This time without Super Darko

are a really tough match-up for us. The have lots of fouls to give so the swarm Love and make it very difficult for him to rebound and score in the paint. Kevin still needs a tough, long, rebounding and shot-blocking center to play next to.

Wes has been decidedly less terrible the last few games.

it’s amazing to me how quickly you write. Moreover, having written several of the game report cards, I am also fascinated by the fact you find the time with your family obligations and the like to stay on top of the blog like you do. I agree with your underlying premise without question, but I will say that I would be content if the Wolves had a third above average player each game; even it is not a single person performing in a consistent manner. For example, Darko had a great game yesterday, and Wes and Wayne had good games today. Regardless, it would certainly be better to have a third person we could simply rely on.

This was an odd game to bring up the “the Wolves have two great players and a bunch of schlubs.” The supporting cast actually looked very good again tonight (even Wes!) whereas Love played one of the worst games of his career. His shot wasn’t falling, but he kept chucking, and Milsap was scoring on him at will. He wasn’t even his usual self on the boards.

Needs to step up his game and start shooting at least 45 percent every night. He got outplayed, and has to knock down the wideopen looks he gets. I’ll be so happy when Beasley gets back so we stop isoing Love, because he is just not good at creating his own shot. With Beas back, I expect Love to be much more efficient, but until then, he needs to shoot a little less, or make sure he shoots better than 5-21. If Rubio can be 5-12 and not be benifitting from his own passes, Love should easily do so, or change what he’s doing.

At least we are a little closer to a first round pick. How did kanter look btw? Just curious, really liked him going into the draft

What else can you say? I know I’ve been a constant supporter of Super-Cool… but, uh… (?) how much would another scorer help right now?

Are all true. He can’t lead a team, and he can’t create his own shot. I mean, terrific win by all accounts yesterday, but Love is who he is. He is a grinder, a scaveranger… but he is not a guy who is going to take over a game when it matters (at least not without help).

He stills deserves a max deal, but at this point, all that is said is true…

If we are going to lose to anyone, it is a good idea to lose to the Jazz.

So that’s good.

I didn’t get to see the game (stupid work) but looking at the box score I can be happy with Darko’s performance if he played good D. I don’t see any reason to hate on him off of that game. The Jazz frontline goes hard at the boards too which makes it difficult for him.

0 TURNOVERS?

Could this be effecting Kevin Love’s game? How is it not done?

I have a number of brief comments that may or may not be true/relevant:

1. Wayne Ellington is not missing shots. That’s where he’s helpful, and that is what’s scary about this…he won’t sustain. He just has extreme confidence right now.

2. That said, both Ellington and Wes are learning to take advantage of the defense. You especially see this with Wes. Offensively, I cringed less tonight wrt Wes than I have in any game this year.

3. If the Wolves were going to lose one game this weekend, I am super-fired up-happy it was to the Jazz. A good draft with Adelman evaluating the talent is not one the Wolves should miss out on.

4. That Jazz team is interesting. It’s hard to believe that they will finish bottom 14 this year AND bottom 12 next year. But I want this year’s pick. It is likely a better pick this year in a better draft.

5. Rubio. He is so good, I just don’t know what to say. I went from hoping he could be effective to now wanting every casual fan to understand that he might already be the best player Minnesota has ever had. And he’s going to get better.

6. Back to Wes. If I watched him play for the first time last night against Utah, I still wouldn’t want him to be playing (assuming average alternatives), but it would be somewhat arguable. Hail Adelman and staff, because they’re teaching an old dog new tricks, and the old dog appears to have some confidence.

7. Still Wes. He’s been sucking defensively.

8. At the risk of sounding absurd, do you know whom the Wolves need on this team? Dean Garrett. I never thought I’d say that. Mind you, I don’t know how good he really was (except, not very) or whether he hurt the team in “advanced” ways, but I do know that he was a journeyman backup who really wasn’t good at all until the combo of Garnett and Marbury made him into a very good “basic stats” NBA player. He took advantage of every help defense on Marbury. He took advantage of every double-team and double-blockout of Garnett. He was somewhat athletic. I miss him now and think we need another. Some guy who takes advantage of other teams’ perceptions of his own limited abilities. I don’t know if that type of guy is identifiable or whether you just luck into that, but we don’t have it right now.

