Brandon Rush

Joel Embust · Post #1 » by **Joel Embust** » Tue Feb 3, 2009 1:15 pm

Hello Pacers fans,

I don't follow the Pacers at all, occassionally get to watch them when they play the teams I follow on LP.

Anyway, I was looking at last years draft results and when you look at the kind of impact most rookies make on their squads you have to acknowledge that it's one of the best rookie classes we've had.

However, there are a few guys who's names haven''t been mentioned because they aren't playing much/at all. One of them is Brandon Rush.

I'm surprised by Rush's lack of PT. I expected him to be part of the G/F rotation and to be the primary backup of Dunleavy and Granger, but he's not getting any time. He started a few games at the beginning of the season, what happened?

DC2 · Post #2 » by **DC2** » Tue Feb 3, 2009 2:24 pm

He has no confidence whatsoever and his jumper has been off all season, so our coach benched him. His defense isn't as good as advertised either. We pretty much traded a possible all-star (Bayless) for crap (Rush).

Post #3 » by **Miller4ever** » Tue Feb 3, 2009 3:08 pm

Things didn't work out as planned. I still don't think the disparity is as large as All-Star/Sack of poo.

JarrettJackSG · Post #4 » by **JarrettJackSG** » Tue Feb 3, 2009 3:50 pm

Dunleavy17 wrote:He has no confidence whatsoever and his jumper has been off all season, so our coach benched him. His defense isn't as good as advertised either. We pretty much traded a possible all-star (Bayless) for crap (Rush).

Great post, I totally agree.

Rush has no confidence, he isn't aggressive, he NEVER has been aggressive (look at KU tape), and plays poor system defense, is a much better 1 on 1 defender.

I would have kept Shawne Williams (Does anyone realize that he is YOUNGER than Brandon Rush?) over him. We could have saved him. He was just too young. =/

slickrickstyles · Post #5 » by **slickrickstyles** » Tue Feb 3, 2009 5:41 pm

JarrettJackSG wrote:
Dunleavy17 wrote:He has no confidence whatsoever and his jumper has been off all season, so our coach benched him. His defense isn't as good as advertised either. We pretty much traded a possible all-star (Bayless) for crap (Rush).

Great post, I totally agree.

Rush has no confidence, he isn't aggressive, he NEVER has been aggressive (look at KU tape), and plays poor system defense, is a much better 1 on 1 defender.

I would have kept Shawne Williams (Does anyone realize that he is YOUNGER than Brandon Rush?) over him. We could have saved him. He was just too young. =/

I myself am tremendously saddened by the progress of Rush. More so because of the fact that I was a supporter from day one regarding the draft day trade. That said however, I cannot justify saying that we should have kept Williams. Yes he showed glimpses of future greatness but he was a public image nightmare and we definitely needed to withdraw from that. You can argue the fact that he was "too young" but when instances creep up time and time again specially after being publicly repremended then maybe its his character and not his youth that is at fault. All in all with where we stand now I would much rather have Rush here then Williams.

celtspacers · Post #6 » by **celtspacers** » Tue Feb 3, 2009 6:58 pm

Whats the big surprise, In Rush not being a very good player. Look who drafted him. Larry Bird. Larry has no clue about talent. Alot of Pacers fans want them to miss the playoffs to get a lottery pick. WHY Bird will mess that up also. The only way the PACERS will be a good team again. Is when the owners wake up and fire his ASSSSSSSSS

Post #7 » by **Miller4ever** » Tue Feb 3, 2009 9:33 pm

You're right. Larry Bird knows nothing about talent.

Wait, how does that make sense? I think he can tell talent, but I wouldn't put it past him to be bad at seeing potential. There's a difference, I think. Guys with potential may not be prototypical athletes, but they are coachable, and will work hard to get to where they need to be. Bynum, potential. Amare, talent.

I'm not saying Brandon Rush has either, but I don't wanna even talk about Bayless. It's done, over with. And Williams? That's delving way too far into the past.

What do you guys who don't like Rush suggest we do about him? I know JJSG says to send him to the D-League, which is actually a viable alternative, but the rest of you are kinda just complaining.

cdash · Post #8 » by **cdash** » Tue Feb 3, 2009 9:41 pm

Well, I am kind of disheartened by the lack of progress by our rookies so far. This rookie class is turning out to be really, really good. Lots of immediate impact guys and others who look like they will be legit players in the league. Rush and Hibbert so far, have not qualified. I'm really not sure what to do about them. The D-League is an option, and maybe itll help Rush's confidence. Hibbert just needs to slow the hell down when he gets the ball, and stop rushing into shots and what not.

DC2 · Post #9 » by **DC2** » Wed Feb 4, 2009 1:33 am

I don't agree about Williams either. He will never be a good NBA player. He's lazy and doesn't use his physical tools enough. All he does is stand outside the three point line.

bballpacen · Post #10 » by **bballpacen** » Wed Feb 4, 2009 4:02 am

Good Lord... I am shocked at the hate for B Rush... Its his rookie year... His production has be ok, even on poor shooting... Way to soon to start bashing this kid... I think that you have got to give him at least a year from now to really get a feel for this kid... Same for Roy... I realize there are many of you who are STILL sour over the Bayless deal... To you I say GET OVER IT... it is done, and there is not going back on it...

