REPORT CARD – Wolves @ Jazz
by mutleyil on Jan 22, 2012 2:56 AM CST
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PrintMy Criteria – Grades are based on performance relative to my expectations. A bad game by KLove is way better than anything Rashad McCants ever did (and I wrote that sentence before the game even started, sadly), but I’m grading them against what I feel is their normal impact on a game. Aside from that…no curve, no tolerance for being overly serious, and no mercy.
Also, I’m a fan of advanced stats, but I’m not really going to get into them for the purpose of this Report Card. It’s just not worth it in a one game sample. I’m going to treat this like a tenured public school teacher. I know the numbers are available and valuable, but I can’t be bothered to look them up, so I’m just gonna grade from the hip and run out the clock until my retirement.
Got some of his shot mojo back tonight. This game could have been a major wrong turn down Confidence Alley, but the Unicorn nailed it. Came out firing when necessary, the shot came around, and got to the line when needed. Still impacting the game in huge ways with steals, defense, and assists. He only gets the minus from looking a little tired in the 2nd half after logging heavy minutes on the tail end of a back 2 back, and not actually shooting a rainbow out of his arse.
Luke Ridnour: Turd Sandwich with semi-redeeming 2nd half
Needs to stop pretending he’s Ricky when he’s our primary ballhandler. Dribbles himself in circles with his head down, then doesn’t understand why no one is open when he looks up. A few more pull up long 2’s with 21 on the shot clock is not with the Force Luke! Terrible D tonight… got absolutely owned by Earl Watson…which may make trading him difficult without Earl’s permission. In his defense, hit a few big 3’s that kept us in the game in the 2nd half. I actually like Luke, but he had a bad night.
Wes Johnson: 1st half = A+ / Did he play in the 2nd half?
Great start for Wes. Took it hard to the cup for an And 1. Hit an open 3. Was hitting the glass hard, and getting into passing lanes to create a few steals. Then "Evil Wes" (who is good) was kidnapped by "Actual Wes" at HT. Actual Wes took his Evil Good doppelganger back to the Bizarro universe where he belongs, and he was not heard from again. Funny stat: even with just one good half, it was Wes’ best game of the year.
PS - Can anyone Photoshop a crappy, fake goatee on a Wes picture to support this ridiculousness?
Kevin Love: D
Yes, even the best are allowed to have bad games. I get the pleasure of grading one of my favorite players on his worst night of the season. And bad he was. Not to make excuses, but he looked tired. He got owned by Paul Millsap tonight. Didn’t close on him at all. Got outworked on the glass (I’m pretty sure it’s the first time that’s been said). His shot wasn’t going…he knew it...we knew it. But instead of finding other ways to help, he just kept shooting. He made me think of Lou Brown from Major League tonight. "You might rebound like Rodman, but you shoot like shit!" He’ll be fine, but this is the grade he deserves tonight.
Darko: Incomplete
Got off to a great start, then had to leave. Sore Hip, which I assume is Serbian for "cigarette-related emphysema." Came back in the 2nd half briefly, but sat for most of it. Looked up for it again tonight, but we all know not to get carried with this.
DWill: 1st half = A / 2nd half = C
Great start and looked active. Kinda disappeared in the 2nd half. Still looks like he’s having a seizure when he dribbles drives. Involuntary leg spasms when he takes a jump shot. HUGE throwdown on a Rubi-oop that got waved off. Potentially another Shawn Kemp, only hopefully with condoms.
PEK: C+
Picked up a foul in pretty much his first second on the court. Looked a bit timid early, but still provided the presence we needed with Darko out in the 1st half. Got a few nice, low post scores when we needed them. Still doesn’t get the 3 second rule. Also, really good as Zod’s lackey in Superman 2.
WAYNE: B+
Continuing his good run. Understands his role. Did what he was asked. Working his ass off on D. Very nice development for us this year. Gets an immediate + on his grade for pics of his girlfriend.
Why limit this to just our players? Let’s have a look at a few other things from tonight’s game.
Al Jefferson: B
Looked like the Al we always knew. Good, not great. Low post razzle dazzle on O…didn’t try very hard on D. I’m mainly mentioning him here because I think he’s proof that a human being once had sex with a water buffalo. Patrick Ewing is clearly an uncle…Enes Kanter may be a distant cousin.
Utah announcers: D
Typical annoying, homeristic crap gets a C. The NOLA guys are an F-triple-minus on double secret probation. These goofballs get a D because at least they don’t bitch about every call that didn’t go their way. That is the nicest thing I can say…not particularly entertaining or insightful on the game.
