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Russell Robinson joins Houston Rockets

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jun/2 ... n_rockets/

Russell Robinson has accepted an invitation to play for the Houston Rockets’ summer-league team.
The former Kansas point guard has joined the Rockets as an undrafted free agent. “I worked out for them twice. They liked me,” Robinson said Friday. “They said they can use a guy like me.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiqNohNFaIY

Robinson said he was a tad disappointed he wasn’t selected in Thursday’s NBA Draft. He accepted the Rockets’ offer just an hour after the draft ended. “I wanted to get drafted just to go down in the record books,” Robinson said. “But I talked to coach (Bill Self) before the draft and he said it might be best to not get drafted and pick a team or go to a team that really wants me. It’s an ongoing audition (for the NBA or Europe).”

http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profile ... inson.html
Strengths: Plays smothering on the ball defense ... He best attribute is by far his defense ... Second in steals behind Mario Chalmers with 76, but Chalmers plays the passing lane more while Robinson stays more on the ball pressuring the ball handler the entire length of the court ... All Big 12 Defensive first team ... Led the team in assists his first full year running the team with 152 ... Shows the ability to run the PG position ... Honorable Mention All Big 12 selection ... Third on the team in scoring at 9.3 ppg. Decent rebounder for a PG, hauling down thee boards a game ... Heady player, makes good decisions with the ball ... His excellent assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.08 was good for second in the Big 12.

Russell Robinson of Kansas, the best defensive guard in college hoops.
http://thebiglead.com/?p=5275

Russell Robinson of Kansas, in our estimation, is the best defensive guard in college hoops. We thought this back in December, when he forced USC’s OJ Mayo into a 6-for-21 afternoon. Robinson locked up Scottie Reynolds of Villanova (4-for-13) in the regional semifinal, and then did an admirable job against Stephen Curry of Davidson (9-for-25, his worst shooting performance since February) in the regional final. And if you watched that game, you know that Bill Self swapped slow-footed Brandon Rush onto Curry at times, so we’d have to check the tape and find out just how few Curry had on Robinson.


Russell Robinson steals show on defense
6-foot-1 guard ready for quick opponents
Robinson’s impressive defense on USC’s O.J. Mayo caught his coach’s attention.

http://www.kansan.com/stories/2007/dec/ ... w_defense/

Doubt he makes the team.

He aint gonna make the team but hey we gotta fill the summer league squad with 12 players somehow.

Anyone know if Novak/Brooks/Head are playing?

I definitely see Brooks playing. Novak i dont know. But Head should. He's about the same level as these undrafted scrubs.

Guy986 wrote:Anyone know if Novak/Brooks/Head are playing?

I definitely see Brooks playing. Novak i dont know. But Head should. He's about the same level as these undrafted scrubs.

You're just mad at Head for disappearing in the playoffs again.

If JL3 looks like Tony Parker in the summer league, you KNOW Head would totally dominate.

Head doesn't have Brooks or JL3's handle. He won't dominate anyone. Without Yao giving him open looks, he'll probably just average like 12 pts in the summer league on 38% shooting.

I'm going to predict more like 22. I guess there's only one way to be certain, but if I were a betting man I'd put money on 20 or better.

We don't need him as a backup. Plus, Rafer Alston is a much better defender that this kid.

T-Mac United wrote:We don't need him as a backup. Plus, Rafer Alston is a much better defender that this kid.

Rafer is not getting any younger. Aaron will need to play w/ another defensive point guard to deal w/ all the fast/athletic/young points in the league that are too strong for him. Russell Robinson was a better point guard defender than Chalmers for Kansas.

he's just someone we signed to fill the summer league roster or the preseason roster
he's not going to make the team

Rocketsterps wrote:

T-Mac United wrote:We don't need him as a backup. Plus, Rafer Alston is a much better defender that this kid.

Rafer is not getting any younger. Aaron will need to play w/ another defensive point guard to deal w/ all the fast/athletic/young points in the league that are too strong for him. Russell Robinson was a better point guard defender than Chalmers for Kansas.

That doesn't matter. Robinson and Brooks are similar in style. And Brooks is better. Redundancy is the last thing we need. Plus, think about who's going to be cut if we're to get him.

MaxRider wrote:he's just someone we signed to fill the summer league roster or the preseason roster
he's not going to make the team

people said the same thing about Mike Harris and Chuck Hayes

texasholdem wrote:

MaxRider wrote:he's just someone we signed to fill the summer league roster or the preseason roster
he's not going to make the team

people said the same thing about Mike Harris and Chuck Hayes

Exactly. Daryl Morey would not have worked him out twice & pounce on him an hour after the draft ended just to fill a summer league roster. He realizes we need a defensive specialist at the one off the bench. Rafer is in his 30's and Aaron Brooks at 160 pounds wet can't defend the Deron Williams/Chris Paul/ Tony Parker/Baron Davis/ Jared Bayless/ Russell Westbrook/ Eric Gordan/ Randy Foye/ Monte Ellis types.

T-Mac United wrote:We don't need him as a backup. Plus, Rafer Alston is a much better defender that this kid.

Skip is garbage. I hope Brooks improves a lot over the summer.

Morey just might be thinking in terms of the season w/this kid. He goes to D-League,gaining experience-and perhaps a Rockets mentor to teach him offense. Meanwhile Francis gets packaged this summer. Jackson gets traded at Feb deadline. Rockets are down to 2 PGs and bring him up for stretch run. Alston gets the bulk of minutes,Brooks comes in for offense,Robinson comes in if defense is needed.

texasholdem wrote:

MaxRider wrote:he's just someone we signed to fill the summer league roster or the preseason roster
he's not going to make the team

people said the same thing about Mike Harris and Chuck Hayes

i guess you forgot how they joined the team
both were waived during preseason and rejoined the team because of injuries
since they were with us in preseason so they know something about our system
it's better to sign someone who know your system during mid-season

People forget that Robinson's offense is not as bad as it appears overall. His job at Kansas was not to score, there were plenty of other players to do so. With that being said, his 9.3 PPG at Kansas would be like 15-17 PPG on a team with a lot less talent. Yes, he is a tremendous defender, good rebounder for a PG, and he is has a high basketball IQ. His only knock is he is a so-so outside shooter that is streaky. Think Jacque Vaughn when dealing with Robinson. He is the perfect type of #2 or at least #3 PG on a roster. To close his biggest attribute overall might be the fact he is a WINNER more than anything.