<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">A year ago, Luke Ridnour began his rookie season on the sideline nursing an abdominal injury. In July, he injured his right hip flexor, which forced him to discontinue playing on the Sonics' summer-league team that competed in Salt Lake City. For the start of training camp yesterday, Ridnour was not only racing around injury free, but he ran with the Sonics' starters and will be given the first opportunity to fill the point-guard position vacated by Brent Barry, who signed with San Antonio last summer. In his first major move of the new season, coach Nate McMillan elevated the second-year veteran from Blaine ahead of Antonio Daniels, who started 32 games and led the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.89) last season. The decision to begin training camp with Ridnour signals McMillan's commitment to play fast on offense and press defensively. "Both guys will have the opportunity to start. I told both of them that they do," McMillan said. "What I'm looking for is pressure on the ball and a guard that will push the ball every time. I want the ball pressured on defense. If you do that, then you're running this team." </div> <font size="1">Full Story courtesy of Percy Allen the the Seattle Times.</font> This is the result I was keen for. We drafted him as our next starting point guard, and he's being given the opportunity to prove it, hopefully without any favouritism. Let's go Luke.
This decision shows that name recognition means everything in the NBA. Nothing that Luke did last year warrants him getting the starting point guard spot. Just b/c you are drafted high doesn't mean you should be given minutes. I thought the NBA was about earning minutes. He struggled in the summer league. What makes people think that he will be productive in big minutes when the lights turn on for real? The interesting thing about this is that McMillian is in his last year of his contract. He doesn't have time to wait on Ridnour's development. McMillian said in his press conference that he wants to slow it down and be more efficient offensively but yet he double talks by saying that Ridnour would start b/c of how he pushes the ball and how he picks up his man early defensively. Kenny Natt, assistant coach for the Cavs, said that he believes 1/3 of the NBA could be replaced by minor league players. If a team carried the maximum amount of people on the roster 15, then three players on the injured list and the 11th and 12th man on the roster could find themselves on the outside looking in. I honestly believe that Luke Ridnour is a player that could be replaced by a J.R. Holden (see NBA Journeyman article Part 3) type of player, and that wasn't meant to be a compliment to Holden either. I don't know why Sonics fans are excited about this move. Maybe b/c Ridnour physical characteristics resemble many non/marginal athletes he has gotten the support and the benefit of the doubt that other players do not receive. It's one thing for Flip to be benched behind Brent Barry and Ray Allen. I was actually fine by that b/c Barry was the glue that held the team together. It's another thing to get reduced minutes behind a second year point guard who often last year remained in his warm ups. Jadakiss should put this scenario in his next "Why" remix.
This decision shows that name recognition means everything in the NBA. Nothing that Luke did last year warrants him getting the starting point guard spot. Just b/c you are drafted high doesn't mean you should be given minutes. I thought the NBA was about earning minutes. He struggled in the summer league. What makes people think that he will be productive in big minutes when the lights turn on for real? The interesting thing about this is that McMillian is in his last year of his contract. He doesn't have time to wait on Ridnour's development. McMillian said in his press conference that he wants to slow it down and be more efficient offensively but yet he double talks by saying that Ridnour would start b/c of how he pushes the ball and how he picks up his man early defensively. Kenny Natt, assistant coach for the Cavs, said that he believes 1/3 of the NBA could be replaced by minor league players. If a team carried the maximum amount of people on the roster 15, then three players on the injured list and the 11th and 12th man on the roster could find themselves on the outside looking in. I honestly believe that Luke Ridnour is a player that could be replaced by a J.R. Holden (see NBA Journeyman article Part 3) type of player, and that wasn't meant to be a compliment to Holden either. I don't know why Sonics fans are excited about this move. Maybe b/c Ridnour physical characteristics resemble many non/marginal athletes he has gotten the support and the benefit of the doubt that other players do not receive. It's one thing for Flip to be benched behind Brent Barry and Ray Allen. I was actually fine by that b/c Barry was the glue that held the team together. It's another thing to get reduced minutes behind a second year point guard who often last year remained in his warm ups. Jadakiss should put this scenario in his next "Why" remix.
