The Season in Review: Rudy Fernandez
by Dave on May 11, 2009 1:02 AM PDT
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PrintToday we look at the most popular Blazer rookie to hit the scene in forever, Rudy Fernandez.
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Rudy Fernandez 2008-09 stats:
|
Statistic |
2008-2009 |
|
Games Played |
78 |
|
Games Started |
4 |
|
Minutes per Game |
25.6 |
|
Points per Game |
10.4 |
|
FG ATT per Game |
8.1 |
|
Field Goal% |
42.5% |
|
3PT ATT per Game |
5.1 |
|
Three-Point% |
39.9% |
|
FT ATT per Game |
1.8 |
|
Free Throw% |
83.9% |
|
Off Rebs per Game |
0.6 |
|
Def Rebs per Game |
2.1 |
|
Total Rebs per Game |
2.7 |
|
Assists |
2.0 |
|
Steals |
0.9 |
|
Blocks |
0.2 |
|
Turnovers |
1.1 |
|
Personal Fouls |
1.4 |
|
Effective FG% |
55.2% |
|
True Shooting% |
58.8% |
|
PER |
15.4 |
|
Plus-Minus |
+3.03 |
|
Assist/Turnover Ratio |
1.82 |
You couldn't want for much more in the rookie campaign of Rudy Fernandez. Several numbers jump off the page to substantiate the claim. His 40% three-point shooting clip was phenomenal, especially when you consider how quickly he shoots that shot, often in the face of a defender. Steve Blake's percentage is similar but there's a world of difference between Blake-style and Rudy-style threes. His overall field goal shooting was nice for a guy who has an 84% rate of shooting jumpers. With 2 of the 3.4 shots he hit per game being threes, his Effective Field Goal Percentage and True Shooting Percentage are both through the roof. The +3 average per game point gain isn't bad either. Coming into the season we expected an offensive firecracker and Rudy, while not exactly turning in an M-80 performance he at least provided plenty of pop and sizzle.
Rudy also introduced a once-familiar concept back into the Portland offense: moving without the ball. Sergio Rodriguez actually deserves credit for attempting to get more motion going for the last couple years but he always had the ball in his hands, never had enough people around him on board, and couldn't finish the play himself despite the lack of help. Rudy had none of those difficulties. His off-ball movement, punctuated by the always exciting baseline alley-oop drive, demonstrated the value of finding creases and the fun of beautiful offense. By the end of the season you saw more folks than just Rudy moving around out there.
Rudy's stats also fall short of describing his momentum-changing capabilities. Brandon Roy is the number one game-changer on this team and there's no doubt about that. But Rudy has to receive serious consideration for second place because of his ability to hit the quick three or get his hands on a crucial steal. Besides that, he's got guts. He doesn't care what the situation is. He feels he's up to it, he wants to play, and he's going to shoot. It's not for good looks alone that he became a crowd favorite this season!
The main criticisms of Fernandez are three:
1. He was forced to over-rely on the jump shot this year because he couldn't gain enough separation via the dribble to get up consistently good attempts. If you closed out effectively on Rudy this year you basically solved him.
2. His penchant for the spectacular, gutsy, or at least optimistic play opened some questions about his timing. He had many more critical plays to the positive than to the negative, but the negative plays were still there.
3. Many of those negative plays showed up on defense. Whether it was going for an ill-advised steal when the opponent was in the early stages of a break, setting up for a charge when there was no chance for contact, or garden variety drifting out of position, Rudy's physical and mental defensive routine needed work. He was fantastic in the passing lanes. When no interception was forthcoming, not so much.
Surprisingly enough, Portland's overall offense actually produced comparatively fewer points when Rudy was on the court than when he was off while the defense also allowed fewer when he was playing than when he sat. This would appear to refute and reverse both the compliments and criticism listed above. However Rudy played relatively few of his minutes with the Blazers' biggest scorers and also played heavy minutes against opposing reserves. This may not account for the complete difference, but it does explain most of it. Again the +3 point margin per game is really the one you want to hold onto.
Fernandez is going to get more time next year. The Blazers have to find a way to play him. The question will be, "Where?" Despite giving the appearance of being a versatile player with his passing skills, hops, and quickness Rudy got destroyed during the relatively few minutes he played any position but point shooting guard. He had a -10.4 PER gap as a point guard and a -37.5 PER gap as a small forward. His offense appeared to stay intact at the point but he turned the ball over a ton, collected personal fouls left and right, and had real trouble defending. The troubles were similar at small forward and his offense and rebounding went to pot as well. Presumably some of this will level out during his second trip through the league but you can't just cavalierly pencil him in to play either position without a ton more experimentation.
Rudy needs to improve his handle, his understanding of where to get good shots in this league and this offense, and his understanding of his place in the defense. He did well for a brand new guy in the league. The Blazers need better next season if they are to improve.
Rudy is highly valued by the team and despite a probable high value around the league as well I don't see his name being batted about much in trade talks from Portland's end. If they could make a move for a bona fide young star who meshed perfectly they might consider Rudy in a deal simply because of the positional conflict with Roy. It's hard to see another team giving up that kind of player for Rudy in what would appear to be a lateral move. Like Nicolas Batum, Rudy is a shade this side of untouchable. It would take quite the crowbar to pry open the sliver of difference wide enough to fit a trade through.
We know the assessments of Rudy's season are going to be overwhelmingly positive, and deservedly so. How do you see him growing, both individually and in his role on the team? Where do the Blazers play him? And would you consider any offers for him at this time or is he firmly ensconced on your must-keep list? Fire away below.
See more stats at 82Games.com and BasketballReference.com.
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
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He has to work on his defense, and adapt to any position he may have to play at, but I can tell you that his offensive arsenal is much bigger. I guess it was a coach decision, and the fact that he wasn’t considered the first option with the 2nd unit, but he’s likely to be next season, and then he’ll have the chance to create for himself and think more about driving.
If you saw the Olympic final you know he can create for himself, even if its with his step-back three (he nailed a couple of them while guarded by Kobe and Prince).
He just needs a little more confidence and a green light. Here in Spain we’re used to his more-often-than-not point per minute of play rate of scoring.