By the way Utah Vox, stop calling you’re analyst "Booner." You’re reminding me of Growing Pains, which is not a good thing (RIP – Boner Stabone). Might I suggest "Boon-anner." Or if you want to go all Ted Nugent on us, "Wang Dang Sweet Boon-tang."
Overall Team Grade: B
Even though it was a loss, I felt we played a bit better than we did against the Clippers. Second half was a bit ragged and a letdown, but that’s to be expected in this ultra-condensed season (but really, David Stern cares about his meaningless assets players). The Jazz are a good team. We’re now respectable, on our way to good, and a stud wing away from great. I think this is going to be a really nice rivalry in the next few years. Love had his worst game of the season. We were on the road. On the end of a back to back. A 1-1 record on a road trip against the Clips and Jazz is more than acceptable. We move on to Houston on Monday. We sincerely need to kick McHale and Flynn in the nuts.
Game in general- B+
Well played game. Very evenly matched. Good effort by both teams for most of the game. This was a good measuring stick game for us. We lost, but we were competitive and just ran out of gas at the end. That happens, even to good teams. And it’s always fun to hear "Mormon Outrage" at every call that doesn’t go the way of the home team. I bet those refs have never heard so many angry "Gosh Darnits" in their lives…
Let’s hear the thoughts of CH on the game below. Hope none of you are dumber for reading this, but I do hope some of you accidentally pee’d yourself a little at some point from my lame attempts at humor.
Go Wolves!!! Vamos Lobos!!! Our future is incredibly bright!!!
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Mutley, I was excited to see what you would bring to these and you did not disappoint.. (recced)
I laughed numerous times and the player analysis was spot on. Thanks for doing this and I hope to see more from you.
This is the updated reported card list.. please let me know if any of you are up for doing a game report card..
1/23 houston- already taken by slowbreak
1/25 dallas
1/27 San Antonio
1/29 LAL – already taken by triple B
1/30 Houston – already taken by MIchael Boosalis II
2/1 Indiana -
2/3 NJ – Michael Boosalis
2/4 Houston (wow.. they are playing these guys 3 times in the next 8 games)
2/7 Sacramento
2/8 Memphis
Go on then, I'll give it a go.
4th Feb vs the Rockets?
I’ll try not to offend anyone with my tiny grasp on basketball. (And sanity)
Live And Stupid From England
I was very excited to recieve the "Evil Wes, Actual Wes" present
We can use that one! I think Love’s eight rebounds said more about his energy than any other indicator. I don’t want to start one of these endless “go to guy” arguments, but I do want to mention a slightly different perspective. This team doesn’t have anyone who can’t be shut down if the opposition devotes an even fair amount of defensive attention to him. I’m sure that’s why Luke has gotten so few open looks the last couple of games. In fact our most unstoppable offensive weapon is a guy who doesn’t even look to score. I think that’s both why the final scores have been so respectable (even while losing) and the individual performances have been so erratic. I suppose anyone who regularly reads box scores could make this argument for most teams and most games. It seems like every time I look up a non-Wolf he’s either just had a monster game or a stinker. SNP’s most recent reiteration about the importance of trends and longer term analyses is cogent here. But I wanted to emphasize how Ricky and RA will improve eventual outcomes. The other Wolves just have to learn how to get open and then make shots as Wayne Ellington has done the last few games. Adelman will make the adjustments to put the hot hands in the right places. It has to be more than one, or two, or even three players. In fact I think you could argue that it might be detrimental to have one go to guy, or even two above average scorers. Maybe this is just all too obvious and elementary but I brought it up because Corbin seemed to have the Jazz performing well and yet it was the Wolves who had seven guys in double figures. In this all of a sudden, let’s play season, the Wolves with a new coaching staff and some very key new players may have begun this staggered race on the steepest uphill grade of the course. They could gain momentum and pass or they could crash and burn. I’m a little worried about my 21 win projection. I hadn’t intended to go on so long here but it’s the middle of the night and there is not much going on around these parts. The contractions of the deep winter cold cause an occasional crack over the murmur of the low fire and not a Wolf is howling.
"pokin' the animals at the Canis Hoopus zoo"
Nice write up
Liked the DWill as Kemp part the most.
Is Love now a high-volume scorer?
