Ricky Rubio Watch

Kevin Love's defensive rating is 97, and the team's is 100 so he could just be a product of playing for a good defensive team. However, this shouldn't come as a surprise as that was perhaps his biggest selling point at one time.

Rubio's very promising, but like Jennings a couple years ago, will look less good when he stops hitting threes at such a high rate.

When did Jennings ever look promising? Sure he's capable of going for big nights if his shot is hot, much like Mo Williams but he doesn't make his teammates better. Even when Rubio's %'s drop, which they are starting to, he still makes teammates better.

Last season Luke Ridnour was by far the Wolves' second best player. Firing one of the league's worst coaches and hiring one of the best, adding two top 5 draft picks, and actually playing defense are the reasons for the Wolves' early "success". Sounds crazy now but if they get rid of Beasley, Utah falls off and the Grizzlies struggle without Zach, they could be in the hunt for the 8 seed this year.

Rubio has enjoyed a strong start so far, but once he hits the rookie wall (does anybody seriously think Rubio of all players can keep up that 44% 3pt clip?), Ridnour will be the clear choice at PG for Minnesota short-term.

I have to disagree with you here. Whilst Ridnour has a good shot & is solid, he's not a starting level PG like Rubio. Darko has Foye or some midget on him but Ridnour won't recognise this but Rubio will get it to Darko straight away. From watching quite a few T-wolves games this season, that's the recurring theme I get from Ridnour. A good quality backup PG but that's it. Advantage is you can play him next to Rubio because Rubio will set him up for open looks.

We all know Rubio's shooting %'s will drop but at least he's got confidence to shoot them when he's open, even when he's missing. That's what I've been impressed about.

What's your take on Derrick Williams & some of other T-wolves? I think he's been turrible so far. Maybe it's because he's just not comfortable coming off bench, I dunno. I would've liked to have seen them start him just to see what he's got. Wes Johnson's done nothing again. Ellington has been good of late, Ridnour's been solid as you would expect, Love's been good, they finally played Darko some minutes & he played well against Clips. He made DeAndre Jordan look ordinary (which he is anyways ). Barea was a nice sparkplug off bench. I think Beasley still has some use on the team since Derrick Williams isn't there yet. Maybe when Rubio & Love are off court, let Beasley do his thing, because he can score & not many others on the T-wolves can at the moment.

Sure he's capable of going for big nights if his shot is hot, much like Mo Williams but he doesn't make his teammates better. Even when Rubio's %'s drop, which they are starting to, he still makes teammates better.

Has any player in the history of basketball ever made a teammate better?

What a shot by Love last night! Derrick Williams hasn't looked great, but just having him out there instead of Beasley makes the team better on both ends. He has some potential, but I don't see how he'll be a star against NBA defenses unless he becomes David West 2.0. This team might be a playoff team if they can dump trainwrecks Wes Johnson and Mike Beasley for a bag of deformed basketballs or something. Beasley can score, but he's like Andray Blatche - counterproductive on both ends of the court. Would rather trust Barea to take a bunch of shots off the bench.

Like Jennings in month #1 of his rookie year, Rubio is looking like a borderline all-star, and 82games seems to back up the point that he makes teammates better (way better +/- than Ridnour, but Luke may have shared the court with Beasley more). However, once 1-11 shooting nights become the norm, I'd expect that to change and Ridnour to become the steady point guard (I doubt Milwaukee makes the playoffs in 09-10 without Ridnour). I do like how many steals Rubio gets, but I reckon the team's playing better because of Adelman more than anything.

I don't know what people have against Jennings. He flamed out after the 55 point game but he's been putting up acceptable numbers the last couple years, and is quietly averaging 20 PPG this year. He defends and has talent - something you can't say about Jonny Flynn (still the league's worst player)

They don't like Jennings, cause he said Rubio was all hype. That's why he's awesome in my book.

but I reckon the team's playing better because of Adelman more than anything.

This. I don't think they would play any better or worse with Ridnour instead of Rubio. However, Ridnour may actually be playing better because of Rubio or Adelman because he is shooting quite well this season.

I went to the game last night. Rubio plays better than most people give him credit for, even though he can't shoot for shit. Once he becomes a scorer, expect both his points and assists to rise.

Sure he's capable of going for big nights if his shot is hot, much like Mo Williams but he doesn't make his teammates better. Even when Rubio's %'s drop, which they are starting to, he still makes teammates better.

Has any player in the history of basketball ever made a teammate better?

Not better, just helps them maximise their skills. It's obviously not just teammates that help this but also team playing styles and many other factors.

They don't like Jennings, cause he said Rubio was all hype. That's why he's awesome in my book.

For me it's more to do with his attitude.

but I reckon the team's playing better because of Adelman more than anything.

im a big adelman fan. he wins pretty much everywhere he goes

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Obviously it's rookie hazing & Ricky's playing along.

His vision is good but he turns the ball over little too often as expected. But at the same time he has surpassed most peoples' expectation so far in this young season.

Including mine... I really liked what I saw from him. He scores way better than I expected.

They don't like Jennings, cause he said Rubio was all hype. That's why he's awesome in my book.

If Rubio Is a hype, what is Linsanity?

If Rubio Is a hype, what is Linsanity?

Currently better than Rubio in half the minutes played.

Rubio hype was prolonged ever since he turned into a pro at age of 14 becoming a star instantly. But no matter how good Lin was, stereotype kept him under the shadow ever since he grabbed the basketball. That is up untill 3 weeks ago. I'd say Lin deserves huge credits and hype for not giving up and making it this far. Not sure what his ceiling is though. I honestly don't think he'll continue to keep the pace especially with Melo and Davis now in the line up healthy. But he's been a welcoming surprise and Linderella of the NBA. As for Rubio, it's more of a fight to live up to a hype than against stereotype. Two different stories there.

The T-Wolves rookies had their choice of backpack:


And they were considering making Derrick Williams wear his during the dunk contest.

Would have locked up the 13-year-old girl fan vote.... usually a powerful voting force in dunk contests.

If Rubio Is a hype, what is Linsanity?

Currently better than Rubio in half the minutes played.

Nice comparison, thanks!

Btw. if Williams had decided to wear the backpack on the right hand side, he would have won the contest!

Looks like he might be out for the season.

What bad news is this. The Wolves were doing pretty good this season nearly in the playoffs picture. But they should be able to remain a .500 team if Barea can step up.

Good thing their backup pg is as good, if not better and they spent 4 mil on their third stringer.

Barea's missed a lot of time with injuries this season for Minny. Hopefully he can play well and stay healthy if Rubio's out for a long time.

Some teams just seem to be cursed.

There goes my starting PG for Yahoo fantasy basketball.

Report: Wolves' Rubio out for season with torn ACL

Link here: http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2012/03/10/report-ricky-rubio-done-for-season/

I really feel bad for Ricky Rubio.

Tremendous shame for Rubio, the Timberwolves and the NBA as a whole really. It's great to see new young players come in and have an impact, terrible to see anyone to go down with a serious injury. Hopefully he can make a full recovery and bounce back next season.

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A loss to NOH the worst team in the NBA. Rubio has a strong case for the MVP award?

Wonder if Ridnour will stick to SG job when Barea comes back. Or will Barea still come off the bench?