Souhan on Ricky

[Papalrep]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/239528601.html

Harsh. Maybe deserved. Disappointing that Ricky didn't fix his shot last off season. If he wants another contract, he's gonna have to.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

There are multiple reasons we've lost close games: Bad luck, bad referees, lack of stops, and missed shots that would have won the game for us.

The biggest problem with Rubio's poor shooting is that it does take an arrow out of Adelman's quiver when it comes to late game options. To Souhan's point, if we had a more offensively competent PG, we could run pick and roll with him and Love, surround them with shooters (Martin and Budinger) and then let them have at it. Do I think that's the sole reason we're 0-10 in close games? Nope. Should we give up on Ricky? Heck no - he does a bunch of stuff really well that helps put us in a position to win. But it is a legitimate handicap, just like having a Love-Pekovic frontcourt makes it tough to get critical stops on defense. I have no near-term solution that would make us any better.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Honestly, I care more about the finishing at the rim than the jumpshooting. Mid-range jumpers are the worst shot to take in the game. He's a big, 6'4 PG. He should be able to go right through his man most nights on his way to the basket. Instead he tries to sell contact and puts up a weak shot. If I was Adelman, I would have him running PnR's against Shved and Pek in practice and force him to go hard at the basket or get eaten alive by Pek or Shved's height advantage. Have an assistant coach hitting him with a bag in practice as he is trying to finish at the rim. Do anything to change his mindset from trying to sell the foul to trying to "and1" everything on his way to the rim. Rondo and Parker are PnR God's because of their finishing at the rim more than their jumpshooting ability. They only use the jumpshot as an offset when the defense absolutely is giving it to them, otherwise, they are pushing the ball into the paint to get to the rim. You would think with how much more physical Euro ball is that he would be able to go to the hole with some purpose and go up strong, but I guess he never learned to do that in his many years as a pro.

[thedoper]

I think this offseason is make or break time for Ricky. There has to be a huge improvement in his jumper if he wants to be a legitimate starter in the league. I think he gets it right and beefs up. The kid gloves have got to come off in our organization though. The message needs to be clear to him to get his shit together.

[Papalrep]

[Should we give up on Ricky? Heck no - he does a bunch of stuff really well that helps put us in a position to win -
I agree, I still am a fan. Just disappointed. I really, Really want to stick with Ricky and make it work. My fear is he gets discouraged and decides this isn't the best place for him

Doper said:
I think this offseason is make or break time for Ricky. There has to be a huge improvement in his jumper if he wants to be a legitimate starter in the league. I think he gets it right and beefs up. The kid gloves have got to come off in our organization though. The message needs to be clear to him to get his shit together.

Agree with this to - Ricky needs to work on his NBA game, not run off and play for Spain this summer. I am hopeful he is embarassed that Lilliard, Et al have passed him by, and wants to fix this