Get to Know a Knick: Sergio Rodriguez
Yesterday's flurry of trades changed the complexion of the Knicks' roster pretty substantially. I figure you're already pretty familiar with Tracy McGrady and Eddie House (for more on McGrady, I recommend this piece by Alan Hahn (subscription)). People might not be as familiar with the handful of other Knicks joining D'Antoni's motley crew, though. So that this wouldn't become a game of Guess Who?, I sought some opinions from those who know each of these players best: fans of their old teams. Here's the first batch of responses.
Does he have the sharpest widow's peak known to man? Yes. Is he called "Spanish Chocolate? Yes. Can he hit a jump shot? Maybe. It's Sergio Rodriguez, y'all. Read what Kings fans had to say, after the jump.
Sergio will dazzle you. He will also frighten you. He has amazing court vision, but sometimes this is a detriment, as his passes can go to someone who isn’t expecting them.
He’s lightning quick, one of the faster point guards I’ve seen. He can get to the rim exceedingly well because of it, and has led a few garbage time rallies for the Kings because of it. It’s also a big reason why his FG% is at a career best, he’s getting more efficient shots.
He gets knocked as a bad shooter, and he’s not great, but he has improved his 3P% each and every year and his form is solid. He’s currently at 35.7% this year.
On defense, he tries, but he’s really not that good at it. He’s a good ball hawk though, and plays the passing lanes well. He might be a little too aggressive in playing the lanes sometimes.
He’s young, and has the potential to be one of the best assist men in the league. He will also probably lead the league in turnovers. But you know what? D’Antoni should absolutely love this guy. If D’Antoni can’t make Sergio work, then Sergio isn’t as good as any of us thought he could be. He’s only 23 so there is still some potential, and D’Antoni is the perfect coach for him.
My prognosis: Start him immediately. Duhon isn’t worth your time anyway.
He has to make the play, Sergio is allergic to the concept of making the pass that leads to the pass that gets a score. he’s got to do it on his own.
That said, he’s fast with the ball, and has good court vision. He’s always trying to make a play for someone else to his credit. Sergio’s shooting numbers are better this year, but you wouldn’t know it from watching the games. Rarely does he take a shot that you’re not cringing at the time.
Given 15 minutes a night, he’s money in the bank for two pretty plays that lead to baskets and one "that might have been the worst decision I’ve ever seen on a basketball court" play.
Sergio will RAGE in your offense. He is NOT a good defender, but he will absolutely jump start your offense and get you back up to the terrific pace you have played at in the past, and Dantoni had with Nash. He was very effective on the Kings when he played, it is just that it was difficult to mesh him with our other pieces – especially when we are so young that his style can bring out bad habits. In your style I think he will be your starter within about five games. He might not be your starter long-term, but I think he will fit in quite nicely on your team.
His ability to hit players takes time for teammates to get used to and begin to prepared for or expect. When he is clicking with his teammates he can have a zero turnover game, but often with the Kings the slow grind of the offense up until he comes in has led to players being completely out of sync with his style of play.
He has the ability to bring dynamic energy to the game and matched up with running players who are good away from the ball will lead to a fast paced and explosive scoring team. Just perfect for Dantoni. I mean it. He has been a huge change of pace for the Kings and his passing has been phenomenal.
He is young and still developing as a talent. He has room to grow and mature into a great PG. His turnovers and decision-making will improve as he is set up to succeed within a team that plays a style that matches his game. Knicks are perfect for him.
Mortimer (a Blazers fan):
Very exciting and fun player. If you aren’t trying to win a lot of games, he’s fun to watch.
He is not a good defender and won’t likely ever be one. He can get steals from his gambling nature.
He has AMAZING court vision. But he also pounds the ball into the ground for 20 seconds before deciding what to do. No one else will touch the ball much unless they are shooting it or finishing a pass he set up. He really dominates the ball in a way that is unhealthy for a PG who will always be playing with other guards who are better than him.
Not a good shooter, but Duhon has been awful this year so he might even be an improvement.
Playing up tempo should work well for him, and he will AT THE VERY LEAST give you some very fun plays. He’ll also find your shooters on the perimeter nicely. He racks up the assists.
Have fun with him, take him for what he is, and don’t get too attached. He captivates some people and makes them obsess over him. He’s a fun guard, but not really a player who plays a winning style.
Take these to heart, and check out what everybody else had to say in the thread I started at Sactown Royalty. This guy might very well be your starting point guard, soon, so it's worth preparing yourself. To me, this is an underrated component of the three-way deal that has me pretty excited. This could be Sergio's first chance to get starter's minutes for a prolonged stretch, and anything can happen.
Also, "S-Rod" is a totally unacceptable nickname, and I think we can do better than "Spanish Chocolate".
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The Serge!
A promising young point guard on the Knicks…
"We're only going to score 17 points?" ~ Tom Brady
so sergio is shooting basically 70% better than duhon from 3
whats this can’t shoot nonsense?
twitter.com/aighttho
http://aightthen.tumblr.com/
I like this guy already.