I know it’s one game. I expect it will be better. But if Beasley had endured such a poor shooting night, posters here would have pummeled him mercilessly. That’s the trouble with stats. Ignore them when you want to. It’s just an aberration for one, but a life sentence for another. Love has assumed the mantle of primary scorer. It is affecting his attitude and his shooting. He is pressing. His energy level is not as consistently high as last year (probably due to extremely high usage in a condensed season). We have to have him on the floor, and he is paying a price for that. He can have great moments, like the buzzer beater, and not so great moments, like last night (or his first TWolf game). I think we hope and feel he will be back at the 20 pt/12-15 rb nights at the next game.
Rubio (& Love) are important and effective because they do more than just score. But they need help. They need a consistent 15+ pt per night scorer. It can’t be different people on each night. We are in games where we are not playing all that well because everyone is buying into Adelman’s approach and because we have added two/three new quality players (Rubio, certainly, plus Williams and Barea occasionally).
Both Utah’s color man and Trent Tucker on KFAN yesterday noted how important it is that Rubio does not pick up his dribble, continuing the play until some new opportunity occurs. That is a big plus to his play that many other NBA guards fail to make. It is Rubio keeping everyone involved. He never gives up on a play, offensively or defensively. He is making steals and rebounds. His overall effect on the team may be hard to measure, stat-wise, but easy to see with the “eye test”. You could run team stats pre- and post- Rubio and say there’s improvement. I feel a lot of the correlation is the Rubio effect, but it is still just my opinion.
I loved your article and tend to agree with many points but I would be remiss if I didn’t reference your totally gratuitous slam on tenured public school teachers (of which I am one). I am spending this entire weekend correcting semester finals for my high school math students and posting their grades.
I teach everything from low level algebra to college credit calculus, so statistics is part of the package. I do not teach a statistics class, per se, since my school is much too small to offer one. I try to get my students to have a basic understanding of statistics, how they are compiled and what they mean (and what they do not mean). My whole goal is for my students to have a true feel for the numbers and relationships between those numbers and how they describe reality, though most of that does not involve statistics, but rather the rules governing algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus.
I love CH for it’s clever, educated posters. It is civil and enlightening. I love the advanced stats folks who use numbers to give them a better feel for the game. Still, I will always be wary when stats alone become the predominant descriptor. To make it analogous to my stiuation, my students are people first, numbers (or test scores only) second. I care about all of them, despite a vast discrepancy in their abilities, home lives, personalities, etc.
wow.. this is quite the post.. nicely said
I completely concur with you on the “Rubio Effect” which I have been vociferously talking about on this forum for weeks now. He is an amazing player for so many reasons, not the least of which is they way he makes his teammates better on the offensive AND defensive ends of the court. As for Love I think his recent “shooting slump” is a manifestation of high usage, his getting beat up on both ends of the court and perhaps a little bit of overconfidence. He is often settling for 16-23 foot jumpers that I would prefer he refrain from taking. With that said he didn’t have very much choice the last two games as he likely felt he had to shoulder most of the scoring load. I still hold out hope that Beasley will be a fringe Allstar player once Adelman has had enough time to mold him. In addition, I remain steadfast in my belief that, unless we are blown away by a trade offer, we allow Adelman enough time with his current personnel to see what he has and what he can do with them before we make a trade. Forget the small sample size theater stuff when it comes to numbers, but do pay attention to some of the trends that appear to be emerging such as Wes increasingly going to the basket, Wayne playing a more controlled game on both ends of the floor, Pekovic playing very good post offense, etc. Indeed, the last several games before Beasley injured himself, although he didn’t play well, his decision making was vastly improved on both ends of the court. With that said I’m not going to buy any stock on any of these guys, including Darko, until I’ve seen a lot more consistency from them. Lastly, 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 – 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.
Did your guys' fingers cramp up writing this?
because i just developed brainal carpal tunnel just trying to read one or two sentences
by Dr_Defecate on Jan 22, 2012 11:19 AM CST up reply actions
Long can be great...
but
paragraph breaks
are essential.
by vjl110 on Jan 22, 2012 12:26 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
What you don't have a computer screen in the john?
I was thrilled to find these two back to back, it made me feel better about my ramble above. I’ve been trying to hold off ‘til the middle of the night to respond to Mplax’s Good Touch, Bad Touch. I’ve got a short book’s worth of reactions to that one. Besides this site is practically dead compared to recent days. I suppose things will pick up tomorrow when everyone is back at work
"pokin' the animals at the Canis Hoopus zoo"
by pastyearsears on Jan 22, 2012 6:39 PM CST up reply actions
A great team
tends to have three consistently above average performers.
