DCZards wrote:I'd expect Rui to average around 12-14ppg per game, maybe 16 if he gets the minutes. What I don't want to see happen is for Hachimura to play more than 25-30 minutes a game, at least at the outset.
College ball and pro ball are two very different animals when it comes to the travel, number/frequency of games and the physicality. I'd hate to see Rui get worn down (maybe even injured) as a result of asking too much of him too soon.
Idk, I just don't see it. If you want to make an argument based on load management that he shouldn't be getting the minutes fine. But if you're going to look at our roster and tell me that he shouldn't be playing starter minutes I have to ask for who should be getting the minutes over him. What's our rotation look like right now?
PG Smith Robinson
SG Beal Anderson
SF Bertans Rui Schofield Bogna
PF Rui
C Bryant Rui Wagner Mahimi
Feel free to correct that if I'm wrong. Now Brooks has already come out and said that Rui will be the small ball 5. He has also said that he expects Rui to play the 3 and the 4. Brown Jr. is injured. CJ Miles is injured. And even when they come back it's going to take time to get back into game shape. So in all likelihood this is the roster that we are starting the season with vs. the Mavs on October 23rd. If this is the roster we have. Who will be getting the shots? Is Beal going to take 30 shots a game? Bryant? He can't create. Bertans can't create. It is obviously going to fall on Rui to shoulder a big load offensively. Personally, I think he has already has the skills to excel in that scoring role and I think when players come back, they are going to come back and fit into the system we have in place. And even when Brown Jr. and CJ Miles do come back, neither of those guys can create offense.
PG Thomas Smith Robinson
SG Beal Anderson
SF Brown. Jr Rui CJ Miles Schofield Bogna
PF Bertans Rui
C Bryant Rui Wagner Mahimi
I guess this kind of roster is a possible, if you want to limit Rui's minutes as much as possible, but even then he's still going to get substantial minutes. And there will still be a lot of shots to take. Portis, Parker and Satoransky took a lot of shots. Combined they come out to about 31 shots a game. IT will take some of those shots and an improved Brown Jr. and Bryant will also take more shots. But there are a ton of shots to be had on this team. And a lot of them will go to Rui. To be honest I'm surprised I'm getting so much push back. Kyle Kuzma averaged 16 ppg as a rookie. Lauri Markkannen averaged 15 ppg as a rookie. And those teams had more shot creators than the Wizards. For better or for worse, Rui will get every opportunity to score on this team. And unlike some guys in the past, cough Otto Porter cough, he's not going to shy away from those shots.