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Ricky Rubio produces dazzling highlights in debut; Timberwolves lose to Thunder, 104-100

December 27, 2011

In a game BallinEurope’s been (half-)awaiting for years, Ricky Rubio debuted for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the team’s opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder last night. Though the Thunder won the game 104-100, Rubio impressed with six points, six assists, five rebounds (!), zero turnovers and his first NBA YouTube-worthy highlights.

NBA dish no. 1 for the Spanish wunderkind will go down as one lightning-quick bounce pass threading a needle past Russell Westbrook and James Harden to find Zach Randolph coming into the lane. Check out Harden’s body language after this bucket; pwned! “He makes it so easy…”

The one going viral since approximately 0.68 seconds after the final buzzer is another deadly bounce pass in transition, with Rubio feeding Derrick Williams amid an unset Thunder D; Williams’ jam in the fourth quarter retook a boomeranging lead for the Timberwolves at 79-78.

Here’s Ricky in the post-game, perhaps most importantly stating that he “feels comfortable” out there. He sure did look it…

Later, Rubio messaged via Facebook: “En MIL ya. Derrota dura contra un gran equipo. Pero tenemos que pensar en mañana. No hay descanso. Gracias a todos por el apoyo.”

As Rubio opined in the above video, the ‘Wolves can’t exactly feel 100% good about a loss (On the other hand, what are you going to do? That’s Kevin Durant’s team…) but keeping it within four? Coming back from a late 10-point deficit? Showing some nice chemistry early? Kevin Love contributing a beastly performance (22 points, 12 boards, five assists) as though it’s March and he hasn’t missed a step? Nice.

It’s too early, the ‘Wolves may be too young and the depth may be a bit thin for BiE to concur just yet, but maybe ‘Wolves basketball is back.

Dec 27, 2011ballineurope
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This post was published on December 27, 2011
The Eurocentric 2011-12 NBA Western Conference preview (plus Official Fearless Predictions™)Euroleague Top 16 Draw: Final results, early reactions
Comments: 14
  1. Gabe
    13 years ago

    Anthony Randolph, not Zach Randolph.

    ReplyCancel
  2. Phileus
    13 years ago

    The Wolves lost, but dang those were some nice highlights. Derrick Williams and Rubio have chemistry like they’ve been playing together for months.

    I still don’t think that this team can make the playoffs, but so far (including the preseason) they’re a lot of fun to watch.

    ReplyCancel
  3. Andrea Cavalli
    13 years ago

    I think Rubio is going to have a much better career in the U.S. than most people predicted.

    If this game is any indication, Wolves fans should be in for a treat.

    Playoffs or not (with the latter being more likely) this team is going to be fun to watch.

    ReplyCancel
  4. John
    13 years ago

    Can someone explain to me how such a horrible, horrible Euroleague player as Rubio is being worshiped so much by the NBA and US sports media?

    Just what exactly is the strange fascination with one of the worst players I have seen in recent years in Euroleague?

    Has the NBA really gotten THAT bad that it has to depend on taking horrible Euroleague players and making them into fake manufactured “stars”.

    I am fully starting to realize just how fake the NBA really is with this whole Rubio thing, that is obviously fake and scripted.

    ReplyCancel
  5. Phileus
    13 years ago

    It’s probably a combination of his court vision, youth, and flair. He is able to make pinpoint cross-court passes between competent defenders to flying near-superhuman athletes before fans (with a better view of the action on the court) can even see the play developing. That’s a skill much better suited to a free-flowing fast-paced offense (or to transition buckets) than to a standard half court set offense, which is why lots of fans think his potential on this particular team is quite intriguing.

    That said, he’s a bad shooter, bad defender, not athletic enough to keep up with NBA point guards, and streaky. However, he’s no more “fake” or “manufactured” than any other sports storyline, in the NBA or any other sports league. Journalists and columnists make up storylines, and it is precisely because we find these stories interesting that we follow the league in such detail.

    TL;DR version: nice try!

    ReplyCancel
  6. Basketballer
    13 years ago

    What a great player 🙂

    ReplyCancel
  7. Apollo
    13 years ago

    Ricky Rubio basically confirms that the NBA is an easier league to play than the Euroleague, where it is harder to score and harder to play on offense.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_-MI6Z1cV4

    ReplyCancel
    • Gabe
      13 years ago

      Yes, easier to play offense, especially full-court offense. So if you are athletic and have full court vision like Rubio it is an “easier” league. But that means it is harder to play defense in the NBA, so if you are more of a plodding half court player who is not very athletic you become a liability to your team, which is why players like Jasikevivius and Spanoulis couldn’t make it.

      ReplyCancel
  8. Apollo
    13 years ago

    NBATV:

    “Ricky, what’s the biggest adjustment you have had to make from playing in Barcelona, to now playing here in the states?”

    Ricky Rubio:

    “It’s basketball, so in the end of the day, it’s the same thing. But, over here, maybe, you can run more. There are more spaces because there is [a] defensive 3 second zone.

    And it’s easy to play here, because of all the spaces you have, and they can’t be more than 3 seconds in the zone. So that [it] looks easier going to the rim.

    ReplyCancel
  9. Goran
    13 years ago

    Spanoulis is 10 times more athletic than Rubio.

    ReplyCancel
    • Gabe
      13 years ago

      The same Spanoulis who led his team to an 11th place finish in the World Championship? What a joke.

      ReplyCancel
  10. Niko
    13 years ago

    here is what he said –

    NBATV:

    “Ricky, what’s the biggest adjustment you have had to make from playing in Barcelona, to now playing here in the states?”

    Ricky Rubio:

    “It’s basketball, so in the end of the day, it’s the same thing. But, over here, maybe, you can run more. There are more spaces because there is [a] defensive 3 second zone.

    And it’s easy to play here, because [of] all the spaces you have, and they can’t be more than 3 seconds in the zone. So that [it] looks easier going to the rim.

    Can be seen in NBA TV interview here —>

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_-MI6Z1cV4

    He clearly says that NBA is easier league and is easier to score in because of the less zone and easier to get to the rim. Easier because of more open and running (example – no defense)…………..

    he says NOTHING about it being because of “superior coaches” “more athletic players” “better teammates”, “better finishers:” – nothing at all of any of this BULL SHIT that is posted here all the time by that troll Gabe from Houston that posts under name Da Dakota in clutchfans.net site where he is known as the biggest troll of all time in that forum. he also posts in spurstalk.com site and is also a huge troll there.

    he also trolled endlessly on FIBA.com forums until he was banned by the Swiss moderators there for his constant insults to Europeans, European basketball, and European countries.

    Gabe’s picture:

    http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/6030/15936781.jpg

    ReplyCancel
    • Gabe
      13 years ago

      I’m flattered your so obsessed with me but alas your detective work is faulty. I am from New York City, have never posted under Da Dakota and have never posted on clutchfans.net or spurstalk.com. I was never banned from FIBA.com and still post there as my name, Gabe.
      That is not my picture but here is a video of me killing a lobster if you are so interested in me:

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utJdLJngYwM&list=UUlPnyObhRmXE5MEI7MyXtTQ&index=5&feature=plcp

      Also since offense is harder in the NBA (which I agree with) that means defense is harder.

      ReplyCancel
      • Gabe
        13 years ago

        I mean since offense is easier than defense is harder.

        ReplyCancel
Pingbacks: 5
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ballineurope
13 years ago 19 Comments More, NBA/NCAADerrick Williams, facebook, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA 2011-12, Oklahoma City Thunder, Ricky Rubio, Russell Westbrook, YouTube, Zach Randolph
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