tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34837760.post116349479956059350..comments2009-07-13T14:24:16.139-07:00Pradamasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05821200497043581100noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34837760.post-1163639881038175062006-11-15T17:18:00.000-08:002006-11-15T17:18:00.000-08:00It's not that Ruffin "sucks at everything" per se, it's just that he's not really good at anything important, and therefore should not see the floor much. <BR/><BR/>82games.com says that the Wizards are -24 points when Ruffin is on the floor. Combine that with teh fact that they are +45 when he's off the court, and Ruffin has a net rating of -69 points per 48 minutes. If you extrapolate that out to the 8 minute average Ruffin has, the Wizards give up more than 8 points per game when Ruffin is on the floor.<BR/><BR/>Ruffin doesn't really play good defense, to be honest. Wizard opponents shoot nearly 55 percent when he's in the game, attempt 8 more free throws. He's also not a shot blocker, having blocked only three shots all season.<BR/><BR/>Setting good screens in and of itself shouldn't be the criteria for someone playing over 20 minutes in a game like he did against New Jersey. <BR/><BR/>He's also not really much of a rebounder: he averages only 5 rebounds per 40 minutes this year. That's not a historic trend; he's usually around 10.5 per 40 minutes, but it's still a problem.<BR/><BR/>Basically, Ruffin is best served to sit at the end of the bench and play only in an emergency. With the Wizards lack of depth and toughness, he's basically the only choice the team has. That doesn't mean he should play as much as he has this year. I'd play Calvin Booth over him in a heartbeat, and I'd encourage Eddie Jordan to do the same.Pradamasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05821200497043581100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34837760.post-1163612205679132272006-11-15T09:36:00.000-08:002006-11-15T09:36:00.000-08:00Ruffin does not "suck at everything." He was singled out by Arenas as his All Star the first year Gilbert was voted in. He plays good position defense (takes charges), sets a very solid screen, and doesn't need the ball on offense (nor does he deserve it). He's not a great rebounder, but he's better than you are giving him credit for. The Wizards lack toughness, and Ruffin should rarely get double-digit minutes, but he is a good role player who knows he is paid to do what most NBA players see as beneath them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com