Timberwolves 2011-2012

[Scott M]

I heard on KFAN that it's a matter of when not if Love signs. Panic if it isn't done two weeks from today. Deadline is Jan 25 I believe.

[schmitty3]

I sure hope Adelmman sees the obvious, that the starters are loosing the games, and the bench is doing everything possible to keep us in the game. Now is the time to change up that starting rotation.

I hope it doesn't take long. It's everygame the starters get down early, and the bench players come in and get the team back in the game. Ridnour has picked up his game on offense, but can't play a lick of D.

[Scott M]

I missed last night's game. Box score shows the bench toasted the starters again. They can play with anyone but can't win. 3-7 to start the year, if they would have beat Cleveland and Milwaukee they'd be where I expected them to be, instead they had moral victories with all the playoff teams they couldn't knock off.

[Scott K]

All I can say is UGH!

I plan on going to a game next week, and hopefully they can get things figured out by then, because I really hate going to games when they get blown out, and it puts a bad taste in my mouth to go to other games until they start winning again. Although, they are giving some great deals on tickets, if you are interested in going to games.

[Scott M]

[Scott K]

Ha, interesting

[FutbolGuru]

Wolves need to get a legit 2 guard... we're consistently getting scored on from our oppenent's 2 guards and we aren't getting scoring from our 2 guard position. With as much potential Beasly has, you have to think about dealing him should an opportunity present itself...

As for this year we only have to worry about 2 things and winning games isn't on the list: 1. Resign KLove 2. Build some team chemistry

I predict a solid showing next season. It should be the wolfies coming out party.

[Scott M]

I expect this week or next you are going to start seeing national media articles on him, but only if Adelman gives him the minutes.

Getting schooled by Ricky Rubio

by Michael Wilbon, ESPN

The men who truly know the game of basketball globally, from little towns in China to little towns in Indiana, weren't really worried about Ricky Rubio successfully transitioning to the NBA. They weren't daunted by the number of times he'd score zero points and get only an assist or two in an entire game playing in Europe. They looked at his hands, his ability to throw pinpoint passes, his fearless creativity, and they knew the point guard from Spain was going to be better here, in the U.S., than he was on his native soil.

Magic Johnson, the man who probably knows more about the passing game than anybody in the history of basketball, saw Rubio go 0-for-5 shooting with three assists in an exhibition victory over the Lakers nearly two years ago, and still he came away certain Rubio would be at the very least a good NBA point guard. I told Magic the Timberwolves were nuts for wasting the No. 5 overall pick in 2009 on this kid who kept putting up zeros in international competition. Magic said, and I quote, "You're going to be wrong. Listen to me on this kid. He'll be better in the NBA than he is in Europe because our guys are more athletic and they run to the rim. In Europe, guys don't really run the break; they fan out around the 3-point line, they pump-fake, they look to score in other ways. Our guys are going to see a dude who can pass it like Rubio and run like hell to the rim. Trust me."

I didn't. I was a fool.

Rubio's game, just as Magic promised, is better suited to the NBA than any league in Europe. It's clear the kid can find an open teammate like very few rookies in recent years. Rubio is averaging 7.9 assists even though he's played more than 30 minutes in just three of 10 games. In four of his last eight games, he has reached double-digits in assists. And his creativity on the move is much more Steve Nash than John Stockton, which has made the Timberwolves worth watching for the first time since Kevin Garnett left.

"There's a difference," Magic said by way of explanation, "between making a pass to somebody and creating a shot for a guy. Rubio creates a shot. He's got instincts, great instincts."

Tony Ronzone, a former assistant GM of the T-Wolves, scouted Rubio extensively. Ronzone, who has coached teams in New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and China, saw Rubio's game translating beautifully to the U.S. even before Magic had caught a glimpse. Rubio was a teenager when Ronzone saw a kid who "would be much more effective in the U.S. because guys run to the rim ... and they run harder when they play with a guy like Ricky."

Ronzone was working with the U.S. Olympic team in Beijing, where in a game against Spain, the U.S. threw a trap at Rubio with LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony or LeBron and Dwyane Wade or Anthony and Wade. Whatever the combination, "Ricky would split it, or find a teammate so fast," Ronzone recalled. "He'd split the pick and roll and throw a phenomenal pass to the weak side. You can't teach that. ... In 2010 in the World Championships in Madrid, we're playing this exhibition against Spain and Ricky took the ball off Derrick Rose in two of the first four possessions. In another game, the kid had to go against Chauncey Billups and Russell Westbrook, and they couldn't take the ball from him."

