because the write-up that I read over at Denver Stiffs was just bad. Obviously they were upset and it was a proclaimed “rant write-up”, but it was just bad writing. Absolutely nothing about what happened, just who was to blame. I always enjoy one such as this where it is actually about the game and what went right and wrong. It was still nice of some of the Denver fans to come over here and congratulate us though, I’m sure it took some real cajones to do that to [one of] the worst teams in the league.

George Karl is still a godawful coach and it turns out most Denver fans still agree. The A.I. days were ugly and Billups is the only reason that the man has an excuse to keep his job. I feel bad for them because I know how the coaching woes feel. And the issues with having a guy keep his job based off of reputation.

I love Big Al showing some fight. Even when it doesn’t look like he gives a sh!t at all. Seriously, I am convinced that he might just be the worst post defender in the league. Two plays in the game recap video on NBA.com show Big Al really close to a guy taking a layup… but he is just standing there watching! Come on Jefferson! You could easily do something about that, whether you block it or just get into his head for next time. He also lost Nene a few too many times. Anyways, nice to see the fire.

Do you think Kahn or Rambis come here and read regularly and saw what was going on here in the aforementioned thread and it got the team fired up when they shared it with them? Yeah? Me either… but maybe!

I do care about Wayne Ellington’s minutes. I’d like to see him get more to see if he develops into any-sort of shooting rhytmn. If not I wouldn’t mind taking a look at D-Leaguers with shooting ability. Shooting is at the center of the Wolves problems. I’m not saying if it improves we’re a playoff team. I’m only saying if we get back to 2007-2008 shooting levels- we’re competive more often.

I’m not fixated on the record, it’s a matter of if I am watching games I want to see the team going all out. Great job on that front last night.

A few thoughts:
- Brew is starting to show flashes of being a 2/3 rather than 3/4 version of Shawn Marion for me. Comparison is ugly offensive game, but enough in terms of physical gifts and effort that he can still make a big impact on O.
- Love is going to help this team immensely in the rebounding area. They lost a lot in terms of rebounding from the wing when Miller left and Love should pick up the slack. It seemed like he and Mike were competing for the same rebounds often last year.
- I like the golf comparison, whether you term it that way or stars align – this is how the NBA is. Some nights your shots fall and the other team’s don’t. It’s the percentages. That’s part of what made blowout after blowout tough to swallow and this was good medicine.

When Brewer sets his feet, like he did tonight, he will make shots. He was able to do this tonight because he was the complimentary scorer to Big Al and Gomes. It’s when he “floats” he can’t hit the broad side of a barn. Usually because he is forcing the action.

I would like to see Gomes be more offensively assertive in every game. I think he has enough well rounded offensive talents to be the key to our offense.

I shuddered several times in the 4th quarter with Flynn’s decision making. He was lucky tonight – several off balance shots went in. But the offense was working perfectly through Gomes and Big Al – we did not need the penetration offense from him. Hopefully he learns but right now, I would have preferred to see Sessions in at the key times.

Finally, it was great to see the fight and be the beneficiaries of some good shooting. But the defense was still sub par – especially at the rim – for us to be long term competitive. Until that is fixed, we are going to need more “Brain Farts” like those provided by the Nuggets in order to win.

The more I see Flynn the more I get concerned about the one thing that is hard to change with play makers, decision making. I bought into Kahn & crew saying “we had Flynn rated over Rubio and all other pt guards in 09 draft”. I know it’s early, but some of his passes are way off the mark and at 5-10 he gets a lot of shots blocked. I’ve seen Rubio on NBATV a few times this year. Very unassuming, Rubio is the 5th option on his team and can’t go by guards over there off dribble. If Flynn is rated higher than Rubio? Neither can shoot it very well, throw in Sessions, and Wolfs have a bad shooting point guard future.

I watched the second half and can only comment on that. One thing I liked about last night’s second half compared to the drubbing the Wolves took last week was Birdman taking one in the mouth and subsequently going soft on Al inside. He and the other bigs controlled the rim at Target Center. Not so last night.

Question:

If Jennings had come here and Flynn gone to Milwaukee would Flynn be getting the buzz Jennings is?

If Wolves win vs Grizz on Wednesday, I can see them winning 15 plus for year. If it’s 1 win and then 6 or 7 losses, yuck….. a 15 or less season. Love will help them become a very good rebounding team. Best thing about Love playing will be Hollins, his nonrebounding butt, will be next to Rambis. He’s the worst 7’ rebounder ever.

was our ability to close the game out. Can’t remember how many close games we have had in the fourth quarter and we ended up losing. Flynn could be the perfect guy to make sure that doesn’t happen.

I read after we signed him that he was a paint protecting big man. How can he block a shot when he’s being thrown around like a rag doll? Hollins has as many fouls as rebounds and can’t remember last block. He is our best 16’ jumpshooter however. I guess I was expecting more after the build up he got when 1st signed. Disappointed again. What’s new with this franchise.

Anyone who had ever seen him play knew he was soft. His signing did appease those who thought the biggest need was a super athletic center, rather than the run of the mill big thus off the bench. To the Wolves credit, Hollins does not have a lifetime of basketball experience, putting him solidly in the “project” category of guys who may someday figure it out. It is not clear whether his biggest limit is his muscle, his attitude or his basketball IQ. At least he didn’t cost the team a #2 pick.

If we wanted a short, shoot-first point guard, we shoulda kept Foye.
I would love to find out what Rambis would have done in last year’s draft. Maybe DeRozan instead of Flynn, and keep Lawson?

Why did we give Okl City our 2nd round pick this year to have them take our best interior defender? That pick will be 31 or 32, way more valuable to most teams than 24-30 in 1st round (no guarantee). That one baffled me then and still does.

but I applaud Zgoda for finally printing (in his notes column) what a number of us fans in the stands have been saying – mainly that our roster for this season does not have a lot of pure talent. I have felt the local media has spent way too much time gushing about future assets without acknowledging that most of the moves have resulted in a decrease in talent level on the current roster.

Personally I think Wolves fans really overrate Love

I see him being maybe a half-step better than David Lee as a whole for his career.

so you actually see us not going undefeated the rest of the year when Love returns? Wow, controversial, takes all kinds I guess. We’ll have to agree to disagree

Once again we’re seeing the comments that Al is not suited to the triangle, but Love is. We just don’t know that yet. I can’t ever see Love being ‘the man’ down low. Too many physical restrictions. As for the comments on Larry Bird, Bird and Magic were the acknowledged stars of college ball prior to the NBA. Both played on teams where they dominated, but were known for involving everyone else on their teams. Magic was the freak, a 6’9" natural point guard, but Bird was the epitome of the point-forward. The offense flowed, and quickly, through him. He was also a lights out passer and shooter. Love’s game is nothing like Bird’s game. And discounting big Al is risky. He has the best low post moves in the NBA. ANY team would love to have him.

was not used much the last few games, thank goodness. Triangle doesn’t fit this team at all. You need your top 2 players to able to play all 5 spots effectively (MJ Scotty Kobe Lamar) and it’s a wing driven offense that needs shooters at point guard spots (not Sessions or Flynn’s strength). Love can play triangle well but team would still suffer with this as primary offensive set. Love is only 20 years old, he’ll get better and with the league going more athletic I think Love’s B-ball IQ will be more valuable than ever. He has what you need to excel in NBA, great hands, good small area quicks, toughness and high IQ. When AL gets to 100% they should be able to at least compete and keep the games close on a nightly basis…. I hope.