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Rubio Still May Come Out This Year

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Re: Rubio Still May Come Out This Year 

Post#21 » by TrentTuckerForever » Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:36 pm

john2jer wrote:No matter what, Rubio coming out is a good thing. Even if the Wolves aren't in the position to draft him, that's one more player getting pushed down for the Wolves to decide from, or maybe to wiff on, depends on how full the glass is for you.


I agree 100%, Rubio helps the depth of the draft, which helps the Wolves. And I'm glass half-full, I think the Wolves will end up with a useful player early on in this draft... I just don't think it will be Rubio. He either won't come to the US this year (pushing the whole debate back a season) or he'll be gone by the time the Woofies pick comes up.
Klomp wrote:Didn't Brad Miller back up Vlade Divac in SAC too?
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Re: Rubio Still May Come Out This Year 

Post#22 » by TrentTuckerForever » Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:44 pm

john2jer wrote:I don't see Durant as a volume scorer and Brandon Roy as a franchise star pairing very well. It's not like Durant is a Kevin Martin type of efficency scorer. Durant needs the ball in his hands and quite a few shots. He's improved, but he's not going to be as effective coming off screens and working without the ball in his hands that playing with Roy would command.

I think most people have been harsher on Oden than he deserves
. Next year we'll see a much scarier Oden. Keep in mind this is the first year he's ever played against opponents that can come close to matching up with him, he just came off a MAJOR knee operation. Amare wasn't freaky athletic again right away either. Oden's been a very nice player this year, it's just that most people have these insanely high expectations of Oden and he's not a 30/10/5 guy just yet, so most people think he's a bust.

If he turns out to be a 16/11 with 3 blocks a game, which should be more than manageable, he'll be perfect for Portland. They're pretty much splitting time equally with Joel P from Monticello so far. Joel P is no slouch either. Give it time.


Durant is shooting 48% from the field, 43% from deep. He does shoot a lot, but he's on a terrible team... I'm willing to bet he'd give up shots to play on a contender (look at what fewer shots have done for star wings like Pierce and Anthony.) Calling him a volume shooter is a disservice to his game.

People are hard on Oden because he was the first pick in the draft. When you take a center 1st overall, the expectations are going to be very, very high. And when you take that center in front of a guy like Durant, you expect him to perform. That hasn't happened so far.

I agree that he needs time after the microfracture surgery to come around... I think the general consensus is that it takes two years for you to completely round back into shape (Amare, McCants are the only two examples I can think of off the top of my head.) So he could be scarier next year. But if I'd told you on draft day that you could be expect 16/11 from Oden in Year Four, while Durant would be averaging 26/6 in Year Two (again, on 48% shooting... look it up), you'd have taken Durant, right?
Klomp wrote:Didn't Brad Miller back up Vlade Divac in SAC too?
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Re: Rubio Still May Come Out This Year 

Post#23 » by revprodeji » Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:47 pm

I am just being negative.

Portland needs a pg. (*blake is good, but not that good) Portland has tons of young pieces and ending contracts for a trade.
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Re: Rubio Still May Come Out This Year 

Post#24 » by john2jer » Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:19 pm

I knew Durant was shooting better, I didn't realize it was THAT much better. At 6'9" I'd prefer him to be a MUCH better rebounder, though. I just can't really beat up Portland for taking Oden over Durant.
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Re: Rubio Still May Come Out This Year 

Post#25 » by dunkonu21 » Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:21 pm

I agree that Oden is injury prone. I get what you are saying Worm, but some people know how to keep themselves healthy. That is a skill just as everything else IMO. When you see D Wade drive to the hoop and get bumped parallel with the ground and not even look down. He only concentrates on the hoop trying to make a basket. Although it is very heroic in his actions, he's taking unnecessary punishment to his body and it WILL catch up with him. If you get what I'm saying, some people are caught in the moment with the game and don't think about much else. It can cause them to get injured at a high rate.

Then there are guys who just are not tough. Like Jermaine O'Neal when Mike Miller elbowed him in the face on a drive. He fell down and stayed there, then he had to go to the locker room. I don't doubt that an elbow to the face hurt, but he was on a new team and knew few of the players. If that were me I'd be looking to earn respect and hoped right up and got in Miller's face or something. O'Neal is not tough and he doesn't even try to hide it.

I would put Oden right between the warrior like Wade and the Wuss like O'Neal. He has both of their faults in him making him IMO injury prone. Until he learns the careful balance between toughness and how to be careful, I will not fear him as a dominant force.
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Re: Rubio Still May Come Out This Year 

Post#26 » by TrentTuckerForever » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:31 pm

dunkonu21 wrote:I agree that Oden is injury prone. I get what you are saying Worm, but some people know how to keep themselves healthy. That is a skill just as everything else IMO.


+1. KG, Duncan, Nash today, Stockton and Malone and MJ in the past... these guys are in some way predisposed to staying healthy, and luck plays a big part with injuries too. But overall if you look at the guys who suit up night in and night out, you'll see a connection between the way that they take care of their bodies and the fact that they're "healthier" players. Health is a skill that can be honed. As an NBA fan, I hope Oden learns that (and that his body doesn't continue to betray him.) But I'll believe it when I see it.

BTW dunk, love your sig. The progression is just funny... it did feel like "death to your team" at one point, didn't it?
Klomp wrote:Didn't Brad Miller back up Vlade Divac in SAC too?

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