Rui Hachimura

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This draft is nothing at all like Ernie's drafts. ...the Wizards BOUGHT a second round draft pick!...is a refreshing, promising break with the past.

Ok, fair enough -- gotta agree with this at least!

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...I guess if we called his fan club RuiNation, that could be negatively misconstrued.

Zing!! Outstanding!

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...Is Clarke's lack of bulk going to allow him to rebound as well in the NBA? He's certainly not going to block NBA bigs out on a regulr basis. Tyrus Thomas was a monster rebounder at LSU playing next to Big Baby - getting 14 rebounds per 36 minutes. In the NBA, he averaged 8.8 rebounds per 36. Why is that going to be different for Clarke? And Thomas was actually a little bigger than Clarke.

What makes Tyrus Thomas, good or bad, any kind of model for Brandon Clarke, I wonder?

How big was Dennis Rodman? Why is Steph such an outstanding rebounding guard? Size?

The biggest differences between Brandon Clarke & a whole bunch of other guys are a) his incredible athleticism -- not just jumping but jumping twice, jumping to the right place... I mean... you've watched him, right? And b) his extremely high BBIQ.

He is going to be an exceptional player in the NBA. The evidence for that is in how exceptional he has been so far.

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What's the point of raw talent if it can't be actualized? How does raw talent get actualized?

1. High degree of skill.
2. High b-ball IQ, excellen feel/awareness.
3. High motor.

Rui has the motor on offense and modest skill.

He's 21, also a bit older than your typical project.

Were celebrating his work ethic, but the majority of draft picks are hard workers. What separates Rui from anyone else that works hard? Hell, what separates Rui above his teammate Brandon Clarke who clearly has worked hard at his game and is far far more productive and far more athletic?

The sole advantages Rui has over Clarke is in the modest shooting skill and his frame/height. Every other physical or mental attribute, Clarke has an significant advantage.

So please explain the whole, "more raw talent than Clarke" statement to me. I'd love to understand why.

My dude. What's got you so bent out of shape about this? I get it. You loved Brandon Clarke. But there wasn't much that separated him from Rui. He wasn't "far" superior to him by any stretch of the imagination but you speak of him like the gulf was Zion and...Eddy Curry.

Explain that to me.

So we've gone from Rui having much more raw talent to there wasn't much separating the two?

Are we backtracking now?

I'm always cool as a cucumber

Rui is definitely not Eddy Curry! But, yes, Clarke was definitely far superior to Rui. Just look at the per 40 minute numbers; there's no comparison. For example, use Kevin's YODA roll-up on a per-40 minute basis.

Here's the formula, do the simple arithmetic yourself:

First, add up:
points
.3 x defensive rebounds
.7 x offensive rebounds
steals
.5 x (assists + blocks)

That gives you a first number. Now, add up:

.7 x (field goals missed)
field goals made
turnovers
.5 x (free throw attempts + fouls)

to get a second number.

Now subtract the second number from the first number. That's the player's YODA number.

I did it for you: Rui's YODA number is just under 9.8. Clarke's is 15.2.

Clarke's YODA # per 40 minutes is over 55% higher than Hachimura. That's an enormous difference.

[DCZards]

Rui is definitely not Eddy Curry! But, yes, Clarke was definitely far superior to Rui. Just look at the per 40 minute numbers; there's no comparison.

For example, use Kevin's YODA roll-up on a per-40 minute basis. Here's the formula, run it yourself:

First, add up:
points
.3 x defensive rebounds
.7 x offensive rebounds
steals
.5 x (assists + blocks)

That gives you a first number. Now, add up:

.7 x (field goals missed)
field goals made
turnovers
.5 x (free throw attempts + fouls)

to get a second number.

Now subtract the second number from the first number. That's the player's YODA number.

Rui's YODA number is just under 9.1. Clarke's is 15.3.

That's an enormous difference.

Of course, none of this proves that Clarke is going to be a better NBA player than Rui.

[truwizfan4evr]

Rui is definitely not Eddy Curry! But, yes, Clarke was definitely far superior to Rui. Just look at the per 40 minute numbers; there's no comparison.

