Sore Nuts

[Leado01]

The abundance knee-jerk reactions on this board make me sing soprano.

During the first games when it was apparent that Rubio had not only improved, but was possibly the best (all around) player for our team - I thought folks were suddenly inducting him into the HOF. Now he misses 4 games (under a new trainer with a very good record) and he needs to be trade because he's unreliable? With a glass jaw?

If this was March and we were in the thick of a playoff race Rubio would be on the court. But we're in the third week of the season and there's no reason to rush back from a hamstring strain that could slow you down all season.

Settle down.

[Leado01]

and one more thing . . .

Our defense is atrocious without old glass jaw on the court.

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

Wait, so the fact that we were nearly .500 for the first time in eons isn't important enough for Rubio to grow a pair and actually help the team win? What, he will just sit and come back when we are 4-15 and have no chance at anything meaningful? That sure makes a ton of sense.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Wait, so the fact that we were nearly .500 for the first time in eons isn't important enough for Rubio to grow a pair and actually help the team win? What, he will just sit and come back when we are 4-15 and have no chance at anything meaningful? That sure makes a ton of sense.

While I won't argue with someone that claims he's injury-prone anymore, it's hard for me to say that this is because he can't handle pain. Given the intensity he plays with while on the court, I don't think the "he's just a wussy" argument carries a lot of credibility.

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

The abundance knee-jerk reactions on this board make me sing soprano.

During the first games when it was apparent that Rubio had not only improved, but was possibly the best (all around) player for our team - I thought folks were suddenly inducting him into the HOF. Now he misses 4 games (under a new trainer with a very good record) and he needs to be trade because he's unreliable? With a glass jaw?

If this was March and we were in the thick of a playoff race Rubio would be on the court. But we're in the third week of the season and there's no reason to rush back from a hamstring strain that could slow you down all season.

Settle down.

well it was a career game against the Lakers, then settled back into what Rubio has always been. For much of his improved shot, he's still shooting 39% on the season. Take away that Laker game and he's shooting 31%

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

Wait, so the fact that we were nearly .500 for the first time in eons isn't important enough for Rubio to grow a pair and actually help the team win? What, he will just sit and come back when we are 4-15 and have no chance at anything meaningful? That sure makes a ton of sense.

While I won't argue with someone that claims he's injury-prone anymore, it's hard for me to say that this is because he can't handle pain. Given the intensity he plays with while on the court, I don't think the "he's just a wussy" argument carries a lot of credibility.

Wait, so the fact that we were nearly .500 for the first time in eons isn't important enough for Rubio to grow a pair and actually help the team win? What, he will just sit and come back when we are 4-15 and have no chance at anything meaningful? That sure makes a ton of sense.

While I won't argue with someone that claims he's injury-prone anymore, it's hard for me to say that this is because he can't handle pain. Given the intensity he plays with while on the court, I don't think the "he's just a wussy" argument carries a lot of credibility.

I guess I just don't see it this way. I have seen enough sports, and played enough to see first hand that guys are just built differently in this area. Some guys ARE WILLING TO TOLERATE certain injuries for the sake of the team, while others sit on the bench and recoup. I certainly have no personal insight into Ricky, but he certainly doesn't exhibit any level of toughness. EVERY injury, regardless of seeming severity, tends to keep him sideline for extensive periods of time. Heck, take a look at Curry. Guy was damaged goods coming into the league, and he has managed to play 85% of his games. This was a guy who's career was in question due to chronic issues from the get-go. Is Rubio really just unlucky? Or is he simply unwilling....for whatever reason...to play through these injuries.

The thing that is the nail in the coffin for me is that Ricky simply isn't worth it. Someone irrationally compared KD and Rubio in another example, which is ridiculous (and yes, I realize they weren't comparing the player, but the injury status). KD's talent would almost make it worth having him for 1/2 a season. He is THAT good. He is a top 3 player in the entire world. Rubio is arguably a guy that falls into the best 10-15 PG in the NBA (depends on who you ask). Does he make our team better, despite all his warts.....yep. But not enough to warrant this continued cycle of missing games. This is why I was not on-board with a long term deal. They literally just went through this with Pek, and now they latch on again to another guy just "prone to injury" (Pork's term). Could he get healthy and really help this team...maybe. But as of now, I have zero faith in this guy.

[TAFKASP]

Are you suggesting he couldn't be both the most important player on the Wolves when healthy, and yet because of his growing history of not staying healthy still be a detriment to the team as their singular quality PG?

I'm not with those who would trade Rubio at this point, but I do understand their frustration and know that the longer this history of missing games gets the less value he could bring back in trade. He is without question the straw that stirs the drink, but that drink is quite nasty when not it goes unstirred.

[Lipoli390]

Wait, so the fact that we were nearly .500 for the first time in eons isn't important enough for Rubio to grow a pair and actually help the team win? What, he will just sit and come back when we are 4-15 and have no chance at anything meaningful? That sure makes a ton of sense.

While I won't argue with someone that claims he's injury-prone anymore, it's hard for me to say that this is because he can't handle pain. Given the intensity he plays with while on the court, I don't think the "he's just a wussy" argument carries a lot of credibility.

I agree. Playing all 82 games two seasons ago tells me Ricky is tough and plays through pain. I'm beginning to worry about Ricky being injury prone, but I'm not prepared to conclude that he's a whimp.

[Lipoli390]

Are you suggesting he couldn't be both the most important player on the Wolves when healthy, and yet because of his growing history of not staying healthy still be a detriment to the team as their singular quality PG?

I'm not with those who would trade Rubio at this point, but I do understand their frustration and know that the longer this history of missing games gets the less value he could bring back in trade. He is without question the straw that stirs the drink, but that drink is quite nasty when not it goes unstirred.

Well said. With Ricky, it's all about his physical health. Can he stay on the court or not? If he can, he will be a key part of a contending Wolves team a couple years from now. If not, he won't even be worth trading.

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

Are you suggesting he couldn't be both the most important player on the Wolves when healthy, and yet because of his growing history of not staying healthy still be a detriment to the team as their singular quality PG?

I'm not with those who would trade Rubio at this point, but I do understand their frustration and know that the longer this history of missing games gets the less value he could bring back in trade. He is without question the straw that stirs the drink, but that drink is quite nasty when not it goes unstirred.

What bugs me about Rubio being the most important player is based on the fact of how we do when he's on as opposed to when he's off. I gotta ask though, how do we know that the Wolves wouldn't be as bad or even worse if Towns or Wiggins missed extensive time? We don't because they've been on the court. Rubio's importance stems more from an injury perspective more then a player prospective.