The Outlaw / Fernandez Dichotomy

by Phizbin on Mar 20, 2009 1:05 PM PDT

So, call me the typical uneducated fan.

I had Sergio man-love during the JJ era and contine to have some now. In fact, I thought Surge played very well against Cleveland when he got in the game.

I've also been horrified by Outlaw on many occasions and was secretly hoping he'd get traded.

But here's the deal. When I look at the two players--Outlaw and Fernandez--for this season (and this season only!) I see this happening

1) The one player almost always makes the "smart" play, takes mostly open shots, makes the passes, and generally plays ball the "right" way. And he clangs bricks all over the place. He does not strike fear in the hearts of his adversary.

2) The othe player makes the "smart" play once per week. He takes the most insanely foolish shots this side of pop-a-shot. He makes fans and coaches and wannabe coaches alike all cringe with his shot selection, defensive rotation, and other basketball strategery. And he's dropping points in left and right. When he has the ball, you can just see the other team think "Oh my God what is he going to do NOW?!" That's fear.

I know everyone is always talking about Voltron point guards where we combine them into some kind of uber being. But I'm wanting that with the SF position. I want Rudy's brain inside Travis' body. As Rudy was clanging balls off the rim from wide open looks last night I kept thinking, Sweet Mary, imagine how many points Travis wuld score if he would just get open like that.

So the next game, I'm going to try and chart it out: wide open shots that Rudy misses versus contested/foolish shots that Travis makes.

I think the outcome will be telling.

(And I agree with JQ: Rudy really does get a free ride some times... but I gotta say, I love watching the guy. But I'm REALLY going to love watching Travis at the opponent's court absolutely driving the opposing teams' fans crazy. You think Outlaw drives us crazy? Imagine what it feels like to be on the other team and watch that stuff drop IN!)

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Rudy's a Euro rookie

and he is FAR outclassing the rookie years of European imports like Ginobili or Nowitzki. It’s a huge adjustment.

draft dejuan blair

by Cablinasian on Mar 20, 2009 1:11 PM PDT reply actions

Outlaw is our best kept secret

I like how you say that he strikes fear in the opponents eyes. He’s the type of player who isn’t recognizable to the casual NBA fan, but I’m sure other teams know who he is. In the Oden/Durant debate when you say we don’t need Durant as much because we have Outlaw, non Blazer fans look at you funny. Granted Durant is probably the better overall player, Outlaw’s sweet stroke keeps his offensive game right up there with Durant’s.

"Look at you,'' the coach said. "You're lookin' like a player, like a warrior. Ice bags, bandages ... that's how a player is supposed to look.''

by two buck chuck on Mar 20, 2009 1:19 PM PDT reply actions

lay off the wine :)

Durant is the better player, no hesitation.

"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"

by Magnum on Mar 20, 2009 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions

lol he's been on something stronger than wine for sure.

Please, for the love of all that is holy, please stop using the following: "Book it.", "FTW", "Epic" & "Fail".

...no seriously--stop.

by nima on Mar 21, 2009 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Rudy's size is a large component

in his ability to run off screens and get open. If he were Travis’ size he wouldn’t be as quick and would be open much less often.

"It was White vs. Purple that's all I know." - B Roy

by pxilpooshr on Mar 20, 2009 1:21 PM PDT reply actions

Rudy will be the superior player when he puts some muscle on that scrawny frame.

His offensive and defensive game suffers mightily due to his present lack of strength

by Rudy4three on Mar 20, 2009 2:36 PM PDT reply actions

Rudy takes smart attempts

It’s harder to argue with what Rudy does. Travis’ bread and butter is awkward stuff that no one’s child should ever see.

by robrun2 on Mar 20, 2009 5:07 PM PDT reply actions

Your post had more comments Phizbin, but someone got nuked which took everything below with it ;-)

My comment went along the lines of Rudy and Travis not pitched against each other on the same position, so I doubt there will be much controversy comparing them since they are not really competing for playing time. But Travis really hits some difficult shots at a high rate (especially long ones), which we should keep in the back of our mind when comparing him to some trade targets in the summer who are not that much better yet carry a multiple of his pricetag.