For example, use Kevin's YODA roll-up on a per-40 minute basis. Here's the formula, run it yourself:

First, add up:
points
.3 x defensive rebounds
.7 x offensive rebounds
steals
.5 x (assists + blocks)

That gives you a first number. Now, add up:

.7 x (field goals missed)
field goals made
turnovers
.5 x (free throw attempts + fouls)

to get a second number.

Now subtract the second number from the first number. That's the player's YODA number.

Rui's YODA number is just under 9.1. Clarke's is 15.3.

That's an enormous difference.

Of course, none of this proves that Clarke is going to be a better NBA player than Rui. It simply proves that he was a better college player.[/quote why did he drop so far in the draft?

[payitforward]

Rui is definitely not Eddy Curry! But, yes, Clarke was definitely far superior to Rui. Just look at the per 40 minute numbers; there's no comparison.

For example, use Kevin's YODA roll-up on a per-40 minute basis. Here's the formula, run it yourself:

First, add up:
points
.3 x defensive rebounds
.7 x offensive rebounds
steals
.5 x (assists + blocks)

That gives you a first number. Now, add up:

.7 x (field goals missed)
field goals made
turnovers
.5 x (free throw attempts + fouls)

to get a second number.

Now subtract the second number from the first number. That's the player's YODA number.

Rui's YODA number is just under 9.8. Clarke's is 15.2.

That's an enormous difference.

Of course, none of this proves that Clarke is going to be a better NBA player than Rui. It simply proves that he was a better college player.

Yes. All it proves is that Clarke is a better basketball player than Rui. About 55% better. But not that he will be in the future.

Similarly, P.J. Washington was a better basketball player as a Sophomore than he was as a Freshman (his YODA number improved a fair amount). Of course this doesn't prove that he would have been better as a Junior had he stayed at Kentucky. He might have been worse. & it doesn't prove what kind of player he'll be in the NBA either.

Yet, it was the way he played as a Sophomore, how improved he was, that made you high on him, right? It was a good thing that P.J. the Sophomore was better than P.J. the Freshman.

In exactly the same way, it is a good thing about Brandon Clarke that he has a high YODA number. It's the kind of thing that makes you think he'll be a good pick. Just the way it does w/ P.J. Washington.

So too the fact that Rui has such a low YODA number compared to Brandon Clarke -- that means something too. Better is better. & if better also is a helpful indication of a positive future for P.J. Washington, then -- like it or not -- better for Brandon Clarke is a helpful indication of a better future than Rui Hachimura. You can't have it both ways.

Do that same comparison between Bradley Beal & Jeremy Lamb & it shows that Bradley Beal is a better player. Do it between Clarke & Hachimura, & it shows that Clarke is the better player. True in one case means true in the other.

Now that doesn't "prove" that Beal will be better than Lamb next year -- next year's numbers will be required to find out about that. But, I bet you're willing to say that Brad is the better player. Period. & if so, then you're kinda stuck aren't you? You can't dismiss it in another case b/c you would like to.

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Fair enough -- I recommend getting ready, as Brandon Clarke is likely to be one of the 4-6 best players to come out of this draft.

There is no doubt that Clarke was a phenomenal college basketball player. If Clarke was 6-9 with a 7-0 wingspan and weighed 225, he would be a no-brainer top 3 pick. But since he is 6-8 with a 6-8 wingspan and 209 pounds, there is cause for concern. Nobody with his length and girth has succeeded at the PF/C position. It's a gamble.

Maybe Clarke will break the mold, but I can understand the reluctance to risk the #9 pick on the possibility.

I'm on the record saying I would have taken Clarke. So are you. But we might be wrong. Can you please stop arguing with everyone about why you believe you are right on the issue? We all know your reasoning.

Let's just wait a bit before we commence with the I told you so's.

You snipped that pretty radically, nate. I have no interest in talking about Clarke here. I'm just responding to people who are comparing him negatively to Rui Hachimura -- a promising young player who hasn't done anything yet to make you think he could carry Clarke's gym bag.

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give Rui a try, PIF. Last year you did everything you could to pump the brakes on any excitement about Troy Brown Jr during summer league. ...

That's not true, Nat. Not at all.

