Rui Hachimura

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I like that he shot 3's with confidence today, not pump faking just because somebody was within 10 feet of him. The one at 1:26 had a guy closing pretty quickly but Rui launched it anyway. He really needs to continue doing this. Not only are they good shots, but the threat of him shooting a quick 3 will increase spacing and make life easier on his teammates.

He also had a few grown ass man rebounds in traffic, which was nice to see. Rui has great hands, good athleticism and isn't afraid of contact. I just don't understand why he can't rebound more consistently. He really should be able to improve on this.

He seems to learn visually, by watching someone to emulate. But aside from Westbrook, who is damn hard to mimic, we have no one who rebounds well. No one who exemplifies strong technique. We have no player with low post moves at all (aside from Lopez' slow wind-up hook shot). Rui played at Gonzaga, where they do teach Big Men, but he was still asked to play a face-up game. And their best rebounder is also a high flier who rebounds not by stance, positioning, and leverage but by run/rump quick twitch anticipation.

If we want Rui to learn low-post technique we have to give him someone to learn from. In this game many of his moves looked like he was a giant Bradley Beal, an oversized Westbrook. Like coaches said "Okay Brad is out, you are going to have to step up your game and make up the difference" and he took it literally, playing Brad's exact spots on the floor.

This is one reason I want a guy like Queta who plays well with positioning and technique and footwork, even if his top end athleticism is not as high. Rui could learn a ton from a dynamic and fundamentally solid player like that.

[dckingsfan]

Not to be a Debbie Downer but, so far this season I haven't seen a noticeable improvement in his game on the offensive side of the ball (ducks). He is shooting more 3s with a slight improvement from .287 to .325 but shooting less shots at the rim. He doesn't seem to be passing any better or creating more for his teammates.

On the defensive end he does bring energy and is becoming (IMO - I don't have numbers for this) a better man defender. But as others have pointed out, he is rebounding any better or getting any more steals or charges drawn (and he has roll models for this in Wagner and Mathews).

I think at the beginning of the season we wanted to see multiple youngsters breakout. So far, in my mind it is only Mathews and he isn't that young. Bryant and Wagner stayed on the same level. And alas, Bryant is hurt... sigh.

Brown, Bonga, Robinson are very much disappointments this season. It is going to make a rebuild that much harder. Guessing they will move Brown before the deadline (right or wrong) and won't renew Gill's contract. Leaving us with

Westbrook
Beal
Avdija
Hachimura, Bertans

Bryant IMO won't come back until mid-season. And of course our draft pick.

[Halcyon]

Can I remind y'all that he's only played 78 games in his career? And he hasn't played basketball for that long?

[nate33]

Not to be a Debbie Downer but, so far this season I haven't seen a noticeable improvement in his game on the offensive side of the ball (ducks). He is shooting more 3s with a slight improvement from .287 to .325 but shooting less shots at the rim. He doesn't seem to be passing any better or creating more for his teammates.

On the defensive end he does bring energy and is becoming (IMO - I don't have numbers for this) a better man defender. But as others have pointed out, he is rebounding any better or getting any more steals or charges drawn (and he has roll models for this in Wagner and Mathews).

There is improvement, but it's not a massive leap or anything. He is shooting more 3's at a higher percentage, and he is getting to the FT line more, which is notable since his 2PA's are down. His FTr is up to 36% from 26% last year. As a result of the 3's and FT's, his TS% is up to .556 from .535 last year.

He is also shooting an improved percentage from every distance except long 2's, which are only down slightly.

I think one of the reasons he has fewer percentage of his shots at the rim is because he is not sharing the floor with Bryant as much, and Bryant pulls rim protectors away from the paint. Point guards like Isaiah Thomas and Shabazz Napier also spread the floor better than Westbrook.

[WallToWall]

This is exactly what I said earlier in this thread. Apparently this makes you a hater according to the emotional pompom waiving fangirls on this board.

You definitely do not sound undecided in your posts about Rui, and that's fine, it's emphatically clear you think he sucks. Emphatically clear. You're being disingenuous here. You're not in neutral, "lets wait and see" mode at all, and that's fine, opinions are what boards are for, and you (or is it PIF?) definitely marshal some evidence to back up your takes...

Sorry, but this does not describe me. I've made myself clear a thousand times.

1. Picking Rui # 9 in the 2019 draft was not a good move. Note that this is not the same as saying Rui can't become a terrific player.

2. As a rookie, Rui did the single most important positive thing possible -- he proved that he was not a bust & not going to be one. I only wrote these exact words about 2 dozen times.

3. Rui has the potential to become an outstanding NBA player. These words too I have written about 2 dozen times. Beginning I guess about 10-12 games into his rookie year. "Has the potential to become" is not the same "is destined to become."

4. So far, Rui hasn't been very good at all. Great game vs. the Bucks -- all praise for that. If he keeps that up then he will make it true that he has the potential to be outstanding. Overall, however, he wasn't "good" as a rookie by any measure. &, overall, he hasn't gotten better as a 2d year player.

