Ridnour is set to "break out"? according to nbadraft.net he is. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">2) Luke Ridnour - Seattle Sonics The PG tandem of Ridnour and Antonio Daniels was great for the Sonics last season. Daniels knew that Ridnour was the PG of the future for this franchise and wisely took his act to the Washington Wizards.</div> This Article tells you who the "break out" players should be, and he thinks Rid is one of the top candidates.
He'll never be as good as he can be on a roster like the Sonics have now. His passing skills are going to waste.
As much as I like Ridnour (I used to watch him play in Oregon) I sort of wince when he has to play D. I'll be surprised if he ever really "breaks out" in Seattle like Casual says. I still would be optimistic about him being really really good in a few years when he becomes a veteran. Steve Nash did not "break out" for a while till he got to Dallas.. Maybe Ridnour needs to sign elsewhere when he is a FA so he can blossom.
Is his D *that* bad? I know he's small and not strong for a point guard, but he seems to scrap and stay in front of his man on the perimeter pretty well, given his 'reputation'. Doesn't have much in the way of interior defense behind him as a security blanket either.
If ridnour hits those open jumpers...then that is gonna be a huge boost for us. That'll also open up more for him as far as the drive and dish...
He's never been a bad defender in general. Luke struggles against stronger point guards, but he never had a problem staying in front of his man and frustrating him. Luke won't have a problem with Shaun Livingston. They both weigh the same.
I know this for sure, that Luke will be a really really crafty veteran in a few years, and should have a breakout season this season or next. Livingston's length is (for example) diffluct to guard or overcome for someone like Ridnour.
Well unless Livingston actually develops a jumper, I'm quite happy for him to drive into Danny Fortson, Reggie Evans and Nick Collison all day with that frame of his.
With anything more minutes will result in more production. Last year he split time at the point with Antonio Daniels. This year he will be expected from day one to be able to man the position for over 35 minutes a game. I think that he will eventually wear down as the season goes on just because his game is more fast pace than most point guards. Ridnour is a pretty decent defender. He pressures the ball well and he has good hands. He is horrible guarding the pick and roll and that is why teams that run him off of their bigs normally get good production from their point guards. It is not from lack of effort, he just isn't physical enough to get through picks. He has gotten better guarding physical point guards but they can still bump him off of his spot to get open. Hopefully he'll improve in that area. I wouldn't say that he is going to break out b/c I don't think that his ceiling for improvement is as good as everyone else thinks it is. He still doesn't have a middle game, he can't really create his own shot in the half court, and he can't really create scoring opportunities for his teammates in the half court. He is a good set shooter his thrives in transition. If we keep our pick and roll offense together he should be able to get open looks and hopefully he'll knock his shots down--or give Fortson/Collison good passes to finish.