Duncan, Parker, Manu
Magic, Worthy, Kareem
Bird, McHale, Parish
Jordan, Pippen, Grant (then Rodman)
Dirk, Kidd, Chandler
Kobe, Gasol, Odom
I think we have two out of three, which is absolutely huge if you think about it. In any given game, you almost always have one of your so-called average players also play well. That’s called variance and it’s bound to happen. We absolutely need a third big wheel added to this squad or developed from within. Average guys taking turns playing well won’t do it because that’s going to happen via statistical variance anyway.
by Rascal Flatts on Jan 22, 2012 11:46 AM CST up reply actions
Ok.. it's a fair point, but I think Ricky + Kevin + average Luke, Darko and Wes would be above .500 by now..
to me it’s the horrible play of several players that has been killing us much more than the lack of a third above average player.
Agreed
I think the talent currently on this squad could probably grow to be a .500-ish team. That is a HUGE leap from where we’ve been the past couple of years, so I don’t want to minimize it. I am giddy that we are a legitimately competitive team in the NBA. But to take the next step forward…..
by Rascal Flatts on Jan 22, 2012 11:53 AM CST up reply actions
Yeah
This year’s Sixers squad reminds me of them. Great defense and everyone in the rotation giving you good production.
by Rascal Flatts on Jan 22, 2012 11:58 AM CST up reply actions
To me they are like the offensive version of the Sixers/old Pistons
When Nene is one of your least efficient players, that’s a good sign.
by Rascal Flatts on Jan 22, 2012 12:08 PM CST up reply actions
They are the exception to having superstars
But the exemplar of having consistently above-average players. They had a well above average player at every position, just no true “superstar.”
We definitely need one or two more reliably above average guys to go anywhere. Here’s to hoping Dwill can be, or buy, one of them.
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."
by Xand1 on Jan 23, 2012 7:48 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Just a couple of quick points
(because I don’t have time to go through your comment chapter-by-chapter):
1. “But if Beasley had endured such a poor shooting night, posters here would have pummeled him mercilessly.” mutleyil’s assessment of Love is almost entirely negative. The comments about Love’s performance tonight have been almost universally negative. Short of impugning Love’s mother, I don’t know how the “posters here [could] have pummeled him [more] mercilessly.”
2. “I loved your article and tend to agree with many points but I would be remiss if I didn’t reference your totally gratuitous slam on tenured public school teachers (of which I am one). I am spending this entire weekend correcting semester finals for my high school math students and posting their grades.” Teachers have had it rough in recent years, and increasingly so, but the source of that trouble isn’t throwaway laugh-lines on basketball blogs. There is a real problem, but tut-tutting mutleyil for this comment is really just lamenting a symptom. I’m a teacher in a(n evil) public-sector union, and while I’m not yet tenured, I sure as hell am trying to get there. I’m spending this entire weekend marking assessment essays for my college freshmen and developmental writing students.
That last part must have struck you hard, because the rest of your comment is largely in agreement with mutleyil and the general surrounding discussion, even if you’ve framed it otherwise.
"Of what use is a philosopher who does not hurt anybody's feelings?" -Diogenes of Sinope
by Cynical Jason on Jan 22, 2012 11:37 AM CST up reply actions
Next up on Love's growth curve is...
Learning that stuffing stat sheets doesn’t necessarily equate to wins (stats geeks can take their WP or whatever it is and shove it). After the Clips win he was apologizing for not playing great. Yet in the end, he did what he had to do for the W.
My point is some games when need him to facilitate, others to save himself for the fourth for late game offense, others gobble up boards and shoots less. In short, learn to read the game, forget about stats and give the team what it needs.
One a different note, I have noticed his shot form looks off compared to the quick-release mechanical perfection that he opened the season with.
Tenure is misunderstood
I am happy to be tenured because teachers can be accused of completely unfounded things by students, even students you who aren’t yours. I almost was, once, by a someone I did not have as a student, who I merely passed in the hall and told she should get to class. Some folks are very inclined to sue, even if you are doing your job correctly. I hope you gain tenure.
On the second point, I usually don’t disagree with the posters, really. Virtually all of them, including mutleyil’s, are well written and thought out. I simply rail against what appears to me to be overeager extrapolation of small sample sizes. I want to avoid over projection, as it can lessen the entertainment experience.
