Wolves Pre-Season Player Review
by mutleyil on Oct 15, 2009 1:19 AM CDT
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So. We're about three games into the NBA Pre-Season...and each of us has probably only seen about one game...if that. Despite what we all know is a proper sample size, it's never too early to start the hysterical evaluation process on our favorite NBA team. Below the jump is my take on this year's Wolves squad...so far.
PLAYER OBSERVATIONS
Jonny Flynn is All Action. He can get to any point on the court he wants. Sadly, he’s not sure what to do when he gets there most of the time (so far). He has a very high dribble. He palms the ball all the time and will get called for carrying a lot in the regular season when the real refs get back. Lots of behind the back passes when a simple pivot and chest pass would do. Unlimited potential, but seriously wild and in need of polishing.
Kevin Love is lighter, but definitely not any more explosive. Still a below the rim guy that will get blocked a lot. Poor shooting night tonight…shot was not falling. Still a rebounding demon that understands positional awareness better than almost anyone in the game. Defensive awareness improving and was good tonight.
Al Jeff has ZERO hops after his injury…this will definitely negatively impact his offensive game. His fotwork is still immaculate though. Completely toilet on defense AGAIN. Put next to NO effort on the D end tonight. Made ZERO jumpers tonight.
Corey Brewer is Corey Brewer. Elite, elite defensive player…total offensive liability. No handle, clueless shot, and worst of all…no ability to finish on the break.
Pecherov – One word: HORSESHIT. Can’t shoot, can’t play D, can’t run the floor, etc… Not just a bad game…he literally has no skills relevant to an NBA team. And yes, I feel confident saying that after 1 pre-season game. On the plus side, he looks like Stewie Griffin, so we could make lots of Family Guy jokes if he sticks with the team.
Pavlovic is a mad bomber. Hit a couple from downtown…which we desperately need…but jacked up way more that were terrible. Has no concept of the flow of the half-court offense. Total wildcard that could shoot us in or out of any game. Good lane filler on the fast break. Seems to be value add on D.
Ryan Gomes is fast turning into one of my favorite players. His experience as our primary “Go To Guy” last year…after injuries to others…is serving him well. He’s playing adequate defense, and his offensive game is extrmely well rounded. I used to think of him as a good 6th or 7th man off the bench. Now, I want him as our starting 3.
Ramon Sessions was a fantastic signing. His game is so smooth…very reminiscent of John Stockton. Plays the angles, gets the ball in the right place, plays tough D. Good Give ‘N Go guy. Now, we just need him to learn how to shoot the 18 footer like Stockton. Sorry…but his Free Throws and outside J looked awful tonight.
Brian Cardinal still defies explanation. Everything he does is ugly as hell, but we ALWAYS outperform our opposition with him on the court. A brighter mind than mine needs to explain this.
Ryan Hollins – Didn’t get much PT tonight.
Damien Wilkins – Extremely impressive in the 2nd half. Don’t recall him getting any burn in the 1st. Ran the floor, played good D, hit jumpers, finished his opportunities, and was very active. Easily the most surprising, impressive player in tonight’s game.
I'm liking the way Rambis is looking for his ideal combination. I think mine is Sessions, Brewer, Gomes, Love, Big Al. What say the rest of you?
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nice write up
I am already a little worried that fans are going to be calling for more PT from Sessions, Cardinal, and Wilkens…which will be self defeating ultimately. This season is all about evaluation and player development, not eeking out a few more wins with veteran role players.
I think I disagree with you
Yes, Flynn has to play, and he will. But Sessions is 23 and under contract about as long as Flynn. Maybe he’s the guy. You have to develop, but I don’t want to see Flynn getting more minutes than he can reasonably handle. How many 20 year old rookie point guards are actually capable of playing significant minutes in the NBA?
In the wider sense, in an attempt to put aside our hopes and biases, what are the chances that Flynn ever becomes a better player than Sessions? With everything we know? I have to suspect they are under 50%. Sessions is a pretty good player. We hope Flynn becomes a star, but everyone always dreams on their draft pick, and those dreams almost always turn out to be unreasonable.