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!
Kinda like asking a pig to sing
YOU SAID: “He has to work on his defense, and adapt to any position he may have to play at”
I SAY: I get where you are coming from, but some times comments like this strike as a bit like try to teach a pig to sing; it isn’t going to happen. Sure Rudy can learn to play better D. He can learn when to gamble and when to stay home. He can hit the weight room.
He can try, but I find it hard to believe that Rudy is every going to be a good defender at the “1” or the “3”. He doesn’t have enough lateral quickness to stay with most NBA PGs, and he doesn’t have the strength to stay with most NBA 3. He has enough problems guarding SGs. Artest destroyed him in Game 6. He is OK in certain match-ups, but not many.
Guys have physical limitations, the coaches and Rudy need to fix what they can fix, but it is important to find ways to use him that do not expose his limitations. I love Rudy, the passing, the motion, the stroke, the headiness, but I don’t think he is ever going to be an All Star. I think the best we can hope for is a sixth man/scorer role off the bench.
Do the rest of you agree?
Rudy’s lack of defensive flexibility, seems to force us into asking if Roy can play more minutes at the “1” or the “3”? What does everybody think? How do you feel having both guys on the floor together in the 4th quarter affected our team defense?
by upper left corner on May 11, 2009 7:41 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I disagree...
You have some good observations, and I admittedly have a man-crush on Rudy’, so I may be slightly biased.
Defense – While some players are adept at playing D when coming into the league (see Batum, Nicolas) others need time to develop playing the more physical style of NBA basketball against larger players. I think that Rudy will have a much better season next year once he gets some additional experience against the top players in the league. Playing against excellent players builds excellence. That’s not to say that Rudy will ever be All-Defensive Team, but I think we will see him start to be more balanced over the next few years.
Physical limitations – I personally hate this argument, as it says there is this archetype for dominance when playing basketball. Rather than everyone focusing on a player’s limitations physically, people should also consider how that player’s build is best suited for the style of play of the team and the individual. it could easily be countered that Rudy’s physical build makes him better suited for his offensive style, and thus is an asset for the team.
Position – The numbers are very glaring that Rudy plays most effectively as a typical 2 guard. At this position he is more effective on both ends of the court, so I think that he should stay in this position. I think having Roy play the point and having Rudy play off the ball is a great back-court scheme against certain teams; not necessarily something I want to run each night. However, I am more than happy with Rudy as the anchor for the second unit offensively.
Overall – Rudy brings more to the table than he takes. Although he wasn’t a college-rookie, he still has a learning curve for this caliber of sport and we should expect him to get better in the future. I think that Rudy has the potential to be a starting guard in this league, especially with the right offense. I feel fortunate that we have him on our team and I look forward to his contributions for hopefully many years.
If you let them make you, they'll make you into paper mache.
At a distance you're strong until the wind comes, then you'll crumble and blow away.
- Incubus
Rudy is listed as 6'6" and 185# and that may be adding a pound or ten
He is very thin for an NBA player. At age 24 he is not going to suddenly become Artest. He is a greyhound, in a league with plenty of pit bulls.
Saying you hate it when people analyze a players physical limitations seems like a form of denial. Physical attributes are not the only aspect of a player and may in some situations even be the most important qualities of a player, but they do set parameters within which a player can succeed.
As Rudy bulks up a little to help him withstand the rigors of the NBA game and help him be able to finish better at the rim, he is not going to get better at defending PGs. He might get better at defending SFs, but to me he simply does not seem to have the lateral foot speed necessary to defend most NBA PGs.
Don’t take my comment for what it is not. I am not saying that I don’t love his game and that I don’t think he can be a highly successful player for us. I am saying we should take advantage of his skills and try to limit exposing his limitations.
by upper left corner on May 11, 2009 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions
You call it denial....
but I would say physical “limitations” are not limitations, but rather challenges to be addressed. Charles Barkley was too short to play PF in the NBA….plain and simply. That’s why he was cut from the US Olympic team when he came out of college. Yet he was a dominant player in the league at that position.
Nate Robinson is simply too short to play NBA ball. Yet he seems to do rather well.
Larry Bird was too slow and couldn’t jump. Rather clear physical limitations there….
John Stockton was short and considered a bit slow, yet he excelled at defense.
Rudy developed as a basketball player in a league that did not emphasize individual defense. I have no doubt that if he’s motivated, he can learn to be an effective defender in the NBA, with the ability to cover several positions. Will that happen this coming season? I doubt it….but he sure seems like the type of highly motivated player that will continue to improve, both on O and D.
by antediluvian on May 11, 2009 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions
It is a form of denial.
It’s like the little man at the gym who while shooting around,
nails everything. Elbow, corner, top of the key all go down. Great for
a game of around the world, but he can’t get his shot off in a game.
Wake up people, Rudy is not a SF ! I saw Rudy at the Fan Fest and was
impressed with his all around game, passing & shot making ability.
Described him later to friends as a poor man’s Pistol Pete. The only
problems is that he is skinny as a rail. He’s a backup 2 guard, with
extra wing/playmaker minutes when the matchups are right. I love his
game, but he needs to spend the summer & the rest of his career in the
weight room trying to put on 10-15 pounds of muscle. As a lifelong athlete/
coach & strength trainer, there are plenty of methods/programs to add muscle
and strength without losing flexibility and speed.
Physical limitations are a fact in athletics. Anyone who has spent years in the
gym or played competative HS/college athletic team sports know this absolute.
There are very few exceptions, sans chemical engineering, but modern physical
training can help reduce this gap. The plain facts of a mismatch between Rudy
vs. Ron Ron dosen’t change either player’ skillset, just the basic athletic difference.
The sooner Rudy understands this fact, the sooner he will transition from Euroball
to the NBA !
It's GO time !
I hate to agree that you are right, walkoff.
I played a lot of tennis and racketball for years and it was a shock to realize one day that studying the game, training, practice, coaching, match play, etc. only go so far. You have to have the physical tools to succeed beyond a certain level — though that is more of an issue in an individual sport like tennis or racketball than a team sport like basketball.
