This time, Al Harrington was held to just 9 points, and the final result was a good, old fashioned blowout. With the Wolves being on the winning end of it, for once.
- Kevin Love: 30 points, 21 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks (!!!!!!), 0 turnovers. The end.
- Kenneth Faried gives no quarter to anyone, but the Nuggets definitely miss Danilo Gallinari's scoring touch...especially his ability to get to the free throw line. Too bad the Nuggets were smart enough to lock him up long term...I'd sure love to have a Gallo out there with Love and Rubio next year...
- Luke Ridnour burned up the nets today...25 points on 9-14 shooting. A good thing too, since he was the only point guard on the entire roster. Thank God we didn't do something stupid, like trade him.
- With Pekovic out and Darko and Williams still not earning Adelman's full trust, the Wolvbes have essentially been running with the frontcourt that worked the best from last season: Love and Anthony Tolliver. I maintain that AT was simply getting the short straw in the overcrowded frontcourt: he's a good player, and Adelman has a long and successful track record of utilizing those kinds of guys: Corliss Williamson, Keon Clark, Chuck Hayes, etc.
- The Wolves really do need to clear out the logjam in the frontcourt, and if that means trading some talented players, then so be it. We're beyond the point of simply stockpiling talent, and at a place where we can and should start addressing specific needs. The Wolves effectively have 5 rotation-worthy players for two positions (one, really, if you assume Love is going to play 40 minutes no matter what). Guys' games are getting crunched as Adelman does the necessary evil of trying to get them to compact it all into 20 minute bites
- I have a feeling Denver is going to do wonders for JaVale McGee. While he certainly has a lot of work to do, I don't think he's as dumb as he's been made out to be. Washington was badly hurting his development with a combination of terrible coaching and inexperience or selfish (or both) teammates. Being in an environment with a staff proven to develop talent and teammates who are unselfish and have veterans who lead should really jumpstart him. A couple of years from now, McGee could be an absolute monster out there. I'm all for clearing the decks and offering him top dollar.
- Next up is Memphis. Should be another prime display of trench warfare, NBA style. If there's one guy who's enough of a bruiser to make even Kevin Love wince, it's a healthy Zach Randolph.