy (more on that in a minute) Miller and Tyus that has the skills to push the pace and find guys that are running. We can hope for better rebounding as well which was a problem at times. In addition we have a couple bugs in KG and Bjelica that will likely be better translation guys at PF than what the Wolves had for the entire season last year.

In 2013-2014 the Wolves had 101.5 possesions per game which was 4th in the league. Rubio played all 82 games. That would have tied Houston for the top in 2014-2015. Instead the Wolves were right in the middle of the pack. Of course Love has something to do with that too with his rebounding and passing especially his last year bombing to Brewer at times. A healthy Rubio will help increase pace and the other Pgs should help in that regard too. This team is set up to run no doubt about it.

Edit:

I should add that Towns has the skill set to be a better fit for a running team I just like to point out that Pek isn't really a guy that holds the team back in that regard. Towns runs the floor hard and has an outside shot plus he may end up being a better defensive rebounder and will be a better shot blocker. He has all the theoretical skills you could possibly imagine for an NBA Center. PGs will have some fun.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I'd like to see a little more fast breaking and lob city this year with Bjelica bringing up the rear (like Love did) and camping out beyond the 3 pt line. We don't have the 3 point shooters like other teams, so we've got to wear down opposing defenses with our youth and speed. With Pek out and Towns in, we should be able to do more of that now with Ricky. Our D isn't looking good yet, but I'm confident with Sam and KG, that will turn around.

Lloyd, where does this confidence in Sam come from?

http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Sam+Mitchell/David+Stern/New+Jersey+Nets+v+Toronto+Raptors+Game+2/UG2pw4HnuF5

[Carlos Danger]

I always get a kick out these kinds of quotes. What's the magical number of shots? 100? 500? 1,000? We read these quotes about dozens upon dozens of players. And it's always used to create our narrative about "improvement" or "dedication" or whatever.

Heck, Ray Allen takes 300 shots before every GAME. How many is he taking on his off days? Ricky Rubio taking 100 - 200 shots per day doesn't mean he's working harder than anybody else... nor does it mean he's working less than other players. Personally, I find it a meaningless stat. Many high school kids are taking that many shots (or more) every single day.


[Note: Considering shooting is obviously his greatest vice... I'd opt for Rubio shooting MORE than most other players in his practice time.]

Did Ray Allen take 300 shots/day during the off season with a bad ankle? No? Oh, what a shock. Because that's what my quote was rebutting. Someone said Rubio didn't do anything while rehabbing his ankle this summer. And the quote shows he was taking 100-200 shots a day plus lifting weights.

Oh, and Ricky's coach/GM sure seems fine with his work habits:

"What the analytical people can't judge is somebody's heart and how much somebody works," Saunders said. "It's a transformation with these guys, and you do have to have some patience."

During the all-star break, Rubio said he traveled to the Los Angeles area to work with a shooting coach. After Wolves practices and shootarounds, he often stays late, hoisting shot after shot. Saunders also said Rubio has called him up late at night to come to the gym and watch him shoot.

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_25174918/fixing-ricky-timberwolves-rubio-working-become-better-shooter

Again, plenty of documentation out there that Rubio puts in his time. Also, if you could post us your link showing how many shots Rubio takes pre-game, it would be great to have that number so we can compare. It appears you are hinting that Rubio takes significantly less than Ray Allen. I don't know that, so it would be great to see the side by side analysis you have performed to come to that conclusion.

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

But wasn't your point that he is putting up 100-200 shots per day, so he was definitely doing his work?

Here is a question posed to Steph Curry around shots he takes per day:

Alipour: How many shots do you put up per day?

Curry: It's not a ridiculous number. I count makes, so in the summer, I make 500. During the season, depending on what portion of the schedule we're going through, I make 200 to 350. And whatever goal I set before the workout is the goal. I won't shortcut it. If I play Around the World, I have to make 10 out of 13 at each of the seven spots to move on. If I don't, I'll sit at that same spot until I do.

So the best shooter on the planet MAKES (not takes) 500 per day. And 200-350 during the season. And Rubio....arguably the worst shooter in the NBA....TAKES 100-200 per day. So if Steph is making 500, he probably shoots 700-800 per day. This is what it takes to be great. Heck, I probably shoot 150 times when I go shoot with my 10 year old at the YMCA. I can tell you....I notice no change in my shot over time....still stinks.

Rubio gets a ton of credit for his work ethic, but the reality is that Rubio needs to outwork Curry, in this example, and probably be putting up 1,000 shots per day. I certainly can't prove he isn't...but the results certainly point that way.

[Carlos Danger]

You have the entire World Wide Web at your disposal. Please provide one - just one credible source that states Rubio isn't a hard worker or not putting in his time. Just one. I'll wait.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I always get a kick out these kinds of quotes. What's the magical number of shots? 100? 500? 1,000? We read these quotes about dozens upon dozens of players. And it's always used to create our narrative about "improvement" or "dedication" or whatever.

Heck, Ray Allen takes 300 shots before every GAME. How many is he taking on his off days? Ricky Rubio taking 100 - 200 shots per day doesn't mean he's working harder than anybody else... nor does it mean he's working less than other players. Personally, I find it a meaningless stat. Many high school kids are taking that many shots (or more) every single day.


[Note: Considering shooting is obviously his greatest vice... I'd opt for Rubio shooting MORE than most other players in his practice time.]

Did Ray Allen take 300 shots/day during the off season with a bad ankle? No? Oh, what a shock. Because that's what my quote was rebutting. Someone said Rubio didn't do anything while rehabbing his ankle this summer. And the quote shows he was taking 100-200 shots a day plus lifting weights.

Oh, and Ricky's coach/GM sure seems fine with his work habits:

"What the analytical people can't judge is somebody's heart and how much somebody works," Saunders said. "It's a transformation with these guys, and you do have to have some patience."

During the all-star break, Rubio said he traveled to the Los Angeles area to work with a shooting coach. After Wolves practices and shootarounds, he often stays late, hoisting shot after shot. Saunders also said Rubio has called him up late at night to come to the gym and watch him shoot.

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_25174918/fixing-ricky-timberwolves-rubio-working-become-better-shooter

Again, plenty of documentation out there that Rubio puts in his time. Also, if you could post us your link showing how many shots Rubio takes pre-game, it would be great to have that number so we can compare. It appears you are hinting that Rubio takes significantly less than Ray Allen. I don't know that, so it would be great to see the side by side analysis you have performed to come to that conclusion.

Either you missed my point entirely, or I wasn't clear.

I never wrote that Rubio didn't put in his time. I was simply pointing out that dozens upon dozens of other players are putting in their time. And that a specific number like "100-200" shots is relatively worthless because you can't really quantify practice effort no matter how much we want to try... and how great of a narrative it makes for a player trying to improve... coming back from injury... taking the next step... et al.

I'm sure Rubio works hard. Just like many, many, many other NBA players. I don't care what he does to train, as long as it makes him a better player on the court. Other than a few minor upticks here and there, we haven't seen the vast improvement we're used to seeing from elite players during their first four years in the league.

Maybe that means Rubio just isn't elite. That's fine. He can still be a good player, but not a perfect one. And definitely not above criticism. And definitely not one who is beyond fans wishes that the team had a better PG to finally break the playoff drought.