What made me painfully aware of that was when I played against folks who were comparatively new to the game and lost to them. In one case, I literally taught a co-worker to play tennis and racketball and in less than a year I could not beat him. In fact, he became the #1 racketball player at our club.
rudy will be fine.
he’ll adjust fine. just hope he stays healthy.
"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.
"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.
Brandon is going to have to play about 8 to 15 minutes at the 1 with Rudy at the 2 next season
With Martell coming back and Boom Boom’s star rising I think for Rudy to get enough minutes he and Roy will have to play without a true PG on the court.
This isn’t because Martell and Batum are better than Rudy, it is because those three players will all deserve time and the best way for that too happen is for Roy to slide over and spend a good chunck of minutes at the point.
I think if that happens everything will be fine, if not then I think there is going to be a very unhappy guy on this team next season.
www.freeoden.com Coming soon
by 123_G.O._RipCity on May 11, 2009 1:34 AM PDT reply actions
I think in our rush to fill the PG and SF voids with just about anyone
a lot of us forget that Roy’s 37 minutes and hopefully Rudy’s 30 minutes will put a sizable dent into both positions (PG/SF) minutes next year. All the more reason to find a THE guy, and not continue on with depth as an agenda.
I’m of the other persuasion however. I love when Rudy is at the 2 and Roy is at the 3. Five of our eight most successful lineups last year were actually lineups that included Rudy at the 2 and Roy at the 3. Roy has also proven to be a much better defender on small forwards than he is on shooting guards (8.3 PER better – How did no one point this out all year? + He’s better on SF’s than LeBron is). He can really use his toughness a lot more in these cases. Also, Rudy isn’t defending point guards no matter how you slice it. Last year both Sergio and Blake were very successful point guards with that duo at the wings. Put an even better PG there and I think we’re looking at our very best lineup next year. Throw in Aldridge obviously and if Oden can take over that spot, him, if not Przy.
I like Rudy at the two as well but Brandon Roy's body just doesn't seem like it was meant to play the small forward
position. Even Paul Pierce is more bulky.
by BRoyInThe4th on May 11, 2009 2:48 AM PDT up reply actions
I think Roy could do it if we asked him to put on a bit more muscle in the off season
I wouldn’t make a permanent switch, but that would allow us to play Roy and Rudy at the 2 & 3 a bit more. Hopefully that adjustment is enough to make Rudy happy minutes-wise.
However, as much as I love Rudy, I wonder how valuable he can be backing up our best player. If Roy was a better fit at SF I would put Rudy in the SG slot faster than Rudy can steal the ball and hit a 3, but maybe he has more value to the franchise as a trade piece for a big acquisition.
Would that be like the basketball version of “it’s not you it’s me”?
"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"
Brandon Roy won't be bulking up any more than he is now.
Nate made a comment in that last Courtside at the end of the season that Casey Holdahl put up. It was kind of a throwaway comment, but he mentioned that Brandon came into the season bulked up over the previous year with the intention of being stronger, and over the course of the season he let that slide — somewhat — because he felt he had lost some speed and wanted it back. So that sounds to me like Brandon is close to finding what he considers optimal, and its not going to be significantly more than where he’s at now.
by conspirator5 on May 11, 2009 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions
BRoy won't be bulking up more . . .
He’s multi talented, but 6’6", 229 is the same size as Jordan.
He’s not 6’8", 245 or 6’7" 238. Difference ? Body types, additional
weight is x 7 on the knees and feet. Most don’t understand the pounding
a professional basketball player takes. Look at the foot, ankle and
knee problems that occur in the sport. Shaq anyone ?? When they carry
extra weight/muscle, it usually causes problems down the road. Players
have to hit a good balance of size/strength/speed/balance. This requires
them to keep their fitness level and muscle mass in balance. BRoy has
had some knee issues (My own knee/ankle issues have led to my own study)
that require him to search for a balance. In addition, the pounding and exertion
required to guard bigger, stronger SF or chase small quick PG is not worth the
reduction in his overall performance. Let Nate & staff measure the matchups
as to non-2 minutes. I’m sure that he will have three guard lineup next year,
just like this past season. For now, the Blazers have a 2-time All-Star SG who
is versitile !
It's GO time !
Joel discovered that too, when he came to the Blazers.
Who did he play for before, Minnie or Milwaukee? They wanted him to bulk-up, but his game got worse and they traded him to Portland. He dropped the weight his first year with us and regained his form.
Hey walkoff, I’ve dropped 20 pounds, 10 more to go to get back to my ideal weight. I know you fitness gurus love that stuff.
BTW, Brandon weights 215, not 229. Someone corrected me on that a few months ago.
I need to drop 20 as well . . .
It’s all about discipline !!
If you are correct about BRoy at 215, then he can put on
some size. 6’6" 230 is perfect for a SG with his frame. It worked
for Jordan and he was the same body type. Since BRoy didn’t
post up that much this season, it would help that & his post D.
- See Ron Ron backing Brandon down.
- Good luck on the final 10 ! Get on the juice . . . celery/carrot/apple
that is.
It's GO time !
How I'm doing it:
- Eating a salad instead of a sandwich for lunch each day.
- Smaller portions at dinner, such as one piece of chicken instead of two. Tough when the wife is an excellent cook! Eat just enough to feel good, not full. At my age, a big meal means three or four hours of gut-bomb pain anyway.
- More exercise. Not going crazy, just a bit more. It all counts.
- Cutting back on sweets, which I love. Tough to do when the youngest daughter is an excellent pastry chef! Eating fresh fruit instead.
- Drinking more coffee. It tastes better than diet pills and has the same effect.
- Losing weight slowly. I didn’t plan it that way, but I realize now that I’m not on a diet, I’m just eating less than I used to, if that makes sense. I prefer to eat at the level I plan to sustain and take longer to lose weight than suffer with a restrictive diet and increase my craving for food. Worried about the rebound effect with that.
- Learn to love feeling hungry. It means I’m burning fat, or at least that’s what I like to think.
by MiledAnimal on May 12, 2009 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions
Match-up problems?