That's as far as it goes. There is no more to say than that.

PIF - I would be curious to find comparisons of players who have played 80 games (or a full season) versus Hach, to guage who he best compares. One good game doesn't make a good player. But I do think he shows flashes, and given his lack of experience with basketball in general, he may end up being a late bloomer.

[dckingsfan]

Not to be a Debbie Downer but, so far this season I haven't seen a noticeable improvement in his game on the offensive side of the ball (ducks). He is shooting more 3s with a slight improvement from .287 to .325 but shooting less shots at the rim. He doesn't seem to be passing any better or creating more for his teammates.

On the defensive end he does bring energy and is becoming (IMO - I don't have numbers for this) a better man defender. But as others have pointed out, he is rebounding any better or getting any more steals or charges drawn (and he has roll models for this in Wagner and Mathews).

There is improvement, but it's not a massive leap or anything. He is shooting more 3's at a higher percentage, and he is getting to the FT line more, which is notable since his 2PA's are down. His FTr is up to 36% from 26% last year. As a result of the 3's and FT's, his TS% is up to .556 from .535 last year.

He is also shooting an improved percentage from every distance except long 2's, which are only down slightly.

I think one of the reasons he has fewer percentage of his shots at the rim is because he is not sharing the floor with Bryant as much, and Bryant pulls rim protectors away from the paint. Point guards like Isaiah Thomas and Shabazz Napier also spread the floor better than Westbrook.

You are right... the better point that you make is that there hasn't been a breakout... But at least he is playing and there is some progress (maybe he will be a late bloomer). My overall point in the post was that we will have Avdija & Hachimura as the two young players returning. I don't think you can say Mathews is "young".

Well, Bryant is still young and Wagner may return. But the lack of breakouts by our young players makes the rebuild that much harder.

[dckingsfan]

Can I remind y'all that he's only played 78 games in his career? And he hasn't played basketball for that long?

And he is still young... I just hoped for more of a breakout this season.

[payitforward]

Hard to be right about **** when you’re living in a veteran shelter. I have not studied the draft well for about three years now.

That said I’m eating clean, living in a much better situation, And I’m still me....

What we all want to hear, brother. Keep it up -- & above all, stay active on this board so we can keep up with you!

[payitforward]

You definitely do not sound undecided in your posts about Rui, and that's fine, it's emphatically clear you think he sucks. Emphatically clear. You're being disingenuous here. You're not in neutral, "lets wait and see" mode at all, and that's fine, opinions are what boards are for, and you (or is it PIF?) definitely marshal some evidence to back up your takes...

Sorry, but this does not describe me. I've made myself clear a thousand times.

1. Picking Rui # 9 in the 2019 draft was not a good move. Note that this is not the same as saying Rui can't become a terrific player.

2. As a rookie, Rui did the single most important positive thing possible -- he proved that he was not a bust & not going to be one. I only wrote these exact words about 2 dozen times.

3. Rui has the potential to become an outstanding NBA player. These words too I have written about 2 dozen times. Beginning I guess about 10-12 games into his rookie year. "Has the potential to become" is not the same "is destined to become."

4. So far, Rui hasn't been very good at all. Great game vs. the Bucks -- all praise for that. If he keeps that up then he will make it true that he has the potential to be outstanding. Overall, however, he wasn't "good" as a rookie by any measure. &, overall, he hasn't gotten better as a 2d year player.

That's as far as it goes. There is no more to say than that.

PIF - I would be curious to find comparisons of players who have played 80 games (or a full season) versus Hach, to gauge who he best compares. One good game doesn't make a good player. But I do think he shows flashes, and given his lack of experience with basketball in general, he may end up being a late bloomer.

To take these in reverse order --

Yes, he may be a late bloomer. Better to think of it that way than to make claims for how he's played his first 2400 NBA minutes -- either overall or in terms of 2d season improvements.

&... you bet he shows flashes. Plus, he's got terrific size & athleticism. I.e. he has a lot to work with.

Then again, he may not turn out to be a late bloomer. Or that "bloom" (his peak) may not be anything to write home about. We don't know.

Moreover, the reason we concentrate on the "flashes" is that the overall, game-to-game level of his play is not worth concentrating on -- i.e. it isn't very good. All the same -- don't get me wrong -- we should definitely take note of the areas where he does show improvement.

Thus, his 3pt. %, while not very good is improved -- & that's on more attempts too. So, that's a good thing. & he is getting the line more as well. OTOH, his FT% is down. That's a bad thing.

Don't laud the good thing, then find a way to play down the bad thing. Both count. Equally & in the same way.

So, yes, Rui's TS% is up. But, his rebounding % is down. His assist % is down, his block % is down, his steal % is down, his turnover % is up, his usage is down, & his points are down -- both per game & per 40 minutes.

Most of these differences -- the positive ones & the negative ones alike -- are small, but the overall picture is of a player who is, if anything, slightly worse overall in his second year. & that's after a rookie year that was not good. Nor is pointing out facts to be taken as "hating" on Rui.

