I view him as a mix of John Stockton and a young Jason Williams, if that makes any sense...

Courtside wrote:


This blog was written more than a month ago and was based on Rubio stats in the first round of the Euroleague, which included some bad teams.

I've decided to check all of Rubio's stats against quality competition this year. I've used his stats from the Spanish league and Cup against teams with winning records, and Euroleague games against top 16 teams. This left me with 20 games, which is a good sample size.

The results are disappointing IMO:
He averaged 6.5 PPG on 38.2 %FG, with 2.5 RPG, 5.1 APG, 2.7 TOPG and 2.2 SPG in 21.3 Minutes per game.
When calculating his stats per 40 minutes:
12.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 9.6 APG, 5.0 TOPG, 4.1 SPG.

After using Hollinger's adjustment:
9.1 PPG on 33.6% shooting with 5.6 RPG and 12.5 APG.

His assists average is great, but his scoring is low and his shooting percentage is atrocious. Furthermore, nearly 40% of his points come from free throws, and I strongly believe that the NBA refs won't give him the same calls that he's getting in Europe, especially during his rookie year. So his scoring average might be even lower.

Usually, it's not a good thing when your home team PG has a lower shooting percentage, than the batting average of your home team catcher .

Therefore, before you start comparing him to Nash and Kidd take a looooooooooooooong deeeeeeeeeeeeeeep breath. Right now Rubio is more hype than substance, but he's young and I hope he uses this year and the next one to significantly improve his shooting.

guibec wrote:


SECOND COMING OF JASON KIDD WOOOOOOO!!!

SECOND COMING OF OSCAR ROBERTSON WOOOHOOO!!!

What are you all smoking? He's the second coming of...







TROY HUDSON but without the dreads and the album.

guibec wrote:


I was saying this for a long time and I am the biggest homer here

Flash wrote:


Yes, I noticed that you were one of the few not to jump on the Rubio Superstar wagon.

It's funny how people at the beginning of the season were all over Brewer horrible 38% shooting percentage ( and rightfully so ), but ignore Rubio's even worse shooting accuracy.

guibec wrote:


Look at the age difference...

HOWL to guibec for his research and analysis...

College Wolf wrote:


And Brewer is a great example of how one can improve field goal percentage pretty dramatically in one season.

I also applaud guibec's stat effort!

However, nobody has any idea if Hollinger's formula is an accurate predictor for NBA production. In addition, I disagree that a 20 game sample of an 18 year old player is a large enough sample size.

Finally, there are bigger behavioral dents in Flynn's game than anything statistically in Rubio's. Flynn persistently dribbles into double teams, plays shoot-first/pass-second basketball, etc. You can't argue that Rubio is pass-first. And it appears as though his vision and passing is better than Flynn's, too. Good passing can be used as a threat to open up easy shots for yourself and others(that's why they call it the triple-threat position). Flynn doesn't get that.

I also think Rubio will be a much better defender than Flynn. He's got quick hands at the end of long arms. Everybody shoots over Flynn. Won't happen nearly as often with Rubio.

My two cents.

Fat wrote:


Great comment, Howl to you. I completely agree with the Flynn vs Rubio comparison. I will also add that Rubio is indeed, 100% better passer AND defender than Flynn. No doubt in my mind. It's a night and day comparison.

I don't think anybody ever said that we're certain he's the next Nash/Kidd.

It started out by Flash saying Rubio will never be a primary scoring option (and why would he? i don't get this point) and I said most people like myself HOPE he can be the next Nash/Kidd.

All it takes is to watch a few clips of Rubio and you can see his court vision and passing are at an elite level. He would be among the very best in the NBA right now in both areas.

He is a good defender and the way he plays defense should translate over nicely to the NBA.

He is too skinny right now and not a good enough shooter, so yea he needs to get in the weightroom and work on his shooting.

So I think it's funny that we're getting belittled for hoping that Rubio can be a superstar when all the signs point to him having the POTENTIAL to be one.

I can't say the same for Jonny Flynn. Dude has no court vision, is a ballhog, makes terrible decisions, plays bad defense, and really isn't even that great of a scorer which is his biggest strength.

roundhouse wrote:


I agree but the problem is that in the all other areas he is below average.
And yes, he has the potential.

Flash wrote:


What other areas besides shooting? An elite leader, passer, and better defender than anyone on our team isn't good enough?

College Wolf wrote:


Why do you think that he is a good leader? Navaro and Lorbek are leaders in Barca, he is just a role player there.
Corey Brewer is a way better defender than Ricky Rubio.