Brandon is OK defensively against certain PGs, but he doesn’t have enough speed to stay with many of them. How do you propose to deal with this problem?
by upper left corner on May 11, 2009 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Rudy was the most encouraging rookie for the Blazers. Everyone just wondered how long it would be before
he got his second wind and those 3’s would start to drop. Once they did he started looking like possibly the 4th potential all star on the Blazers. We haven’t even see Nate give him the green light to drive to the hoop like Brandon Roy has, and we all no Rudy can attack the hoop well.
This is the guy I want to see be the number 1 option in the second unit. He should have the Manu Ginobili role for the Blazers.
That is the key
Can Rudy get to the free throw line? If so…. 6th man of the year.
"The brownies,'' Fernandez said after the game. "The brownies are good for me to make three-points.''
by Sabonis4Ever on May 11, 2009 3:09 AM PDT up reply actions
i think one of the main reason for not giving him the greenlight to freely attack the basket
was to make sure he didn’t hurt himself. perhaps after an offseason of working out and bulking up, he’ll be able to take the contact around the rim a lot better.
"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.
"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.
by Tofu Anonymous on May 11, 2009 3:12 AM PDT up reply actions
EVERY player
has the green light to drive and get high percentage shots. Rudy attempted many drives during the season. Few of them were successful. Fewer even of those successful ones resulted in him finishing at the rim. Mostly he’d dribble and then have to try a spin or fade-away to get clear of defenders, resulting in awkward shots.
We all love Rudy but his lack of production off of the dribble is not a coaching issue. Nate is not sitting there saying, “I would prefer to not get easy buckets that Rudy is showing he could provide so I am going to stop him.”
—Dave
by Dave on May 11, 2009 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Eggzactalee
Rudy is why Rudy doesn’t drive to the hoop, not a coaching problem or an offensive scheme. If he could take his man off the dribble, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
He’s quick, crafty, and pretty athletic— he should be able to get to the hole against even good defenders. He just can’t dribble, or be as quick as he is off the ball when he has the ball, and takes maybe the WORST iso shots on the team. The step back three is bad, the step back turnaround fadeaway is awful, and we tend to remember the 1 (or few) time(s) it worked (in the Olympics, or against Miami in Miami in the 4th) and not every other time when it resulted in awfulness.
I do think there is a lot more Rudy left to show, and he’s young and smart enough to get there. But right now, he can’t create for himself like a normal SG… but his passing and creation off the ball are awesome.
Mortimer
I hate to nitpick you, Mort,
but you have these nits all over you…
Quick means able to change direction rapidly. Rudy isn’t real quick. He’s fast, which means he can cover ground quickly once he gets going.
What I like best about Rudy is that when he’s in the game he’s constantly running and cutting, trying to get open. He’s like you after a couple of Red Bulls.
by MiledAnimal on May 12, 2009 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions
I've said it before and I'll say it again
The Blazers ought to forego the standard backcourt of a pg and an sg. Start Roy & Rudy in the back court. If they put that bug in Roy’s ear right now he’d come into fall camp ready for the change – he loves the challenge. This also requires Rudy to improve as Dave mentions here but with his ambition and work ethic I don’t just hope that’ll happen, I expect it.
Spanish Main: The point of departure for enormous wealth in the form of gold, silver, gems, spices, hardwoods, hides, alley-oops, assists and three pointers.
Defending the Point?
That is the problem I have with your proposed scenario. Brandon does not have the uber-quickness to stay with a lot of PGs in the league. You would wear him out trying to chase the “Aaron Brooks” type PGs around the floor.
Long term, I think Roy will find more comfort and success playing at the “3” rather than the “1” for his secondary position. That doesn’t mean that he can’t play Point Forward a la Pippen in the fourth quarter or for other stretches. Seems to me it is easier to add muscle than quickness.
by upper left corner on May 11, 2009 7:55 AM PDT up reply actions
That's true
and there isn’t a great answer for that. Of course there wasn’t a great answer for uber-quick point guards anywhere this last year anyway. I suppose we can hope Bayless becomes that guy. An alternative is Batum, who seemed to mess with Parker’s mind when they threw that at him.
Also, bear in mind this also means an uber-quick but often small and weak defender must also deal with Roy on the other end.
Spanish Main: The point of departure for enormous wealth in the form of gold, silver, gems, spices, hardwoods, hides, alley-oops, assists and three pointers.
Mismatches
Agreed that small PG trying to guard Roy gives him an advantage at the offensive end.
But Nate didn’t really seem to like trying to create those kinds of mismatches. May be that Roy doesn’t like it, or it may be that Roy simply doesn’t have a post up game at this point in his career.
Seems to me it would be easier for Roy to exploit slower SFs off the dribble than to post up flyweight PGs.
by upper left corner on May 11, 2009 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions
m-80's are so over rated anyway,
we bought a big ol bag of em and…well… I’d have been better off going to see someones grandfather for choped up sticks of a flare.
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
Rudy's back prevented him from driving more
It seems like that injury went along with him for most of the season.
Rudy can do great things thing in this league, dont forget that he broke 2 three point records and is only getting started :)
I would like to see Rudy try to fit into a Ginobili role this year
in which he takes over a lot of the playmaking responsibilities in the second unit. He has a lot more game than just hitting threes.
draft dejuan blair
I think Rudy and Bayless showed flashes of working well together
I know Rudy and Sergio had a special relationship, but I think he and Bayless are potentially a good fit in the second unit:
Bayless ability to drive will open up 3pt opportunities on the wing. If Rudy’s defender stays home Bayless can go to the rim. If Rudy’s man comes to help Bayless can swing the ball to Rudy for the 3.
Rudy’s passing and craftiness can help with distribution duties while Bayless improves his decision making skills at the Point.
Rudy and Bayless are also both good in the open court, and they both have energy on defense. There were several times last year when one or the other would force a steal and they had some great transition hoops.
by upper left corner on May 11, 2009 8:07 AM PDT up reply actions
At the start a Bayless-Rudy backcourt would likely be a bit shoddy on defense
Since both tend to get caught in no mans land trying to guard the passing lanes – or in screens. This year a unit of Aldridge, LaMarcus – Bayless, Jerryd – Fernandez, Rudy – Outlaw, Travis – Przybilla, Joel had an adjusted +/- of -0.4. Not that great, and even switching Brandon in there didn’t always help. Aldridge, LaMarcus – Batum, Nicolas – Bayless, Jerryd – Oden, Greg – Roy, Brandon could be the team of the future, admittedly in very limited minutes they had a rating of 35.
