Too apathetic to look for a recipe
by Stop-n-Pop on Jan 7, 2011 8:25 PM CST
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PrintFrom the opening tap you could hear the creep. No amount of "Everybody Clap Your Hands," DJ Mad Mardigan, howl-o-meter, or in game hype could mask it.
Apathy is here folks.
Even casual fans have seen this before. Second verse, same as the first.
Tonight, the Wolves reverted to mid-December form by allowing another team’s average (slightly above average in the case of Wes Matthews) wing player absolutely torch them from long-distance. This ugly era was placed into a larger context by the excellent comment about frustration by airete:
We lost the home opener with Love on the bench. Could have been the right call, but it opened the season with more WTF Rambis?
We then beat the Bucks and felt better briefly. Memphis, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta and Houston run changed that. It was feeling pretty bad to be a fan, but I wasn’t jumping on the someone needs to be fired bandwagon. The LA game was a turning point.
Rambis had Magic Johnson talk with the team and they played the Lakers tough. Then they beat Sac away and had the feel good night of the year when they came back to destroy a Knicks team that was beating them. Still didn’t like the rotations, but felt like Rambis was getting through to the players.
Atlanta game I missed, but Charlotte felt like robbery and started the trend of we lose in the fourth. Still giving Rambis the benefit of the doubt. Clippers win keeps that rolling as we see him give the ball to Beasley for a game winner the way we hope it’ll play out in the future.
LA comes in Love lays an egg and Barnes torches us. Disappointment, but that’s about it. OKC again felt like robbery, but plenty of chances to question coaching choices in this one. Losing to the Spurs in OT nothing to fire anyone about. They Golden State embarrasses us at home. Followed by a predictable Dallas loss and another heartbreak vs the Spurs. Disappointment, but no reason to fire anyone.
We crush Cleveland, but the shooting numbers are crazy so the win may not be a fluke, but the margin is to a degree.
Losing to the Knicks in NY is disappointing, but that’s about it.
The 4th quarter crap that allows us to lose to Oklahoma sucks. After this one it feels like someone should take the blame.
We beat Det and that’s nice, but still feeling bad about the Thunder.
The Bulls play actual D with an actual PG and we look like a rec league team. Bad feelings from the Oklahoma game carry over still looking for answers.
Here’s the tipping point. GSW beats us, Phx beats us, Por beats us in what all feels like the same game. We double too much and good shooters are open for wide open threes. Players deserve some blame certainly, but at this point Rambis’ defensive scheme is exposed. Still feeling good about what the guys can do, but really questioning why the same mistakes are happening nightly. Begin to think Rambis may really be part of the problem.
Denver game so close with the 4th quarter run, but just not quite there.
The Clippers embarrass us. There are a lot of reasons we lost this game, but it sucks getting embarrassed by the worst team you face on a 6 game road trip.
Utah loss makes it 7 in a row and this one was thrown away in horrible fashion. If we had employed the "let them dunk" defense we should have pulled it out. So now after having the GSW Phx Por sequence pointing me towards blaming Rambis we have an emotionally damning nightmare at home.
Cleveland comes it and it goes to the final possession. Glad for the win, but beating Cleveland by one isn’t reassuring of the brewing doubts. Beating the Hornets helps so much as we actually beat a good team. Once. 4th quarter melt down vs Denver at home. Sigh. Leading in the fourth feels fragile not hopeful.
Beating NJ at home is nice.
Playing Boston into the 4th at Boston is almost all you could hope for. Had we been trailing and just not able to close it out would be one thing. Blowing the lead again is too familiar.
D league all-stars beat us at home. The bandwagon of something is wrong grows.
I think that pretty much sums it up. Are there any other eras of the season we're missing here?
I've mentioned several times during the year that I have no idea how to write about this squad. It still remains the case. Everything that can be said about this team has already been said. I don't need to tell you about how or why they sink or swim. Even if they make this a close game (I'm writing this with about 4 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter), we all know what will happen in the end: they will blow it in spectacular and predictable fashion.
I suppose we could talk about how David Kahn continues to provide ammunition to those who think he doesn't have the first clue how to evaluate NBA talent. Maybe we could talk about the in game cluelessness of Kurt Rambis. What about a few examples of how Jonny Flynn doesn't know how to play basketball?
Uggh.
I don't know what else there is to say and frankly I'm not too keen about sticking around for the 2nd half to figure something out. At this point of the season it requires some form of higher math to figure out how to find any positives with this team outside of Love, Beasley, and....well, Anthony Tolliver came back tonight. That's awesome. He's a Creighton Bluejay and the 3rd best player on this team.
Well folks, that about does it. I'm off to plug in the Grado cans to the ol' ipod with a lossless copy of Tom Waits' Raindogs while reading a new book on the Kindle and sipping on a Surly. It beats whatever madness might be happening at 600 First Avenue.
Apathy. It's here already.
