Posted by BRIGGS:


Remember this is a 6-5 221 pound kid compared to a svelt 6-3 player. There is a huge physical difference.
Rubio is so tough that he wouldnt workout against anyone

[Edited by - BRIGGS on 06-22-2009 10:56 PM]

Posted by Paladin55:

Hard to believe that anyone has to actually defend Rubio. I never believe hype, but the hype does not come from the kid, rather from scouts, other players, fans, and the press. Beneath the Maravich comparisons you have a fundamentally sound player, with a high BB IQ who has played against better competition than ANY other PG in this draft. I would probably take Curry over him as a PG because of the jump shot factor, but if you are talking about how guys will develop as PGs, I would say that Evans will never be the floor leader and distributor that Rubio is, and if you are looking for a real PG, you take Rubio over Evans at this point. Maybe he should have waited a year or two, but he is in the draft, and if the Knicks had a chance to get him it would be a shame if they let him pass.

Some quotes about Rubio that I googled:

"I was nothing compared to him when I was 17. His maturity and confidence level is extremely high for his age and for what he's doing." —

Los Angeles Lakers forward and Spanish National Team teammate Pau Gasol

"He has the great ability to distribute the ball. He's pretty crafty. He has the ability to run a team and know situations, knows how to pass the ball to everybody on the court."

— Former roommate and teammate Coby Karl.

I'm here with Ricky, who's only 17 years old, and I know I've been through a lot to be where I am today. He already took part in the Olympics and I had to be 2 years in college and 3 in the NBA before making it. It's insane what he did until now.

I had already seen him on TV and I knew he had long arms with which he's very dangerous. I was leader in steals in the NBA last year and I knew I couldn't make fool of him, because he would steal the ball. Besides, the way he passes the ball is impressive, he penetrates to the basket and he doesn't think about him, he's unselfish, he always thinks about the team.

- Chris Paul on Ricky (after being in Barcelona for a street basket session with the Spaniard):

Rubio played quite well, especially in the final period during which he had his way when and where he wanted...There was a point when he was trapped in the corner and, after the play, he looked to be getting on two of his teammates for not making cuts towards the ball. You gotta love it if your point guard is a leader, and that sequence demonstrated that he has the potential to not only lead by example, but vocally as well. That kind of leadership may be hard to show on a consistent basis as the youngest guy on the court, but he knew when the time was right. Rubio finished the night with 16 points, 7 assists, and 6 steals.

-Observation from a fan who saw him in Europe.

Posted by BRIGGS:


Bayless and Evans are way two different players--that shouldnt even be explored.

[Edited by - BRIGGS on 06-23-2009 06:05 AM]

Posted by BRIGGS:

Posted by Paladin55:

Posted by BRIGGS:


Bayless and Evans are way two different players--that shouldnt even be explored.

[Edited by - BRIGGS on 06-23-2009 06:05 AM]

Disagree big time- has to do with the PG/combo/SG issue. On the Clippers, Bayless could have had an all rookie type year, because they might have let him play as a small SG like Gordon. On the Blazers they have no space for him at SG with Roy, Fernandez, and others, but they have a need for a PG, a position many, including Portland, thought Bayless could play. Unfortunately Bayless cannot step in to play PG because he cannot play PG, so he ends up his season riding the bench.

The Knicks (unless they are posturing for some reason) seem to think that Evans can be a PG, so I assume that MDA has given Evans his blessing, but there was nothing that I saw when watching him this year which indicated he could play PG like a Rubio, Flynn, or Lawson.

Luckily, he could be a SG, but what if the Knicks are banking on him being their young PG of the future and he can't perform up to MDA's standard at the position. What if a Curry, Flynn, or god forbid, Rubio, turn out of the PG's who can actually run a team and not just score? What if Evans can't make it as a PG in a system which depends so much on a PG to make the right decisions? What if he turns out to be a Bayless, but is saved because we also have room for him as a SG?

You are looking at opportunity costs here, and for a team that has no pick next year, the Knicks may feel this is their best chance to pick up a young PG who can grow with the team and lead them to better things in the future. Deciding whether Evans is that PG, and not just a scorer, is a big decision for this team.

