Canis Hoopus - Game #30: Portlamia (Wolves V. Portland For The Battle Of The Game Nobody In Minnesota Will Watch)82-0https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48315/canis_hoopus_favicon.png2013-01-05T22:17:05-06:00http://www.canishoopus.com/rss/stream/36029092013-01-05T22:17:05-06:002013-01-05T22:17:05-06:00Timberwolves get blitzed again, Blazers roll
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<figcaption>Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Timberwolves get run out by Portland like they thought their jerseys were purple and gold.</p> <p>Chris Paul. Deron Williams. Tony Parker. Rajon Rondo. Russell Westboork. Derrick Rose. Steve Nash. Jason Kidd.</p>
<p>If the first half of this season is any indication, Damien Lillard will be joining that echelon someday soon.</p>
<p>I've said it before, but it bears repeating: the NBA is a guard's league now. No handchecking has turned quick, decisive perimeter players into the ultimate weapons; all it takes for them to work is a couple good shooters and a big man who can set screens and throw down.</p>
<p>Fifteen years ago, Tyson Chandler would have been a blue collar bench guy. Today, he's one of the league's best centers and leads the NBA in FG%, because all he has to do is set picks and throw down Kiddy-oops. The rules and sheer simplicity do the rest, and everyone is catching on. The Spurs completely retooled their offense to put the ball in Parker's hands. He's got Timmy for his screens and pretty much the rest of the whole damn SA roster to shoot threes. Rondo won a championship with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen and screens from Garnett. Westbrook has the ultimate shooter in Durant, and screens from Ibaka (or brick walls from Perkins...)</p>
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<p>And then, last night, Chris Paul made a sideshow out of the Lakers, crossing up Kobe twice and decimating LAL's defense with shooters like Matt Barnes and the ultimate pick-and-roll finisher in Blake Griffin.</p>
<p>It's enough to make even the most jaded soul appreciate what Allen Iverson was able to do playing in an era where defenses hit hard enough to make Michael Jordan cry.</p>
<p>Last year, the point seemed to get made loud and clear: Ricky Rubio's best asset was his defense. And games against a Damien Lillard show what the Wolves lack without him. In a league where you can't put your hands on the guy with the ball at all, being able to stay in front of him is everything. That single element drives the success of every pick-and-roll playbook and keeps otherwise lukewarm players like Thabo Sefalosha and Tony Allen happily employed. Rubio has that gift. And we've missed it no worse than in these two game so far against the Blazers.</p>
<p>If you can't stay in front of the speedy point guards, you get victimized. The Blazers did tonight what the Clippers and Thunder and Spurs do to everyone: they ran the Wolves out of the building. Credit 'Sota for making it a hell of a fight in the fourth quarter...they might have even won if Williams hadn't gotten over-zealous trying to heat check himself, and Barea had made a couple better passes. But the game was really decided in the first three periods when Lillard pushed a ridiculous pace that let Wes Matthews and Nic Batum make it rain like Travis Porter.</p>
<p>Hopefully Rubio is the definitive answer to this. The league has plenty more Damien Lillards to add the the stockpile....Kyrie Irving, Jrue Holiday, Kyle Lowry, Ty Lawson, Kemba Walker, John Wall....that trend isn't changing anytime soon. JJ Barea makes it work to his advantage on offense, but he's a one way street in a sport where everyone plays both ends of the court.</p>
<p>This team needs its own upper echelon point guard. For them to get anywhere, Rubio has to be that guy.</p>
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<li>Dante Cunningham continues to be awesome. In yet another standout performance substituting for a fallen star, the Inferno put in 10 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks, and a Mississippi barge worth of intangibles. At his price, I say sign the guy to a contract for life.</li>
<li>Alexey Shved was decidedly less awesome tonight. Unbeknownst to most, Shved and Lillard are almost identical statistically (separated, really, only by playing time) but you couldn't have told that by tonight. 1-11 from the field. Even though he managed to make big contributions elsewhere (and isn't that a nice change from the Jonny/Beasley/Wes years) his poor shooting and lackluster defense cost the Pups a lot.</li>
<li>Even though 'Sota won the battle of the free throws, one couldn't help but feel a little cheated. Particularly standing out is Pekovic starting the game 1-7. Because an immovable Mafia mountain man is obviously going to miss three consecutive shots from 8 inches in one play %%%%</li>
