Why do we prefer Rudy over Donovan?

[actusreus]

It's worth asking. Rudy is awkward, prone to saying silly (albeit mostly true) things, unable to create offense, and polarizing to a lot of the rest of the league. Donovan is easily a top ten shot creator in the NBA, has gotten noticeably better every year, and almost always says the right things.

I myself prefer Rudy, and when I honestly ask why, I concluded it's at least in part because this team, historically, with its incredible insecurity, coupled with plodding, unremarkable but consistent good but not greatness, is exactly what Rudy has. We're not flashy, and neither is he. And oh, also because collectively we all think we have a better chance of keeping Rudy than Donovan, hence the salve to our insecurity.

Anyway, on paper we should absolutely like Donovan better. But I'd bet most of us don't.

 

[Elizah Huge]

- Rudy is arguably the best defender of all-time.

- All metrics point to Gobert being not only the best player on the team but a top-10 player in the NBA.

- Donovan would net us WAY more in a trade.

- Without Rudy our defense would literally be non-existent. He covers up so so so many mistakes.

- Imagine replacing Donovan with just one defender let alone a couple.

- Rudy affects winning more than Donovan.

I could go on but you get the point.

 

[actusreus]

Yeah maybe, but mostly because he's weird and so is this state, and we're so freaking insecure about anyone leaving that if any player gives us the slightest bit of love, we hold onto him like grim death, which is not far off for this time by the way :-\

 

[NUMBERICA]

- Rudy is arguably the best defender of all-time.

- All metrics point to Gobert being not only the best player on the team but a top-10 player in the NBA.

- Donovan would net us WAY more in a trade.

- Without Rudy our defense would literally be non-existent. He covers up so so so many mistakes.

- Imagine replacing Donovan with just one defender let alone a couple.

- Rudy affects winning more than Donovan.

I could go on but you get the point.

And that’s the thread.

 

[Miggs]

- Rudy is arguably the best defender of all-time.

- All metrics point to Gobert being not only the best player on the team but a top-10 player in the NBA.

- Donovan would net us WAY more in a trade.

- Without Rudy our defense would literally be non-existent. He covers up so so so many mistakes.

- Imagine replacing Donovan with just one defender let alone a couple.

- Rudy affects winning more than Donovan.

I could go on but you get the point.

Rudy gets his *** handed to him against great centers. Embiid, Jokic. He’s not the greatest defensive player ever.

 

[Jazz Traveler]

Rudy is committed to this team. All he wants to do is win. He’ll do whatever it takes to clean up defensive lapses and sacrifice touches. I never get the sense he wants to be traded. I don’t sense that same committment from Mitchell. It’s a terrifying thought to think the Jazz may decide to trade Rudy, keep Mitchell, only to have Mitchell ask for a trade down the road. If the front office has any inkling Mitchell has itchy feet, they may as well trade him. As things stand now, I have absolutely no faith in this team, they’re soft as hell.

 

[stitches]

Rudy gets his *** handed to him against great centers. Embiid, Jokic. He’s not the greatest defensive player ever.

Embiid shoots something like 43% against Gobert for his career. No idea what the hell you are talking about.

The only center who has consistently good success against Gobert is Jokic and to a huge degree that's thanks to Jokic shooting like... 55-60% from 3 agains the Jazz the last 3-4 years.

 

[Elizah Huge]

Rudy gets his *** handed to him against great centers. Embiid, Jokic. He’s not the greatest defensive player ever.

The funniest **** ever is people saying Jokic destroys Gobert. When he scored 47 on us last year all the highlights showed someone besides Gobert as the main defender on like 85% of the shots lmao.

 

[Miggs]

Meh. Whatever. Our team is crazy unlikable. Gut it.

#franklin

 

[Elizah Huge]

Rudy gets his *** handed to him against great centers. Embiid, Jokic. He’s not the greatest defensive player ever.

Also, every one of the greatest defenders ever have tougher matchups. Not a single player has dominated every single opponent they’ve ever faced.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

A lot of people hate Rudy, so that makes me like him more. Rooting for an underdog is way more fun than rooting for someone as polished as a Donovan Mitchell.

 

[One Brow]

Rudy gets his *** handed to him against great centers. Embiid, Jokic. He’s not the greatest defensive player ever.

Moreso than other centers? Do Embiid and Jokic defend each other any better?