Zach Lowe on Jazz' starting lineup

[Handlogten's Heros]

Rubio isnt the problem.

No one is individually the problem. People who are looking at it through the lens are just wrong.

Here is some research done on how Rubio affects other players this year.



I see in the replies there is a Cy proclaiming this to be a disaster... It's a combination of things, but the one consistent issue is Ricky.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Is it?


Dude is killing this team. I'm not sure I've seen anything quite like it.

Damn... you beat me to it.

 

[hgb]

He seems to be a very positive locker-room and community presence. I think that is worth not completely giving up on him and giving him a chance w/ a roster that is better suited to him (and to the whole team).

Additionally, lots of people, like Quin, Harpring, etc seem to give him quite a lot of props (in addition to acknowledging his poor shooting). He does a lot of good on the court, but he bloody well needs to start shooting better. If the previous season's anything to go by, he might just start picking up soon. I still have hopes in Ricky.

 

[infection]

I think it's definitely debatable.

The only alternative is building a roster that plays to his strengths. That would be asinine. We didn’t even do that for AK.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

https://twitter.com/AndrewDBailey/status/954064211721637888

There is also this.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I really disagree with this take. In this system Rubio is a gigantic schematic problem offensively. He doesn't fill any of the roles well in the half court. Bad shooter, Bad finisher, Bad off the ball, System doesn't want guards to rebound very often. He has to change who he is as a player in order to be a good fit here, and I'm very doubtful that he can do it.

Rubio is a problem mostly due to:
The fact that the starting lineup we use has no other shot creator besides Mitchell.
The best shooter in the starting lineup often passes up open shots for worse shots.
Our PF offers little to no spacing and isnt a transition threat.
Our center has been out of the lineup most of the season and hasnt been able to build a proper repertoire with him.

Also, the system doesnt want guards to rebound? What? I mean, Quin only sends two to the glass for offensive rebounds, but no system exist where they tell players not to defensive rebound. Rubio made a huge impact on the Detroit game with his defensive rebounding. A lot of our defensive issues have been guys like Hood, Johnson, and Ingles being lazy AF on the defensive boards. Rubio just does a ton of little things on the court that help the team win (he also has the best +/- in the clutch this year). I think there is a bigger potential reward to sticking with Rubio and seeing how other moves would impact him and the team (stretch 4, shooting wing) than just giving up on him.

And yes, I know all the advanced Rubio stats have been terrible this year regarding the teammate impact thing, but that just shows how hard he is to team build with. You can't just put him with anyone. The good news is that the moves we need to improve the team are the same moves that would improve Rubio's impact (getting a stretch 4 and a wing who actually wants to get his shot off).

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Additionally, lots of people, like Quin, Harpring, etc seem to give him quite a lot of props (in addition to acknowledging his poor shooting). He does a lot of good on the court, but he bloody well needs to start shooting better. If the previous season's anything to go by, he might just start picking up soon. I still have hopes in Ricky.

As a shooter this is who he is... if he reduced his turnovers and was the defensive menace I hoped we'd get then you can live with his poor shooting.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

The only alternative is building a roster that plays to his strengths. That would be asinine. We didn’t even do that for AK.

Improving the roster and building a roster that plays to Rubio's strengths are the same thing though. Ignoring the PG position, every move the fan base wants is one that would be made w/ Rubio in mind.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

What do Jazz fans want:
A stretch 4
Another scoring wing, preferably a 3.
Improved athleticism (no more Joe Johnson types)

Those are all things that Rubio would need to be a positive impact kind of player again.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Getting a stretch four helps, but Rubio will still be a drag offensively... he's expensive and if we can't relegate him to backup duty without losing him then I'm out.

We could play someone that can spot up with a stretch four and be fairly good on offense without losing a lot of other things.

If we could get an expiring contract for him right now we should do it without hesitating.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

What do Jazz fans want:
A stretch 4
Another scoring wing, preferably a 3.
Improved athleticism (no more Joe Johnson types)

Those are all things that Rubio would need to be a positive impact kind of player again.

And they are all things that having a $15M cap spot could help to find.

 

[Jack Strop]

Quin tried to change the lineup, then Hood got hurt in the first game.

How does swapping out Hood for Ingles address the spacing issued created by starting Rubio, Favors and Gobert together?

Playing those 3 at the same time is the issue.
While it's unfair to say Rubio is the entire problem, we have seen times when Gobert and Favors have co-existed, although I would argue that Rudy's increasing role in the P&R has made it less optimal than a few years ago when Rudy would just get out of the way and score off OR's.

I think swapping out Hood for Ingles was more of a final evaluation of Rodney to see if he could be utilized in a SF role. Also showcases him as a starter for trade purposes. Well, it would have had he not bruised his shin again.