I have been teaching for 35 years. Virtually all of it in a small farming town where it takes 3 communities to have enough students for one small school. I have always taught all of the upper level courses. The subjects I teach now are more advanced and are taught at a younger age than when I first began. We offer college credit in many subjects now. Students are taking more courses than ever. But, there is no question our students are coming from more unstable home environments than before. I still have students who must do chores before school, and others who leave early to go to jobs everyday, but there is a deterioration of the family unit that is unmistakable. Teaching seems harder, but I am proud of what I do and what my school attempts to do for its kids.
I can’t speak for urban or suburban schools or for education in other states. They have some major problems. Still, I do have a high regard for the professionalism of my fellow Minnesota teachers.
BTW, our boys basketball team is currently an unbeaten 13-0 and ranked #1 in our class. Our only loss last season was in the state tournament’s title game (where we shot an uncharacteristic 2 for 27 from beyond the 3 pt line). The loss was a painful experience for the folks from these towns. I have many of the players from the current team in class, and they are a good bunch.
by ogishkemuncie on Jan 22, 2012 3:09 PM CST up reply actions
Thirty-five years in the trenches
is a hell of an accomplishment. And I second the “unstable home environments” sentiment. I have taught primarily at community colleges, and the number of complicated lives among my students seems to increase every year. I’m a little nervous about the difficulties some of these military personnel returning from war zones will face in addition to the usual work, kids, home, transportation, etc.
"Of what use is a philosopher who does not hurt anybody's feelings?" -Diogenes of Sinope
by Cynical Jason on Jan 22, 2012 3:40 PM CST up reply actions
Kudos and thanks to both of you for what you do.
Great teachers are the one thing that saves education from its institutional short comings. Creativity in teaching is being mercilessly beaten into the ground. It is almost impossible to teach anything to anyone if they are not motivated to learn. It’s like trying to beat goodness into someone (Thank you, Little Big Man.) In an ideal world teachers wouldn’t be teachers at all, they’d be some sort of resource personnel. I’ve been arguing for prenatal education (tongue-in-cheek) for years, I guess parenting education is a better term but it carries negative connotations. Many ECFE and Headstart instructors will tell you that by the time they get kids, patterns that are hard to change are already set in place. Nearly all parents want to do well but just don’t have the skills, and our society assumes that anyone can do it. By the time many kids get to first grade their motivation and enthusiasm to learn has already been squelched and you guys are expected to turn them all into engineers and IT specialists.
I think that if prenatal and birthing costs were paid by the state for parents who complete “issues in parenting” courses there would be an overwhelming savings down the road.
I am pretty good at arithmetic but beyond that forget it. My question to you ogishkemuncie is, Most everyone knows how important reading to small children is, but is there an equivalent for mathematics? How do you get young children to love or at least not fear mathematical concepts? The Sesame Street thing is cute but it doesn’t seem to be having much effect.
"pokin' the animals at the Canis Hoopus zoo"
by pastyearsears on Jan 22, 2012 7:33 PM CST up reply actions
Just from having young children with varying degrees of mathematical aptitude
I have a major in Mathematics so it’s my thing but once kids start counting, arithmetic and pre-algebra concepts are extremely easy to start playing games with. “You have 8 pieces of cereal, and 5 are are marshmellows, how many boring ones are you going to give to your baby brother?” A farmer has 3 cows, how many animal legs are there? etc.
Once my kids got the basics I like adding in simple logical steps like figuring out 1-1 correspondences or correspondence +/- 1 such as there are 3 poles between the power plant and a house, how many segments of wire are there?
I never give straight x + y questions, they’re all word games as the kids actually like them. I find that if you’re paying with cash for something it’s nice to let the kids figure out how to pay and how much change we’re owed. Honestly, I expect it’s just like reading, practice is what’s important. If you’re thinking about something you saw and it’s even slightly related to numbers make a game out of it.
Just a slight rant since I know there are some teachers here… why do we ever teach side by side arithmetic i.e.
XYZ
+__QRT
is infinitely better than XYZ + QRT as a problem since it allows you to teach the ones/tens/hundreds concepts and the kids can see them.
To digress (and rant) a bit more, my kids have watched a fair number of those shows like Sesame Street, Dora, Teem Umizumi etc. and all of them at some point digress into patterns but they are always ABC or ABA style patterns… 3 year olds get bored with those patterns, my 6 and 4 year old “figured out” (help was involved) the Fibbonachi sequence when I showed it to them last week. It took them awhile and the hardest part was getting them to think and not guess, which IMO is the real struggle when doing any mental lifting.
