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The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 5:46 pm
by UnFadeable21
One month into the season, wearing the familiar No. 9 on his back, Rubio has never looked more uncomfortable on a basketball court, a stranger in the place he likes to call home. He is averaging career lows in points (6.2), rebounds (3.1), effective field-goal percentage (.369), field-goal percentage (.341), 3-point shooting (.185) and minutes (23.9). He is still trying to figure out how to share a backcourt with Russell with similar success that he had with Donovan Mitchell in Utah and Devin Booker in Phoenix. Karl-Anthony Towns, the player the entire offense is built around, has missed most of the season with a wrist injury and COVID-19. The season was rushed together quickly with little time for training camp and chemistry building, and Rubio had to sit out eight days for contact tracing due to the league’s health and safety protocol, which threw things even more out of whack.
He hasn’t looked like the joyful player he has been most of his career. In his words, he feels … “off.”
“Trying to pick it up, but it’s tough,” Rubio said. “It is what it is. There’s no excuses. I’m going to keep working hard. I’ve been in the league for 10 years and I know who I am, but it’s off. My game is not here, and I’ve got to find it.”
“We expect a lot out of Ricky as a decision-maker, as an organizer out there,” Saunders said. “Ricky is the type of person where he wouldn’t give any excuses, but being out for a few games and the protocols going through and then having to jump into a major role pretty quick there, one that he didn’t have before that, it’s a tough transition.”
“I think Ricky would tell you, too, we’ve got to eliminate the turnovers, especially from our point-guard position,” Saunders said. “Those live-ball turnovers are ones that hurt us on the defensive end, too, and when you’re losing games, no matter who’s in, who’s out, there’s always going to be frustration, too. So it’s about how you handle yourself in the moments in the valleys that make you appreciate the mountains more.”
It would certainly help if Rubio could hit a shot or two. Rubio has never been a sniper, one point of consternation during his first six seasons in Minnesota. But there was considerable optimism about his ability to play off of Russell after Rubio shot a decent 36 percent from deep over 65 games in Phoenix last season. That’s not Ray Allen, but it was enough to keep defenses honest and take a little bit of the pressure of Booker. But Rubio has not made a 3 since New Year’s Day. He is 0 for his last 14 over the previous 10 games and has scored in double figures just once this season.
read the full article here:
https://theathletic.com/2353284/2021/01/29/ricky-rubio-timberwolves-return/
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 5:50 pm
by UnFadeable21
I Love Rubio but does anyone in the entire NBA miss more easy shots than him?
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 5:56 pm
by Calinks
It sucks, it's not just his shooting either, he has been off all over the place. Going to be a huge letdown if he never figures things out here and gets shipped out again. This system and roster aren't kind to his skills but they got to find a way to make it work. Team is struggling super hard to form an identity and KAT being out all season has made it harder. We have very little concept on how to play team ball right now, and it's hard to get a footing on offense or defense.
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 6:03 pm
by UnFadeable21
I was super happy when they traded for Rubio back. I was mad at Thibs for trading Rubio and signing Jeff Teague for even more money. That was an obvious downgrade to everyone in the entire world. For a whole season, Thibs would praise Kris Dunn but bash Ricky. Then the summer came and he moved him to the Jazz for a pick that would become Josh Okogie.
Rubio played with a fury and passion in Utah. He grew out his hair and got tatted up. He took the Jazz to the second round of the playoffs, outplaying the MVP in Westbrook in the first round. Then Utah made the choice to get rid of Ricky and upgrade to Mike Conley. I knew that hurt Rubio bad.
Ricky goes to the Suns on a very lucrative 3 year 51 million contract. They play pretty well for a young team of Booker, Ayton, and Rubio but then they decided to upgrade to CP3.
Rubio comes back and you expect him to be the guy he was the last three seasons away but he’s been overall pretty terrible this year. He’s shown some flashes of his floor general ability but way too many turnovers and the missed layups just drive you crazy. I like that Jim Petersen called out Ricky Rubio the last game broadcast vs the Warriors. If you want to be a leader on the Timberwolves and call out everyone publicly, you have to play way better on the floor yourself. Ricky was missing the most basic shots in basketball and adding in a career worse in FG% & 3pt%.
I’m a fan of Ricky Rubio; I want him to succeed but it’s pretty horrible to see him miss so many point blank layups, shoot flat jumpers that hit the backboard and don’t even touch the rim. This guy has been a professional since he was 16 and the shot is shaky as ever. Now that he is 30, is there any more upside to him? I hope there is but everything inside me is telling me he is who he always is. A solid guy but will never be great basketball player.
He might be the Teddy Bridgewater of the Timberwolves. Great locker room guy but just doesn’t have the ability and skills to ever be elite enough to matter and impact winning on a high level. I hope Ricky Rubio can prove us all wrong once more and to himself.
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 6:53 pm
by Klomp
I've already come to terms with the fact it might not be as long-lasting of a reunion as I originally hoped. Unless they somehow shake things up with a Russell trade, I think Rubio is gone either before the deadline or in the offseason.
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 7:07 pm
by wolves_89
I truly have no idea what happened to Rubio. In the middle of August he was playing great basketball for the Suns in the bubble, yet 4 months later he was a very different player. I don't understand how a veteran guy could see his game drop off so significantly in such a short time.
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 7:52 pm
by SCTwins
I've seen enough Rubio to know that he is what he is. We are surrounding him with awful shooters and screeners.
Even if his game has regressed, which I don't think is necessarily true, we are just compounding it with our rotations.
