Can Ricky Rubio save the Timberwolves?

The NBA Draft is this week, and it might be one of the worst drafts in recent memory. It's an even bigger week for the Minnesota Timberwolves because not only do they hold the #2 pick in the draft, but they finally just signed their 2009 first round pick, Ricky Rubio. Ricky has been hanging out in his native Spain for the last two years 'refining' his game, while waiting to decide if he wanted to play for the Wolves. His FC Barcelona team just won their league championship, and shortly after he decided to finally bring his talents to the NBA.

He's being widely touted, especially by the Timberwolves brass, as the savior of the team. He was drafted fifth in 2009, and when you take a player that high, he better be the savior. The problem is, there a lot of questions around Ricky's game, and his two year absence from the NBA did nothing to answer those questions. In Spain, he didn't start for his team, he only played 21 minutes a game, and averaged less than 5 points a game. Not exactly savior like numbers. He was drafted so high in 2009 largely on the hype of the 2008 Olympics where he played very well, including in the game against the United States. Kobe Bryant offered a lot of praise for Rubio, and by all accounts everyone felt his game was tailor made for the NBA.

Here's the issue with Rubio, he's all style and no substance. There is no doubt he's an unbelievable passer and loves to drop the flashy assist, and has great court vision. Unfortunately, from my perspective, that is where the positives stop with Rubio. Outside of being able to throw these amazing passes, what does he bring to the table? He's a 30% shooter, with no range, and awful shooting mechanics. He was drafted on potential at 19, but now it's two years later and he's actually regressed as a player. Rubio supporters will tell you that the European game is very restrictive and it's not well suited for his skill set, and he'll thrive in the wide open NBA. Umm, in theory that sounds fantastic. In reality it's a load of crap. The NBA is more wide open than Europe, but even the best teams in the NBA are only getting 20 fast break points a game. The fact of the matter is, he's going to have to be able to play in a half-court offense to be effective. Now, I keep hearing he's a beast in pick and rolls because of his ability to get to the rim, and find open cutters. Now, I'm no coaching genius, but if I'm coaching against a point guard who only shoots 30%, wouldn't I just come under every single pick and roll and make Rubio shoot outside shots? Doesn't seem like it is too complicated to me. So then, if he is able to actually get to the rim, can he actually finish? The kid has arms like pipe cleaners, and one of the biggest knocks on him is he isn't tough. So I can only imagine what happens the first time he comes down the lane and gets clotheslined by Kenyon Martin.

The place where I'm really concerned about Rubio is defense. The Timberwolves already have a defensive issue, mostly the fact that they don't play any, and they are adding a very poor defender to a league filled with fantastic point guards. I keep hearing about how quick Rubio is, but I've seen the highlights, he ain't quick. He's got long arms and good size, but he definitely lacks quickness and strength. He's going to get lit up like the 4th of July on defense.

I think Rubio has a place in the league, I really do. His place is that of a backup point guard on a team full of scorers that he can distribute too without issue. Instead, he's being asked to lead the worst team in the league with skill set that can't get it done. I hope, I truly do hope he can come in and bring some excitement to the Target Center, but I think he's going to be a colossal bust. He would be perfect for the Miami Heat, but he's going to be awful for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Welcome to the Rory era!?

 Rory McIlroy just won the US Open in the most impressive fashion in the history of the tournament. There is no doubt he kicked Congressional's ass in a way that nobody imagined. Most of the players said that the setup was much easier than most US Opens, but -16 is the type of score you expect to see during normal PGA tour stops, definitely not what is generally considered the hardest tournament to win.

Back in April after McIlroy had squandered a chance to win the Masters by shooting an 80 in the final round, I speculated that I thought he would still win multiple major championships, or become Sergio Garcia. Well, it only took him one more try to rocket pass Sergio, and all other up and comers on tour. There's not doubt he's supremely talented, and by all accounts his putting is now under control, so physically he has all the tools to win multiple championships. The question becomes with this kid, is the fact that he is still a kid and does he have the mental makeup to continue to dominate. I think he absolutely can, golf is a sport where it is pretty easy to stay grounded and by all accounts McIlroy is fairly focused. He's not laser focused like Tiger, he's much more good natured,  but he does clearly have a competitive streak. It's hard not to root for him either, because right now the game absolutely needs him. There are some very serious questions about whether Tiger can ever come back, and in the last 12 months the number one ranked player has been a revolving door of guys that nobody really cares about. McIlroy can change all that, and that's a lot of pressure for a kid in his early twenties, but he seems like he has the right kind of makeup to take over the throne. The thing I really like about him; despite being from Europe, he doesn't dress like a color blind idiot. I'm looking at you Luke Donald and Ian Poulter. Here are a few other random observations from the US Open:

