Wolves Updates 9/7
by SG on Sep 7, 2010 1:05 AM CDT
Email
Print
New York Times' Thamel on Rubio, Q&A with Ronzone, Kevin Love turns 22 today and more
From Jonah Ballow/Timberwolves site: Rubio's Flash and Maturity
Pete Thamel: Most of the prominent players on that Spanish team are five or six years older than him and he has been playing with him since he was 16 and 17 years old. The thing I took the most out of spending some time with him and around the Spanish team for a couple of days in Madrid a few weeks ago was that Ricky will blend in, that was one of his greatest qualities. I talked to guy named Elmer Bennett , who was his first mentor when he became a pro with Joventut, which is in Badalona – outside of Barcelona. Even as a 14 year old, he was able to blend in with his teammates. Elmer Bennett played point guard at Notre Dame in the late 80s – early 90s, joked with me that Ricky was young enough to be his son. His maturity was beyond his years and his ability to blend in and not draw attention to himself and just sort of be a shy, quiet, humble kid was one of the things that Elmer Bennett remarked to me on the phone and that was repeated by Marc Gasol, Rudy Fernandez, Spanish coaches, and people all around the team. I think when he does get here; it will be a different culture and a different environment than in Spain. I think that the blending in part he will do well at.
From Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports: U.S. shows look of potential champion
Angola offered little resistance in the 121-66 verdict, and Team USA delivered the kind of devastating blow to start the game it was unable to do in letting Tunisia linger in the final group-play performance. This was one of the games where Kevin Durant(notes) and Rudy Gay(notes) were so dangerous on the wings, finishing with flourishes over and over.
"Regardless of what people are saying, we still are the favorites and we should play and really act like it," Kevin Love(notes) said.
From Charley Walters/Pioneer Press: Kevin Love, who was 19 when the Timberwolves acquired him, turns 22 on Tuesday.
From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune: Q&A with Tony Ronzone
A I don't know if I've got any secrets. He's a pretty special player. It's great just being around these guys. It's good for the Timberwolves: We've got [European scout] Pete Philo working with the Chinese team. I'm here. David Kahn is coming over. [Strength/conditioning coach] Dave Vitel has been here working with Kevin. The Minnesota organization is well-represented over here.
Q Have you been able to see Ricky Rubio play much?
A I saw him play twice in Madrid, including a (exhibition) game we played against Spain. (Defensive) pressure does not affect him. He runs the team unselfishly. He's very humble and has a great passion for the game. Kevin got a chance to spend some time with Ricky after the game...
From Alex Raskin/Hoopsworld: Will Ricky Rubio be an NBA Star?
If Minnesota Timberwolves GM David Kahn has done anything, it’s showing that he at least believes in his young players, and I’m confident that because Super Cool Beas knows the organization has his back, he’ll do well. I have a hunch that one day sooner rather than later, Riley & Co. are going to regret sending Beas away so early, because history may also show that they were too hard on the young man just trying to figure out how to get comfortable with the new lifestyle. The Heat are as responsible for Beasley’s "disappointing" time in the League as he is.
29 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Charley Walters: He knows how to use iCal
Breaking birthday! Way to get out ahead of the whole passage-of-time angle, Charles.
I consider it strange that a paid reporter dutifully reports a birthday,
and then carefully, almost meticulously, also tells us how old he was a couple of years back. Yes, that does strike me as an amusing example of laziness.
iCal?
You sure you don’t mean a Rolodex?
I think you give Charley too much credit.
No autopsy, no foul.
With all of the little birdies that give him information
I’d assume he received this info by carrier pigeon.
Humble Ricky
One of the things that I am really looking forward to in Rubio is that he is a humble pass-first kid. It will be really cool to have one of our best players (fingers crossed) to be a pass-first humble point guard! I would enjoy seeing a guy who puts the team first and isn’t always trying to put the focus on himself. I don’t know if Rubio should even be allowed in the NBA with his humility!
by running with Twolves (and scissors) on Sep 7, 2010 8:24 AM CDT reply actions
I like it, but I'd like to see some offensive aggression, too (and better shooting)
"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."
