Minnesota Sports Forum

http://www.startribune.com/wolves-ricky-rubio-becoming-an-effective-scorer-if-you-haven-t-noticed/415824914/

TeamRicky wrote:http://www.startribune.com/wolves-ricky-rubio-becoming-an-effective-scorer-if-you-haven-t-noticed/415824914/

Here are some numbers that would have been nice to have included in the article. Rubio is shooting career highs in these areas:

FG% .390
FT% .861
Shots from 10 out to the 3 point line over 40%
2 pt% .443
Pull up% .405
2 dribbles% .514

And the guy just looks like he wants to take shots and has objected some of his flair for passing into his scoring. It's been a fun ride I'm curious to see how the season plays out with him.

monsterpile wrote:

TeamRicky wrote:http://www.startribune.com/wolves-ricky-rubio-becoming-an-effective-scorer-if-you-haven-t-noticed/415824914/

Here are some numbers that would have been nice to have included in the article. Rubio is shooting career highs in these areas:

FG% .390
FT% .861
Shots from 10 out to the 3 point line over 40%
2 pt% .443
Pull up% .405
2 dribbles% .514

And the guy just looks like he wants to take shots and has objected some of his flair for passing into his scoring. It's been a fun ride I'm curious to see how the season plays out with him.

Yeah, his mid-range jumper has really become solid. He's not far off from being "good enough" from 3, having hung around the high 20s to low 30s his entire career in terms of percentage. If he can just get that consistently into the mid 30s, he'd be golden. Not sure it will ever happen though.

Q12543 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

TeamRicky wrote:http://www.startribune.com/wolves-ricky-rubio-becoming-an-effective-scorer-if-you-haven-t-noticed/415824914/

Here are some numbers that would have been nice to have included in the article. Rubio is shooting career highs in these areas:

FG% .390
FT% .861
Shots from 10 out to the 3 point line over 40%
2 pt% .443
Pull up% .405
2 dribbles% .514

And the guy just looks like he wants to take shots and has objected some of his flair for passing into his scoring. It's been a fun ride I'm curious to see how the season plays out with him.

Yeah, his mid-range jumper has really become solid. He's not far off from being "good enough" from 3, having hung around the high 20s to low 30s his entire career in terms of percentage. If he can just get that consistently into the mid 30s, he'd be golden. Not sure it will ever happen though.

The odd thing is how he has shot the ball from the cornersthis season although he has been up and down there in his career. Typically guys can hit that shot at a higher rate. Right now it seems he is shooting all 3's (haven't looked at the shot chart just corners or not) at about the same rate. I think it would be sorta odd if he wasn't able to hit corner 3's at the rate you suggested would be good enough. I said before last season this season was the true year we could make an assessment of Rubio could make some real progress as a shooter and therefore scorer. I'm still skeptical (and so am a big fan) but he is giving a very tiny sliver but legit hope right now the way he is playing and shooting the ball and some of that has been happening for a few months.

I don't know Monster....I have sort of given up anything other than just a sliver of hope that he will ever be anything other than a borderline-at-best competent shooter, i.e. pretty much what we're seeing now.

My thing with Rubio though is that I think when he's healthy and engaged, he's a net plus to the team DESPITE his shooting woes. In other words, I don't think it's this intractable issue that makes or breaks him as a solid NBA PG. Others have argued otherwise and given up all hope.

Now if we think ultimately Kris Dunn can be a better all-around PG than Rubio, then by all means, we should try to get maximum value for Rubio on the trade market. But I'm not there yet.

This is just my opinion, but I believe Rubio has been a poor scorer because he does not try to score. It's hard to be good at something if you don't make it part of your game. That has obviously changed in recent weeks -- Rubio is looking to score. Not exclusively, but he is making it part of his game.

Didn't Flip try demanding Rubio look to score more at one point?

Anyway, whether it is at the bidding of this coaching staff, or a change Rubio has taken on himself (maybe due to all the trade talk?), Rubio is now looking to score as well. If this is a permanent change, then I believe he will become a competent scorer, as he has shown the past few weeks.

[Edit: A Rubio that can score is a PG Thibs might decided to hang on to...]

Starters who have improved statistically and visually since LaVine got hurt: Rubio, KAT, Wig

Starters who have regressed since LaVine got hurt: Dieng (he even commented on this in the Strib this week).

More evidence that Zach's best role when he returns next year might be as a potent scorer off the bench.

60WinTim wrote:This is just my opinion, but I believe Rubio has been a poor scorer because he does not try to score. It's hard to be good at something if you don't make it part of your game. That has obviously changed in recent weeks -- Rubio is looking to score. Not exclusively, but he is making it part of his game.

Didn't Flip try demanding Rubio look to score more at one point?

Anyway, whether it is at the bidding of this coaching staff, or a change Rubio has taken on himself (maybe due to all the trade talk?), Rubio is now looking to score as well. If this is a permanent change, then I believe he will become a competent scorer, as he has shown the past few weeks.

[Edit: A Rubio that can score is a PG Thibs might decided to hang on to...]

Tim, I agree to a point. Rubio can't completely look to defer and be too passive, as it can really gum things up with our offensive flow. On the other hand, I've seen him take some heat-checks lately and they are simply not good shots. Guys like LaVine, Wiggins, and KAT are all allowed to take a heat check occasionally, especially when they are hot. But Rubio needs to focus on taking only good shots and only when there is no other better option (or the shot clock is winding down). He's just not efficient enough to be taking more shots than absolutely necessary.

Q12543 wrote:

60WinTim wrote:This is just my opinion, but I believe Rubio has been a poor scorer because he does not try to score. It's hard to be good at something if you don't make it part of your game. That has obviously changed in recent weeks -- Rubio is looking to score. Not exclusively, but he is making it part of his game.

Didn't Flip try demanding Rubio look to score more at one point?

Anyway, whether it is at the bidding of this coaching staff, or a change Rubio has taken on himself (maybe due to all the trade talk?), Rubio is now looking to score as well. If this is a permanent change, then I believe he will become a competent scorer, as he has shown the past few weeks.

[Edit: A Rubio that can score is a PG Thibs might decided to hang on to...]

Tim, I agree to a point. Rubio can't completely look to defer and be too passive, as it can really gum things up with our offensive flow. On the other hand, I've seen him take some heat-checks lately and they are simply not good shots. Guys like LaVine, Wiggins, and KAT are all allowed to take a heat check occasionally, especially when they are hot. But Rubio needs to focus on taking only good shots and only when there is no other better option (or the shot clock is winding down). He's just not efficient enough to be taking more shots than absolutely necessary.

But that's the kind of thinking that has made him a poor scorer his entire career. If taking a few "bad" shots is necessary for him to learn how to be a better scorer, then I don't have a problem with it. Now, if two years from now he is still taking "bad" shots, then, yeah, we can talk... :)

Good points by all. I have always been on the side that says we need a better player/scorer at this spot. But I have also stated that his play lately shows that he CAN score when he puts his mind to it, and it really opens up opportunities for this team. In the past, there are just so many examples of him deferring on automatic layups and passing out to a guy for a 20 foot shot. That simply can't happen at this level. Many have compared Rubio and Rondo throughout the years, and the only major difference (despite obvious mental makeup) is that Rondo has always been good about taking advantage of scoring in the paint when available. I am less concerned with Rubio ever becoming a consistent scorer from distance, but rather I think he needs to get to the bucket and make the right play at or near the rim. This will bring up his efficiency, and also allow him to get to the line more. 3 point shooting is gravy as far as I am concerned.