In that sense, maybe it is true that he won't improve here. I'm not putting the blame on the smartest player we have, though.
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 7:58 pm
by Klomp
SCTwins wrote:I've seen enough Rubio to know that he is what he is. We are surrounding him with awful shooters and screeners.
Even if his game has regressed, which I don't think is necessarily true, we are just compounding it with our rotations.
The funny thing is, is it really any worse than what we put around him early in his career?
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 8:05 pm
by Charly
When Ricky plays well, he is traded but when he plays badly everybody complain about him but nothing happens with his trade.
Sad history. At least he will be able to say that he helped to erase a couple of franchises.
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 8:42 pm
by shangrila
I think everyone deserves some benefit of the doubt. A new team, COVID and no training camp is throwing everyone off.
The issue runs far deeper than him though. The offence is a mess and the team overall has no identity. At least last season we were bombing away from 3 and could hang our hat on that. Not anymore, and I don't know why.
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 8:55 pm
by Baseline81
shangrila wrote:I think everyone deserves some benefit of the doubt. A new team, COVID and no training camp is throwing everyone off.
The issue runs far deeper than him though. The offence is a mess and the team overall has no identity. At least last season we were bombing away from 3 and could hang our hat on that. Not anymore, and I don't know why.
How does this not fall on Saunders?
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:32 pm
by AbeVigodaLive
Rubio.
Westbrook.
Redick.
Three seasoned vets who seemingly were pushed off the cliff by Father Time sometime before December.
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:35 pm
by shangrila
Baseline81 wrote:shangrila wrote:I think everyone deserves some benefit of the doubt. A new team, COVID and no training camp is throwing everyone off.
The issue runs far deeper than him though. The offence is a mess and the team overall has no identity. At least last season we were bombing away from 3 and could hang our hat on that. Not anymore, and I don't know why.
How does this not fall on Saunders?
Did I say it didn't?
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:53 pm
by Baseline81
shangrila wrote:Did I say it didn't?
Your words: I don't know why.
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:18 pm
by shangrila
Baseline81 wrote:shangrila wrote:Did I say it didn't?
Your words: I don't know why.
As in "I don't know why they made that decision", not "I'm a moron who can't figure out who might be responsible".
You want to blame it on Saunders, have at it. Don't try and turn it around on me like I'm sticking up for him.
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 3:55 am
by PharmD
I dunno, i'm nervous. Ricky checked in for the 3rd quarter and immediately dribbled off his knee. Never seen him do anything like that. So many passes getting tipped, dribbles getting stripped.
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 4:06 am
by Jedzz
SCTwins wrote:I've seen enough Rubio to know that he is what he is. We are surrounding him with awful shooters and screeners.
Even if his game has regressed, which I don't think is necessarily true, we are just compounding it with our rotations.
In that sense, maybe it is true that he won't improve here. I'm not putting the blame on the smartest player we have, though.
There must be real reasons why everyone else is playing like trash as well. You've hinted at one of the problems, the other is the guy stacking the roster into oblivion. Not only have they done everything possibly wrong with roster moves this offseason that they could, but I think there is just something inherently wrong with how they are busting time in the gym as a team. No team gets worse at shooting and worse at working together as a team as the seasons progress quite like the Wolves always do.
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 4:10 am
by Jedzz
PharmD wrote:I dunno, i'm nervous. Ricky checked in for the 3rd quarter and immediately dribbled off his knee. Never seen him do anything like that. So many passes getting tipped, dribbles getting stripped.
Somene is tainting the water bottles with hornet spray?
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 8:37 am
by Charly
If I were Rubio, I would take advantage of this year and stop looking at my teammates so much.
Most of his mistakes are caused because his first idea is to find partners instead of shooting.
I think it would be more selfish and I would recover my shot by shooting more to the basket.
This is how he played in Phoenix and it turned out well, he does not need to look for teammates, he will simply find them if he thinks about him first.
Be selfish my friend.
I know it is something you never did, but it is the moment.
Get your 15-20 points and for the next match. Forget assists, they are going to come by themself.
Re: The Ricky Rubio Problem
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 9:24 am
by Jedzz
shangrila wrote:I think everyone deserves some benefit of the doubt. A new team, COVID and no training camp is throwing everyone off.
The issue runs far deeper than him though. The offence is a mess and the team overall has no identity. At least last season we were bombing away from 3 and could hang our hat on that. Not anymore, and I don't know why.
I don't know why they backed off the 3s either. They weren't any better at hitting them last year really. They were topping out at 30% on the good nights last year. But they would take 40 shots and stay in games and pressure opponents with them.
I heard the team and those who like to speak for the team and futher their message make statements about how one of Dlo's talents is hitting a few long 2 jumpers so to expect that. That's fine. But that shouldn't have opened the door for everyone. There was reasoning behind their strict scheme last year. This year Russell, Beasley, Edwards so many taking long 2s, short 2s. Cut them all out. Get back to that 40+ threes at 30% at least. At least with everyone looking weak at it nobody feels stupid taking the shots. Otherwise feed the warm shooters whoever it may be that game.
All I can figure is it has something to do with the offseason bright idea of someone to tell all the guards they need to increase individual playmaking. We heard it in preseason and as the season started from players and it was evident in what a number of players were doing. Players need to get open. I'm starting to see players drive in and then when the defense collapse in they turn to find out nobody is home. Only guys like JMac, Edwards, Beasely are getting passes back out. I saw Layman pissed once this last game when he drove into a wall then couldn't find anyone rolling over to become a kick target. He looked pissed after that possession.