I criticized the way Ernie handled the draft; I never criticized Troy Brown as a player -- in fact, I explicitly distinguished between those 2 things about a zillion times.

In fact, I wrote positively about Brown in Summer League. & I've written positively about him since then as well -- pretty much all season. I kept calling for him to get more PT, & I pointed out repeatedly how well he played in the time he got.

All the same, Ernie still mis-handled that draft. That hasn't changed. I also have nothing against Rui Hachimura -- the opposite in fact: he seems a really great kid, & I hope he'll become a solid NBA player. Anything positive anyone hopes for him is not different from what I hope for him.

Doesn't change the fact that he was a poor pick at #9 in the draft.

[Dat2U]

Rui is definitely not Eddy Curry! But, yes, Clarke was definitely far superior to Rui. Just look at the per 40 minute numbers; there's no comparison.

For example, use Kevin's YODA roll-up on a per-40 minute basis. Here's the formula, run it yourself:

First, add up:
points
.3 x defensive rebounds
.7 x offensive rebounds
steals
.5 x (assists + blocks)

That gives you a first number. Now, add up:

.7 x (field goals missed)
field goals made
turnovers
.5 x (free throw attempts + fouls)

to get a second number.

Now subtract the second number from the first number. That's the player's YODA number.

Rui's YODA number is just under 9.1. Clarke's is 15.3.

That's an enormous difference.

Of course, none of this proves that Clarke is going to be a better NBA player than Rui.

They are on the same team! And Clarke is significantly more productive. How can that not matter? Like payit said, it's not even close.

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...
Of course, none of this proves that Clarke is going to be a better NBA player than Rui. It simply proves that he was a better college player.

why did he drop so far in the draft?

Gee, you really got me there, huh? I don't know. Then again...

Why did Jimmy Butler drop so far in the draft? Why did Draymond Green drop so far in the draft? Why did Nikola Jokic drop so far in the draft? Why did DeAndre Jordan drop so far in the draft? Why did Nic Batum drop so far in the draft? Why did Serge Ibaka drop so far in the draft?

Or to put it another way... why did Austin Rivers rise so high in the draft? Why did Kendall Marshall? Jimmer Fredette? How come Jimmer went 20 picks before Jimmy Butler? Why did Thomas Robinson get picked 30 picks before Draymond & then wash out of the league in 3 years? Why were Derrick Williams & Hasheem Thabeet picked second in the draft?

Time to call this to a halt. & as soon as others stop I will too. But not til then....

[Doug_Blew]

Rui and james worthy..

If Wiz Dynasty is down with Rui, i'm a believer as well.

[W. Unseld]

Having now watched some film of Rui, I feel a little better. He looks like he has an extremely consistent midrange shot, an ok faceup game, good post moves, very good handles for his size and a great left. Not a passer though, he reminds me a little of Jamison & a short Rick Smits with much better handles.

Athletically I think he’ll be just fine (I was really worried about this based on the boards); the NBA draft guys were saying that aside from 3 sure things most of this draft is just solid rotation players; I’d be surprised if Rui can’t at least pull that off but then again I also though Tim Duncan would be too “slow & mechanical’ to do much in the NBA


Sent from my iPad using RealGM Forums

[payitforward]

Rui is definitely not Eddy Curry! But, yes, Clarke was definitely far superior to Rui. Just look at the per 40 minute numbers; there's no comparison.

For example, use Kevin's YODA roll-up on a per-40 minute basis. Here's the formula, run it yourself:

First, add up:
points
.3 x defensive rebounds
.7 x offensive rebounds
steals
.5 x (assists + blocks)

That gives you a first number. Now, add up:

.7 x (field goals missed)
field goals made
turnovers
.5 x (free throw attempts + fouls)

to get a second number.

Now subtract the second number from the first number. That's the player's YODA number.

Rui's YODA number is just under 9.1. Clarke's is 15.3.

That's an enormous difference.

Of course, none of this proves that Clarke is going to be a better NBA player than Rui.

They are on the same team! And Clarke is significantly more productive. How can that not matter? Like payit said, it's not even close.

