I live in spain and follow some of his games. All that no look passing stuff only went on because it was an exhibition game preparing for the real deal in Turkey. I doubt he would pull that off in an official tight game in turkey. He has alot of smarts for his age and like you guys say hes team is way better with him on the court than off it, at 19 thats impressive.
Clutchfans Rubio nutjockin has reached ultimate levels. If the guy is ever man enough to play in the NBA he'll get posterized by all the elite guards.
When you contain someone, they lose a lot of freedom of movement and find it much harder to pass. When you are just staying in front of them, they can still move around and make plays for other people. Also, it uses a lot less energy to contain them without too much movement than to run around staying in front of them from the bottom. That is not even mentioning that if they are small enough or their lower body is not strong enough, you can back them down too as well as shoot or dunk over them. Look at Chuck Hayes for instance, he is small and faster, but people can still shoot over him once they adjust to his presence.
Considering what the US team members where impressed most about him was his defense, I doubt he will be posterized. Defense will not be Rubio's problem. It will be his shooting if it doesn't get better. He's not athletic to blow by people like Rondo so he will have to keep teams honest by knocking down the jumper.
The flashy passes in the clutch kind of surprised me. He's young I hope he comes over soon so we can see how he turns out.
The op stated what i have said since the day i had those scout tapes. People want to bring up stocton or nash, but those guys were elite shooters. Kidd was built like a tank at 19 and had amazing end to end speed and quickness. If you're a 6'4 pg,you need to be like kidd or like westbrook/rose. He's not strong or athletic enough to battle rose,westbrook,willams types of big pg nor will he be quick enough for the rondo,brooks,paul type of pg's. Not to mention he's not a good shooter. Add it up and u get marco jaric.
I don't think Rubio will be elite but he'll be better than Jaric based on his intelligence alone. It isn't a feast or famine thing. Rubio is NBA material but he won't be an All-Star level player. If/when he comes over, the pressure of living up to the hype may be hard for him to deal with. Playing in Europe keeps Rubio in a nice comfort zone that let's him thrive against inferior competition with little pressure. Coming to the NBA will be like bathing in icewater for him. His nerves, maturity and ability will be pushed to the breaking point. Teams will go at him mercilessly until he either fails or consistently makes them pay. People who predict greatness for Rubio will be shocked how the NBA will adjust to his habits and weaknesses once they thoroughly learn them. The elements of mystery and surprise work to his advantage when he plays against Team USA. Familiarity will work against him when he decides to make the jump to play an 82-game schedule over here.
Right now it is too early to say he is going to be a for sure all star or a bust in the NBA. He is 19, growing physically, playing the toughest poition in the game, and trying to improve his shot and deffense. What can be said is Spain played a ton better with him on the court than Calderon. He did not start this game and came into the game 14 points down. He helps his team win and that is a fact. At 19 he can be a serviceable starting point gaurd for a few teams in the NBA right now. I would say in another 2-3 years you will be able to see what category he falls in. Jason Kidd, John Stockton, Steve Nash level, Average NBA starter, or better for FIBA and a star in that league. Either way he will continue to be an excellent FIBA player in international competition.
Brandon Jenning is going to light his azz up when he plays against him. Rubio will be another Matt Maloney with a better court vision.
He looked damn good to me. The Curry sequences were pure entertainment. Rubio will live and learn. He's got the tools. If we cannot acquire a Chris Paul level player by the deadline I am ok mortgaging this year to get him if it's a reasonable deal. We need a superstar level talent somehow. Rubio's far from a guarantee to be that player, but god he's got a ceiling to his court vision that is just impossible to measure at this point. In short, he's got a chance.
if people in here thinks rubio is going to be a superstar, brendan jennings will be a super-duper star.
Good lord. Matt Maloney. Next thing somebody is gonna compare him to Dwayne Polee. I give up. When the dude gets over here in a year or two and llights up the league, let me be the first to tell you now, I TOLD YOU SO!
Marco Jaric!?? It's ok to favor the U.S. guards, but serisouly you really think this guy is that bad? The U.S. team barely won this game. It's a good thing that on clutchfans your posts are a matter of record, because when it is all said and done I am pretty sure you will be wrong.