As for Cardinal, whose minutes would he be taking, if he’s more or less backing up Love and a little of Gomes? A few minutes from Brewer? This doesn’t really worry me. And if the point is development, don’t we want a pro who seems to always have a positive effect on the floor with those young players? Doesn’t it help them to have a guy who knows how to play out there helping to teach them and engender success?
Wilkins isn’t going to play much, at least if and until Brewer and Pavlovic have their opportunities.
by Eric in Madison on Oct 15, 2009 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions
good points
I guess what I am really saying is that the point is not to win games…sad as that is too say. We need more high picks and I hope we don’t lose sight of that.
I disagree on Flynn-Sessions. Sessions may be the steadier pg at this point, but I will attend a Wolves game naked if Flynn is not the better player in two years. Sessions upside is a better than average starter, Flynn’s is multiple all star games.
A Wolves game naked?
hmm…not particularly tempting.
I don’t really want to get too far into this, because I certainly hope you are right. But multiple all-star games? What are the realistic chances of that? Is there a better chance that he’s a multiple all-star than he is a career quality back-up? A spark plug off the bench? At his size and with his skills, I could easily see that result. He might develop into the great player you envision, but it’s far from a sure thing.
by Eric in Madison on Oct 15, 2009 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions
Multiple All-Star games...
…in the Western Conference as a point guard would be an extraordinarily high bar to clear. In fact, I’m not sure that it’s even possible given how locked up two of those gigs already are for the foreseeable future.
The question is
if Flynn is not better, will the Wolves be better and would anyone be at the game to notice if you were naked??
Timberwolves - NBA champs 2013!
(used with permission - Wolf in MO)
by frankenhoops on Oct 15, 2009 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I think that mostly applies
to inanimate objects like trees and forests. If that person were indeed naked then they would be there to realize they were naked. So: yes. He really is naked despite the lack of Wolves fans.
Sure -
Bring rational thought into a fantasy blog ;)
Timberwolves - NBA champs 2013!
(used with permission - Wolf in MO)
by frankenhoops on Oct 20, 2009 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions
I can give shot at explaingin Cardinal
If you look in the dictionary under Good Ball player…no skills (or limited skills), you will see a picture of Cardinal. He isn’t althletic by NBA standards, but doesn’t put himself out of position either. He is not an explosive scorer, but doesn’t jack up shots either. And on and on it goes. He simply knows his limitations and what the end goals are in each and every play. So he does all of the other “little” things to make the ideal outcome possible.
If it is on D, it’s trying to keep your man from getting to a spot on the floor to receive a pass or make a pass.
On Offense, its not putting yourself into a position to get in your perimeters players way, while still being in position to get a rebound.
In an NBA era where almost every player wants to be a star…he just wants to belong. So while most other players are trying to make a highlight play, he just executes as per the textbook…which hasn’t changed a lot from the 80’s or so.
How’s this description of his game?
by TheEvilProfessor on Oct 15, 2009 8:38 AM CDT reply actions
Yep.
Four Words – Old Man Basketball Player.
Knows his role – plays smart – tries hard – studies the game – correct angles – good bench player.
Reminds me of Sam Mitchell in his last couple of years.
by Breaking Ankles on Oct 15, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions
Of all the players on the team...
… Cardinal is the one we can all imagine playing in a pickup game at the YMCA with two knee braces and lots of back hair. The frustratingly average athlete who just kills your squad with execution not befitting a casual game. Right? We’ve all seen this guy at our local gyms. Brian Cardinal is just the general among their ranks.
I think I would start Ellington over Brewer so far.
Rambis needs to teach him how to score layups first, then teach him how to shoot jump shots.
Mutleyil, I enjoyed reading your comments
Hopefully some of the negatives disappear as the season goes along, but I have a feeling several will play out throughout the season (see Pech).
As to who plays, obviously a lot of AL and Kevin, I also suspect almost as much Gomes. I think Sessions averages 35 MPG in November, but by February it will be a split, if not 60-40 in favor of Flynn.
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