Patrick Kinahan: Rubio hitting high notes for Jazz


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SALT LAKE CITY — Over the last six years, Ricky Rubio was largely known as a point guard good enough to stay in the NBA but not really able to help his team accomplish anything significant.

To make matters worse, he also had the indignation of being one of two point guards the Minnesota Timberwolves selected ahead of Steph Curry in the 2009 draft. Johnny Flynn, you may remember, was the other player the Timberwolves thought more highly of than Curry.

Fortunately, as laborious as it may be, reputations can change over time.

For the first time in the NBA, Rubio is playing in the postseason. And to add to it, he’s a major reason the Jazz hold a 3-1 advantage over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the best-of-seven series.

Following up on a strong Game 2, Rubio again was dominant in leading the Jazz to a 115-102 win Saturday at Vivint Smart Home Arena. In 37 minutes, Rubio totaled 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

With Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook vowing to shut him down in Game 4, Rubio responded with 13 points, eight assists and six rebounds in the third consecutive Jazz win. For the series, he is averaging 18.5 points, 7.8 assists and eight rebounds a game.

In his seventh season, the 27-year-old from Spain has rebooted his professional career — amazing what a little confidence can do for a player.

It started last summer when the Jazz acquired him from the Timberwolves. Being wanted tends to feel good.

“He’s got teammates and coaches that believe him and support him and have a pretty unreal amount of confidence in him,” Jazz forward Joe Ingles said during his weekly show on 97.5-FM and 1280-AM The Zone. “I don’t want to speak for Minnesota ... but I would be surprised if he had coaches and teammates who have his back like we do. We want him being aggressive.

“He’s been labeled this non-shooter his whole career," Ingles continued. "He’s a really good shooter; he just needs people that believe him and help him.”

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What may have started as a mustard seed has grown into a Mount Olympus-sized amount of faith. The entire state of Utah believes in this man now.

After the Jazz lost Game 1, during which he shot 5 of 18, Rubio decided to get back to being a facilitator. He responded with 22 points, seven rebounds and nine assists to help the Jazz take over home-court advantage.

Practically out of nowhere, the player who couldn’t shoot straight is posting a triple-double in the playoffs. No big deal to believers.

“He’s controlled our team all year,” Ingles said. “He’s been a great leader for us from the point guard position.”

Acquired for a first-round draft pick the Jazz got from Oklahoma City, Rubio was immediately installed as the starter but struggled through the first 46 games. With the Jazz plodding along at 19-28, Rubio helped change the course of the season by getting a key assist in the final seconds of regulation that led to an overtime win against the Detroit Pistons and then hit a 3-pointer with four seconds left two nights later to beat the Toronto Raptors.

Since the win at Detroit, Rubio has played the best basketball of his career. Not coincidentally, the Jazz have gone 32-7 over that time span.

Along with the confidence from Rubio’s teammates, coach Quin Snyder and his staff deserve credit for his development.

“This is the first time he’s been allowed and able to shoot at will with confidence,” said Jazz television analyst Matt Harpring. “Coaches have his back when he does shoot. That means a lot to a player.

“When you’re shooting and you know the coaches don’t have the confidence in you (and) they’re going take you out when you make a mistake, it’s a much tougher position to play in. I think with coach Quin and the staff and Rubio, they have a connection.”

Call it a love connection.


![Patrick Kinahan](http://img.ksl.com/slc/2634/263499/26349940\.jpg?filter=ksl/65x65)
About the Author: Patrick Kinahan \---------------------------------

Patrick is a radio host for 97.5/1280 The Zone and the Zone Sports Network. He, along with David James, are on the air Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

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Patrick is a radio host for 97.5/1280 The Zone and the Zone Sports Network. He, along with David James, are on the air Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

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