But ultimately I suppose they could work well if both get used to each, and individually to defending quicker players.
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
Eventually I hope Bayless can play his way into the starting line-up
My thought is that he is probably going to need, at least, most of a season to get there. I think Rudy/JB has a lot to commend it while Bayless is earning his spurs.
I doubt that a Rudy/JB tandem is going to be any more problematic on defense than Rudy/Sergio. Bayless is much better at on-ball pressure than Sergio and better at staying in front of his man. I do agree that he tended to make a lot of mistakes in help defense and was often late getting back to his guy. I think that is mostly a matter of experience and recognition.
Finally, I confess that I am not that familiar with all the +/- numbers for various lineups. My impression is that such stats should be taken with a large grain of salt. Aren’t there way too many variables to draw definitive conclusions about different lineups particularly when the sample sizes are relatively small? I was a sociology major and took a few stat classes back in the stone age. I always remember the danger of confusing correlation with causation.
I would be interested to hear your take on all the +/- stuff.
by upper left corner on May 11, 2009 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions
I am one of the people who worry we wont be able to keep Rudy here behind Roy for his whole career....
But then I think of San Antonio being able to keep Manu all these years as their sixth man? So maybe if the Blazers play their cards right we can actually hold onto him for a long time
"Sometimes I catch myself watching him and he's shooting floaters all-net. And just to watch how he's talking trash. I loved it. I loved every minute of it. Rudy's a competitor." - Brandon Roy
My problem with stats by position
is the small sample size, Rudy really didn’t play very many minutes at the 3 or the 1, and I don’t recall but I believe that he did when brandon or blake was out and the rotations were out of whack anyway.
Rudy’s lateral quickness is sufficient enough to guard any point guard that blake or roy could guard, the 3 spot is where Rudy could bulk up a little to guard, but I don’t think it’s impossible.
On a sort of unrelated topic, I really liked Batum’s performance when he played the 2 filling in for Rudy.
Must... ...not... ...like... ...the... ...Nuggets....
My opinion: Blake is the quickest of the three, and he consistently struggles
I don’t see Rudy at the PG for anything other than spot minutes in certain match-ups.
by upper left corner on May 11, 2009 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions
I agree
which is why I wasn’t comfortable making a definitive “Rudy’s not a 1 or a 3” statement. However I’ve heard people speculating on using him in different positions as if it’s a foregone conclusion that it’s possible and desirable, so those stats needed to be mentioned. We at least need to see more from him in those roles before we can speculate that it’s a good thing. Also I wouldn’t be surprised if the coaching staff saw some of the same things those stats point out which is precisely why the data sample of him playing those positions is so small.
—Dave
yeah the 55 bad passes or so
Probably speak for themselves as far as handle is concerned, at any position.
Must... ...not... ...like... ...the... ...Nuggets....
or passing ability/risk assessment, i mean, not ball handling
Must... ...not... ...like... ...the... ...Nuggets....
Rudy needs to work on his mid-range game
Obviously, his three point stroke is quick and an extremely dangerous weapon, and he’s great at using his athleticism to finish at the cup. However, when he’s on the move 5-18 ft from the basket, he really becomes a low percentage player. If he could make a 14 ft pull-up jumper and that little teardrop that Sergio seems to use closer in over the big men, it would go a long ways toward making him a Ginobili-like threat off the bench. With his current game, he is really limited once he gets closed down. Developing a mid-range game off the drive would help him make a go-to guy who could carry the offense when LA and BRoy are on the bench, and provide a real additional threat when they play together.
I don't know
I think his inside game could still use plenty of work. I remember a few isolated instances where Rudy was able to drive inside and finish (like against Yao in Game 1 for example), but those seemed few and far between in my memory bank.
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES. NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.
Dwight Jaynes said in his blog that he doesn't think there will ever be enough minutes here for Rudy
Thus Dwight thinks we should trade him.
Its not completely crazy— if we could get a top 10 PG or a top 10 SF I think you’d have to consider it.
Your thoughts?
I think Dwight is crazy
How much heat has Portland taken for not drafting Jordan because he played the same position as Drexler? I think it is the same situation on a smaller scale.
Beyond that, Rudy won’t be traded anytime soon given all the work KP and other put in to convince Rudy to come to Portland. Trading him anytime soon does not fit KP’s culture.
Interesting point
In the Jordan case the best move would have been to draft MJ and then perhaps try to trade Drexler for a big. Drafting the “Best Player Available” doesn’t always mean that you keep him on your roster indefinitely.
I do think that both Roy and Rudy are versatile enough that the Blazers are by no means forced to trade Rudy. I would consider it for the right price though.
Or move Clyde/MJ to an undersized SF spot
When you have 2 great players that play the same position… you find a way to play them both.
I don't think anyone would be for trading Rudy for some middling player
at a position of greater need just because of the lack of minutes at the 2, but that if we can acquire a player of Rudy’s caliber at the point it would probably be preferable to having two top level SGs.
To use the Jordan-Drexler example, of course we should have drafted Jordan because he was significantly better than Bowie, and then we could have made our decision to either squeeze him and Clyde into the same team, or else move one for a player at a position of greater need. Basically, if we had Jordan and Drexler, and then the opportunity to trade Drexler for Karl Malone or David Robinson a couple years later, that would probably have made us a better team.
I doubt any GM makes promises to players
that they won’t be traded or that they will get a certain minimum of playing time each game. (I’m not saying you said that, but others have.) I think KP sold Rudy more on the idea of playing in the NBA and that he had an opportunity to break-in with a terrific up-and-coming young team and play with Sergio, not that Rudy was necessarily going to spend his career in Portland. Rudy knows he could get traded and I doubt he would be upset about it, especially if Sergio leaves this summer, as it seems he will, and if Rudy goes to a team where he can start at SG.