I think it cost me $169, and I think I’ve been able to see four (extra) games because of it. I am so giddy anticipating the start of Wolves games that I pee a little. Yesterday, I played poker all day, maybe eight hours at Canterbury, and I was frustrated by how little I’d won over so much time. But when I actually counted it, it came to a profit of exactly $169. I suddenly felt that my Saturday was well worth it—because it paid for my League Pass. Forgetting about taxes for the moment, I have the LP for free this year!

I was happy that there wasn’t a real letdown last night; I thought they efforted, they were there in the 4th quarter, but they just couldn’t make the final push. That’s how a lot of NBA games go. Love obviously did not have a good game; I’m not really worried about it.

From a trends perspective, the success the Wolves were having before this road trip came from getting to the line more often than their opponents (something unheard of in these parts) and taking more 3s than their opponents. Their lack of success was due to their negative TO differential, and the fact that they have not been a really good shooting team so far.

In some ways, this road trip showed those things off, in other ways it didn’t. They were outshot from 3 by the Clips, but got to the line and won the TOs. In Utah, they took more 3s, but didn’t get to the line, and again won the TOs. In fact, they are getting closer to even on turnovers, which is nice to see.

Two games don’t tell us much. The fact that they are getting more FTs and 3PAs on the season suggests a MUCH better understanding of what wins in the NBA than we have seen in recent years (or maybe ever). I’m happy to give credit to Adelman for understanding that and getting the team playing in ways that work. If those things continue, and the TO improvement is real, those are great signs. I agree with SnP that they still need another above average performer to be an actual good team, but at least they are playing like a real NBA team.

So much so that I have changed my sig line.

Tough to win back-to-back road games. Especially with a reduced roster. Because of the draft thing, this was one to lose.

What’s the deal with Randolph? Is he hurt, or just not being used?

Can’t remember seeing a stat line like that for Love. Kinda ugly for anyone, but especially by his standards.

Nice to see that Wes hit some shots, though I’ve seen comments that he was bad defensively. Hopefully he can put it all together one of these days and have good game at both ends of the floor.

Looks like D-Will had a nice game and is starting to figure some things out.

I wonder how much the shortened preseasoned camp and condensed schedule is slowing down the development of some of the really young guys. A longer preseason and more practice time would have provided more opporunity for guys to learn Adelman’s system, and a more gradual NBA entry for rookies.

But, nothing to be done about that now. From my glance at the schedule, I see 5 back-to-backs but only 1 instance of multiple days off between games until the All-Star break.

I would like to say that I don’t really care if the additional above average play comes from the same player every game, or a different one each game. What I care more about is that the baseline performance of our players improves so that, even as their performance wave may oscillate, it does so with a smaller amplitude and higher midpoint. It’s not necessarily the lack of a third above average player that has hurt us, but rather the presence of several horribly performing players. Indeed, if Wes and/or Darko simply had average games in every contest this year, I’m convinced our record would be better. For example, Luke playing his best + Kevin playing as expected + Ricky playing as expected + Wes playing at an average level + Darko playing at an average level + the bench playing at an average level would be enough for us to beat most teams on most nights. Unfortunately, in many games we have had Luke playing at average or below average levels + Kevin playing as expected + Ricky playing as expected + Wes being terrible + Darko being terrible + the bench minus Rubio being terrible. That’s just not going to get it done. What is actually crazy about the last two games is we’ve had Ricky playing about as well as expected + Kevin playing far worse than expected + Ridnour playing poorly + Darko playing at an above average level + Wes playing at an average to above average level + the bench playing at an average to above average level. Amazingly, even with this we split a 2 game road trip playing 2 good teams.

Keeping two things in perspective. First, it is year three of a build. I know that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t want it sooner but the jump from last year would make Scott Bakula envious. The train has finally left the station.
Mostly though because as I’ve stated, I’d like to see what we already have. I don’t think any conclusions can be drawn regarding players over the last two seasons spare the fact they they all seemed confused and or frustrated.
Wayne has never played for an NBA coach until this season. He looks rather…different lately. We’ve seen players produce better before and after Rambust so I’m for using the horses in our own stable. Someone may emerge .
As long as the team is fun, and competitive, and the current players are improving which they have been, let’s see what happens. By midseason some fair assessments can be made regarding true needs. But for now I’m very happy watching the process and watching Adelman coach them up.

Ellington would not be looking good if all those tough shots weren’t going down. At least I am not noticing a lot else he’s doing. I could be wrong.