I am told that Luke's starting spot isn't assured for opening night, just that he'll get the first chance to prove himself in the Pre-Season. If he fails to impress, he probably won't start on opening night.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">McMillian said in his press conference that he wants to slow it down and be more efficient offensively but yet he double talks by saying that Ridnour would start b/c of how he pushes the ball and how he picks up his man early defensively.</div> I don't think Nate meant slow it down as in take 20 seconds to get a shot off every time. He has said that although the Sonics are a transition-based team, they have to learn to get better in halfcourt situations. That doesn't mean that a point guard who can push the ball is a bad thing. If there's an open court, you should take advantage of it. Also, Nate didn't say that Luke couldn't set up the halfcourt offense, he just said that he liked how he pushed the ball. It could be that Antonio, Luke, and Flip are all equally adept at setting up an offense but Luke has the advantage on the fastbreak.
My question to anyone that reads this thread is simple. Has Luke Ridnour proven himself to be a starting point guard in this league? I think that Antonio Daniels is a better choice at the point than Ridnour. If Ridnour proves himself effective as a back up point guard and the point differential really improves while he is in the game then I wouldn't mind starting him. He just needs to earn his minutes. I really have concerns about a player who didn't even stand out in the summer league--before he was injured. As Sonics fans do we want to win games or do we want to be equal opportunity fans? This isn't a popularity contest. We haven't made the playoffs since 2002, it's time to put a better product on the floor.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">My question to anyone that reads this thread is simple. Has Luke Ridnour proven himself to be a starting point guard in this league?</div> That's what training camp is for, dude. Luke hasn't been named the official starter yet.
You don't prove yourself in practice. You show what you can do in practice and prove what you can do in games. There are plenty of training camp All-Stars who can't get it done when the lights get turned on....dude.
What exactly is your campaign against Ridnour based on, Shiek? Sure he had a tough time of it as a rookie, but he also had some really good games that seem to be ignored by yourself. He's lost a good chunk of the offseason both years through injury, and has worked hard to add muscle over the last few months. It doesn't help a point guard when he doesn't have one iota of interior defense to back him up when he's trying to guard on the perimeter. Your stance to me is a tad hypocritical. What has Flip Murray done to prove himself as deserving of a starting POINT guard role anymore than Ridnour? Sure, the boy can score, but that's obviously not what we're looking for at the point guard spot. Are we basing it on the fact that he got 10 assists in an exhibition dunkfest? Are we basing it on the fact he picked up a few dimes at the start of last season? Sure, he's more established as an NBA player, but I don't think he is as an NBA point guard. To me Flip has shown he can score, but he hasn't shown me a number of things: he hasn't shown me he can take consistently smart shots, he hasn't shown me he can look after the ball well, he hasn't shown me he can consistently give up a shooting chance if there's a man in a better position. He hasn't shown me he's a reliable defender anymore than Luke is. If we're going to base this on who's shown more as a point guard, then we might as well give the starting nod to AD right now. Given the reasons you're giving for Ridnour not being qualified as a point guard, and then saying Flip is easily the most deserving candidate makes you a bit of a hypocrite in my eyes. I love Flip, but I don't think he's proven himself at the point anymore than Luke has.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">What exactly is your campaign against Ridnour based on, Shiek? Sure he had a tough time of it as a rookie, but he also had some really good games that seem to be ignored by yourself. He's lost a good chunk of the offseason both years through injury, and has worked hard to add muscle over the last few months. It doesn't help a point guard when he doesn't have one iota of interior defense to back him up when he's trying to guard on the perimeter. Your stance to me is a tad hypocritical. What has Flip Murray done to prove himself as deserving of a starting POINT guard role anymore than Ridnour? Sure, the boy can score, but that's obviously not what we're looking for at the point guard spot. Are we basing it on the fact that he got 10 assists in an exhibition dunkfest? Are we basing it on the fact he picked up a few dimes at the start of last season? Sure, he's more established as an NBA player, but I don't think he is as an NBA point guard. To me Flip has shown he can score, but he hasn't shown me a number of things: he hasn't shown me he can take consistently smart shots, he hasn't shown me he can look after the ball well, he hasn't shown me he can consistently give up a shooting chance if there's a man in a better position. He hasn't shown me he's a reliable defender anymore than Luke is. If we're going to base this on who's shown more as a point guard, then we might as well give the starting nod to AD right now. Given the reasons you're giving for Ridnour not being qualified as a point guard, and then saying Flip is easily the most deserving candidate makes you a bit of a hypocrite in my eyes. I love Flip, but I don't think he's proven himself at the point anymore than Luke has.</div> How does a PG prove himself if he never gets to play? -The Grinman
