The Rubio-Flynn Experiment.

[LOBO 7]

I know there is a Rubio thread already, but it is constantly highjacked by trolls and it's generally focused on contractual speculation. I, for one, am convinced that Rubio will play here, happily, maybe even this year. I am also fine with waiting, and believe that finances are the only thing keeping him from being excited.
I also believe in the Rubio-Flynn Experiment. I am really warming up to the idea of the 2 not only co-existing, but absolutely thriving. I am probably in the minority at this point, but I can't contain my excitement and want a thread that won't just be bogged down by speculation and uncertainty regarding the business side of basketball. I want a thread where we can speculate about just how exciting our new backcourt will be to watch, and how our team is in a unique position to be able to give this thing a shot.
The Rubio-Flynn Experiment.
Let's prove the doubters wrong.

[Krapinsky]

You're an attention whore.

[revprodeji]

I support it also.

-Rubio played with a pg last year (Mallet (5-11 at best)
-Rubio is 6'4/6'5 with a 6'8/6'9 wingspan as an 18 yr old. He will be SG size and not want to chase pg's around.
-Flynn was very effective last year not always having the ball. 25.2% of his team's possessions along with two other solid guards (Eric Devendorf and Paul Harris) receiving usage and possession rates in the same ball park, 22.6 and 20.5 respectively in terms of team possessions.
-7 FTA a game for a small guard is great.

I think the team is projecting what they will be like as 22 and 24 yr olds. Not 18 and 20 year olds. They will struggle, but they will grow together.

[john2jer]

I love the two playing together, especially if both improve their outside shot.

[Zeitgeister]

I'm worried about a Rubio/Flynn starting backcourt. I don't like the idea of Rubio guarding shooting guards. I don't mind the two picks though of course. I think eventually Flynn will have to play off the bench or he will have to be traded. He can still play with Rubio during spurts of the game when we decide to go small but it shouldn't be a fulltime starting lineup. DeRozan is about the only other guy I really wanted instead of Flynn though. Or we could have traded up and grabbed Jrue Holiday. Rubio\DeRozan\Holiday oo la la! I'm willing to work with what we have though, LET'S DO THIS.

[revprodeji]

Why do you not want Rubio defending SG?

[Dan's with the Wolves]

Why do you not want Rubio defending SG?

If Kahn's goal is to build a championship roster, let's project how a Rubio Flynn backcourt would match up with the last few NBA champions.

How would a Rubio, Flynn & a SF of your choice fair against Fisher, Kobe and Ariza?

or against

Rondo, Allen & Pierce?

or against

Parker, Ginobli and Bowen?

or against

Chauncey , Hamilton and Prince?

I like both Rubio and Flynn and I think they were the best players available at the 5 and 6.

But they will need a stud SF/SG wing to complement them to be in a championship discussion.

[Zeitgeister]

Why do you not want Rubio defending SG?

Because I don't think Rubio can be anything more than average as a defender against shooting guards. I think he has much higher defensive potential guarding point guards. Come on, you guys were very adamant that fixing our backcourt defense was going to greatly improve our defense overall. I agree that would help a lot, but is Rubio guarding shooting guards really how we project that defensive transformation taking place? I just don't see it. Flynn would be a sufficient defender as a point guard but again, I think Rubio has much more potential defending point guards.

[RatherUnique24]

Why do you not want Rubio defending SG?

If Kahn's goal is to build a championship roster, let's project how a Rubio Flynn backcourt would match up with the last few NBA champions.

How would a Rubio, Flynn & a SF of your choice fair against Fisher, Kobe and Ariza?

or against

Rondo, Allen & Pierce?

or against

Parker, Ginobli and Bowen?

or against

Chauncey , Hamilton and Prince?

I like both Rubio and Flynn and I think they were the best players available at the 5 and 6.

But they will need a stud SF/SG wing to complement them to be in a championship discussion.

No Chauncey is in Denver with an even stronger team.

It won't work; one of them is going to the bench, or traded.

[revprodeji]

I agree we need a nice SF to go with them. But we also need to acknowledge that our backcourt is 18 and 20 and could be crazy amazing at 20-22 or 22-24. Rubio has the clear potential to be a #1. Flynn is hard to project but he is a rotation piece. But we do need a stud SF that can be the #3 guy.

[revprodeji]

Rubio is 6'5 as an 18 yr old. His best defensive attribute is playing the passing lanes. Last year he spent plenty of time defending the Sg (logical considering he played next to a 5'10 pg) when he adds strength he will have no issue defending the SG spot.

Lets say for argument sake that we have a 3 guard rotation. Rubio splits time defending the SG and the PG spot when Flynn sits. A brewer type defends the SG next to Rubio. How is that not a good defensive rotation?

[wildvikeswolves]

Why do you not want Rubio defending SG?

If Kahn's goal is to build a championship roster, let's project how a Rubio Flynn backcourt would match up with the last few NBA champions.

How would a Rubio, Flynn & a SF of your choice fair against Fisher, Kobe and Ariza?
Flynn, Brewer, Rubio

or against

Rondo, Allen & Pierce?
Flynn, Rubio, Brewer

or against

Parker, Ginobli and Mason?
Flynn. Brewer, Rubio
Bowen doesnt play for Spurs so i put Roger Mason in his spot

or against

Chauncey , Hamilton and Prince?
Chauncy plays in Denver

I like both Rubio and Flynn and I think they were the best players available at the 5 and 6.

But they will need a stud SF/SG wing to complement them to be in a championship discussion.