BTW: If anyone wants to talk about what really matters for the rest of the year, here's the most up-to-date Hoopus Draft Board (with some numbers from past years to help you figure out where these players fit in):
- Ty Lawson PG UNC (2009) 44.2873507936508
- Kemba Walker PG UConn 43.0255946843854
- Kevin Love PF UCLA (2008) 39.6477110753175
- Steph Curry Combo Guard Davidson (2009) 39.214705562293
- Derrick Williams PF Arizona 38.6137479261269
- Kyrie Irving PG Duke 37.4715615758874
- Jared Sullinger PF OSU 37.3929952890247
- Blake Griffin PF Oklahoma (2009) 37.2065922745941
- Demetri McCamey PG Illinois 35.3351535677768
- Alec Burks SG/SF Colorado 34.7312605168383
- Jordan Hamilton SF Texas 33.9128890196843
- Nolan Smith Combo Guard Duke 33.7156540913888
- Marcus Morris PF Kansas 33.6063649222065
- Markeiff Morris PF Kansas 33.2354296221378
- DMC PF/C Kentucky (2009) 32.616960724073
- Evan Turner SG/SF OSU (2009) 31.405750110742
- David Lighty SG OSU 31.3851153042638
- B-Easy Combo Forward K-State (2008) 31.2533456972975
- Kawhi Leonard Combo Forward San Diego State 30.497142452241
- Derrick Rose PG Memphis (2008) 30.1011236685322
- Joshua Smith PF/C UCLA 29.8792681096681
- Terrence Jones Combo Forward Kentucky 29.6836390415071
- Jonny Flynn PG Syracuse (2009) 28.9979330877274
- Blake Hoffarber SG Minnesota 28.7896681873428
- Keith Benson C Oakland 28.4514970014791
- John Wall PG Kentucky (2009) 28.4332739656053
- Deshaun Thomas SF OSU 28.2982662100232
- Cris Singleton PF Florida State 28.2378700159472
- Trey Thompkins PF Georgia 27.8135254636046
- Kalin Lucas PG MSU (2009) 27.1499839694108
- Derrick Favors PF Georgia Tech (2009) 27.0312516175496
- Kemba walker PG UCONN (2009) 26.8691123906706
- Tobias Harris Combo Forward Tennessee 26.3865809303536
- Travis Leslie Combo Forward Georgia 26.3521380468282
- Trevor Mbwake PF Minnesota 26.1247190966477
- Tyler Zeller C North Carolina 26.0747762456226
- Jeff Taylor SF Vanderbilt 26.0688777937191
- Josh Selby Combo Guard Kansas 25.6164965032253
- Russell Westbrook PG UCLA (2008) 25.3676399853189
- Elias Harris SF Gonzaga 25.2398976833977
- Aaric Murray C La Salle 25.2331324253839
- Kalin Lucas PG MSU 24.3035371226524
- Wes Johnson SG/SF Syracuse (2009) 24.277868541669
- Kyle Singer SF Duke 23.8549973717039
- Brandon Knight Combo Guard Kentucky 22.3521841432225
- Chandler Parsons SF Florida 22.2191709317291
- Tyler Honeycutt Combo Forward UCLA 22.0171482466272
- Perry Jones PF Baylor 21.8049801238951
- Scotty Hopson SG/SF Tennessee 21.2731070179534
- Malcolm Lee Combo Guard UCLA 20.6417233774503
- Harrison Barnes SG/SF North Carolina 20.5205418105359
- CJ Leslie Combo Forward NC State 20.4703013708514
- John Henson PF North Carolina 20.2657887296043
- Rodney Williams SF Minnesota 19.2199462542987
- Eric Bledsoe Combo Guard Kentucky (2009) 19.0162057633201
- Mason Plumlee PF Duke 18.999841160523
- Durrell Summers SG MSU 18.2974629817337
- Patric Young PF/C Florida 16.0094124488824
The previous edition can be found here. Just think how cool next year will be with no draft pick to look forward to.
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Can't argue with that post
I’ve been one of the most forgiving with Darko’s shortcomings (too many turnovers, shooting with no confidence, etc) but there is no excuse for going out and playing lazy. He isn’t the only one, but he does make it the most obvious.
Forgot to add. A lot of this is on Rambis. That is HIS job.
by domesticllama on Jan 7, 2011 8:44 PM CST up reply actions
Gordon Gano says it best
“Just last night I was reminded of just how bad it had gotten and just how sick I had become…”
I’m so over it, but still I cling to this team.
I'm a Timberwolves fan, therefore I must be a masochist.
" Just think how cool next year will be with no draft pick to look forward to."
Don’t forget the added bonus of being able to admire Patric Young’s length and athleticism.
I'm ready to be swayed Wesley Johnson!!
while listening to the team talk about how it will take a few years for rubio to adjust to the league
Insincerity is the best sincerity. Survive and celebrate Bunny Month.
www.canishoopus.com
In fairness
Us fans want to see a running team. So that’ll be fun.
I'm ready to be swayed Wesley Johnson!!
not with this team
defense + Not enough athletes on the court at the same time = no fast break points
with a chance for Rambis to move into a virtual tie with jimmy rodgers
as the worst coach in wolves history following the wiz game. that will be his 122nd game. the same number casey got.
Insincerity is the best sincerity. Survive and celebrate Bunny Month.
www.canishoopus.com
Question
Since Casey had KG in his last two seasons as a Wolf, do you think he would come back and coach again now?
Breaking down cognitive dissonance and group think since gasoline was cheap.
I think he'd be willing, yes.
Dwane Casey did everything possible not to burn bridges here when he left. Those of us who already thought pretty highly of him as sporting figures go were impressed by it.
He like a lot of other coaching candidates would be more than willing ton consider it very strongly, for sure.
(I still think Rambis gets until sometime after the lockout if he’s gonna get fired.)
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
If I remember right
… Casey got axed even though he got Blount to actually play well. The problem was he lost the ear of noted malcontent Ricky Davis.
Nobody gets up to play for Rambis, and I think you’re right that only Kahn’s self serving devotion to the coach and the players he picked keep Rambis on the bench.
by midlife crisis on Jan 7, 2011 10:52 PM CST up reply actions
I wouldn't go that far
The last two games haven’t been great, but if there’s anything Rambis really managed to do this season was to get the players to play hard.
10 step recipe for tonight
1. Go to cheap grocery store — no wussing out by going to Whole Foods or Trader Joes
2. Buy can of Boy-Ar-Dee spaghetti and 12 pack of PBR
3. Put in pan
4. Light stove
5. Heat for 10 minutes
6. Open can
7. Treat fingers for 2nd degree burns
8. Drink warm beer
9. Vomit & go to bed
10. Answer call from wife’s divorce lawyer in the morning
When is enough finally enough?
How many more listless performances from this group before a change is made?
Newsflash...
Kahn thinks we’re all idiots.
Kahn supporters…defend your boy!!
I'm ready to be swayed Wesley Johnson!!
Jonny Flynn sucks
I'm ready to be swayed Wesley Johnson!!
by Blakeley on Jan 7, 2011 9:30 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
If only the team was as hot as..
Blakeley is right now. Strong
You've convinced me! Just told my wife and kid we're moving to Singapore!
by Son of Gerald Green on Jan 7, 2011 10:07 PM CST up reply actions
And don't look now, but....
….Cousins is starting to play better (averaging 20 points 9 boards per game over last 5).
yep
right back where he started with 7 first round picks. it’s simply stunning.
Insincerity is the best sincerity. Survive and celebrate Bunny Month.
www.canishoopus.com
Kahn is either...
A) clueless
B) guessing
C) all of the above
There are no other options
I'm ready to be swayed Wesley Johnson!!
and hopefully soon to be defenestrated
(sorry, I like that word, and Kahn himself provided an apt metaphor in the first place)
"Humor is reason gone mad." Marx (Groucho, for the reason-gone-mad impaired)
that's known as "flying spanish"
as opposed to “walking spanish”
Insincerity is the best sincerity. Survive and celebrate Bunny Month.
www.canishoopus.com
haha
add it to the lexikhan, please.
"Humor is reason gone mad." Marx (Groucho, for the reason-gone-mad impaired)
Like the great film
Football in the Groin, it works on so many levels.
"Humor is reason gone mad." Marx (Groucho, for the reason-gone-mad impaired)
I haven't seen that one
but I’m very partial to an episode of “Ow My Balls” from time to time.
Interviewer: Can you understand why teams value potential ahead of experience and accomplishment in the draft? Wes Johnson: "Yeah. I understand. It’s the youngness of everything – older guys like young women, so it’s the same way."