Post #11 » by **Gremz** » Wed Feb 4, 2009 8:20 am

He has fallen off considerably since the start of the season. It's a multitude of reasons. Confidence, Playing Time, Shot Selection, Injuries and returns of Dunleavy and Quis. He just looks a bit lost right now. I'm definitely not throwing in the towel on him, far from it. I'd like to see him regain his spot in the rotation, but i do see him as someone who needs ample time to perfect exactly what he is going to be in the NBA.

MillerTime101 · Post #12 » by **MillerTime101** » Wed Feb 4, 2009 8:42 am

bballpacen wrote:Good Lord... I am shocked at the hate for B Rush... Its his rookie year... His production has be ok, even on poor shooting... Way to soon to start bashing this kid... I think that you have got to give him at least a year from now to really get a feel for this kid... Same for Roy... I realize there are many of you who are STILL sour over the Bayless deal... To you I say GET OVER IT... it is done, and there is not going back on it...

Great post, these people who bash Rush are the same people that bash the Jermaine Oneal's of the world.

People who judge rookies solely on their first half of their first season and think they know more then NBA GM's and scouts are not uncommon and are usually the first too change their avatars to the very player they bashed for years once they develop.

Unfortunately "Patience" is not a popular commodity on message boards.

TJFordisGod · Post #13 » by **TJFordisGod** » Wed Feb 4, 2009 8:52 am

MillerTime101 wrote:
bballpacen wrote:Good Lord... I am shocked at the hate for B Rush... Its his rookie year... His production has be ok, even on poor shooting... Way to soon to start bashing this kid... I think that you have got to give him at least a year from now to really get a feel for this kid... Same for Roy... I realize there are many of you who are STILL sour over the Bayless deal... To you I say GET OVER IT... it is done, and there is not going back on it...

Great post, these people who bash Rush are the same people that bash the Jermaine Oneal's of the world.

People who judge rookies solely on their first half of their first season and think they know more then NBA GM's and scouts are not uncommon and are usually the first too change their avatars to the very player they bashed for years once they develop.

Unfortunately "patients" is not a popular commodity on message boards.

I for one understand the hate going around for Rush. People r still sour about the Bayless trade and Rush has been pretty disappointing up to date. But I do hope things turn around for him next year, we need a spark off the bench

Post #14 » by **Gremz** » Wed Feb 4, 2009 8:58 am

I guess there can be reasoning behind both arguments. Questions will always be raised regarding the trade, I remember myself being absolutely ecstatic when Bayless was taken, mortified when the trade was made, quiet content during the opening few games, and now uncertainty. Can i be a fence sitter and give a response in 5 years time?

But even if Bayless does outperform Rush in the long run, i see no reason why we shouldn't be behind our guy 100%. Unless he ends up being a bust, we should stick with him through his development.

Kuq_e_Zi91 · Post #15 » by **Kuq_e_Zi91** » Wed Feb 4, 2009 9:37 am

I'm sticking by both of our rookies. When Rush was getting minutes, he'd show flashes of being able to get his shot and get to the rim, he just couldn't finish or they weren't dropping for him. Maybe he was rushing it like Roy. Timing is something they need to adjust to as rookies and they can only adapt to it by getting minutes. With JOB and Bird trying to make the playoffs and playing guys like Stephen Graham and Maceo Baston instead of our rookies, their rookie year is being wasted. This is the year they need to learn the speed of the game and get used to it. Not next year, all the other rookies will already have a head start on them. By trying to make the playoffs we're just prohibiting their growth.

I'm willing to be patient with both of them and I feel both of them will be significant pieces for us in the future.

xxSnEaKyPxx · Post #16 » by **xxSnEaKyPxx** » Wed Feb 4, 2009 12:41 pm

I like Rush. I have been disappointed with his performance so far this year, but its only the first half of his rookie season for crying out loud. I love ya'lls theory "If he isn't an amazing player by the first half of his rookie year then he will suck forever!!!" He is a freaking rookie for crying out loud. In the time that he has played, he has shown flashes of being a very good player. He has shown the ability to get to the rim...almost at will, but hes had trouble finishing, like every rookie. In fact, up until this year, Granger wasn't even known as a finisher. We all know Rush can shoot it, and its not like his misses have been far off, most of them seem to be in and outs. His defense has been good, and he has the ability to become a great defender. Once he settles into the NBA and his shot starts falling and he learns to finish at the rim, he will become a good player. I'd like to see him pick up his rebounding and assist numbers in the meantime.

JarrettJackSG · Post #17 » by **JarrettJackSG** » Wed Feb 4, 2009 4:33 pm

The funny thing about this was that Granger showed much more, his splits suggested that he was on the path the greatness, while Rush didn't have those signs.

In addition, the Grang machine was a year younger than Rush when he came into the league. By comparison, Shawne Williams is now the same age as Granger when he entered the league, whereas BRush is a year older.

Perhaps the most scary part is that Granger could outplay players and earn a spot in the rotation, but BRush can't outplay the players...these last few games we've been playing the best players in practice. This means that Hibbert has lost to Baston, and BRush has lost to Graham.

Post #18 » by **PR07** » Wed Feb 4, 2009 10:52 pm

He's still a rookie. Right now, the Pacers have better options when it comes to winning games.

He shown some flashes, but he's also shown some rookie mistakes. Give him time.

DC2 · Post #19 » by **DC2** » Thu Feb 5, 2009 4:55 am

I don't care who you are, if you're being outplayed by Stephen Graham you have to be embarrassed.

RikSmits1 · Post #20 » by **RikSmits1** » Thu Feb 5, 2009 8:26 am

I am a little disappointed too but I still like our rookies, they need some more time to learn the game, no reason to call them busts.