Rudy, is it mental, physical or does he just suck?

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/splits/_/id/3204/rudy-fernandez

On this split section of his NBA profile page, I've noticed a few things that stood out to me.

Rudy shoots the best with the most amount of rest. His FG% is 48% with 3 days + rest. But then I see 2 days rest being much lower than with 0 and 1 days rest.

Looking at his stats against games that matter to those that aren't as important. Against Clippers, Minny, Toronto, Indiana, Detroit and Cleveland' Rudy shot really well and had great games. The big games against teams in the playoffs, he barely averaged 34% from the field.

I want to blame this poor performance on his health (back issue, etc) or the back to back game performances, but they just don't add up to me. I truly believe his poor play has more to do with his mind.

 

On the one hand, I don't think he's ever been the same since Ariza took him out a couple seasons ago...

On the other hand, I don't think Rudy has been the same since Sergio left.

So is it mental or physical? I don't know, but at one time he was a decent prospect, so I don't think he just sucks. There is something else at play.

 

mental.

 

trick question, the answer is

d: all of the above

 

Out of curiosity, what do other players shoot against games taht matter vs. ones that are not important? I kind of don't get the not important games during regular season, but given that distinction, what does say Matthews, Miller and Roy shoot aginst those same teams?

 

I'd say it's mental. I'd like to see Rudy get traded to another team to see how he does.

 

Without any stats to back this up, I can only use what my eyes have seen in regards to his play.

When Rudy first showed up (and when he was at his best on the Spanish team) he played a very free-flowing, creator role, very similar to Brandon actually. To me, Rudy was always at his best when he was able to be active off the ball and create on the ball. Maybe it's the Serg factor, maybe it's the back, maybe it's Nate, but it was plain to see that Rudy had far fewer dunks (both off alley-oops & straight posterizing people) after Sergio left. Unfortunately, that's right around the time he also got body slammed by Ariza, so again, it's tough to decipher which of those, if either, are the root cause to his suckiness.

Again, it's simply anecdotal, but I truly don't feel like Rudy's hops are as big as they used to be. I can't imagine that this is mental - jumping, for the most part, is jumping, and yet he's no longer a threat to dunk over people like he once was.

All told, I'm sure the answer lies somewhere between the back, the brain, and the coach. Nate's obsession with having a player camp in the corner EVERY FREAKING PLAY has hampered several careers already, so it's certainly not out unrealistic to question HOW he's being used and his general coaching here as well.

 

I think he is just pretty easy to shut down and throw off his game. Just don't leave him wide open and he isn't very effective. He doesn't hardly drive anymore.

 

he basically sucks, hopefully we let him go home to Spain and move on

 

That Ariza foul had absolutely no business being anything more than a common foul, and no one has or had a legitimate reason to be upset about it. You may not mean anything by it but saying Ariza "took him out" makes it seem like it was a dirty play and/or Ariza hurt Rudy on purpose.

 

I vote "perception"....or perhaps "unrealistic expectations".

What we saw in his first season was the absolute best Rudy had when healthy and motivated. Calling him a "rookie" was just a matter of semantics (given his extensive experience in pro basketball)...but it deceived many fans into thinking he was going to keep improving.

He hasn't really developed (not a huge surprise), he isn't healthy (not his fault), and he isn't motivated anymore (fuck him).

 

I agree. I went back and watched it again and it doesn't look very dirty. Dude swung and barely hit the top of Rudy's head. Rudy falling on the ground looked worse than anything Ariza did to him.

 

I reckon it’s mostly how he’s being used.

I’d be interested in seeing Rudy’s stats broken down by which point guard (or point forward in Roy’s case sometimes) is on the floor with him.

 

I say the distinction between it being mental or physical is kind of irrelevant. The only thing that matters in the NBA is production. At some point he has to be more productive regardless of circumstances, coaching, teammates, etc. It's been three years, he's 25 ... I don't hold out much hope that he's suddenly going to be a lot better in a Blazers uniform or most NBA uniforms for that matter.

Hopefully the combination of Wesley, Batum, Williams, (or whomever?) can be productive as our two guard rotation when he leaves to go back to Europe or wherever.

 

Indeed, which kinda creates a mental barrier in his game. Basketball is a game of confidence, there's a reason why Jordan was the best player to ever play the game. Killer Confidence. Look at LMA, flashes of greatness this year to the point of like B-Roy who?!? But he's yet to develop that give me the ball killer instinct. Some people say you either have it or you don't well I disagree, I think it can be cultivated. I believe Rudy if used consistently and correctly to fit his playing style (up-tempo), could really thrive.

I hope the Blazers are taking a good hard look at themselves this summer, because our offense needs a serious transformation. I'm confident they will considering our sad first round exit. I think a new look could go a long way for Rudy, but who knows if we'll keep him around.

 

Dude is 175lbs soaking wet. He just cant sustain an NBA season and the physicality it brings. That, and I don't think he's being used properly. Not enough other 3 shooters around him.

 

Those are excellent observations.

I might add that Rudy is at his best when he's more involved. When the ball is in his hands and he gets to create a bit... then he really seems to pick up his game.

 

Mostly mental.

We've all seen what he can do. He was the fan favorite who hit all the 3's for us. He dropped 25 on the US team. Etc.

Mentally, he is hesitant on fast breaks now, especially after the Ariza foul. His agent also mentioned he had private issues to take care of, which upset him last summer. He probably feels homesick too.

Physically, he isn't strong. But then again, some of the "weakest", thinnest players have made some the best basketball players ever. So that might not be an issue but regardless, putting on some muscle would still benefit Rudy.

Obviously, he also has reigns on him. He can't play the way he wants in Nate's system. He has been set up as a three point specialist, despite his quick ability to get to the rim or his rarely used mid range jumper. Also, despite having Andre "lob pass" Miller on the team, Rudy doesn't try to catch any more alley oops like he did with Sergio.

Strange. The fans love him because they know what he can do but he just hasn't been able to do them. In a sense, he's kind of like Derek Anderson. He's great when he hits 3's and everyone loves him but he's not consistent.

Trade him and let him flourish in New York or Phoenix.

Then get J-Rich to replace him.

 

Whether it was intentional or not, it "took him out". The guy was hurt and I don't think his back has been the same ever since. It was a hard foul on a breakaway. Unlike some people here, I don't think those kinds of fouls are reasonable. I think Ariza was careless and I think he could have seriously hurt Rudy.

[video=youtube;-qVdYIQ5Bnc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qVdYIQ5Bnc[/video]

I'm sorry but that's bullshit. Does it look like he made a play for the ball? Sure, but that's NOT how you block a shot. He didn't even barely jump when he did it. He just swiped at Rudy while he was in mid air and sent him flying. I think he's just a smarter cheap shot artist than Bynum.