What's gong on with Rubio?

[Shepseskaf]

Early in the season, so many threads were posted about Rubio being "legit", and how all the "haters" were wrong, etc., etc.

What's going on now? His statline last night against the Lakers (and Fisher) was pathetic.

3 pts on 1-8 shooting, no free throws, and 3 rebounds? He did have 9 assists, but overall what a horrific line.

I've been a skeptic on the kid, but even I didn't see a drop-off as bad as this. He's one of the worst-shooting starting guards in the league, and it doesn't look like things are going to get much better.

I've caught Wolves games when I can, but haven't seen that much of him in the last month. So what's up, Rubio fans? Is the honeymoon over? Is he not working hard enough on his shooting? What's the deal?

I guessing that he won't be starting much longer if this trend keeps up.

[roffie]

derek fisher and mwp defence tonight was air tight. don't blame the kid

[RazorBaLade]

To be honest, TONIGHT, it was just clear rookie in the NBA stuff.

He was making fisher look like hes in concrete shoes, but he was SO scared of contact from bynum. Complete opposite of Lin/Parker type players.... As soon as he raped fisher he saw bynum and took some awkward step back fadeaway from 8 ft that was never strong enough to be a bank shot and way too strong to be a floater. Happened like 5 times.

Just destroyed by interior defense tonight. He's good in other ways, but he either will learn how to shoot or learn how to finish..... He can't do either atm.

[Shepseskaf]

but he was SO scared of contact from bynum. Complete opposite of Lin/Parker type players....

I've noticed that about Rubio. He doesn't seem to like mixing it up. As you said, Lin just throws his body into people and is much more aggressive offensively.

[Toizumi]

Early in the season, so many threads were posted about Rubio being "legit", and how all the "haters" were wrong, etc., etc.

What's going on now? His statline last night against the Lakers (and Fisher) was pathetic.

3 pts on 1-8 shooting, no free throws, and 3 rebounds? He did have 9 assists, but overall what a horrific line.

I've been a skeptic on the kid, but even I didn't see a drop-off as bad as this. He's one of the worst-shooting starting guards in the league, and it doesn't look like things are going to get much better.

I've caught Wolves games when I can, but haven't seen that much of him in the last month. So what's up, Rubio fans? Is the honeymoon over? Is he not working hard enough on his shooting? What's the deal?

I guessing that he won't be starting much longer if this trend keeps up.

Haven’t seen last nights game.. but Rubio started the season on a hot streak, shooting around 50%, which was very surprising since he was known to be a poor shooter. It has become evident that his shot still isn’t great, but that was expected.
He has proven though, that he is one of the league’s greatest passers already and a good defensive PG, with great hands, good leadership, great positioning on the court. He makes his teammates better as well.
He needs to work on his shot and needs to learn how to take care of the ball (high TO numbers). He’s not going to lose his starting gig anytime soon..

I've noticed that about Rubio. He doesn't seem to like mixing it up. As you said, Lin just throws his body into people and is much more aggressive offensively.

Rubio doesn't like contact and shies away from it. Something he needs to work on, because he has good driving skills. Parker and Lin are scorers though and eventhough both put up good assist numbers, they're not pass first guys. Different type of players. That doesn't take away the fact that Rubio needs to go for contact more often.

[Nero Tulip]

Just the rookie wall... nothing to see there. Irving is having bad games as well. As far as the shooting goes though, get used to it as Rubio isn't, and never has been, a good shooter. Still an amazing player in other areas.

[Shepseskaf]

Just the rookie wall... nothing to see there.

He isn't a typical rookie coming out of college, though. He's been a professional since his mid-teens in a league that's just a few notches below the NBA?

So, I'm not so sure if I really buy the "just a rookie" excuse.

Also, I still can't figure out how he could spend so many years playing in a league that places a premium on good shooting, and still be so lousy.