<li>Kirilenko has gotten me to a point now where seeing 15-7-2 from one of our wing players isn't a shock anymore. For that, to Kirilenko goes all the awards.</li>
<li>Every step forward is another step back with Williams. Even on a night where he scored 18 points in 18 minutes, and can't let it slide that he started jacking up shots and had a really, really bad travelling call at the end.</li>
<li>Pekovic looked like Pekovic again tonight. Hopefully that stays that way.</li>
<li>Minnesota attempted 16 threes. Portland <i>made</i> 16 threes. There's your ballgame folks.</li>
<li>Chase Budinger needs to get healthy post haste.</li>
<li>I would happily pay $12mil/year for this Nic Batum.</li>
<li>With Love out, the Pups need to find another quality big man, even if the body count doesn't agree. If Inferno is going to be starting, then we're relying on Williams, Stiemsma and Amundson as our primary backups. To a starter who was picked 34th overall in his draft class. That won't make the playoffs, people.</li>
<li>And find that guy quick, because the Heat are looking at the same players.</li>
<li>And yeah. That's what happens when you start a guy who hasn't thrown a single pass all season. Not that Ponder is RGIII, but at least he was prepared. </li>
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https://www.canishoopus.com/2013/1/5/3841166/blitzed-again-a-min-por-gamewrapKey Dae2013-01-05T20:19:01-06:002013-01-05T20:19:01-06:00Second Half Thread: Wolves V. Blazer's
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<figcaption>Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Ugh...Joe Webb. </p> <p>Let's do this! </p>
https://www.canishoopus.com/2013/1/5/3841000/second-half-thread-wolves-v-blazersVoxMediaUser719232013-01-05T17:34:00-06:002013-01-05T17:34:00-06:00Kevin Love's hand is broken again
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<p>From <a href="http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/love-re-fractures-his-right-hand" target="_blank">Wolves.com</a></p>
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<p>The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) taken this afternoon at TRIA Orthopadedic Center revealed that forward Kevin Love suffered a re-fracture of his third metacarpal in his right hand. The injury occurred during the third quarter of Thursday's game at Denver. </p>
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<p>So a little more severe than just a sprain. Considering this is a reoccurance of a previous injury (that Love did return early....too early?.....from) I'd guess he'll miss 6-8 weeks.</p>
<p>The Timberwolves may want to get in on the bidding for quality big men before Miami gets them all....</p>
https://www.canishoopus.com/2013/1/5/3840584/kevin-loves-hand-is-broken-againKey Dae2013-01-05T14:50:51-06:002013-01-05T14:50:51-06:00Love and Rubio out tonight vs. the Blazers
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<p><a href="http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_22317448/ricky-rubio-kevin-love-miss-saturday-game">PiPress</a> (also reported elsewhere on the interwebs): </p>
<p> </p>
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<p style="margin-top: 11px; margin-bottom: 11px; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Timberwolves</a> will be missing regulars <span>Kevin Love</span> and <span>Ricky Rubio</span> when they play the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blazersedge.com/">Portland Trail Blazers</a> at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at Target Center, the team announced.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 11px; margin-bottom: 11px; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Love has been sidelined by a sprained finger and Rubio by back spasms.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 11px; margin-bottom: 11px; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Love suffered the sprain on his right hand late in his team's 101-97 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Nuggets</a> in Denver. He broke the same hand in October and missed the Wolves' first nine games.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 11px; margin-bottom: 11px; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Rubio has missed Minnesota's previous three games because of back spasms.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>They will be watching the Vikings from the locker room. </p>
https://www.canishoopus.com/2013/1/5/3840096/rubio-and-love-out-for-tonights-game-vs-the-blazersVoxMediaUser719232013-01-05T08:11:42-06:002013-01-05T08:11:42-06:00Wolves v. Portland v. Vikings
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<figcaption>Jamie Squire</figcaption>
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<p>In the 30th game on the road to...whatever, nobody in Minnesota will actually watch this game. </p> <p>Thanks a lot, Purple Jesus.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.canishoopus.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Timberwolves</a></p>