• Jason Day finished second and he is right on the cusp of becoming really, really good. I don't watch a ton of golf anymore like I used to, but every time I catch a tournament he is always in contention. His game is all about consistency, he doesn't do anything really outstanding, but he's just very good from tee to green. Unfortunately, he chose to shoot -8, in a tournament where McIlroy went so low.
• There was a lot of talk about the wet weather making the course so much easier than normal US Opens, and that is true for sure. However, I watched a lot of the tournament and the course just didn't seem to be setup all that tough. Fairways seemed wide, rough wasn't that long, and pin positions were pretty favorable. The USGA will tell you that is all a bunch of junk, but I can't help but think that they knew without Tiger in the field, they may need to do something to spark the casual fan to tune in on Sunday, and what better way to do that than to have some low numbers on the board.
• American golf is in trouble. The two best American golfers right now are Steve Stricker...and...and...Davis Love III? Nothing against either one of those guys, but they aren't exactly world beaters are they?

Sweet, Sweet, Redemption

What a tremendous NBA Finals that just concluded. Every single game was filled with drama, great storylines, great play, and in the end the good guys winning. Ultimately I was wrong about Dallas, I thought they would lose in the first round of the playoffs, and partially wrong about Miami. Although I predicted that Miami would not win the NBA title, I must admit, they played better than I thought they would. Ultimately though, Miami's main flaws were exposed, and Dallas was able to bring home their first ever NBA Championship. Here were the highlights:

• Dirk Nowitzki- The German Moses was the best player in the NBA playoffs, and despite a little adversity in the Finals, he threw the Mavs on his back and refused to let them lose. I absolutely love Dirk because of his tireless work ethic, humble nature, and absolute dizzying array of offensive moves. He played through a torn finger tendon, illness, a missed game winner, and through it all kept his composure and it paid off. He's now done something that Charles Barkley and Karl Malone never pulled off.
• The three J's- Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, and J.J. Barrea. These three guards, all with there very pronounced weaknesses, played out of this world. Kidd pushed all the right buttons, and at his age he should absolutely be a defensive liability, but instead, he was a defensive strength. Jason Terry struggled early, but turned it on in games 4, 5, and 6, and in 5 and 6 he was arguably the Mavs best player. J.J. Barrea is a pace changer for the Mavs, and shot way better than anyone could have ever expected. He's an upcoming free agent, and I fully expect the Mavs to keep him.
• Rick Carlisle- He flies under the radar because of his quiet demeanor, but the dude is definitely one of the best coaches in the league. He pushed all the right buttons, pulled all the right strings, and managed his team perfectly. 
• All of the problems with the Miami Heat have been covered to death, and will continue to be covered to death between now and tip-off next season. I'm not going to beat that dead horse to hard, but here are a few observations.
• LeBron James- He definitely took his talents to South Beach, I'm just not sure his talents are everything they thought they were getting. He's the ultimate front runner, plain and simple. His physical talent and skill is undeniable, but if he ever wants to be as good as he thinks he is, he better get his mind right, and develop a low post game. The fact of the matter is, every proven superstar winner in the history of the NBA has a F.U. mode, and LeBron doesn't even have an I'm pissed mode. He lets the game come to him, he never dictates the action, and he sure as hell isn't going to take over a game. Most experts questioned how the Heat would determine who the Alpha Dog would be on the team, and with his performance in the NBA Finals, LeBron just placed the crown on D-Wade's head, and then bent over and kissed his ass. You keep hearing with LeBron, "if, if, if, if he does this, if he does that". He's been in the league eight years, he's been in the Finals twice, and he's now playing with the most talented team in the NBA. If isn't happening people, LeBron is what he is, a supremely talented player, and a mental midget.
• I've heard some experts claim that the Heat need to trade Chris Bosh, but really, what will that accomplish? Did Chris Bosh not give the Heat exactly what was needed out of him? He's their THIRD best player for chrissakes, isn't he the third best player in the NBA? I mean what would they possibly get in return that would be worth the value?
• The Heat can win a NBA title, there is no doubt about that, but how are they going to get any better? They can add pieces, but the right pieces are extremely hard to find, especially to mesh with the big three. Ultimately, they are going to have to improve internally, and honestly I don't know if that can happen. One thing is for sure, they are going to get their asses kicked in the media every single day, and their every move will be scrutinized. Mentally, I don't know if they can accept that challenge, time will tell.