Far from it -- he had a tremendous game last night, the best game of his NBA career by a lot! Here's hoping we see a bunch more of them!

Edit -- as to "comparisons of players who have played 80 games (or a full season) versus Hach, to gauge who he best compares..." I can't right off come up with an apt comparison. Anyone else got an idea?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Hard to be right about **** when you’re living in a veteran shelter. I have not studied the draft well for about three years now.

That said I’m eating clean, living in a much better situation, And I’m still me....

What we all want to hear, brother. Keep it up -- & above all, stay active on this board so we can keep up with you!

My circumstances are definitely better. I’m watching much more hoops. Coming a lot closer to living my best life.

Thanks for caring, PIF.

[JWizmentality]

Can I remind y'all that he's only played 78 games in his career? And he hasn't played basketball for that long?

And he is still young... I just hoped for more of a breakout this season.

A breakout from what? He hasn't even had a full nba season.

[dckingsfan]

Can I remind y'all that he's only played 78 games in his career? And he hasn't played basketball for that long?

And he is still young... I just hoped for more of a breakout this season.

A breakout from what? He hasn't even had a full nba season.

Halcyon is right and so are you. He has only played 78 games and he is young.

But isn't it a false choice that we can't compare the 1444 minutes from last year to the 898 minutes from this year. I don't think the sample size is that small. And comparing the two, he isn't substantially better. And quoting PIF:

So, yes, Rui's TS% is up. But, his rebounding % is down. His assist % is down, his block % is down, his steal % is down, his turnover % is up, his usage is down, & his points are down -- both per game & per 40 minutes.

Most of these differences -- the positive ones & the negative ones alike -- are small, but the overall picture is of a player who is, if anything, slightly worse overall in his second year. & that's after a rookie year that was not good. Nor is pointing out facts to be taken as "hating" on Rui.

I hope I am not seen as hating on Rui. I really think our eggs are in the Rui/Avidja basket. I am REALLY hoping they take a jump at the end of this season or next.

But this was only a small part of my OP. Brown, Bonga, Robinson and Wagner will most likely move on. Our younger players as a whole did not break out. - that was my main point. The point of my OP is that we are (probably) only going to carry Rui and Avidja forward and that makes it tougher on the rebuild.

BTW, if you want to take issue with not point out that Bryant had picked up where he left off or that Mo Swag is actually playing better year over year - you would be right there too.

[Ruzious]

That was a legitimately great performance playing mostly against a... legitimately generational player - Giannis - though occasionally Rui defended Middleton (an all-star caliber offensive player) - excellently, as well. Granted, he got some double-team help, but EVERY team doubles Giannis and actually triples him often. Rui was terrific both offensively and defensively, and there's still room for improvement - he didn't score in the 4th quarter, and he got flatter and flatter on his jump shots - something he's likely going to improve on. This is what happens when you have a hard worker that does have some talent. Now lets see it on a consistent basis.

[FAH1223]

Westbrook is clearly in his ear

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[NatP4]

Almost 59% TS in his last 15 games. Rebounding still trending in the wrong direction. He’s a SF not a PF.

[pcbothwel]

Almost 59% TS in his last 15 games. Rebounding still trending in the wrong direction. He’s a SF not a PF.

Ehhh. Ill take it. I dont see anyone complaining about Kawhi only grabbing 6.6 rebounds /36. If Rui can keep expanding his offensive game and be true wing that can outmuscle guards on switches then he's going to be just fine.

[smoothSeph]

He’s a SF not a PF.

I don't get it, is this a bad thing?

[NatP4]

He’s a SF not a PF.

I don't get it, is this a bad thing?

No. The team just thinks he’s a PF for whatever reason.

[DCZards]

It’s such a positionless games nowadays that it really doesn’t matter what we (or the team) call or label Rui.

Last night against the Bucks you could argue that he played 3 positions (PF,SF,C) all about the same amount of minutes.

[nate33]

It’s such a positionless games nowadays that it really doesn’t matter what we (or the team) call or label Rui.

Last night against the Bucks you could argue that he played 3 positions (PF,SF,C) all about the same amount of minutes.

Yup. And in particular, the "power forward" position has gone by the wayside. Basically, you have a center, big wings, and guards. Both wings need to be switchable 1-4, or preferably 1-5; and both wings should be 3-point threats; but neither wing really has much more rebounding responsibility than the other wing (or the guards, for that matter). Basically, you want a center who pulls down double digit rebounds and everyone else to average between 5 and 8.

The only non-centers in the league who average more than 9 boards per 36 are Westbrook, Kuzma and Hart. Giannis, Randle and Bagley do too, but they basically play in the paint like a center. Rui's 6.6 boards a game are pretty anemic, but if he got it up in the 7.5 to 8 range, he'd be normal. That's how much guys like Millsap, Clarke, Zion, Olynyk, PJ Washington, Tillman, Turner and Draymond average.