What is truly depressing....
Is that if he weren’t intent on displaying his ineptitude and instead chose to follow one of the many acceptable (and widely available) draft raters, we’d be a better team right now.
by WolvesFan03 on Jan 7, 2011 9:47 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
The best thing about this season
is obviously Love and Beasley. Can you imagine if Kahn had been able to move Love this summer for some of the rumored deals. The Wolves might be causing alarm for Fred Carter and that all-time worst Sixers team
Again, this team would be near .500 if Khan did nothing else on draft day than take the best player available on Hollinger’s draft rater with each of his picks.
they are a bad jerry colangelo decision away...
….from something truly awful.
Insincerity is the best sincerity. Survive and celebrate Bunny Month.
www.canishoopus.com
Colangelo passed on including Beasley in the Bosh to Miami deal.
Decided the trade exception was better.
sorry
bryan. i get him and his pops mixed up for some reason.
Insincerity is the best sincerity. Survive and celebrate Bunny Month.
www.canishoopus.com
I had a nightmare a week ago where Beas and Love got a virus
And had to sit out a game together. The Wolves lost by 150.
Schizophrenic and Brewer Fan. Unrelated.
yuk
What was the final say on Beas and his face? Looks like a cat fight deal. Has Webster lost his athleticism? He looks slow.
I wondered about this, but only had the sound up in fits and starts.
Michael Beasley looked like the Timberwolves season felt last night.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
I'd like to see Love play next to a Talented Center
Like a Demarcus Cousins??/
I’d like to see Love play with a Talented PG like Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings, Jrue Holliday, Ty Lawson, or Darren Collison??
That’s my game-wrap.
Someday he will
keep playing like shit and Love will go elsewhere. He will have many options.
Breaking down cognitive dissonance and group think since gasoline was cheap.
I actually think Love's ideal front court mate was on the other side tonight
Camby. But yeah a roster with Curry, Love Cousins and Beasley would make me a lot less unhappy
Marcus Camby was on old vet last night.
The break where he tapped the pass and then saved the ball back to the teammate late…. See, now, this is how not playing at 150 miles an hour all the time looks, Corey. One can be so effective defensively when one is allowing oneself to think and not forcing every every everything.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
I agree with your
pg picks. But I still think the system sucks
In the five games
since Wes Johnson went off for 24 points, rocketing to the top of the list for rookie of the year, and vindicating David Kahn for passing on Cousins and several younger players with more potential or even trading the pick or trading down, the passive 23 year old “rookie” has played 127 minutes, shot 33% from the floor, and scored 35 points—including 3 whole free throws (his prolific scoring from the line over this period is still an improvement over the rest of the season, where he has made twice as many turnovers as he has free throws).
Be good. Work hard. Have fun.
Age is just a number
Wes is young on the inside. I hear he’s quite the prankster in the locker room.
Interviewer: Can you understand why teams value potential ahead of experience and accomplishment in the draft? Wes Johnson: "Yeah. I understand. It’s the youngness of everything – older guys like young women, so it’s the same way."
What happened to Dark Lord anyway?
I haven’t seen him use his re-post move in 6 weeks. He was crushing guys with that thing.
by fanslaststand on Jan 7, 2011 9:44 PM CST via mobile reply actions
That's the danger of deciding the best five game stretch of a player's career is who they are
Almost no player’s best five game stretch doesn’t grossly distort their value.
or 5 overtimes
Insincerity is the best sincerity. Survive and celebrate Bunny Month.
www.canishoopus.com
What's crazy about that...
Is his stats weren’t even that great in that game. 34 points and ten assists in 60 minutes I think.
I'm ready to be swayed Wesley Johnson!!
Another Kahn-era irony
He pulled a McHale with picking a guy because of a tourney performance and character.
Insincerity is the best sincerity. Survive and celebrate Bunny Month.
www.canishoopus.com
I'd settle for bad management with some good players
It must be possible, I’m watching an entertaining GSW team at the moment. Granted they are playing the Cavs, but it’s better than the T-Wolves have looked all year (or at least flashier)
that's why Kahn got rid of McHale
too much competition.
Breaking down cognitive dissonance and group think since gasoline was cheap.
This lose was built
on turning consecutive drafts with the 4th-5th and 6th pick into a Grand Total of nothing.
just think how cool it will be after the clippocalypse
Insincerity is the best sincerity. Survive and celebrate Bunny Month.
www.canishoopus.com
I have actually stopped giving a sh!t...
About losing the Clipper pick. Am I supposed to be disappointed that we won’t have the opportunity to pick the next Jonny Flynn?
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
I guess Jose doesn't value...
A firm handshake and a warm smile
I'm ready to be swayed Wesley Johnson!!
In fairness...
…Wes Johnson is probably a good 6th-7th man, whereas Flynn is an end of the bench player.
"Flynn is an end of the bench player"
In the D-League…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
Again, according to Kahn
Jonny Flynn will be an all star some day.
Breaking down cognitive dissonance and group think since gasoline was cheap.
I think we've established..
….that this league is Howard Pulley.
Insincerity is the best sincerity. Survive and celebrate Bunny Month.
www.canishoopus.com
It will definitely help
That most of the top talented guys in that league do not play in every game, but I’m not sure Flynn makes it. Khalid would still light him up, and the PG playing for UW- River Falls who played last summer would give Jonny fits. Jonny’s defense is so bad that Troy Hudson would come out of retirement just to show up to rain half court 3’s on Flynn.
So, that makes
Darko and Yawny Flynt future all stars in Kahn’s eyes. And that just for this week.
Breaking down cognitive dissonance and group think since gasoline was cheap.
I'm not much for the "In Fairness" stuff
No offense intended. This team hasn’t been fair to us for several years. It’s OK to take an unbridled shot at a ridiculous franchise. Almost healthy really
And for all the crowing earlier in the year about a few good Wes games while DMC was having his not unexpected off the court tantrums, DMC is averaging a 22 & 9 while while shooting 55% in his last five games, while Wes is demonstrating an almost Quaker level of pacifism when taking it to the hole
You've convinced me! Just told my wife and kid we're moving to Singapore!
by Son of Gerald Green on Jan 7, 2011 10:17 PM CST up reply actions
sorry for the redundant DMC Stats
Didn’t see that they were posted above
You've convinced me! Just told my wife and kid we're moving to Singapore!
by Son of Gerald Green on Jan 7, 2011 10:19 PM CST up reply actions
It's all in Wes' history
hope you checked out the Draft Express link provided elsewhere. Timid.
Breaking down cognitive dissonance and group think since gasoline was cheap.
I'm was and am a big DMC proponent...
