Cavs: Ricky Rubio’s impressive performance should bring hope to fans

Ricky Rubio absolutely took it Team USA during the Olympics.

Spain was supposed to be one of the best teams in the Olympics this year. The No. 2 ranked team in the world fell short to Team USA, 95-81 but not due to a lack of effort from new Cavs guard and Spanish national Ricky Rubio. It was a game that Rubio single-handily kept his entire team in, despite only two other players scoring in double figures.

Not only did Rubio keep the team going until the final few minutes all on his own, but he set several records in doing so. At 36 points, Rubio broke the single-game scoring mark against Team USA in an Olympic game. Think about that, no other player ever dropped 36 points on a Team USA squad before.

Not just that, but Rubio, who finished with 38 points, also set a new single-game scoring record against Team USA in any major FIBA officiated tournament. The previous holder was Dirk Nowitzki, who had 34 points at the 2002 FIBA World Championship.

Ricky Rubio’s Olympic performance should excite Cavs fans

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Rubio did what so few ever do and that is dominate a Team USA squad. Had anyone on his team, especially his fellow starters, do anything to really help, then Spain might still be playing. Rubio finished with 38 points, on 13-20 shooting, while hitting 4-7 from the three-point line. He also had two assists, four rebounds, and four steals.

Rubio shot 65% on the game from the floor and 57% from three. The rest of his team shot just 22% from the floor, and just shy of 19% from three-point. It’s clear that Rubio was playing on a different level on Monday.

Will this continue once he joins the Cavs? Rubio isn’t ancient by any means and Steve Nash didn’t hit his stride until around the same age as Rubio. While its far fetch to think that Rubio finally becomes an All-NBA caliber guy, it’s not wild to think that Rubio is a great addition to the team, especially after his Olympic performance. He could possibly be the guy the team needs to get back to the playoffs. Especially if he’s finally putting it all together on the court.