[tvwolves7]

I have warmed up to the idea. It is rare but there have been teams in the last few years that ran with two point guards and were successful. Bulls with Hinrich and Rose, Mavericks with Devin Harris/Jason Kidd and Jason Terry, Suns with Nash and Barbosa, Warriors I know have done this and when Nick Van Exel was playing, I forget which team, he was successful with another point guard.

Each of these I named did have a player that was a scoring point guard and from everything I have seen and read about Flynn he can be that guy, while Rubio is the facilitator and drives the pace of the game.

Both will need to improve their shots, but this will really cause headaches for other teams when they have to have two defenders that can defend a point guard. I would assume that depending on the pace of the game, transitions and plays called you could see them both switching point guard positions on the offensive side.

I mean look at it this way we are playing OKC:

Flynn defends Westbrook and Westbrook defends Flynn
Rubio defends Harden and Harden defends Rubio. I do not believe that Harden could keep up with Rubio.

Or we are playing the blazers.

Blake with Flynn
Rubio on Fernandez. I do not see Fernandez being able to keep up with Rubio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSBLKrZCkeU

Also watch this video there is offense and defensive highlights. He has a knack for picking the ball of. I cheched and when he played against the US in the olympics, both games he had 3 steals each. I think he will improve with strength and experience to be able to defend majority of the SG's out there besides the Kobe Bryants of the world, but how many players can contain Kobe very well.

[Esohny]

Why do you not want Rubio defending SG?

If Kahn's goal is to build a championship roster, let's project how a Rubio Flynn backcourt would match up with the last few NBA champions.

How would a Rubio, Flynn & a SF of your choice fair against Fisher, Kobe and Ariza?

or against

Rondo, Allen & Pierce?

or against

Parker, Ginobli and Bowen?

or against

Chauncey , Hamilton and Prince?

I like both Rubio and Flynn and I think they were the best players available at the 5 and 6.

But they will need a stud SF/SG wing to complement them to be in a championship discussion.

No Chauncey is in Denver with an even stronger team.

It won't work; one of them is going to the bench, or traded.

You realize he was talking about the Detroit championship team in 2004, don't you? Learn how to read.

[revprodeji]

The logic with players that can play multiple positions is usually to put them against players where they can use their speed, not the size. Against SG's Rubio's speed and ball handling will be very hard for them to defend against. Against a pg he has height, but he is not a post player anyway. I like him matched up against SG

[Vega06]

I'm warming up to the idea, but not sold on it yet. I can't find a reason not to give it a try. How else will we find out if it can be successful or not?

[SportsGuy8]

We still can't be totally sure if Kahn really wants this lineup, he could very well just be trying to save both Rubio's and Flynn's value from dropping. But let's just say he's serious.

I don't really dislike it that much. No hand-checking was quite game-changing. People underestimate how much of an effect it has.
There's a reason why we're seing so many PG stars emerging, superstars even. Sure, CP3 is good, but these rules make him that much better. If he was in the NBA like 5-10 years ago, he would be an all-star, with these rules he's a superstar and in yearly MVP talks.
Then you have other PG stars, like Deron Williams, Rose, Parker ...
Even look at this years playoffs. Rondo was looking like a superstar, even Aaron friggin' Brooks was looking like a star in several games! Then you have tiny "SG" Barea, who looks like he belongs. There's a reason for all of this.

Now it's mostly PGs, but I wouldn't be surprised if we see more & more small backcourts in the future.

I do see big problems for Rubio defending true strong SGs like Wade, Roy, Kobe ... Not only will it be a huge mismatch, but it could also do a lot of wear&tear on his body, especially if big guards keep posting him up. His body just isn't well enough built, never will be. (and I also see him being a bit fragile)

[Dan's with the Wolves]

I agree we need a nice SF to go with them. But we also need to acknowledge that our backcourt is 18 and 20 and could be crazy amazing at 20-22 or 22-24. Rubio has the clear potential to be a #1. Flynn is hard to project but he is a rotation piece. But we do need a stud SF that can be the #3 guy.

I frankly don't see rubio as a number 1. I see him more as having the potential to be an amazing #2 in a Garnett sort of way.

[Esohny]

We still can't be totally sure if Kahn really wants this lineup, he could very well just be trying to save both Rubio's and Flynn's value from dropping. But let's just say he's serious.

I don't really dislike it that much. No hand-checking was quite game-changing. People underestimate how much of an effect it has.
There's a reason why we're seing so many PG stars emerging, superstars even. Sure, CP3 is good, but these rules make him that much better. If he was in the NBA like 5-10 years ago, he would be an all-star, with these rules he's a superstar and in yearly MVP talks.
Then you have other PG stars, like Deron Williams, Rose, Parker ...
Even look at this years playoffs. Rondo was looking like a superstar, even Aaron friggin' Brooks was looking like a star in several games! Then you have tiny "SG" Barea, who looks like he belongs. There's a reason for all of this.

Now it's mostly PGs, but I wouldn't be surprised if we see more & more small backcourts in the future.

I do see big problems for Rubio defending true strong SGs like Wade, Roy, Kobe ... Not only will it be a huge mismatch, but it could also do a lot of wear&tear on his body, especially if big guards keep posting him up. His body just isn't well enough built, never will be. (and I also see him being a bit fragile)

So Rubio would join the club of EVERYONE who has trouble guarding Wade, Roy and Kobe.

Wow. He's 18. He will mature further and weight train with a pro staff. You've got to be kidding.

[Blasphemy]

Your GM has to be the dumbest ever in the NBA!