…and hammered the Wes and Flynn picks at the time they were made.
I was trying to point out that while Wes will never be an All-Star, he is still a much better pick than Flynn. That one is simply irredeemable.
I'm with you Django - see your point now
You've convinced me! Just told my wife and kid we're moving to Singapore!
by Son of Gerald Green on Jan 8, 2011 9:37 AM CST up reply actions
Agreed
The Wes pick, while one I vehemently disliked on draft night, kind of sort of made sense given the context. DMC was sorta unstable and not an ideal fit so he wasn’t the surefire pick if you take those things into consideration. The Flynn thing was just an out of the blue terrible pick with multiple better prospects left on the board. That one is just terrible.
Interviewer: Can you understand why teams value potential ahead of experience and accomplishment in the draft? Wes Johnson: "Yeah. I understand. It’s the youngness of everything – older guys like young women, so it’s the same way."
If they traded Kevin Love
Watching these games would be pointless.
Kevin Love
. . . is the only thing that’s keeping me from walking away at this point.
This is why they
will not trade him. too much of a PR hit
PR and watchable basketball are two different things
I have growing concerns that being a fan of this team is making me more of a hipster than I ever intended to be.
Love is a fan
favorite and media darling. Trade him and those 2 things go apeshit. That is why its not a smart business decision to trade him.
We get it...
Please move on to the next obvious point that all of us
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
The Wolves keep losing
Discuss
"Baseball is the only major sport that appears backward in a mirror" ~George Carlin
by thewild_viking_twins on Jan 7, 2011 10:10 PM CST up reply actions
Continued...
Please move on to the next obvious point that all of us already know. But make sure you tell us you said it a long time ago. Then, continue to beat said opinion into the ground for several months, and think you’re being original.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
Also, remind us that we didn't believe in Beasley.
I have growing concerns that being a fan of this team is making me more of a hipster than I ever intended to be.
keep going guys
I just pointed out the reason why he will not be traded. Love does not fit the mold of length and athleticism. He is a good player that bring other things to table from a PR stand point
depends on who the wolves get
Love is not at lebrons level
by chuckd@79 on Jan 7, 2011 9:59 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
it is my personal request to all of hoopus nation
that this one be allowed to stand on its own.
Insincerity is the best sincerity. Survive and celebrate Bunny Month.
www.canishoopus.com
by Stop-n-Pop on Jan 7, 2011 10:00 PM CST up reply actions 12 recs
I saw that the wolves were involved in facilitating a melo deal...
I wonder if nuggets would want Favors and Murphy to go to mn, and love and an extra first to go to Denver. Denver has coveted Love, and both Kahn and Ronzone would probably prefer Favors.
Not on board, but wouldn’t be surprised
I wasn't swayed
We Can't
We just Can’t trade our only Above Average Starter (A 21 Year Old All-Star) for Potential.
by Jose Cordoba on Jan 7, 2011 10:09 PM CST up reply actions
But in seriousness...
Favors’ upside = Love’s current stat line minus 3 rebounds and plus 3 dunks.
I wasn't swayed
yeah right now
but we are talking about upside. the upside of Favors is higher than love. the problem is we dont know if favors reach his potential.
Don't agree Chuck
Love is a completly unique NBA talent and stii has upside. Favors will never touch Love’s value. Never. His work habits won’t allow it.
by Tangerine dream on Jan 7, 2011 10:42 PM CST up reply actions
That's a gamble not worth taking
We have a legit All Star-level (though flawed) guy who is very young and already on the team. Favors has all kinds of talent and upside, but is as raw as they come. It will take a lot of things to go well for Favors to match Love. Is it out of the question? Of course not. Is it likely? No way to know. If potential could always be coached into realization, then Darius Miles, Darko Milicic, Kwame Brown, et al would be All-Stars by now.
The idiom “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” rings true in this situation. If we traded one or more talented players with more unrealized potential for him, that would seem to be a better trade for us at this point. We don’t have the talent base to make that risk worthwhile.
But, with Favors
we could all look forward to next year
and the year after that, and…
depends on who the wolves get
(like chuck said.)
Love’s trade value might be higher than what he contributes to team success. I wouldn’t actively shop him, since he’s more of a solution than a problem. But, I wouldn’t be totally shocked if we could get a better player in a trade. Love doesn’t make his teammates better. He doesn’t command any defensive attention and he isn’t a particularly good defensive player, either. He gets his own stats, and his production helps. It just isn’t enough to win ball games.
What's an example
of a player that is better than Love, but who is obtainable in a trade? It seems this person would need to not be critical for his team’s success to be offered for KLove, or it’s a huge roll of the dice for the other team. So what player comes to mind?
I don't know...
because I don’t know who is obtainable in a trade. But like chuck said, Love isn’t LeBron—he’s not the best player in the league, so the idea that trading him would necessarily make the Wolves worse to watch isn’t true.
I’m not “for” trading Love, but if that were to happen, it could make us a better team. Just depends on who we get in return.
An Intresting Fan Post
Who is more to blame for this season: Kahn vs McHale vs Taylor???
There's one constant in that equation...
I’m not sayin, I’m just sayin
I have no idea what we're yelling about!
McHale
Provided Kahn with Love, Cap Space, and Draft Picks. As funny as it is he also provided Kahn with Brewer.
He also left him
with a laughing stock of a franchise, and strangely absent fanbase
"Baseball is the only major sport that appears backward in a mirror" ~George Carlin
by thewild_viking_twins on Jan 7, 2011 10:09 PM CST up reply actions
Nothing strange about losing a fanbase after how many failed blueprints now?
by RedCandyStripedPants on Jan 7, 2011 10:21 PM CST up reply actions
Brewer and Pekovic
although Kahn was the one that signed Pek and got him over here. McHale drafted him.
by Rascal Flatts on Jan 7, 2011 10:14 PM CST up reply actions
Wrong on Pek
Sure McHale drafted him, but Kahn went over and adopted him. That one is all on Kahn.
Breaking down cognitive dissonance and group think since gasoline was cheap.
Let's Assume McHale stays
We’re probably looking at
G-Stephen Curry
F-Kevin Love
C- Al Jefferson
Plus Cap Space. I probably prefer Beasley to Al going forward. But if McHale doesn’t take Flynn that’s a huge plus on his behalf.
if we had the cap space
… we probably could have had Beasley
by midlife crisis on Jan 7, 2011 10:58 PM CST up reply actions
Apathy is the glove into which evil slips its hand...
Sorry, just watched Van Wilder the other night, and have redecided to base my answers to all of life’s questions on it.
Don’t take the Wolves too seriously, you’ll never get out alive….?
I may need to work out a few kinks.
I have growing concerns that being a fan of this team is making me more of a hipster than I ever intended to be.
