Phoenix Suns: 5 expectations for Ricky Rubio
4. Above-average defense
Despite all the James Harden highlights Ricky Rubio found himself on the wrong side of during his time with the Utah Jazz, make no mistake about it: He’s a very capable defender, and one that will help the Suns’ 29th-ranked defense from last year.
Keep in mind, this is a 6’4″ point guard with a 6’9″ wingspan who played for a top-five defense the past two years. Before that, he led the league in steals once (2013-14) and steal percentage three different times (2012-14, 2015-16).
His steal numbers trailed off a bit in Utah, but he still ranked 11th among all point guards in ESPN‘s Real Defensive Plus-Minus last year, as well as 31st in the entire NBA in defensive win shares. Suffice it to say he’ll be helpful in stymying the point of attack, which is what led to defensive breakdowns so often for Phoenix.
Suns definitely overpaid for Rubio but I honestly don’t hate it. They finally have stability and playmaking and some defense next to Booker and also have you ever looked at Ricky’s face I mean imagine those eyes right next to Kelly Oubre’s
— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) June 30, 2019
The difference is he’ll need to be locked in more often than he was in Utah, where Rudy Gobert and a plethora of strong wing defenders could cover for him when he gambled for steals or simply got beat. Deandre Ayton is nowhere near Gobert’s stratosphere as a rim protector or pick-and-roll defender, which will make communication and chemistry key on that end.
Rubio may not be the defensive stalwart who can guard multiple positions that Phoenix would ideally put next to Booker to cover for his deficiencies, but he was an All-Defensive Team-caliber guard not long ago, and should continue to be above-average on that end.