Wolves Updates 9/3
by SG on Sep 3, 2010 1:44 AM CDT
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Love scores 4 pts in Team USA win over Tunisia, ESPN on Love's limited playing time for Team USA and more
From the Portland Tribune: U.S. finishes off Tunisia
Lake Oswego High product Kevin Love had four points and five rebounds in 10 minutes.
The Americans led only 39-33 at halftime, then outscored Tunisia (0-5) 24-13 in the third quarter.
Love made 2 of 4 shots from the field, missing his only 3-point try. He also had one assist and one steal, along with a turnover.
From Chris Sheridan/TrueHoop: Team USA: No love for Love from Coach K?
One of the big mysteries surrounding Team USA at the FIBA World Championship is why Kevin Love's playing time has been so limited.
He has been, by far, the most productive and aggressive player for the Americans when it comes to producing points and rebounds off the bench, but he is playing behind Andre Iguodala at the 4 spot and behind Lamar Odom (and sometimes Tyson Chandler) at center.
In yesterday's victory over Iran, which I dissected in my postgame column with a critical eye regarding the Americans' offense, Love led the team in scoring with 13 points despite playing the fewest minutes (just under 11) of anyone on the roster.
"I just go out there and try to be productive. Coach said today everybody's in their roles," Love told ESPN.com...
From Scott Howard-Cooper/NBA.com:
Chances are good Kevin Love would have made the U.S. roster even if David Lee had not been hurt and Amar'e Stoudemire had been able to get insurance coverage. So, it's no surprise that Love is having this much of an impact. From his big-man passing skills to his shooting to his intelligence -- he's such a perfect fit for the international game.
From Chris Tomasson/Fanhouse: Team USA Clinches Group B by Beating Iran
Love was ready early Wednesday, scoring nine of his points in the first half when the game was somewhat close. He looked wise beyond his 21 years.
"I didn't do a clean shave because, if I did that, then I would really look like I was 12 years old,'' Love said of his date with the razor.
The baby-faced big man left some hair intact. But the aerodynamics still were very much in place.
From Trey Kerby/Ball Don't Lie: Even Kevin Love has no idea what David Kahn is doing
From Austin Burton/Dime Magazine: Forget Pistol Pete: Ricky Rubio is the next Jason Kidd
While Beasley didn't make the expected huge sophomoric leap last season, keep in mind that the 21 year old forward averaged 14.8 points on a playoff squad, shot 45 percent from the floor and connected on 80 percent of his attempts from the free throw line --- all in a season where most felt his was underachieving / sleepwalking.
In Minnesota he'll likely be the first frontcourt player off the bench with a primary responsibility of backing up power forward Kevin Love and will have further chances to get minutes in the lineup at small forward when Timberwolves head coach Kurt Rambis decides to go big.
The average age of Minnesota's roster sits at less than 24 years old and he's one of the few players on the team with playoff experience. There's no reason why Beasley shouldn't emerge as one of the best bench players in the game after the season ends.
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I just don't see Beasley as a bench player...
I know that Rambis will make the right decisions in regards with him, but he is a one year lease at this point and we should roll the dice on him at starting 3.
by Timberwolf i.e. Albatross on Sep 3, 2010 9:24 AM CDT reply actions
Also...
Read the comments below the Trey Kirby Article…wolves fans tear him a new one. Amazing!
by Timberwolf i.e. Albatross on Sep 3, 2010 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions
nice
I love how people have started giving $hit to the hack writers now. The crap reached such monumental proportions that people felt the need to chime in. Heh.
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Sep 3, 2010 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm going to email him
His email is linked on the side of the article.
Please do and share it here!
He is a hack writer.
by Timberwolf i.e. Albatross on Sep 3, 2010 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed
I don’t know how Rambis doesn’t at least try Beasley as our starting 3 very early and see how things work out. How could he not be an upgrade to Gomes? He has similar size, with way more athleticism and talent. And similar to Gomes, he can slide over to the 4 for stretches too.
by Rascal Flatts on Sep 3, 2010 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Beasley is Gomes supercharged
I would expect Rambis to use Beasley exactly as he used Gomes last year.
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Sep 3, 2010 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions
It could read
One of the big mysteries surrounding the Minnesota Timberwolves is why Kevin Love’s playing time has been so limited.
He has been, by far, the most productive and aggressive player for the Timberwolves when it comes to producing points and rebounds off the bench, but he is playing behind Ryan Gomes at the 4 spot and behind Al Jefferson (and sometimes Ryan Hollins) at center.
In yesterday’s victory over New Jersey, which I dissected in my postgame column with a critical eye regarding the Wolves’ offense, Love led the team in scoring with 13 points despite playing the fewest minutes (just under 11) of anyone on the roster.
“I just go out there and try to be productive. Coach said today everybody’s in their roles,” Love told ESPN.com…
by TimAllen on Sep 3, 2010 9:26 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I know, right?