We need to work on Groundhog Day.
The alternating desperation and resignation as he tries one thing and then another, searching for answers but always returning to the same point….
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
Needless to say, my experiment didn't work.
That was…well…that was a basketball game, I guess. I’m actually kind of impressed the score was as close as it was. The crowd was dead the whole night. So were most of the players except for Love, Tolliver, Beasley and Brewer – and maybe Koufos. That was about it.
How bad is it that Wayne Ellington couldn’t get minutes in tonight’s game? And that Lazar hasn’t touched the floor in weeks? I know picks in the 20s are crapshoots, but my word, that’s discouraging.
Everything in the computer need my face on it. Mega Gigabytes, son!
it was a great try
unfortunately, the anti-jinx never works when you do it intentionally. e.g. washing your car to make it rain. Or when the announcers intentionally try to jinx the free thrower. The anti-jinx only works when it’s unintentional. BUT, what it did do was cause us to play the best half of defense we have played all year. That gives me hope…..along with the four beers I’ve had.
The Portland announcers were brutal, BTW. They insulted the Wolves and Minnesota weather all night long. I’m not even from Minnesota, but I was pissed off. At least our tough D in the second half interrupted their little party for a little while.
I will still blame you
if it makes you feel any better …
"Deserve ain't got nothin' to do with it."
-- W. Munney (1992) / Snoop (2008)
by ol' weird harold on Jan 8, 2011 6:49 AM CST up reply actions
How many people, would you say, stayed for the thrilling sequence of timeouts and plays drawn up at the end?
I watched almost the entire game last night – first time I had a chance in forever, and my mom wanted help sketching out all the panels in the upholstery on a chair she’s re-doing.
How much useful coaching might have happened in that end game sequence of possessions? Prepping the squad for future situations, I guess, but at home it was excruciating to see them all dragging the thing out.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
It was definitely excruciating. For some reason, I stayed until the final buzzer.
It takes a lot for me to leave early. But certainly, most of the other fans in the building didn’t feel the same way as me, as it definitely cleared out pretty early.
Everything in the computer need my face on it. Mega Gigabytes, son!
We had actually concluded early on
that only you, Crunch, and Fake Wally were there…
so you’re saying Mike took off.
I have growing concerns that being a fan of this team is making me more of a hipster than I ever intended to be.
Crunch took off his costume and stormed out.
You’ll never guess who Crunch really is…
Everything in the computer need my face on it. Mega Gigabytes, son!
This team should have 6-8 more wins. With those would come the confidence to add even more wins. This coach does not motivate, and is stubbornly forcing this square team into a round offense. This offense does not play to player’s strengths and they know that more than anyone. To all the Flynn bashers….why not use his quickness and athetisism To push the ball. Did this team get longer and more athletic To play this ridiclous offense?
Did they draft the freakishly athletic Wes Johnson to make him a spot up shooter? He was a stat sheet stuffer at Syr yet never sniffs a rebound, or a transition basket. To continuously blame the team’s youth is offensive. Other coaches would use their youth as a motivational tactic. Too young to know fear. Give this team a consequential offense which fits their skill set and subsequently give them a reason to believe they can win and finish.
Putting them in late game situations with no situational coaching will continue to yield this seasons prior results. “give it to Beasley and let him make something happen” when down three? This qualifies each one of us to coach an NBA team. And that’s frightening.
It’s time for Kurt to embrace this team and it’s strengths and coach to those strengths. In the meantime create some ball movement late in the game and give these guys a reason to believe they can win. He is only hurting himself by remaining stubborn to change. Front office did not accumulate this talent to dismantle it at his bequest. He will surely go first.
Looking for a Kaan supporter? You got it. This team is talented, beit young. If only Rambis could discover it before it’s too late.
by Tangerine dream on Jan 7, 2011 10:22 PM CST reply actions
I agree
I think you could do some good things with the current team. The wolves should play more small ball. There is not enough 5’s in the nba that love cant defend. going small is the wolves best lineup
I've wondered if Rambis might pull a reverse Musselman game sometime.
Sometime during the Wolves’ inaugural season, Bill Musselman went completely away from his slowdown game plan one night. He cut loose the rookie PG and the entire roster to run, run, run, and they won.
Typical young teams, no matter where they might be headed in the future, rein in the pace and try to stay close to their opponents. As Rambis feels a little more heat, here, is he going to pull one of these? I already watch for shortened rotations, which would be easier that way too.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
I wonder if this guy has a good handshake?
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kris-Joseph-5837/
You've convinced me! Just told my wife and kid we're moving to Singapore!
by Son of Gerald Green on Jan 7, 2011 10:24 PM CST reply actions
Question & small ray of hope
My question is – I only got to see the end – which players were responsible for Wes M’s big first half? I assume Wes J. and ‘stopper’ Martell W?
Small ray of hope: I posted some stats over at TWolvesCentral re: Love and Beasley. They are top 5 in rebounding, scoring, and 3P% at PF and SF respectively.
The story of this season to me is that Love & Beasley have been better than expected and represent two building blocks that I would not give up for anyone that was available (e.g. ORL is not trading D Howard).
Our guard play and non-Beasley wing play went from historically terrible last year to just terrible this year. Darko/Pek/Koufos are all well below average. Occasionally we will get a little bit of good play from Ridnour or Webster and then we might win a game. But it won’t happen consistently, because that is what bench level players do in the NBA.
Treacherous waters ahead up to and beyond the deadline. Does Kahn make a ‘save my job’ panic trade, such as Flynn + picks for more wing/guard mediocrity? Does he make a good consolidation trade for one clearly above average wing/guard/C? Or does he follow a passive “Save Glen Cash & See What Happens with the New CBA” plan that could drive Love/Beasley/Rubio away.
I am encouraged by the fact that Kahn has seemed willing to defer personnel decisions, at least somewhat, to BB people like Ronzone & Rambis. I am less encouraged by the BB people’s choices, such as Darko now (Rambis) and Darko years ago (Ronzone).
I think changing coaches at this point would be too disruptive. The revolving door at that spot would drive away good candidates as well. If Sac cans Westphal, good luck finding quality guys to take that one.
If I was Glen, I would have a ‘countdown’ meeting with Kahn. You promised X additional wins and we are no better than last year. What is the plan leading up to the trade deadline? If you cannot define one and deliver on it, you will not be allowed to p1$$ away our three draft choices before Clippergeddon as SnP likes to call it.
"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." -- Yogi Berra
I can't decide..
….if I like Clippergeddon or the Clippocalypse.