Dwight fails to e.g. mention that Manu Ginobili also never got more than 30 minutes a season (or just once)
Yes at some time we might have to trade Rudy or he even demands one because he is becoming too talented to not be a constant starter. But that time is hardly now. He is super valuable as a backup to Roy (remember, there are still some injury issues surrounding him), will likely see a slight increase in minutes next year alongside Roy, and a noticeable increase in touches/role. And his contract is a steal over the next three seasons ($1,165,320; $1,246,680; $2,180,443). You would have to question KP’s sanity if he would trade him for anything less than a certified star at the moment – or at all since his value can still increase a lot.
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
We sure as heck shouldn't trade him until near the end of his rookie contract
Rudy is a bargain. We should cross that bridge at the end of his third season, not now.
IMHO, the best way to convince Rudy to stay is to give him more of Trout’s 6th man role and challenge for a championship. Rudy wants to win. I think that is how SA was able to keep Manu.
by upper left corner on May 11, 2009 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions
If Rudy's disgruntled about Sergio leaving...
We may not have a choice. Otherwise, no way.
Plan B: We fire Nate, trade Roy, and build around Sergio and Rudy
Yeah, right.
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
You´ve read too much from Marca. I should have explained you before that Marca is not the Bible of Sports. ;)
"They didn't know it was impossible, so they did it"
by amlmart1 on May 11, 2009 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
You can call Marca the "The Great Spanish Sport Parade".
Available free online, God help us.
"They didn't know it was impossible, so they did it"
I don't think you can underestimate
how important winning is to Rudy. He and Sergio both know that this is a business and that nothing last forever.
2-4 the who
If I remember correctly
Dwight also said that the Blazer’s best matchup in the playoffs was going to be against the Rockets in the first round! I take his ramblings with a grain of salt.
by kikifromdowntown on May 11, 2009 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Rudy and Defense
I know there is a stigma that Rudy is not any good at Defense. But I must say that he doesnt appear to be that bad in my eyes. Its not like he got victimized time after time when he was in the game, and I actually saw him make lots of good hustle plays and steals throughout the season. He isnt Artest or Battier by any stretch of the imagination, but he isnt useless either.
Put him in the weight room, have him work on midrange shooting, and everything will work out. Rudy is going to be special for many years to come
Hi fans it Brandon Roy.
And ME.....LaMarcus Aldridge
Logjam is at Rudy v Batum, not Rudy v other Guards
Others have already pointed out that a back court of Roy and Rudy is deficient on defense. Let’s agree on that.
The answer is, quite obviously, a 3-guard rotation with Roy dropping to the SF spot and uber-PG (either in the guise of Bayless or someone else) steps in and handles the ball-handling duties. (Which I presume would be to SPRINT up the floor rather than stroll—love Roy’s game but hate seeing him lollygag up the floor.)
This works fine, everyone’s happy, until you remember “Hey, wait a second, don’t we have other dudes at SF vying for time?”
We do. We have Batum and we have Webster. I hope and pray Webster comes back the player we hope he was or imagine he would be for last season. But nevertheless, it is Batum I’m really thinking about. In an 8-9 man rotation with 2 spots held down by the center tandem (which we’re reluctant to give up) and 2 spots held down by a PF tandem (everyone wants a bruiser to back up LMA), and uber PG plus Roy handling 2 more more spots (we’re up to six now) that leaves a SF and Rudy to fill out the rotation with any semblance of meaningful minutes.
Now, let us further assume that after next year—and perhaps halfway through it—Rudy will need substantial minutes. Nay, demand substantial minutes. That doesn’t seat another guard on the bench. By my math, that seats Batum/Webster on the bench.
This is all to say that I think the decision that KP is very quickly going to face is who do you want to bank on (after you get uber-PG taken care of): Batum or Rudy?
Because the odd man out is going to have to be traded.
I love Rudy. I love his emotion. I love his willingness to shoot. I swear that he and Roy were the only guys who were willing to take shots in the 4th quarter.
But if I have to choose. If I HAVE to choose between one or the other, I think I take Batum. Instead, I package up Rudy to get that uber-PG right now.
I’m trying to say that a compelling case can definitely be made for trading Rudy and trading Rudy quickly. Perhaps package the Spanish Armada up together and ship them somewhere.
Buck Williams for the hall of fame
Good points
I’ve always thought that, as much as we talk about Nic benefitting from Webster’s injury, Rudy was just as much of a beneficiary. If Webster is healthy this season, there’s no way he would’ve played as few minutes as Nic did, which would have cut some into Trout’s minutes, but would also have greatly reduced the time that we spent with a three guard lineup on the floor, so there would have been a lot more Blake-Brandon-Webster and a lot less Blake-Brandon-Rudy, since Webster could have provided more of a deep threat than Nic without giving up a disadvantage on the other end of the court.
I honestly wouldn’t be shocked to see a regression to Rudy’s game next year, similar to what we saw with Sergio when Blake came back and immediately cut into his court time. We will have far more options this coming season with Nic presumably earning more floor time and Webster making a return similar to Blake at the PG. Also, both of those guys are at least two years younger than Rudy, so time isn’t exactly on his side.
Hopefully this doesn’t happen, and I’m real high on Rudy’s game now, but it’s possible that he’ll never be better for us than he was this year.
I have trouble envisioning Rudy losing playing time to Webster next year
I would be shocked if Webster, Batum and Outlaw are all around on opening day. I think the two that are left will take about as many minutes as Batum/Outlaw did this past year. If anything, Rudy should see more minutes, perhaps at the expense of Blake/whichever PGs are around next year.
Assuming it's Outlaw that's gone
Given Webster’s foot injury, I think he’s relatively radioactive in the trade market, and we’ll assume the team wants to keep Nic making Trout the most obvious candidate to be moved of the three. Presumably this deal will involve bringing back a starting PG (Hinrich? Calderon? A discussion for another time) who will probably play slightly more than Blake did, putting that PG at about 33 mpg, so there won’t be a whole ton of PG minutes for Rudy to suck up (of course Bayless/Sergio/back up PG TBA could lose more minutes also).