I dont care about PG. I want the best player available. Is Dwayne Wade a PG--who knows who cares--the best players are what you want. We could get Ty Lawson late in the draft and he could end up being a very solid NBA PG and a value pick. Tyreke Evans has all star like talent--he has an unusually good handle of the ball for someone who is 6-5 220 and only 19 and can score in a variety fo ways--yet can also rebound playmake defend--he's got the whoel [package--there are no questions in my book with his talent.
Is Derick Fischer anywhere near the best PG?

there is one part of the package you dont know about. Heart, work ethic and love of basketball. Everyone in the NBA has talent and athleticism and skills. You cant ignore this because if Thabeet doesnt love the game he will be living like a king in Africa when his rookie contract is over, or worse another Eric Dampier or Adonal Foyal. Eddie Griffin, Quentell Woods, Gerald Green Dujuan Wagner, Rodney White... god there are 100s of guys over the last 5 years who have what Tyreke Evans has and just fade away for one reason or another.

Make no mistake, Evans is a great prospect for all the reasons you have stated (again and again).

All I am saying is ignoring the natural feel for the game, the BB IQ, the love of the game and the gym rat work ethic is just as foolish as ignoring a player's physical upside. Year after year we see character make average players great and great players gone.

Posted by Paladin55:

Posted by BRIGGS:

Posted by Paladin55:

Posted by BRIGGS:


Bayless and Evans are way two different players--that shouldnt even be explored.

[Edited by - BRIGGS on 06-23-2009 06:05 AM]

Disagree big time- has to do with the PG/combo/SG issue. On the Clippers, Bayless could have had an all rookie type year, because they might have let him play as a small SG like Gordon. On the Blazers they have no space for him at SG with Roy, Fernandez, and others, but they have a need for a PG, a position many, including Portland, thought Bayless could play. Unfortunately Bayless cannot step in to play PG because he cannot play PG, so he ends up his season riding the bench.

The Knicks (unless they are posturing for some reason) seem to think that Evans can be a PG, so I assume that MDA has given Evans his blessing, but there was nothing that I saw when watching him this year which indicated he could play PG like a Rubio, Flynn, or Lawson.

Luckily, he could be a SG, but what if the Knicks are banking on him being their young PG of the future and he can't perform up to MDA's standard at the position. What if a Curry, Flynn, or god forbid, Rubio, turn out of the PG's who can actually run a team and not just score? What if Evans can't make it as a PG in a system which depends so much on a PG to make the right decisions? What if he turns out to be a Bayless, but is saved because we also have room for him as a SG?

You are looking at opportunity costs here, and for a team that has no pick next year, the Knicks may feel this is their best chance to pick up a young PG who can grow with the team and lead them to better things in the future. Deciding whether Evans is that PG, and not just a scorer, is a big decision for this team.

I dont care about PG. I want the best player available. Is Dwayne Wade a PG--who knows who cares--the best players are what you want. We could get Ty Lawson late in the draft and he could end up being a very solid NBA PG and a value pick. Tyreke Evans has all star like talent--he has an unusually good handle of the ball for someone who is 6-5 220 and only 19 and can score in a variety fo ways--yet can also rebound playmake defend--he's got the whoel [package--there are no questions in my book with his talent.
Is Derick Fischer anywhere near the best PG?

How do you even know what the Knicks' board looks like? Maybe Rubio is at #1- who knows? Maybe you have some inside info... I don't.

Unless they really crave Hill or Thabeet (who I would not touch with a 7'3" pole), they are looking for a guy who can play the point, my friend.

I prefer Curry over Rubio and Evans. He is a better shooter than both of them, and I see him as a more intelligent player with better PG potential than Evans, who is actually the only player I have seen the word "selfish" linked to. Rubio obviously needs improvement as a jump shooter, but I am still not convinced that Evans will hit jumpers in game situations the same way he has recently been hitting them in his drill workouts.

I've said this before- I don't mind Curry, Rubio, or Evans, and would be able to live with Holiday and Flynn.


I am just puzzled by the strength and nature of the feelings you have against Rubio, a kid who has played against top competition for a number of years and always been a fierce competitor, and the love you have for Evans, who played in a less than stellar conference and could not even lead his team out of the Western Regional semis. You also have the need to insult the kid (called him "white chocolate" in another thread). Is it possible that he did not respond to an email you sent to his fan site a few years ago? Just wondering.

How is calling him white chocolate an insult? White C was a pretty good player. Don't worry about it anyway--Rubio is NOT going to be a Knick

[Edited by - BRIGGS on 06-23-2009 7:56 PM]