[oogellsParticipant]

 

 I do team previews for my own research every year. Usually I write 3 pages per player, but made it 1 page this year for efficiencies sake when I re read them throughout the year. Also I am a horrible writer, but I surely know my ball. Let me know if you would like me to post more as I finish them. I usually go 13-17 players per team, and an overal team writeup. 

 Ricky Rubio 10.3ppg 5.7 rpg 8.8 apg PER 15.24 (league average is 15) Win Shares per 48 mins .033 (league average of .100)  

Just can’t stay healthy having only played 61% of available games. This is no surprise as a lack of strength in his lower half affects his game and durability. If he can stay healthy, he can be an average to above average lead guard in the right system. Only playing 22 games last year gives his stats a bit of a small sample size coloration, but there was some slippage in his play last year, when he was supposed to take a major step forward after playing a full 82 games the reason before.

Offense

One of the worst shooters of all time ( http://grantland.com/the-triangle/courtvision-whats-the-matter-with-ricky-rubio) . Yes that article is 2 years old. What’s scary is that his true shooting percentage actually went down last year, at a career low .452%. After showing some promise raising his 3pt% to 33%, he dropped all the way to 25% last year.  Once again a bit of a small sample size but that is not encouraging. Great vision and ball handling, but has difficulty getting into the paint, or even mid range, to finish. He got into the restricted area even less this year as he had his lowest free throw rate of his career. In this new NBA where teams want layups, free throws, and 3’s, Rubio will hurt you in all of those categories. It can be debated he gets more of his players layups then normal Pgs, which would make his own layup deficiencies look a bit better. At best this only makes him average at getting his team points in the paint. He doesn’t have a consistent floater. Defenders go under every pick n roll. Solid APTO ratio. Elite alley thrower and well as a very high level pusher in transition. He will force it sometimes, but on a team like the T’wolves that struggles with spacing in the half court, that can be expected.

Defense

An area where I have seen arguments for him being both over rated and under rated. Good length for the position lets him pile up steals even without elite lateral movement. Smart defender on and off ball, seldom takes missteps around picks and stays locked in. Struggles against stronger combo guards, but then again a good amount of players struggles against the likes of Russell Westbrook, John Wall, and Eric Bledsoe. Exceptional rebounder at the point guard position 2^nd only to Westbrook, which obviously leads to a good amount of fast break opportunities. His steals percentage went down from a league leading 3.6% to 2.8%, which would have ranked 10^th, which is a minor concern with all these leg injuries happening, but a bounce back to the top of the steals leader boards is possible.

Outlook

With salaries of 12,13,14,15 million the next 4 years, now is the time to show some lasting improvement. Being 25 and a 4 year vet, these next 2 years are key. The team is just not a great fit for Rubio’s talents. The lack of spacing last year was evident. The Wolves not only shot 33% from 3, but shit the fewest 3’s in the league at only 15 per game, where most teams average at least around 20. I can’t see Wiggins and Lavine improving their shooting that much and Tayshaun Prince can’t be counted on the move the needle that much, especially for 82 games. I see lots of bricks, some highlights, and offseason trade talk. Rubio brings a lot to the table, but takes some off of it as well. Could be an elite 3rd guard on the right team, and with the salary cap rising, I would not be surprised to see some teams calling when the Wolves unreal playoff aspirations fall flat.

 

 

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