As for the SF minutes, Trout played 37% of the minutes at the SF position this year, Nic played 35% of the SF position. Using a guy like Tayshaun Prince as a guide line, Nic could expect to play ~60% of the SF minutes as a normal full time starter at SF, leaving about 6 mpg for Webster, assuming that we play the same amount of 3 guard lineups this year. I just don’t see that happening.
Most likely, I see Rudy playing better and keeping about the same number of minutes due to a more crowded back court/set of wings. Worst case, though, the presence of better offensive options on the wing than we had this year (a more experienced Nic and a healthy Webster compared to rookie Nic) result in a quicker hook for Rudy with defensive mistakes and turnovers. Last year we had to play Rudy down the stretch because Nic was so unreliable offensively, just like we “had” to play Sergio in 2006/2007 because our other options there were Dickau and Fred Jones. We saw how much having Blake around “helped” Sergio out the following year.
I don’t think this is likely or anything, but certainly within the realm of possibility enough for me to worry about it. The best thing Rudy could do would be to go back to Spain and spend all summer on ball handling drills to allow us to play more Roy-Rudy-Nic/Martell lineups that aren’t going to get torn apart by teams pressuring the ball handlers.
Martell must recover from his injury first.
I don’t have a good feeling about it. I’m worried that it might never fully heal.
It would be a shame if the best Martell can hope for down the road is to be the shooter that Nate brings off the bench in spot minutes.
by MiledAnimal on May 12, 2009 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
It's nice to have a shooter again
I like Rudy. High bbiq, seems passionate, has skills. I think it’s just a matter of where he fits in. Sergio leaving might actually help him.
Blazer Fan
Rudy and Roy share both positions
I really would like to see Rudy and Brandon share point and off guard duties a lot more in the future, Rudy moves his feet well on defense and has long arms with a almost off balance seance of timing that I would think could handle many of the leagues point guards, also Brandon could muscle up on those same players for a different look, just a thought.
Disagree
See my comments near the top of the thread. I don’t think Rudy can defend the PG position adequately
by upper left corner on May 11, 2009 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions
Nobody can anymore
You simply force them to drive into your bigs, hope that your bigs learn how to play proper D, and hope that your team learns how to rotate.
I would agree
And hopefully Greg becomes that dominant force that makes penetration come at a price!
Everybody gets beat now and then, but that doesn't mean that all players fail at the same rate.
Blake gets beat more than Rondo. Rudy gets beat more than Blake
Besides, I am not sure that Rudy’s handle is good enough to play point. He seems to have a high dribble and those quick little dudes with fast hands would likely give him fits.
by upper left corner on May 11, 2009 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree
People get beat at different rates, but everyone gets beat at times. The rotation of the other 4 guys is what determines if the PG will totally kill you or not in the long run. Look at Brooks vs Oden/Przybilla. One guy kept blocking Brooks or creating tough shots, the other kept fouling him.
I agree that Rudy doesn’t quite have the handles for the PG spot. He’s a weird mix of a guy who could be playing the 1, 2, and maybe even 3, but he’s not a great fit in any of them. It’d be nice if he could focus on 1 in the off season, but on this team, he needs to be workable at 2 or 3 of them.
Correction
Dave, you write:
Despite giving the appearance of being a versatile player with his passing skills, hops, and quickness Rudy got destroyed during the relatively few minutes he played any position but point.
Shouldn’t that be “any position but shooting guard”? You go on to demonstrate his well-documented troubles playing the point.
I have not yet begun to defile myself.
by EngineerScotty on May 11, 2009 10:37 AM PDT reply actions
If he was an adequate point guard, after all...
…we wouldn’t be so desperate to find one.
I have not yet begun to defile myself.
by EngineerScotty on May 11, 2009 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions
I would love it if Rudy had the handles to play point
That would solve a lot of problems. – Elgin
Brandon Roy: Strengths-remarkably efficient player who appears to effortlessly score and facilitate. Weakness-he’s just a figment of your imagination. - Canis Hoopus
Rudy has just begun in the NBA
You can’t compare his defensive issues to say Outlaw or Sergio. This was his first season…his first exposure to playing in the most athletic league in the world. His euro experience translates in the NBA for big game exposure and developed skills. It does nothing for preparing him for the size and athleticism, as well as schedule that he experienced this year.
Travis and Sergio have had MULTIPLE seasons to improve themselves and make adjustments for the next season, and the next season, and the next season…
Rudy appears to be a very skilled player who will be able to improve multi facets of his game. Will he be a starter? Probably not. He does have the kind of explosiveness and offensive firepower to be a difference maker off the bench at a high level with the most important part being …. he doesn’t need the ball in his hands a lot to be really good. That is a skill set that is rare and unteachable.
by Odenrising on May 11, 2009 11:08 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Absolutely....
and I cannot for the life of me figure out why BEdgers are so quick to assume he will not continue to improve. Last time I checked, LMA has shown contiued improvement in his 3 seasons….ditto for Roy….and the same holds true but at a lower level) for Outlaw. And lord knows we’re all banking on Oden showing improvement. Why would Rudy be any different?
by antediluvian on May 11, 2009 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions
As I´ve explained before, Rudy has improved his efficiency every year during his whole ACB career.
This year there has been many changes for Rudy and they have affected him in many ways. His FT% has fallen from 91% en his last ACB Regular Season to 83,9% this season, and that´s not caused by the NBA game. Two seasons ago Rudy made 85%. He has regressed in this aspect because he has been working in many new things. Next year he´ll get many more things polished.
"They didn't know it was impossible, so they did it"
by amlmart1 on May 11, 2009 11:34 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
His FT% also dropped as the year went on.
Might have just been a result of fatigue and not finding the legs for consistent FT shooting.
Plus the European foul line is 3 inches closer because they use the metric system.
Spanish Main: The point of departure for enormous wealth in the form of gold, silver, gems, spices, hardwoods, hides, alley-oops, assists and three pointers.
by LaughingJon on May 11, 2009 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions
No
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f7/Basketball_court.png
The three point line is closer, and the side of the paint where players stand to catch a bricked free throw is a trapezoid.
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
I think it depends on the dollar's strength to the Euro
The FT and 3-point line fluctuate daily, Norsktroll.