You're kids are going to lose a fortune in lunch money
But at least they’ll be able to calculate the losses (plus interest).
Just kidding. Good stuff and it’s great that you are so interactive in their learning.
Wolves 2011-12: Crossing the Rubikahn....alea iacta est...... " et tu Ricky?"
by Tangerine dream on Jan 23, 2012 9:08 AM CST up reply actions
Being a geek never bothered me
it was being short that really sucks as a kid who loves sports. The difference between being 5’2" as a freshman and 5’8" as a sophomore and 5’10" as a junior was amazing, if for no other reason than I was relevant in intramural basketball (plus girls don’t want to date guys shorter than them). I’m trying to figure out how to teach confidence…
it's all about the heart
I cringe when I hear coaches say kids are too short. There is no such animal. Ask Muggsy!
As for confidence with our sizes and shapes I have but this to offer.
Psalms 139: 13-16 “for I am fearfully and wonderfully made”. God doesn’t make any mistakes!
Wolves 2011-12: Crossing the Rubikahn....alea iacta est...... " et tu Ricky?"
by Tangerine dream on Jan 23, 2012 9:45 AM CST up reply actions
"God doesn’t make any mistakes!"
Hitler.
"Love is who he is. He is a grinder, a scaveranger . . ." --TO12
by Cynical Jason on Jan 23, 2012 1:04 PM CST up reply actions
you are funny.
In regards to how we are constructed. Keep it in context Rodney. There is another power in the universe responsible for evil.
I know you’re just joking but the Bible tells us God has a perfect plan for each of our lives. Whether we seek that plan is another issue. And our own free will.
But back to kids….they have so much insecurity regarding physical features and looks. This is how we were intended. Each perfect in our imperfection.
Wolves 2011-12: Crossing the Rubikahn....alea iacta est...... " et tu Ricky?"
by Tangerine dream on Jan 23, 2012 2:11 PM CST up reply actions
I won't draw out the joke
just to keep being a smartass, but suffice it to say that while I agree that there’s a host of reasons for children (and adults) to be more comfortable and secure with themselves, none of those reasons require supernatural sources.
"Love is who he is. He is a grinder, a scaveranger . . ." --TO12
by Cynical Jason on Jan 23, 2012 4:05 PM CST up reply actions
"I find that if you’re paying with cash for something it’s nice to let the kids figure out how to pay and how much change we’re owed."
I’ve worked a lot of retail jobs, and I have to tell you that one of the worst things working at a cash register is seeing a little kid with items to buy in one hand and a fistful of money in the other with the parent urging them forward.
You’ll start with no line at all, and by the time the kid’s done being prodded through a five-minute process the parent could have accomplished in thirty seconds, you have grumpy people lined up halfway out the door.
When I see that coming my general reaction is, “F*** me.”
But that’s not what you said you were doing with your kids, so I can keep you out of that list.
"Love is who he is. He is a grinder, a scaveranger . . ." --TO12
by Cynical Jason on Jan 23, 2012 1:04 PM CST up reply actions
Where did you work?
I might have to pay you a visit? =)
Yes common courtesy says you don’t do this with a line behind you. Part of that is also that some kids are naturally outgoing and need to be taught caution while others need to be taught how to approach and talk to a stranger.
Um . . .
I work at the Kwik-E-Mart. My name is Apu.
"Love is who he is. He is a grinder, a scaveranger . . ." --TO12
by Cynical Jason on Jan 23, 2012 4:06 PM CST up reply actions
sesame street is an interesting case
apparently was started in the 70’s using research based on attention span and learning in kids.
the idea, apparently, was to create a research-based education show with diversity and an urban setting to help close the achievement gap
then (and i am paraphrasing based on a fragment of conversation with a friend of a person who was in on the start of the show), only middle/upper class white kids watched it
My mind makes strange connections
but I found the season1 episode of weeds with Nancy in the Hooptie playing the NPR theme song hilarious.
struck me hard too
while it may be just a symptom, it is insulting and perpetuates a stereotype
while unions and union leaders are certainly not perfect and can be corrupt, the alternative (no rights for workers) is not so great
in principal, tenure is only a guarantee of due process
again, this can be abused, but consider the alternative:
being fired for disagreeing with admin, for teaching evolution in certain communities, for refusing to change grades to appease an administrator or powerful parent
these are extreme examples, but i would argue that the “countdown to retirement” examples are extreme too
i am pretty sure that mutley didnt mean to insult, and i don’t have a coherent point, but the way teachers are being bashed in the media (at least here in nyc) for “failing” schools without mention of factors like poverty and attendance that contribute significantly to failing makes me kind of sensitive to such points
oh- and love didnt play well
hah
i used principal when i meant to use principle in a discussion related to principals and principles
F- for you!