What is it that coaches are seeing regarding Love that everyone else is not? It’s like the opposite of Childress – where we see an abominable QB in TJax who still inexplicably is the #2 guy, Rambis/Coach K see a fantastically productive guy who they insist on giving limited minutes to. Bizarre. I guess Love is OK with it on Team USA because they’re winning and because Lamar is starting in front of him.
"Styx might be the mullet of bands."
I agree on Rubio -- Style like Pistol, but not a shooter.
He moves & passes like Pistol, but the pistol isn’t loaded; but he can sure
make his teammates better, like Kidd, plus he’s an aggressive defender, like Kidd.
When he plays he sure makes you think of Pete, though.
Re: Beasley. I see him as a starter at the 3 because he’s an offensive threat, and
create his own shot, unlike the rest of the squad. I see Love at 4, Beasley at 3 &
Beas also subbing at the 4 when Love is gassed. Beasley can be a tweener,
a versatile guy, plus we need his scoring. We need to give him minutes.
Beas will get minutes
as will Love this year. I think Beas will start at the 3 against the bigger premier SFs and otherwise play a mix of the two positions. I really think Rambis wants to see if Wes and Webster can play the 2 effectively to give us some perimeter size.
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Sep 3, 2010 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions
Announcer during USA/Tunisia game at the half as he was watching the girls dance......
…said that some of the dancing girls were staying at the same hotel he had
& that one of them came down the hall toward him. He said, “I tried to take a
charge, but she side stepped me.” I ROFLOL’ed.
"Trey Kerby/Ball Don't Lie: Even Kevin Love has no idea what David Kahn is doing"
This is stupid. Post something that is relevant. Making quick comments like this is ridiculous. Kevin Love sees the improvement in this roster, I think he does. It might not have happened exactly how he envisioned. I think that he is excited to be able to crash the boards for this team and toss his outlet passes to guys who can run. I also think that their should be more space for him to gather more offensive rebounds.
Now about Beasley, I have no idea why at this point in his career the wolves wouldn’t want to start him at the 3. Watching highlights he’s plenty quick enough. It seems like it would make sense to start Webster and Beasley at the 2 and the 3 and then let Wes Johnson be the first guy off the bench. I think Webster should start because he is a veteran that we want to see if he can produce with more minutes. We also know that he is a good defender. Webster and Johnson are similar players, who are the same age, but Webster has been in the league for 5 years, therefore he starts at the two. Johnson will get minutes though. I’m really excited about Wesley Johnson. I really think he’s gunna light it up, but if he’s going to start this year he is going to have to earn it in my opinion. Cory Brewer could start some games at the two as well. I wanna see Beasley at the three. If that works and Brewer/Webster/Johnson work at the 2 and Rubio comes over to play point guard next season, athleticism and length go from being a team disadvantage to becoming an advantage. I think length + athleticism + a little bit of time (a year or two) = a really good team defense.
Then, rubio is getting Comparisons to Jason Kidd. Web and Wes are highflying shooters. Beasley was the most dominant player in College basketball a couple of years ago. Kevin love is a beast on the the boards, the quarterback of the fast break, and a pretty dang good shooter for a big power forward. Darko can hold his ground as a center, and Pekovic is a beast who creatively draws contact in side, and get the ball into the basket (he might not dunk on to many people but he’s efficient). Pekovic can hit free throws. I like the Pekovic highlight reals when nearly all of his points are from the free throw line, they are free points that add to more points later in the game because the team could get into the bonus quicker.
I don’t know what people don’t see. David Kahn has made the wolves better. Pecherov? Wilkins? Pavlovic? Cardinal? Kevin Ollie? Greg Buckner? Ryan Hollins?
This is what David Kahn is doing.
by 123farve567-612 on Sep 3, 2010 11:36 AM CDT reply actions 3 recs
Great post, thank you!
I agree, the team has changed dramatically for the better.
The theme of “Kahn has no plan” is not just wrong, it is 180 degrees off base. Someday, some enterprising journo will take the opposite position. The headline will feature Kahn’s plan, and talk about how he has executed it:
- Stack assets so he can be opportunistic, like picking up Beas & Webster.
- Build a team around players that are tall, athletic and strong defenders.
- Build a team that can optimize Rubio’s talents as a facilitator and passer.
- Stay below salary cap so we can pay Love when he’s off his rookie contract, and also pay Ricky if we must do so when he comes over.
The moves he has made to pick up a million here, half a mil there, are worth a study in themselves, IMHO. He used cracks in the trading system to pick guys up only to let them go, because he could gain a bit of cap space.
And I think someday someone, maybe even Mr. Simmons, will recognize that hiring Rambis, Laimbeer, Ronzone was really really smart, and a signal that things were gonna be better. Those guys are savvy & really successful — they become the draw for players. The theme that no one will want to go to MN because Kahn is an idiot looks pretty stupid when you consider the guys he has hired to lead the team.
Nemanja Bjelica
I watched him in the Serbia/Germany game. He’s got pretty good handles
for a guy his size, and a great basketball body. He needs some muscle.
"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."
On Kahn
I couldn’t understand what he was doing in 2009 but it makes sense this year. Not just the players but the money too.
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