M.
Now you're gettin' it.
Spanish Main: The point of departure for enormous wealth in the form of gold, silver, gems, spices, hardwoods, hides, alley-oops, assists and three pointers.
I like Rudy a lot, but I just don't see how he has a future with this team.
He reminds me of Kevin Martin. Very good offensive player, equally capable of hitting the three and driving and finishing at the rim. Borderline all-star.
But Rudy can only play SG. Roy can play SF, but he doesn’t like it, and I’d be concerned about Roy’s injury history playing against bigger guys all the time.
We also really want a defensive swingman next to Roy so they can take all the tough defensive assignments so Roy can rest his body up a bit on that end of the floor. I expect Rudy to improve a bit on defense, but he’s never going to be the guy we feel comfortable putting on LBJ, Kobe, Melo, and all the other swingmen across the league. So Roy has to cover LBJ and try to put up a 30/5/5 too? Too much to ask.
by howlingfantods on May 11, 2009 11:35 AM PDT reply actions
Solution? Trade ROY
Get CP3 for ROY and then you have CP3, Rudy, Batum, Alridge and Oden. Might work.
Now that is out of the box thinking
I probably would still not want to be the guy who brings that idea to KP :)
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
If they were to trade for CP3,
the would have to trade Roy. Roy is the leader of the Blazers and CP3 is the leader of the Hornets. It wouldn’t be good to have two dominate leaders on the same team. Right now, I wouldn’t trade Roy for anyone. He has future MVP written all over him!!!
obviously won't happen
but CP3 is one of the few players in the league (maybe just him and Dwight?) that I’d trade Roy for.
Yeah, I've thought idly about this scenario before.
It’s not actually a bad plan. The dropoff from Roy to Rudy is obviously pretty major, but Cp3’s production makes up for all the dropoff and then some. With an offensive creator like CP3, all of a sudden, LMA gets a lot better looks and playing off CP3 will probably produce David West-level numbers, Rudy/Batum/Martell is a much better swing rotation than Peja/Mo Pete/Rasual Butler, and Oden would feast on pick and rolls and alley oops off Cp3.
I love love love Roy’s game, but I think I’d pull the trigger in this hypothetical scenario. We wouldn’t have Roy killing people in crunchtime, but Cp would elevate so many guys’ games….
by howlingfantods on May 11, 2009 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions
yeah, agreed
CP3 would do wonders for Oden and LMA. and Rudy would be a more than adequate starting SG. We’d be a significantly better team than we are now.
Rudy would easily become a Top 10 scorer
the way he’s always moving and getting open, and CP3 would add two or three assists to his average feeding Rudy.
by MiledAnimal on May 12, 2009 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions
CP3
would make this teams’ alley oop total soar.
Must... ...not... ...like... ...the... ...Nuggets....
Rudy isn't changing roles or moving, unless...
the Blazers stagnant the next 2 years, not advancing in the playoffs. And not til then.
Pritchard and Allen want him here.
His role will be largely the same but with a few more shots and he’ll be in more often in the last 5 minutes; but probably not always, it will depend on matchups, whether Roy slides to PG or SF to accommodate.
Rudy is a SG, a fine scorer off the bench . His adjusted +/- is pretty good because he is smart and a better defender than most give him credit for- at SG and only SG.
Other factors
I do not think Rudy is going anywhere.
I recall that Larry Miller has talked about making the PTB a global brand. I think that adding foreign players to the roster is part of that strategy (tho obviously there are other advantages to Euros, like the ability to “stash” them overseas for a year or two). I am sure Miller, Allen and Pritch view Rudy as their marquee foreign player (and the most exciting foreign player in the NBA, in my opinion), so would likely need a pretty compelling reason to deal him after a single season. Although I agree with an earlier commenter that it is doubtful that Pritchard made any promises to Rudy about trades (or not trading), I think it hurts the PTB’s chances of luring other Euros over if they trade away their biggest European catch after a single year, particularly when Rudy took a pretty significant pay cut to come to Portland. Portland loses all credibility in future negotiations.
Plus, I recall that, according to Mike and Mike, a bunch of our games were televised in Spain. You lose Rudy, and I bet those games aren’t televised in Europe. I would think that this is an important consideration when trying to build a global brand.
Rudy has that IT quality
and IT makes me really want to see him with more court time. He doesn’t necessarily need to start, but I’d still like to see him at the 2 and shift Brandon over to the 1. B Roy may not have the lateral quickness to take on fast little PGs like A Brooks, but who does?
Rudy is too good at knocking down the open 3 (something we need on the court to compliment slasher/scorers like B Roy) to not be on the floor.
Fire Mark Mason. He's a dork, and he projects that we are ALL dorks
Fire Brian Wheeler. Homers suck.
Trade Trout, or sign someone reliable to soak up his minutes.
....Now I'm done
I really like Rudy...
Next year though, I would want him to maybe add a little bit of muscle and work on a different array of shots besides the 3 pointer (I think he’s got that one down) and get to the foul line more often.
Maybe next year, 10 points in 10 seconds??? ;-)
So maybe Rudy isn't a great finisher at the rim but maybe that can change if he adds 10-15 pound of muscle. Which
makes me think of another bright spot for the Blazers. Martell Webster has gone from boy to man these last couple seasons. This guy has been developing his handles and has a very similar demeanor as Brandon Roy. I wonder if Martell is going to be a guy attacking the hoop and really breaking out next season.
This guy just seems like he is going to step up to another level next season.
There’s already a lot of positive reviews here for Rudy, and I share many of those thoughts, but I thought I’d balance it out a bit with a few of things which disappointed me.
I expected more of an all-round game from Rudy, and his lack of dependable impact in those areas has shaken my confidence in how much potential he actually has
(1) Poor defender
(2) Poor rebounder
(3) Not a playmaker
(4) Not a guy who can create off the dribble at high level
I did like his good ball movement, and loved the vision he showed at times with some incredible circus passes … but 2.9apg per 36 minutes is fairly poor for a two guard.
It’s hard to see Rudy being a star in this league without him improving in some areas outside of scoring/shooting.
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