Insincerity is the best sincerity. Survive and celebrate Bunny Month.
www.canishoopus.com
ClipPickalypse
has a ring of doom to it
by WinTheLottery on Jan 7, 2011 10:28 PM CST up reply actions
The thing is, the team is not nearly as screwed as they were
at the end of the KG era. They are not saddled with horrible contracts. They still have a few picks left. They have two solid building blocks at PF/SF and hopefully another on the way at PG. They have three point shooting in the starting lineup and off the bench. They have cap space and tradable young guys.
With one good draft, a few good trades, and some luck on the Rubio front, I think they could render the Clipper pick in 2012 not nearly so valuable.
I’m just losing confidence that the current regime is capable of those things.
PS: I’m not talking about getting the #1 pick and trading scraps for Lebron. Just getting the BPA and consolidating some good assets into one or two above average players.
"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." -- Yogi Berra
by Wile E Coyote on Jan 7, 2011 10:32 PM CST up reply actions
We definitely need a label for the hand-over.
For now, we sit in Clippergatory paying dearly for the sins of our FO.
Thanks for your thoughts Wile E. They soothe the soul a bit.
You still post at Twolvescentral a lot? I haven’t been on there in a couple years.
I have growing concerns that being a fan of this team is making me more of a hipster than I ever intended to be.
The Scary Part
is the 2012 Draft is looking to be the strongest NBA Draft in Years
That will also be the year
the Wolves finally get the first pick
"Baseball is the only major sport that appears backward in a mirror" ~George Carlin
by thewild_viking_twins on Jan 7, 2011 10:32 PM CST up reply actions
Hahaha Yep,sounds bout right.
by bringthesun on Jan 7, 2011 10:35 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I think changing coaches at this point would be too disruptive
Precisely what would it be disrupting? Nightly fourth quarter meltdowns? Either he needs to change or they need to change him to keep from completely losing this team this season (and Love permanently).
by Tangerine dream on Jan 7, 2011 10:32 PM CST reply actions
In unrelated news
I’ve heard word of a Josh McDaniels sighting at this game, any truth to this?
"Baseball is the only major sport that appears backward in a mirror" ~George Carlin
by thewild_viking_twins on Jan 7, 2011 10:38 PM CST reply actions
I thought I saw Mike Singletary too
at one point. Dude at least looked exactly like him. I was probably just suffering from hallucinations due to the seizure I had after Wes Matthews hit his 50th straight three in the first half though.
by juliancasablancas on Jan 8, 2011 12:35 AM CST up reply actions
That was bad. Here are some notes about the actual game:
It looks like maybe, finally, Rambis has figured out that if a wing player is scorching you from 3-point land, you put your best defender on him, tell him to stick like glue, and shut the dude down. It’s an unforgivable shame that it took Rambis 119 games to figure this out, but the second half of tonight’s game indicates that he did, in fact, figure this out. If he looks at Wesley Matthew’s stats from the 1st half vs. the 2nd half, and doesn’t employ this tactic from here on out, then he has a serious learning disability.
So, maybe, possibly, we can hope that the “random dude kills us from 3” problem might go away. The fact that it worked in the 2nd half shows that Rambis was wrong. The fact that he stuck with it shows that he’s willing to admit he was wrong. The fact that it took 119 games to realize that he was wrong is a tragedy.
Tolliver is back! And he matters as much as we thought he did! Again, this is a mixed sort of optimism — a very important part of our rotation has returned, and he had an impact! On the other hand, a D-League call-up from last year is a hugely important part of our rotation. Whatever. He’s back, he’s effective, and that’s a positive.
Darko has hit the rookie wall. What? He’s not a rookie? Shit.
Beasley has, apparently, solved all his problems. He used to be a volume shooter with turnover problems, poor defense, and tunnel vision. He’s showing now that he’s a more complete player. He’s become a willing passer, an active (and occasionally effective) defender, and he’s taking better care of the ball. All this while not losing his scoring edge. If he cares enough to improve his flaws halfway through a shitty season, that’s a positive. It shows he’s committed to being a leader on this team, and with luck, it might rub off on other players.
This was a bad loss. There’s no way around that. The game was lost by the half. The Wolves came out soft. It’s a shame, because an entire game resembling the final 24 minutes would have been not just a win, but a good win.
...I've been drinking...
Much more complicated
It looks like maybe, finally, Rambis has figured out that if a wing player is scorching you from 3-point land, you put your best defender on him, tell him to stick like glue, and shut the dude down. It’s an unforgivable shame that it took Rambis 119 games to figure this out, but the second half of tonight’s game indicates that he did, in fact, figure this out. If he looks at Wesley Matthew’s stats from the 1st half vs. the 2nd half, and doesn’t employ this tactic from here on out, then he has a serious learning disability.
This certainly goes to solving the problem.
but
You are giving major minutes to a player (Brewer) you choose not to extend and will likely leave us next year over the player you drafted #4 (Johnson) who has shown complete inability to defend the 3 point line because he TURNS HIS HEAD AWAY FROM HIS MAN and watches the ball.
Unfortunately, that is a defensive liability that should be fixed in a matter of a few weeks/games. We are nearing the half way point – and there is no improvement.
But someone would need to acknowledge a big mistake to “fix” our perimeter defense issue by playing Brewer.
It's amazing to watch the Syracuse guys...
…watch the ball.
Insincerity is the best sincerity. Survive and celebrate Bunny Month.
www.canishoopus.com
Pluzonic plague
Fully a result of zone defense but so easily corrected. Is the “shell drill” exclusive to HS and college teams only?
by Tangerine dream on Jan 8, 2011 9:53 AM CST up reply actions
The "teaching moments"
aren’t working, are lasting longer, and lead to losses and empty seats. Do you think they will go to an all-vet lineup of something like
How much longer do you think it will be until Wes can get some well-deserved rest on the bench?
Be good. Work hard. Have fun.
(ahem) excuse me . . .
. . . an all-vet lineup of something like:
Luke
Webster
Beas
Love
Tolliver(?)
Be good. Work hard. Have fun.
A change like that is intriguing.
Not because I think the results will be better, but it says to me that Rambis is trying to save his job.
. . . trying to save his job, plus save
1. Kahn’s job
2. Season ticket renewals
3. Ad renewals
4. Love’s interest in remaining
5. Rubio’s interest in coming over
6. Any chance a decent free agent might sign with the team
Be good. Work hard. Have fun.
The all vet line-up
starts once the audition is deemed to be the failure the rest of us know it is. My guess is after the all star break, the reclusive Wes will park his johnson on the bench.
Breaking down cognitive dissonance and group think since gasoline was cheap.
The chief scoring threat and the best overall player on our "all-vet" lineup are barely able to drink legally.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
Re: the draft scores
It’s a shame that so far, the top 5 prospects are PF and PG, two positions where we’re supposedly set. We’d have to fall to #6 to get a SG/SF.