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<p>At the beginning of the Wolves' tough 3-games-in-5-days-against-divisional-opponents stretch, they sat in 3rd place in the NW Division with a 14-13 record while Portland was in 4th with a 15-14 record. Then, the Wolves played like dogs against the <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Jazz</a>, <span>Kevin Love</span> injured himself, the non-Loves hacked out a holy-crap-I-can't-believe-they-did-that-and-it-will-never-be-replicated-on-a-regular-basis win, and they enter tonight's game-that-nobody-in-Minnesota-will-watch in 4th place (15-14) looking up at 2nd place Portland (17-15), who has won 7 out of their last 10 tits.</p>
<p>Last night Portland was down Memphis way where they pulled out a tough victory over the Griz thanks to some gutty last minute defense/cold Memphis shooting and one of the weirdest non-travel/falling out of bounds calls in recent memory. Hopefully they will be all tuckered out.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the long-standing love between the two team's front offices <a href="http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/The_Scoops_JJ_Redick_among_possibilities_as_Wolves_ponder_trades010313">marches on</a>:</p>
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<p><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 14px;">• Both the Wolves and Blazers are sworn to secrecy, but one team source didn't deny that the compensation the Wolves are getting for the </span><a href="http://www.1500espn.com/pages/roster.php?pID=185" class="sportswire_player_links" title="More on Martell Webster" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: #ffffff; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #009840; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Martell Webster</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 14px;"> compensation claim is no more than a second round pick and/or cash. It's unknown when the league will make public that the case is closed, but it is.</span></p>
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<p>I can't wait until Neil Olshey offers Pek a max deal in the off season. One can only hope that he'll have <span>Nicolas Batum</span> deliver the offer sheet to his favorite American city. Ahhhhhh...memories.</p>
<p>It's pretty tough to have a must-win game this early in an 82 game season, but this is about as close as it gets. It looks like there is going to be a fairly large bunching of teams fighting for the last 2-3 playoff spots and, if the Wolves are lucky (and if Kevin Love can get his shot back and <span>Ricky Rubio</span> can return to game shape and if they can find someone to play the damn wing), they can be one of the teams at the top of that group. If they want that to be the case, it will be games like this that really, really matter in the long run.</p>
<p>What should the Wolves be looking out for in tonight's game....especially since nobody in Minnesota will be watching?</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Portland is 5th in the league in 3 point attempts. They don't make a whole lot of them (.334, 26th in the league) but they take a lot of them. Hopefully tonight will be another off shooting night from the great beyond. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Portland has found themselves to be a solidly middle-of-the-road team. Take a peak over at their <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/2013.html">league rankings </a>on Basketball Reference. 5 out of 8 off/def 4 factors are in the teens. They are playing like a team that, like the Wolves, will be flirting with .500 for most of the year. That being said, they've been something of an over achieving bunch so far, outpacing their expected W/L (13-19) by 4 games while carrying a -2.52 SRS. It will be really interesting to see where the Wolves and Blazers are at the half way point. The Wolves are pretty much playing as expected without several of their key players being healthy or effective. The Blazers are, comparatively, a surprise. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Who will make shots for the Wolves? Banking on 6-10 shooting from J.J. isn't the best idea and Ricky Rubio isn't exactly going to be making a huge contribution to the TS bottom line with his (hopeful) return to the lineup. Hopefully, the pick-and-roll game with Ricky/Shved and Pek will be in full effect tonight and the big fella will put on one hell of an audition for Neil Olshey and the Blazers. </span></li>
</ul>
<div>Well folks, that about does it. Enjoy the Vikings game and go Wolves!</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>BTW: Our blogging buddies for the day are over at the always excellent <a href="http://www.blazersedge.com">Blazer's Edge</a>. </div>
https://www.canishoopus.com/2013/1/5/3838798/game-30-portlamia-wolves-v-portland-for-the-battle-of-the-game-nobodyVoxMediaUser71923