"Love is who he is. He is a grinder, a scaveranger . . ." --TO12
by Cynical Jason on Jan 23, 2012 4:06 PM CST up reply actions
You're right...my bad...poorly worded.
I have nothing but respect for public school teachers, who sacrifice a lot for little in return, only to be demonized at every opportunity. My wife and I both come from a long family line of teachers.
My snark was meant to be directed at Teacher’s Union leaders, who (in most cases) have shown little attempts at reasonableness to make badly needed reforms to a poorly designed system of incentives.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
Not the same family, BTW...
We’re not from Mississippi or anything.
Oh great, now I’ve pissed off people from Mississippi too…
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
He's had a stretch of bad games
But look at Beas’s career trajectory vs. Love’s. There’s a reason not everyone is doom and gloom here…He’s just in a slump.
90% of the crap I say on here is sarcastic
by CoffeeJanitor on Jan 22, 2012 3:25 PM CST up reply actions
I agree about not picking up his dribble
but the most impressive thing about Ricky to me has been the way he changes speeds. He seems to exert just enough energy to create the passing angle he wants and save most of it for defense. Then every so often he’ll just put on a burst of speed on offense and I’ll go where the hell did that come from? People knocked him before the season for being slow but based on the way he’s stayed with every guard he’s been put against that’s simply not true, he may not have all-NBA quickness but he has more than enough when paired with his brains and long arms.
21 shots for Love? On a night when he couldn't shoot?
Looking at the box score: everyone shot it well but him. Like you all said, I really hope Love gets it out of his head that he is a volume scorer and sticks to being the worlds greatest garbage and pick n pop man, with a few nice post up moves mixed in.
But who else is going to use those possessions?
Darko? Wes? Rubio? All these guys become hugely inefficient when asked to create offense. Love is the least bad option and at least gets himself to the foul line a bunch. It’s ugly, but effective on most nights.
I think Williams is a guy we need to really hope “gets it” at some point. He seems capable of scoring in a variety of ways.
by Rascal Flatts on Jan 22, 2012 11:41 AM CST up reply actions
I think the VERY best thing that could happen to this team is if Beasley "gets it"..
that would make this team a true contender for the next several years
I have a difference of opinion from most on Beasley
I think he does get it, but he’s just not that good. His first step is not that quick. His outside shot is average. His post up game consists of mid-range fadeaways. And he doesn’t have a knack for drawing contact. Clean living and Adelman can probably maximize his gifts, but I don’t believe his ceiling is really that high. Glenn Robinson may be?
by Rascal Flatts on Jan 22, 2012 11:50 AM CST up reply actions
I wrote in my last report card that I was worried about this very issue..
I can see exactly where you are coming from in that he may just not be as talented as we all thought he was. I’m hoping that’s not true, but you have elucidated a major point of contention with Beasley nowadays that I never thought would arise.
I, too, get the feeling that this may be his ceiling,,,
For comparisons, I was thinking more along the lines of Armon Gilliam or better version of Donyell Marshall. They are/were guys with solid NBA careers that never quite reached the promise of their college years.
"Life has become immeasurably better since I have been forced to stop taking it seriously."
— Hunter S. Thompson
His best position
is PF, which he cannot play because Love is the best player on the team.
Do I ever agree with this
Beast at 4 is just unfair. But as you said, so is Kevin.
Wolves 2011-12: Crossing the Rubikahn....alea iacta est...... " et tu Ricky?"
by Tangerine dream on Jan 23, 2012 10:05 PM CST up reply actions
ummm...
anybody else? Pek has been owning people down low, and he still had 3 fouls to give. Wayne has been hotter than a witches tit in a brass bra as of late; Williams has shown flashes but we rarely let him post up…he usually is shooting off a pass or trying to take someone off the dribble. When the big dog won’t hunt then try something else! What’s the worst thing that will happen – we lose? I’ve seen a few of those before.