Also I totally agree that Rudy makes a lot of “smart plays”, e.g. moving without the ball a la Hamilton and rebounding excellent for a guard which won us games against Toronto and Detroit as someone remarked. A potent lineup alongside Roy and Travis to close out games.

by Norsktroll on Mar 20, 2009 6:14 PM PDT reply actions

Nuked, huh?

Sorry I started controversey. I was actually driving to Milwaukee today TO SEE TOMORROW’S GAME and missed it. Actually sorry I started it.

I agree: they’re not really competing for the same playing time. It’s just weird, you know? I had this sudden realization that no matter how much it irks ME with the stuff Travis does… it must be ten times worse for the opposing team because IT WORKS.

It’s like playing blackjack and the guy alway stands on 16 against a dealer king but wins anyway. Drives everyone else at the table bananas. But it works. That’s what it’s like on the other side.

And I gotta say, I love Rudy’s shot selection but I hate his missing. He’s missing a lot of shots. So given all that, I’m surprised there isn’t more tension between those two than there is between Surge and Bayless.

Buck Williams for the hall of fame

by Phizbin on Mar 20, 2009 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Rudy's a gamer

he’s coming back from an injury. give him a few games to get back into his groove. Remember, he was perfect from the field before getting Ariza’ed.

Please, for the love of all that is holy, please stop using the following: "Book it.", "FTW", "Epic" & "Fail".

...no seriously--stop.

by nima on Mar 21, 2009 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Does anyone else notice Travis rarely passes the rock to Rudy?

I swear it’s not just me..

by OneTrickPony on Mar 20, 2009 7:28 PM PDT reply actions

Er, who does Trout pass the ball to regularly?

Actually, he’s stated that he loves playing with Rudy. Who wouldn’t, considering Rudy’s passing ability?

Sure, Trout rarely passes to Rudy, but that’s just because he’s more into receiving than giving. Which might be for the best: Trout’s attempted passes often don’t turn out well.

"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla

by hurryup09 on Mar 21, 2009 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions

clanging

Keep in mind that Rudy is one of the best rookie 3 point shooters of all time. it wouldnt be a stretch to say that rudy will avg .400+ for his career on 3s.

The most hated Blazer is like the least hottest supermodel - Sabonis4Ever

by Philthyanimal on Mar 20, 2009 11:16 PM PDT reply actions

agree with all

I love a post that I am surprised to agree with. But as P-animal points out, Rudy’s percentage is incredible for a rook.

by cantdunk on Mar 20, 2009 11:38 PM PDT reply actions

Breakdown of title:

For those with limited verbasis here’s a breakdown of the title. We’ll start with the big nasty word “dichotomy”, which is easy to know if you break it down into its conjugals (roots).

di = two
cho = Margarette
tomy = boy (note: more modern spelling is tommy)

So, this word quite literally means ‘a pair of Margarette boys ’, which is an old WW2 era saying that is a predator to today’s ‘Nancy Boys’.

Therefore: Phizbin has called both Rudy and Travis ‘Nancy Boys’, which I’m sure he elongates more on with all those words up there that I skipped over in order to help the average Joe comprehend the subtle nuisances of this deep and very academy topic.

"I don’t have the first clue who he is talking about, because all I worry about is Jerome." – Jerome James, on comments by coach Nate McMillan about Seattle SuperSonics players being selfish.

by Devenex on Mar 21, 2009 12:10 AM PDT reply actions

Forgot my reply to this:

#25
and
#5
=Sheed

"I don’t have the first clue who he is talking about, because all I worry about is Jerome." – Jerome James, on comments by coach Nate McMillan about Seattle SuperSonics players being selfish.

by Devenex on Mar 21, 2009 12:12 AM PDT up reply actions