Here is my stance on Luke Ridnour. I liked him a lot when he was in college. He is very entertaining to watch and he has offensive talent. He's really good in transition and he is a good passer and shooter. I'm not saying that he is a horrible player nor am I saying that he doesn't deserve minutes on this team. Many people argue that Luke did not receive a fair shot last season and I beg to differ. Ridnour played meaningful minutes last year and only had three games that he made a considerable impact, @ NY, @ Denver, and at home against Dallas. Ridnour ranked dead last on the Sonics in plus/minus for when he was on the court and for difference between when he on the court as opposed to him being off the court http://www.82games.com/03SEA1D.HTM. I just don't understand why Sonics fans would be excited to give Luke Ridnour the starting job. I'm hoping that he does well b/c I'm a Sonics fan. I want Flip to start at the point not b/c I think he is a great point guard but b/c I firmly believe for the Sonics to be playoff contenders they have to play their best players big minutes. Miami took their lumps last season early when they experimented with Dwayne Wade at the point and by the end of the year it paid great dividends. Ideally, I would like to have another big point/combo guard in the backcourt with Flip so that he could play both the one and the two--sort of like he did last November w/ Brent Barry. The Sonics don't have that so if Flip were to start he would have to start at the point. Contrary to popular belief Flip is not a selfish ball player. He looks for his shot b/c he is a natural scorer but he has also proven to be a good passer--especially late in the season last year. Everyone on this site knows how I feel about Flip but I am still a Sonics fan first. I've been a fan before last season and I'll continue to be a fan regardless of how this season turns out. I'm just passionate about this issue b/c I don't think starting Ridnour is the best option for the Sonics to win games. Ridnour deserves the opportunity to show what he is capable of as a professional basketball player. I do not want him buried at the end of the bench. I think that he does have a future in the league--but by future I mean that he will not find himself playing in the minor leagues. I don't think that Ronald Murray is the answer to the Sonics point guard problems. I do think that he can develop into a top notch guard if given the opportunity to man both guard spots. Regardless of how many minutes Ridnour gets, I can never envision him being a top notch guard. That's why I'm against him being named the starting point guard. If Murray was given a legitimate opportunity as the starting point guard and he fell flat on his face then I wouldn't be against Ridnour replacing him in the starting lineup. I just don't think that he would fail. I'm all about the Sonics winning games. The Sonics will not win games this year if they can not find minutes for Murray. Ridnour's development should not take precedence over winning games. Give him minutes b/c he deserves an opportunity but make him earn the title of starting point guard.
That's all well and good, but how does he earn the title of starting point guard? He NEEDS to be given the opportunity to start some games to do that, you don't earn that title by coming off the bench for a quarter here and a half there. I'm not saying stick him in the starting role and keep him there regardless, I'm just saying give him first go. If he doesn't play well, then I have no problems with sitting him.
What is more important the needs of the Sonics or the needs of Luke Ridnour? Sure Ridnour needs to start to see how productive he is as an NBA point guard, but do the Sonics need to wait on his development? Obviously we have a different opinion on this topic b/c I think we have a different opinion on the objective of this season. You seem more concerned about preparing for the future, and I'm not concerned w/ the big picture b/c I want to get back to the postseason this season. I've just seen enough basketball in my life that I can't get excited about Ridnour's potential. I understand where you are coming from though and I respect your opinion.
I agree that this team is really stuck between a rock and a hard place. Longterm, I think it is best to be giving guys like Collison, Ridnour and even Swift some minutes, and gradually building up their confidence. But in the meantime, I'm not sure we can afford to be down the bottom of the league for any extended period of time, such as the dwindling interest in the Sonics and the current success of other Seattle based teams.