While I’m on the subject, it really kills the offensive flow when Love does his 45 pump fakes and hangs on to the ball. He ends up getting stuck and someone has to come back because the defender then presses up and he can’t find anyone to pass to – even if they were open. Then he bitches because somebody touched his arm. Drives me NUTS! AND!!!!, the complaining has to be tempered. Seriously. It’s not meant to be part of the game, and it’s really off-putting. I wish he (Love) would view it as Karmic balance from all the ticky-tack shit he gets away with when fighting for rebounding position.
I’ve been holding that in for a while. Thanks for letting me get that out of my system.
Reason is the first victim of strong emotion.
I said it in another thread
But if Love hit one or two more 3’s or we probably wouldn’t be having this discussion. He is our best player, and our most efficent scorer. There have been a ton of nights where he was completely cold for 2 or 3 quarters and then completely dominated the rest of the game. I for one do not want him to shy away from taking more shots just because he’s cold.
90% of the crap I say on here is sarcastic
by CoffeeJanitor on Jan 22, 2012 3:28 PM CST up reply actions
my only disagreement is he took some shots
others had a better chance at making. But I agree, with a player of Love’s calibre and mindset, missing your last 4 doesn’t mean you cant make your next five.
Wolves 2011-12: Crossing the Rubikahn....alea iacta est...... " et tu Ricky?"
by Tangerine dream on Jan 23, 2012 8:20 AM CST up reply actions
Great write-up!
I’m almost inspired to have a go myself.
Almost. :)
Reason is the first victim of strong emotion.
Updated report card list.. Lots of you guys would do great writing a report card..
and it would be great to see the Wolves game through as many eyes as possible.. Let me know..
1/23 houston- already taken by slowbreak
1/25 dallas
1/27 San Antonio
1/29 LAL – already taken by triple B
1/30 Houston – already taken by MIchael Boosalis II
2/1 Indiana -
2/3 NJ – already taken by Michael Boosalis
2/4 Houston – already taken by Jones the Cat
2/7 Sacramento
2/8 Memphis
Who is "triple-B?"
I’ve half a mind to offer him a six pack of beer to try and get that LAL game. I’ve been offered two rare, free, mid-court tickets in the lower bowl for that game and it would be as good a time as any to try a write-up.
by dontbesomean youngfella on Jan 22, 2012 9:02 PM CST up reply actions
bringbackbrewer I guess.. he doesn't post often, but he called the game a long time ago..
it’s awesome you have been offered those tickets.. I’m excited for you bro..
I just about crapped my pants when they were offered
Eight year old daughter’s best friend has a mom who is CEO of a local restaurant chain. Bully for me! Finally getting some financial R.O.I. on the ol’ parenthood thing.
by dontbesomean youngfella on Jan 23, 2012 1:53 PM CST up reply actions
ha
after a quick glance, i thought your handle was “AntiCynical”
Hehe.
In order to be my evil doppelganger he’d have to have a goatee on top of his beard.
"Love is who he is. He is a grinder, a scaveranger . . ." --TO12
by Cynical Jason on Jan 23, 2012 4:08 PM CST up reply actions
Wow. That kinda works.
"Of what use is a philosopher who does not hurt anybody's feelings?" -Diogenes of Sinope
by Cynical Jason on Jan 23, 2012 5:36 AM CST up reply actions
Fine work
but how did you find a shot of Wes in which he is not smiling?
"Humor is reason gone mad." Marx (Groucho, for the reason-gone-mad impaired)
I hope that patch isn't over his shooting eye.
"pokin' the animals at the Canis Hoopus zoo"
by pastyearsears on Jan 23, 2012 4:19 PM CST up reply actions
Yes, you see
Evil Wes has a shooting eye but if he puts a patch over it then he’s just Actual Wes.
"pokin' the animals at the Canis Hoopus zoo"
?
Is it my imagination or would the world would be a better place if guys just shot it immediately when they get the pass from Rubio? He tends to hit them when they’re widest open, but it seems like a big part of the time they juke, or do a shot fake, or otherwise hesitate giving the defender just enough time to recover instead of just putting the ball up. That whole “ready to shoot” thing is golden when you’re playing with this kid.
Yeah I tend to agree
Love and Ridnour seem to do this a ton.
Bwahaha.
I love your blog. The Al Jefferson section had me in stitches. The comment about our announcers just made me roll my eyes. I enjoy them because I’m a Jazz fan, but can definitely see why no other fans in the league can stand them.
"Shoot baskets, not people." -AK
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