Still, Zards is right -- no one can "prove" the future. It's one helluva lot more likely that Clarke become a tremendous player than Rui, that should be obvious to anyone who hasn't been prejudiced by the fact that his team just picked Rui, but there's no "proving" it.

You can't "prove" that Zion will be a better NBA player than Rui. Or that Morant will be. You can't "prove" that Rui Hachimura isn't going to be the next LeBron James.

But you can look at what any two players have done so far, & you can be comfortable that the guy who has been better so far is likely to be better in the future as well -- barring injury, etc.

No matter how far out that idea sounds, it's still a better way to make a decision about players than any other -- & it's a whole lot better than projecting players based on their wingspan instead of what they actually show they can do!

Still, I hope Rui proves out really well. I'm sure you do too. Why not?

[closg00]

So will his minutes be divided between 3/4?

[Shoe]

The Brandon Clarke meltdown. How dare the Wizards not draft a 23 year old, undersized big with the 9th pick.

[prime1time]

Watched a couple games and I'm about to watch the Duke game but I'll jot down my preliminary thoughts. I can see why the Wizards had him 4th on their draft board and why Sheppard kept on mentioning that he's a late bloomer. He started to play basketball the he was 14. As a freshman he never played. As a junior he's the leading scorer. Rui made significant improvement from his freshman year to his sophomore year and from his sophomore to his senior year.

This begs the question. How valuable is improvement when it comes to evaluating a player. It's not something I really considered before, but improvement the likes of which Rui has demonstrated cannot be achieved without hard work. It's one thing to hear someone say that so and so is a hard worker. Another thing to see actual results. It is a skill to practice on ways to improve your game and then be able to translate that to an actual game.

Watching him play, you'd have no idea that he just started playing basketball. Rui demonstrates a level of body control that you just don't see in big men. His combination of strength, length and quickness will make him a tough matchup for any big man defender. Gonzaga treated him like a traditional big man so he is fine scoring in the post. Drop steps, running jump hooks, up and under and fade-a-ways are all part of Rui's repertoire in the low post. He'll be able to score in the low post consistently from day one.

But the real exciting part of Rui's game is the potential for his face-up game. He has just enough explosiveness to blow by defenders on the wing. And his ability to get by defenders is amplified by his ability to knock down midrange jumpers against even great defense because his release is so high. I saw Rui elevate over a fully extended 6'11 defender to knock down the jumper. The ability to make these jumpers consistently will cause the defenders to lean forward and play him for the jumper. Which leads into the effectiveness of his jab-drive. If all Rui does is maintain these parts of his game and be willing to play hard on defense and rebound he's capable of being an NBA player right now. I have concerns about his ability to guard guards on PnR switches and if I'm an NBA team I am going to attack him. Now, is he as bad as Boogie Cousins? No. But it's a concern.

But, like I mentioned earlier, Rui is a late bloomer. He got no minutes his freshman year and made significant strides the next two years. So the real question when looking at Rui is what can he become. Usually conversations about potential are rooted in players athleticism and explosiveness. Nassir Little is super athletic so he has high potential (I hard Jay Bilas) mention this multiple times. And, to a degree, it is true. Nassir Little probably has a higher absolute ceiling than Rui. But, at some point when talking about potential we must account for the fact that potential can only be reached and realized through hard work, dedication and commitment. All of which Rui has in spades.

This might not be a popular take, but I think the sky is the limit for Rui. If he can improve his ball handling, stretch his shooting range to the three, play defense and rebound I can see him becoming a player similar to Blake Griffin (Detroit version).Now that would probably be 4 years out but he has that kind of potential. I'm very interested to see how Scott will bring him along.

[truwizfan4evr]

Check out rui journey from childhood leading up to now.

Watch on YouTube

[prime1time]

So will his minutes be divided between 3/4?

They might try to put him at the 3, but I have concerns about his foot speed. I'm not putting him on elite scoring 3's like KD or PG but he can guard average SF's in my opinion. Not sure how much of his defensive short comings can be corrected with a change of stance but I think he'll be more of a 4/5. With the ability to guard non-elite wing scorers. There are a lot of similarities between Kawhi and Rui but I feel like Rui has slower foot speed which makes a big difference.

[Jimmy Recard]

Dp