Rudy Fernandez can do all the stuff that looks nice. He puts points on your face, and has all the flair of a Mardi Gras exhibitionist. He's an excellent outside shooter and terrific athlete, who can also pass with flair in a way that Darius Songaila can only dream of. [Charley Rosen reference!] Fernandez's supreme athleticism helps him on defense, too, where he can stay with anyone and play the passing lanes to good effect. And he's one of the best full court finishers around, too.
Everything in between is a bit sketchy. Fernandez isn't the best ball handler in the world, and while he can play some occasional point guard minutes, he's usually looking for his own shot when doing so. Also, while Fernandez's three point stroke can be explosively brilliant, he doesn't have a whole lot of in-between offense; he doesn't drive the ball in the paint much even though he's a good finisher there, he doesn't do much from the mid-range, and he's always looking for the outside shot, even the overly difficult ones. Fernandez can hit jumpshots from all ranges and while falling in any direction, but sometimes, he probably shouldn't.
Nonetheless, Fernandez is great fun, who plays with energy and enthusiasm, and who will make you like him with his combination of highlight plays and silly quotes. He plays to his strengths, running around off the ball all night looking for an opening, and then does some usually cool stuff with it when he gets it. You've got to like him.
Try not to overrate him, though.
- 20th November, 2009.
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