I’m not opposed, of course, to drafting a real PG with a higher spot, since our PGs are either underachievers or mythical at this point.
...I've been drinking...
Blazers fan with an observation or two.
I see a lot of unhappy people in this thread questioning the talent level of the players on the team and the coach’s ability to harness that talent, but really more than a dearth of talent and a lack of coaching acumen on the part of Rambis, I think your team is really suffering for its lack of veterans. If there is one axiom in the NBA that is almost always true, it’s that youth will not be served … unless that youth is the Thunder and they have an MVP candidate wing scorer.
by nikolokolus on Jan 7, 2011 11:52 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
This is pretty true. Wolves right now are like the Blazers the year before they went 41-41. It's an ugly year, but obviously a good young core.
Correct move, in my opinion, is to turn Beasley into two solid starters and a draft pick with a trade. But then again, I never have liked that guy. Still, he strikes me as a me-first player and right now his stock is very high.
Kahn’s a dunce though, first move is to lose that guy.
Rambis isn’t the problem.
"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal
I agree
I’m kind of hoping for the rumored Anthony Randolph deal to go through and to get Roger Mason in the process. He’s a true professional who’s been on winners the past 5 seasons. I think the experience he has and the example he sets at practice and in the locker room would be equally worth Anthony Randolph’s “length and athleticism.”
The wolves are terrible...
but I really don’t understand the ups and downs on here. This team is really young, when you’re relying on darko as a vet I don’t think we should expect to win too many games. We see game after game this team does have some talent but we are just a couple moves away from bringing it all together. The good news is, however bad you think Kahn has done he still has brought in talent and other assets. Now he just needs to use those assets and not just sit on them.
On a side note what do people think of Nene from a defensive perspective? I was bored of the losing so instead of watching all the games I decided it would be more fun to make a formula for how good players are at things that help teams win. I was all for trading Love until I did this and realized how much he’s helping us. I don’t watch Denver much but Nene’s score was top 3 in my rankings so I’m wondering what people think about him?
well
dis is de first game in a while i’ve stopped watchin befo halftime. thoughts:
- Brewer iz endearing but prolly needs to go
- Rambis iz completely unlikeable an needs to go.
-Flynn iz epically bad
-Love iz epically good and to trade him wuld be to fucking give in to contraction.
- dont look now but Darko iz having hiz worst stretch az a wolf…no offense an no defense (he gave us D een when shootin 16%
MAYN HOL UP!
I was at this game
It was a birthday present. I’m sticking the tickets from this one in the Mathom House, it was that bad of a gift.
Even worse, it was my mother’s first NBA game and she spent the entire night complaining about the noise at Target Center—too much music, not enough crowd noise, and also the hecklers in front of us were poking fun at poor Luke Ridnour who was “the only player out there trying to do anything.” tried to explain that sure, Luke tries, but it’s kind of misdirected…anyway.
Also, she thinks Darko looks a lot like Carl Pavano. He also plays a lot like Pavano would if Pavano would be playing basketball. “Don’t they have baseball in Serbia?”…ha.
by morineko on Jan 8, 2011 1:12 AM CST reply actions 3 recs
(Your mom and I share our reactions to the noise.)
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
I'm not fond of the noise either
my friend says, and I agree with her, that they’re trying to create a sense of false enthusiasm. since the only genuine undirected enthusiasm I saw last night was for guys on the other team (apparently all you need to get a cheer is to be an ex-Gopher) I don’t know what they can do, but I definitely think that crowd reaction needs to be organic. maybe someone should give the people running the in-game entertainment a copy of Terry Pratchett’s novel about football. “You can’t write cheers for the Shove” indeed.
(For some reason Lynx games are not nearly as noxious.)
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
I, for one, welcome our new dark overlord...
…I don’t know why but I rather enjoy your hopeless, angry posts S-n-P.
If the Wolves keep losing closes ones like this, please keep it up, I bet you have a Network level tirade in there somewhere that would be awesome…and it’s about all the relief we’re gonna get if that happens.
"Everything that can be said about this team has already been said"
I hope at some point you find the …enthusiasm? to actually do a write up on Kevin Love and his season.
Beasly can't play the 3, defensively
We’ve been at it since day one.
And Wes Johnson.. is either poorly coached or I’m not sure what’s the deal. burned way too often.
Love’s D sucks.
The pieces just don’t match.
Darko+Love+B-easy= bad defense on 3’s
Love+B-easy+Corey= No D on the 5’s, no scoring from the 3
Our two most talented players share the same position, even though they have vastly different skillset… Love and Beasly are 4’s. with complementary players and hard work maybe they can switch to the 5 and 3 respectively… but now they can’t. we’re stuck.
The people who say Beasley's defensive problems are because he's at the 3
remind me of the people last year who said Jonny’s problem was that he was a pnr point guard miscast in the triangle. The observation that they are bad at what they’re currently doing is spot on, but to infer that they are good at something else because they are bad at their current role doesn’t follow at all.
It’s not the position, or the offense, it’s the player in these cases. Beasley is arguably worse defensively at the 4. His lapses and cluelessness have nothing to do with the 3 or the 4 spot and everything to do with him.
As for Jonny, well I beat that horse to death last year about him being a 6’ scoring guard rather than a point guard, and the almost complete lack of success of such players in the NBA, so I’ll let the rest of you continue clubbing that corpse until Kahn tires of the stink it raises.
by rickyp on Jan 8, 2011 9:17 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Size aside
There are plenty of diminutive point guards in the league.
It’s not the lack of height per se but in knowing what your capabilities are in the absence of size. Look at Earl Boykins for the Bucks or Aaron Brooks. They know what they can do and, as importantly, what they can’t do.
Breaking down cognitive dissonance and group think since gasoline was cheap.
Sort of
Beasley’s basic defensive issue is lack of concentration, especially guarding away from the ball.
The problem at 3 is magnified in that most of the 3’s in the NBA are as quick/quicker than Beasley. Beasley can’t recover as fast when he has his “moments”.
But at 4, Beasley is quicker, and superior in athleticism, to nearly every 4 in the NBA. That allows him to recover from his lapses and still be in the play.
So, while the fundamental issue is the same, it’s hidden far more effective at 4 than at 3.
Apathy
I love hoops and was always a Gophers mens’ hoops fan growing up, as well as the Wolves once they got started. Dan Monson managed to drive me to apathy with Gophers hoops. I have probably watched 3-4 Gophers games in the past 7 years now. I’m close, but not there with the Wolves.
I can’t pretend to be actively agitated anymore at Kahn’s incompetence, Rambis not being up to the job, or Jonny Flynn not merely being on the court but having been a top 10 pick. But I haven’t stopped watching altogether. Hoping it doesn’t get to that point.