I think Serge is a good nickname as long as we all agree to pronounce it like the character in Beverly Hills Cop http://vimeo.com/2349151
And also to make lots of Beverly Hills Cop references for the remainder of the season.
Spanish Choclate?
Does Rodriguez have a fucked up grill too? Cuz Jeffries left too early for ‘El Chupacabra’ to stick
only bad thing about losing hill n the picks
clyde will have no one to call neophyte for a long time
cant wait for his first game in orange and blue
<follow me @theinfamousazad
by zlander on Feb 19, 2010 12:31 PM EST via mobile reply actions
umm
duhon should have been exocommunicated…not nate robinson…..
you right you right
but duhon is marrying dantoni’s daughter.
twitter.com/aighttho
http://aightthen.tumblr.com/
Nate's a Celtic
Which is actually worse than being excommunicated, if you ask me. But he actually wanted to go there. So, ya know, Knick up & move on. The Nate era, with all its fantastical non-winning, is over. The Duhon era should be over too. He can keep his religion as long as he’s wa-wa-WAIVED! Say it with me! It’s the Sergio/Toney era now!
hmmm
I’d like to wait on the “knick-name” until he plays a couple games.. nicknames have a lot to do with how they perform …right? except jeffries.. with his, starbucks, or madagascar names… lmao.
miss ya jeffries…well.. maybe not that much
i'll miss his defensive game
but not his contract
by inventor frank on Feb 19, 2010 4:06 PM EST up reply actions
Posted on another thread
that it sorta feelsl ike Sergio is like a passing version of Nate. Instead of the aggressive explosion leadign to a dunk, we get aggressive explosion leading to a pass leading to a score. Both have the occasional “are you f’ing kidding me!” TOs, but I like this.
I’m eager to see this kid play
"you're the Rod Thorn in my Chris Bosh side."
by Chris Child's Fist on Feb 19, 2010 1:21 PM EST reply actions
Not a fan of Spanish Chocolate as a nickname
we def should fix that.
"you're the Rod Thorn in my Chris Bosh side."
by Chris Child's Fist on Feb 19, 2010 1:22 PM EST reply actions
theknickblog.com
has youtube vids of sergio and the rest of the new acquisitions..
s/n: bill walker has bunnies!!
I like how that little girl found his picture in the boardgame
what a coincidence! the guy is already famous!
"you're the Rod Thorn in my Chris Bosh side."
by Chris Child's Fist on Feb 19, 2010 1:45 PM EST reply actions
maybe we could call him
the perculator???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMEDZnM_TZE
twitter.com/aighttho
http://aightthen.tumblr.com/
WHAT THE FUCK!?!?!?
I WAS SAVING FOR TMAC!!!!!
nice
influenza should also be considered. maybe inquisition
by Ray Smuckles on Feb 19, 2010 3:10 PM EST up reply actions
The Inquisition
Nobody ever expects the Inquisition!!
"you're the Rod Thorn in my Chris Bosh side."
by Chris Child's Fist on Feb 19, 2010 4:22 PM EST up reply actions
the anti-defemation league
jewish chapter, might not like that one.
twitter.com/aighttho
http://aightthen.tumblr.com/
Mel Brooks approves. No Jew would stand against Mel.
"you're the Rod Thorn in my Chris Bosh side."
by Chris Child's Fist on Feb 19, 2010 4:43 PM EST up reply actions
Clutch.
"He's the straw that makes the drink go."
by Thelonious Dunk on Feb 19, 2010 3:44 PM EST up reply actions
how about...
… “no look bowl of paella to the face.”
Might be a bit long.
But “No Look Paella” would look sweet on a t-shirt…
That could have legs.
Ha. Get it?!? Legs? Genius.
"He's the straw that makes the drink go."
by Thelonious Dunk on Feb 19, 2010 3:45 PM EST up reply actions
i only skimmed the descriptions
but he kinda sounded like nate to me…
i would suggest reading them
because he sounds like the opposite of nate to me.
I called him Lieutenant Surge
But everybody over there is too old and not nerdy enough to get it.
Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order and Originator of the "Brock Ness Monster".
Gotta watch out for Sergio's Magneton.
"He's the straw that makes the drink go."
by Thelonious Dunk on Feb 20, 2010 2:18 PM EST up reply actions
blazer fan here.
Kid has amazing vision and a terrific handle. Great point guard playing with a screener who can get into the lane and finish — he even contributed to a couple of electric Jamaal Magloire highlights, if that’s not too much of a contradiction. He has a bad tendency to foul when he gets beat defending on the perimeter — I’m not sure if he’s ever had a coach who has pointed out that that’s the wrong thing to do. Nate McMillan has a defensive reputation but is actually pretty poor at teaching defensive fundamentals to young players.
He’s a player who I think has really nice potential as a quality starter on a winning team, but will really have to learn good fundamentals for that to happen. Think White Chocolate with Hubie Brown.

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