[Qwertyazerty]

Ricky 2 point shooting is horrible and has always been, so was his 3 pt shooting previous to this season. During Lockout he's been working on his 3 pt shoot and has improved into an acceptable level. He has actually better 3pt % than Jennings, Conley, Lin, Rondo, Nate, Rose, Lawson, Ellis, Westbrook, Kidd, Fisher, Parker and Wall, among starting PG. Not many of them attempt more 3 pointers than him. Lin 41 attempts for Rubio 86, for example. He is not a specialist but is getting better and is not that bad compare to other starting point guards. And shooting guards like Kobe have worst 3 pt shooting than him. His team specialist 3 pt shooter (Ridnour) also has worst 3pt %. And believe me no Ridnour or Barea is going to push Rubio out of the wolves starting five.

He was drafted for his playmaking and is top 5 in APG while not being top 10 in TOPG, while Nash and Rondo (two of the best playmakers and only players clearly surpassing Rubio's APG) are both top 10 (Rondo even top 5) in TOPG.

On top of that he's been helping wolves with his defence and is actually second in SPG.

His team is 0.500 and playing well.

What's wrong with Ricky??? Don't know, tell me.

He isn't a typical rookie coming out of college, though. He's been a professional since his mid-teens in a league that's just a few notches below the NBA?

So, I'm not so sure if I really buy the "just a rookie" excuse.

Also, I still can't figure out how he could spend so many years playing in a league that places a premium on good shooting, and still be so lousy.

In ACB there are 34 regular season games (if I'm not wrong, 18 teams playing twice each other)… so try to find another argument. And if you don't know anything about ACB why are you using it as an argument… there are plenty of average to bellow average shooters in ACB. That's a team oriented style of play and Rubio is good in that sense.


I like the player and also appreciate other point guards without having to compare them… why can't people do the same??? It is great to have rubios, irvings, roses, westbrooks, lins, walls, rondos, parkers, etc.

[chains5000]

In ACB there are 34 regular season games

You have to add Euroleague games, 18 games for him last season, Cup games, 3 last season, and playoff games too, 8.

That makes it 61 games. How long is the regular season?

[Yung D-Will]

If you honestly think there's a possibilty of the guy who's 5th in the leauge in assist and second in the leauge in steals losing his starting spot then you're honestly a retard. That's like the Celts telling Rondo he can't play cause he's struggling with his shot.

He's one of the leauge leader in two major states but because he's struggling to score the honeymoons over?

I swear you just find a reason to hate the kid

[ZenMaster]

You have to add Euroleague games, 18 games for him last season, Cup games, 3 last season, and playoff games too, 8.

That makes it 61 games. How long is the regular season?

Still it's not like he went through 61 games in Europe shining all the way, he had ups and downs there as well, you should expect the same for him in the NBA.

It's OK, even though he came in looking real good there's still a learning curve for him and he's still young.

The whole "he's played pro since he was young" argument is moot, and by using it you're basically saying young prospects playing pro in Europe per definition are better prospects than the ones playing in college.

I still think he's doing good though and impacting the game, even though he's having trouble shooting.

[Qwertyazerty]

You have to add Euroleague games, 18 games for him last season, Cup games, 3 last season, and playoff games too, 8.

That makes it 61 games. How long is the regular season?

61 games from september to may versus 62 games from end december to end of april.
FIBA games are 40 minutes long with him averaging 20 mpg last seasons. NBA games are 48 minutes long, faster pace and with him averaging 30 mpg with back to back to back games…
Traveling around Spain (except for Euroleague games) compared to traveling around USA...

I guess he has no right to hit a rookie wall… right?

[chains5000]

I'm not hating on Rubio, he also played during the summer so he could be tired now.
Just saying the difference in games played isn't that big.

Of course, there's more time between games here too...

[Qwertyazerty]

Of course, there's more time between games here too...

Not only that but, as I told you his minutes per game have increased 50% and that also affects his stamina and endurance.

[chains5000]

Not only that but, as I told you his minutes per game have increased 50% and that also affects his stamina and endurance.

Yeah, Sada was playing as much minutes as him for Barcelona.