Rambo or Rudy?

by dubshoops on Jan 3, 2009 5:59 PM PST Comment 14 comments

Hey GSOM, I was recently debating with my friend if we made the right choice selecting Marco Belinelli with our 18th pick over Spaniard Rudy Fernandez (picked 24th by Phoenix, eventually traded to Portland).

They're players of a similar build, have similar games, and both are good shooters with a high basketball IQ (IMO, something not valued enough anymore)

I don't know how useful these stats will be (Marco's been on a hot streak recently), but here are the current 2008 stats:

Marco Belinelli- 20 Min, 3.6 FGM at 45.1%, 39.1 % 3PT, 1.7 REB, 2.2 AST, 1.4 TO, 9.4 PPG

More ballhandling ability, better percentages

Rudy Fernandez- 26 Min, 3.8 FGM at 42.2%, 39.1% 3PT, 3.2 REB, 1.9 AST, 1.3 TO, 10.9 PPG

More Athleticism, better rebounding

What do you think and why?

Poll

Rambo or Rudy

Rambo/Rocky! He could beat down Rudy down anyday!

195 votes

Rudy... I'd swap Rambo for him in a heartbeat!

103 votes

298 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

0 recs | Comment 14 comments

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Comments

Rambo

There’s something really important that these stats don’t show: defense. Marco’s really stepped up his defensive prowess, Rudy still plays defense like a european player (non-existent D).

Although Belinelli’s rebounding is atrocious, I’d still pick him over Rudy.

Another comparison-

Marco Belinelli is a +5.19 for us in the plus/minus, probably because our other guards play like absolute ass.

Rudy Fernandez is only a +0.08 for his squad, but that’s probably because Blake and Roy are good.

by YaHeard on Jan 3, 2009 6:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Rambo or Rudy?

Neither. Jose Calderon

Till I get free
I live my life in the Walmart
Cholesterol chasin me

by Skeptic con Urquell on Jan 3, 2009 7:27 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

+1.

by GSwarrior on Jan 3, 2009 7:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ricky

Rubio

So I don't have a signature well these words would do! Who knew that upgrades can have downgrades too!

by 24k state fan since 87 on Jan 3, 2009 7:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

any point guard would be fine with me.

heart of a champion, will of the warrior.

by cap'n hack on Jan 3, 2009 7:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

BARON

by DeepS on Jan 3, 2009 8:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Remember Rambo is 1year younger

by Belinelli on Jan 4, 2009 12:17 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

on the otherhand

he’s had a year to adjust to living in America, NBA travel/life, exposure to an NBA system (at least in practice), a year to work out his body (which isn’t a huge emphasis in Europe), a year to adjust to the extended 3 point line.

in regards to the OP, i’d trade Marco for Rudy in a heartbeat.

even guys like Manu, Dirk, Pau, Calderon, etc had to adjust that 1st year. the fact that Rudy is doing so well in his 1st year here is a great sign since Euros em>historically make a huge leap their 2nd year here. that’s a good sign for Rudy – though the fact that unlike some of the other guys, he’s stuck behind Brandon Roy at the 2 spot may pose some barriers for him – will they forget about Martell Webster and try moving Roy to the 3? it’d be a risky move.

if you look at Manu’s stats closely, he shows the athletic indicators of blocking shots, a rebound rate hovering around 8-10 (1st season 6.5) that shows he’s at least on par as an NBA athlete. Rudy’s blocks and rebounding rate are superior to Manu’s in his 1st yr. the fact that Marco has never blocked a shot ever and sports a 3-4 rebounding rate is a big warning sign – consider Steve Nash at least blocks 0.1 shots per game and has a 5-6 rebound rate from the PG position….

since i don’t watch the Blazers too often, it’s hard to say on defense – again there is an adjustment period for Euros – still Rudy fouls less, steals more, and of course actually blocks shots and rebounds.

OP says better ‘s, but Rudy’s TS which factors FT’s and the extra points you get from 3’s shows Rudy is ahead of Marco at 58.6% vs Marco at 49 last year and 55.8 this season. effective (only factors the extra point you get from 3’s) FG% is at 53.7% for Rudy, 53.1 for Marco

better ball handler is also questionable… again, i don’t watch many Blazer games, but i’ve heard McMillan restricts Rudy to being their designated floor spacer to make up for the losses of James Jones (to the Heat) & Martell Webster (to injury) career assist to TO ratio for Rudy is 1.46 vs 1.2 for Marco (though Marco is at 1.59 this season).

the sample sizes are small, but statistically Rudy has faired much better especially considering year 1 is usually the toughest year for foreign players to transition to the NBA game.

Manu (link has “insider” but you don’t have to be an espn insider, i’m not)
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/players/hollinger?playerId=272&action=login&appRedirect=http3a2f2finsider.espn.go.com2fnba2fplayers2fhollinger3fplayerId3d272

Marco
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/players/hollinger?playerId=3190&action=login&appRedirect=http3a2f2finsider.espn.go.com2fnba2fplayers2fhollinger3fplayerId3d3190

Rudy
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/players/hollinger?playerId=3204&action=login&appRedirect=http3a2f2finsider.espn.go.com2fnba2fplayers2fhollinger3fplayerId3d3204

by the evil monkey on Jan 5, 2009 10:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs