So. 4 years in with Ricky Rubio...

[AbeVigodaLive]

I said before the season that this was a HUGE season for Rubio. In order to break into the upper echelon of NBA PGs, he'd have to make significant improvement this season. After 3 years of mostly stops and starts... it was time to figure out exactly what the Timberwolves had at PG.

Did we learn anything? Do we know what to expect at this point?

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

I said before the season that this was a HUGE season for Rubio. In order to break into the upper echelon of NBA PGs, he'd have to make significant improvement this season. After 3 years of mostly stops and starts... it was time to figure out exactly what the Timberwolves had at PG.

Did we learn anything? Do we know what to expect at this point?

You forgot to add his Euro coaches to blame for not developing his jump shot

[Phenom]

I blame his neatly cropped haircut. His magical abilities always came from his floppy mop top.

[Coolbreeze44]

The biggest concern is his ability to stay on the court. So much so that Mudiay should be a consideration for us in the draft. You can win a title with Ricky as your PG, he just hast to be able to stay on the court.

[AbeVigodaLive]

The biggest concern is his ability to stay on the court. So much so that Mudiay should be a consideration for us in the draft. You can win a title with Ricky as your PG, he just hast to be able to stay on the court.

What needs to be around him to get to that point?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Who was Dennis Rodman surrounded by? Who was Jason Kidd surrounded by? Who was Ben Wallace surrounded by? All of these guys were low-scoring players that won titles with Detroit, Chicago, and Dallas. I would argue in all three cases they were among the top 3 players of their respective teams.

So I couldn't check a box because the choice of "elite role player" wasn't an option.

Rubio needs shooters, scorers, and other guys willing to defend and play as hard as he does. Once he has those, the sky is the limit.

[Coolbreeze44]

The biggest concern is his ability to stay on the court. So much so that Mudiay should be a consideration for us in the draft. You can win a title with Ricky as your PG, he just hast to be able to stay on the court.

What needs to be around him to get to that point?

Thanks for asking Abe - here is my list:

1) A coach that plays to his strengths - getting him in the open court and distributing on the fly
2) Guys that can run with him (aka Wiggins, Lavine and a big like Faried)
3) Another all star player in addition to Wiggins
4) Multiple shooters who can make the defense pay for collapsing on Rubio when he drives

[AbeVigodaLive]

The biggest concern is his ability to stay on the court. So much so that Mudiay should be a consideration for us in the draft. You can win a title with Ricky as your PG, he just hast to be able to stay on the court.

What needs to be around him to get to that point?

Thanks for asking Abe - here is my list:

1) A coach that plays to his strengths - getting him in the open court and distributing on the fly
2) Guys that can run with him (aka Wiggins, Lavine and a big like Faried)
3) Another all star player in addition to Wiggins
4) Multiple shooters who can make the defense pay for collapsing on Rubio when he drives

Can a guy like Calderon or Holiday or Knight win a title with the same things around him?

[Coolbreeze44]

The biggest concern is his ability to stay on the court. So much so that Mudiay should be a consideration for us in the draft. You can win a title with Ricky as your PG, he just hast to be able to stay on the court.

What needs to be around him to get to that point?

Thanks for asking Abe - here is my list:

1) A coach that plays to his strengths - getting him in the open court and distributing on the fly
2) Guys that can run with him (aka Wiggins, Lavine and a big like Faried)
3) Another all star player in addition to Wiggins
4) Multiple shooters who can make the defense pay for collapsing on Rubio when he drives

Can a guy like Calderon or Holiday or Knight win a title with the same things around him?

Maybe Holiday

[AbeVigodaLive]

Who was Dennis Rodman surrounded by? Who was Jason Kidd surrounded by? Who was Ben Wallace surrounded by? All of these guys were low-scoring players that won titles with Detroit, Chicago, and Dallas. I would argue in all three cases they were among the top 3 players of their respective teams.

So I couldn't check a box because the choice of "elite role player" wasn't an option.

Rubio needs shooters, scorers, and other guys willing to defend and play as hard as he does. Once he has those, the sky is the limit.

Sorry for not using the exact terms you wanted. He could still be an "elite role player" and be included in the first option... or the second option.

It's a matter of whether you think his current level is at the elite role player level. Or, if he has to improve to get there. The point is more about the stagnation in his development. He's essentially the same player now as he's always been. We can point to minimal improvement in a stat here or there... but he's still an excellent passer, good defender and horrific shooter. Add it all up, 4 years in... and what have we learned about him? What do the Wolves have?

As for the examples you gave... I'm not seeing the Kidd one. Jason Terry was instrumental to that title. So was Chandler. I think Kidd was a placeholder of sorts, although his defensive versatility (along with Marion) was pretty huge. But putting him 3rd or 4th or 5th is a pretty minor quibble.