Beasley video - DC charity game
Go to 1:30 in the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBrQZ9uIc_o&feature=player_embedded
by NorthernLights666 on Sep 7, 2010 9:49 AM CDT reply actions
I like the hair too
I never liked the corn row look so I’m glad to see Mike let his hair down. Also, he looks much more like a 3 than a 4 in this game although it is only a charity game.
From the video
it looks like he’s working on his handle, yeah, love the hair, almost Mike Miller-esque, sans the thing to hold it up, whatever that thing is, now that was ugly.
by NorthernLights666 on Sep 7, 2010 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions
I love that Ronzone drops this in at the end of the interview
I can’t wait to get back and get the season started. We’re going to be a lot better than people think.
You don’t usually hear execs say things like that. Its obvious that he’s sick of the Wolves getting ripped on for becoming a better team in the offseason.
Or he's confident in the abilities
of newcomers Wes/Beas/Webster/Pekovic/Tolliver/Ridnour and the progress of Flynn/Love/Darko
by NorthernLights666 on Sep 7, 2010 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions
FWIW, I'd trust Ronzone's opinion
of those guys more than Woj or Simmons and the like.
"Styx might be the mullet of bands."
Unless
he’s just being a good “company man”. The Wolves seem to have a ton of those, I just hope behind closed doors they are thinking objectively.
by NorthernLights666 on Sep 7, 2010 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions
It's just basketball...
It’s ok to be a company man about a game. What’s he supposed to blow the whistle on, some fraud or ponzi scheme? There isn’t one because it’s just a ballgame.
I know what your saying but that’s why there are sports writers and chat rooms. If we all got to peek behind the scenes 24-7 it would take the fun out of 1/2 of what ppl talk about around here.
by fanslaststand on Sep 7, 2010 3:39 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm not saying he would saying something
blatantly negative about the team, but when you say “we’re going to be better than what people think” it just sounds sort of hokie and naive, we won 15 games last year, there shouldn’t be any expectations for the team put out to the media. Humility, let your game speak for itself. One giant reason I’m glad Kahn shut his mouth, nothing defeats a fan base more than empty expectations/predictions/promises.
by NorthernLights666 on Sep 7, 2010 3:57 PM CDT up reply actions
IDK, If you've seen/heard Ronzone
do an interview, I think you’d see that he’s a type “A” personality who happens to be in and love basketball. I get the impression he loves the game so much and knows so much about players that he would not lie to toe a company line. He’s maybe the best straight up bball interview I’ve ever seen.
Kahn has been candid about us stinking many times...
But that’s besides my point. I just don’t expect to see a midlevel employee, I think you mentioned ballows as a “company man” too, risk their dream job to give an honest negative opinion to the media when that isn’t their place. Sure it can be annoying but cmon, cut em some slack.
by fanslaststand on Sep 7, 2010 6:39 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I wouldn't expect him to give a negative outlook on the team
I just wished he would keep his mouth shut to media in regards to our outlook – ala Kahn, we won 15 games last year, the last thing the media needs to hear (they’ve been on our case enough) is that our expectations are high for this season. We’ve been laughed at enough, it’s time to just shut up and be humble until we start competing again, did you ever hear OKC before last season say that they would surprise a lot of people? Is the Timberwolves FO’s ego that big?
by NorthernLights666 on Sep 7, 2010 10:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Bulletin Board material
Rambis doesn’t seem like the type of coach that would use an “us against the world” motivational tactic, but man, there is some low hanging fruit out there for him!
by Rascal Flatts on Sep 7, 2010 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
All in all there are hints of Rubio coming it would seem
Rubio and Love getting together after the game. that he likes Mpls and his humbleness makes it sound like he doesn’t have to be in NY.
Hopefully Love didn't put his foot in mouth
like he has be doing all summer long.
Question from Zgoda's conversation with Ronzone:
Q Have you been able to see Ricky Rubio play much?
A
I saw him play twice in Madrid, including a (exhibition) game we played against Spain. (Defensive) pressure does not affect him. He runs the team unselfishly. He’s very humble and has a great passion for the game. Kevin got a chance to spend some time with Ricky after the game. It was great to see two future teammates together like that. Ricky knew him very well.
Let’s all start discussing in depth what “knew him very well” meant, there.
Probably knew him as a player would be my guess. Though you could read some heavy old world romance into that too. Possible wedding bells.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