Darko
I think all can agree that Darko has demonstrated that he can be a beyond servicable NBA center. I saw your posts when he was hot. He can defend the paint, block and alter shots, Grab a few rebounds or create rebounding space for Love and score ten + points a game.
Never likely an All-Star but an upper 1/3rd center.
I think we’ve also seen he is emtionally (if not physically) fragile.
So here’s a good idea… Instead of nuturing him, building his cofidence gradually and letting him compliment the other players let’s run the offense through him!
Watch him get more turnovers than points or rebounds and completely revert to the shattered emotional player he’s been for 7 years.
He is only one of several players whose talents are being misused by this coach.
Throw in out of position Wes, Beas. Misused Flynn and Ridnour, who has been allowed to “take over” way too many games in crunch time. That Dudes job is to make teammates better and get them the ball in crunch time, not take I’ll-advised 3’s and futile drives to the hoop. He plays close games lime he’s the finisher. Did he take the mirrors out of his house?
All of this however falls not on the offense but on the arcitect.
Again, trying to fit a square team in a triangular offense.
I know what it's like to be a fan.
I know what it is to look at potential, and be excited. To look at a player and imagine him playing his best for the whole game. To wonder what could be if things worked out the way they’re supposed to do. It’s one of the benefits of being a fan.
That said, some outside perspective from a Blazers fan: I wish we played against Darko every night.
To be fair, Love is playing amazingly in the scoring and rebounding department. Beasley impressed me considerably by playing well through a surely bruised hip and a turned ankle. Brewer’s attention to Matthews in the second half was superb. The Wolves are certainly better than last year’s incarnation. Now only if you could keep Kahn away from the draft.
"For we let our young men and women go out unarmed, in a day when armor was never so necessary. By teaching them all to read, we have left them at the mercy of the printed word. By the invention of the film and the radio, we have made certain that no aversion to reading shall secure them from the incessant battery of words, words, words. They do not know what the words mean; they do not know how to ward them off or blunt their edge or fling them back; they are a prey to words in their emotions instead of being the masters of them in their intellects." - Dorothy L. Sayers, The Lost Tools of Learning, 1947
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My point exactly
Yes you’re like to play against the Darko you saw last night. You wouldn’t have said that a few weeks ago when he showed he can impact outcomes. His confidence is once again in the tank.
Let him build on his strengths, And not be forced to
play outside of his comfort zone (while taking the ball out of key player’s hands). Late turnovers v Cats when he shouldn’t even get touches make him tentative moving forward.
by Tangerine dream on Jan 8, 2011 11:23 AM CST up reply actions
Ridnour's, um, dominance
in the post-game conversation on my way home from the game, we were wondering if Rambis is using Ridnour as some sort of on-the-court coach. I don’t know, but it reminds me a lot of the whole MLB “scrappy white middle infielder” situation—if yr coach/manager loves these sort of dudes, you get yr entire offensive strategy based around David Eckstein or Nick Punto or somethin’. And of course Ridnour is the only guy the Wolves have who could even be considered “mature veteran presence”—Darko’s a vet, but he’s still pretty young and there’s not much presence you get from riding the bench for 7 seasons.
Darko EVERY NIGHT
Darko has not been able to do the one thing you need to be a solid starter in the NBA, be consistent. He has shown brief flashes but he has to be dependable in order for the coach & players to accept/count on him. He’s a classic hit or miss player, those guys are bench players not starters. Wish him well, he looks confused or overwhelmed out there much of the time.
Darko's been absent ever since his thigh/ankle injuries, but I think he has
more mental issues than physical issues. His body/facial language last night was
not good. He looks like he’s in major depression.
"One good PG away from getting over the hump"
Foul Trouble
He’s been picking up fouls at a ridiculous rate for last couple of weeks and can’t seem to get in the flow of any game. Some players would just suck it up but Darko can’t deal with it.
Well, we sure don't succeed trying to put Koufos on him without doubling, anyway.
Sakes alive, that was painful.
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
Guys like Aldridge are the reason I question Beasley at the 4
He’d be giving up major height, weight, and strength. He could follow him out away from the basket more easily than Love, but I’d think LMA would just post up close to the rim and dominate. At least Love can use his strength and girth to defend the painted area and force more mid-range jump shots.
"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." -- Yogi Berra
by Wile E Coyote on Jan 8, 2011 5:29 PM CST up reply actions
More than anything, I think we need to address team personnel problems.
i.e. major weaknesses @ Point Guard, Shooting Guard (willing to give Wes time), and
at center.
Koufos, for all of his confusion, looks better than both Darko and Pekovic at this point.
Kevin can play center when he’s matched against less than the best and biggest.
I remain positive. I give in to frustration less than most because I look at the history
of young, trying-to-get-it-together teams and I see a pattern of slow growth and
unreasonable expectations.
I see a scenario of continued losing, but I also see the team and coach learning
from every miscue, one patch at a time.
BUT – the most pressing need is quality players at the specified positions.
"One good PG away from getting over the hump"
Problems are
with the lack of playmaking for others at 1,2 & 3 spots. Simple drive and kick plays are an adventure for Wolves playmakers. Both Webster and Johnson look so uncertain handling ball and making plays off dribble. Flynn has lost any confidence in distributing ball, to his defense, he is a scoring guard much like Nate Robinson not a playmaker. Luke is a backup pt guard on good team. Brew, while we love his effort on D and overall hustle, can’t make plays off dribble at all. Wolves need the old Sac offense when the playmakers were C Webb, Vlade & B Miller at the elbows and the scorers/shooters were working off the ball. Kurt’s ability to adapt to talent is not a strong point, so don’t hold your breath.
My bad
the biggest problem on Wolves is total lack of defense being played individually and collectively by group. I heard that Webster was a stopper, he was totally lost on Wes Math last night. Johnson is a ball watcher who gets caught out of position weak side steady. The bigs don’t cover each other very well on P/roll and in attacking penetration from perimeter. Neither pt guard can keep their man in front of them. Transition D is poor due to lack of structure getting back, 1st big sprints to rim , smalls stop ball and everybody matches up to take away early good looks. Add all that up and it dwarfs the O problems team has.
Great point
This team is not poor because the right guys aren’t getting shots but because of defense plain and simple. And that is largely a function of coaching.
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Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Mike D’Antoni breaks silence on New York Knicks exit: ‘An obstacle had to be removed’
- Adam Morrison looks great, everyone
- Create-a-Caption: Tim Duncan puts some stank on it
- LeBron James won’t even give Lance Stephenson half a bar
- Let’s all hate the Oklahoma City Thunder shirts that take a needless shot at the team’s move from Seattle (PHOTO)