Sure enough, Rubio had 12 assists for the T-Wolves against Rose and the Bulls on Tuesday night, after getting 12 against LeBron and the Heat on Dec. 30. Magic, bless him, didn't hit me with "I told you so."

"What got me about Rubio," he said, "was that international players often back down when the level of competition jumps, but [Rubio] didn't. The thing that really set him up was that he was smart enough, at 17 years old, to wait and keep playing in Europe. He got bigger and stronger. He already had that beautiful footwork, the movement. Gasol has it; Ginobili has it. They're what I call attackers. When challenged, they go forward, not backward."

Ronzone, having spent so much time abroad, where soccer is king, said, "I call it having a soccer mentality. It's pass-first. It's unselfish. And most of all, it's about not turning the ball over much because turnovers in soccer kill you. Soccer is so much about controlling the game. He can definitely control the game."

And because he can, Rick Adelman is already at the point where he's considering putting Rubio into the starting lineup ... not that there's much of a decision to make. Simply put, Rubio is ready to be an NBA starter. Already, he's shown he can be a closer. Rubio's 11.6 minutes per game in the fourth quarter are No. 1 in that category among all NBA players, not just rookies.

With two days' rest, which usually means a chance to practice, the kid is averaging 12 assists. Even with one day's rest, he's averaging 9.0. Surely, he -- like just about every other rookie in the history of the league -- will hit the proverbial wall, but so what? Think the Knicks wouldn't mind having such a problem? How about the Wizards, who passed on drafting Rubio and instead dealt for Randy Foye and Mike Miller, neither of whom is on the club's roster any longer. Talk about making a killer mistake. That amounts to a spectacular failure in judgment. A sportswriter misses on that evaluation, he writes an apology column. But when a GM (in this case, Ernie Grunfeld) misses, it's no wonder his team winds up with less talent and fewer wins than any other team in the league.

Not only is Rubio better than I could project, he's better right now than John Wall, the No. 1 pick of the very next draft. Wall can't shoot as well, can't run a team as well and has virtually no chance of passing the ball as well. Wow, talk about misery loving company.

In a sport where it seems to be a requisite for every player to remind us of somebody who came before, people already are making their Rubio comparisons. Nash. Jason Kidd. Rubio is a pass-first point guard in an era of shoot-first point guards. Even so, the kid is shooting 46 percent, 47 percent from 3, pretty good for a kid who simply doesn't care about scoring. He has borrowed one of Magic's favorite lines: "I'd rather make two people happy than one." Which is sort of the passer's credo.

Magic and Ronzone both say Rubio will get better as he plays with better athletes, like rookie teammate Derrick Williams. Rubio seems to have survived the very thing I thought would crush him: expectations. Ronzone doesn't seem to be exaggerating when he says, "One of his best attributes is nothing fazes him."

Still, it simply didn't seem reasonable for the Timberwolves to make Rubio the face of the franchise, given that the team had so far to go to just reach respectability. After all, even with Kevin Love playing out of his mind and Rubio throwing passes with Drew Brees accuracy, the Timberwolves were 3-7, tied for last in the Western Conference. Fortunately for them, Ronzone knew he and the team weren't getting a prima donna, but someone who told the staff he didn't really want to start as a rookie, that he wanted to learn the game and earn both his keep and a spot on the floor. He didn't particularly want the pressure of what the franchise was asking him, but he didn't shrink from it, either.

"The last five years, people were coming after that kid every single game," Ronzone said. "And he's just a buck-80."

His talent, of course, is much bigger than his frame, and from what we've already seen, his impact could be bigger than his tangible talents. Only 10 games into his NBA career, I find myself for the first time in years sneaking a peek at Timberwolves games to see if Rubio is going to throw a pass that makes me hit rewind. If you're going to be as dead, stupid wrong about a position as I was about how good Rubio would be in the NBA, at least let it happen quickly while there is still standing room on the back of the kid's bandwagon.

[Scott K]

He sure brings excitement to the team, something they have lacked recently. Fans go to the game just to see him play. He is also quickly becoming the kids favorite player on the team. I went and shot hoops with my son a couple days ago, and my son had more fun trying to make quick tricky passes, and alley oops to me, then he did shooting the ball. He would yell Ricky Rubio, and make a bullet pass to me, as I was driving the hoop. Unfortunately I am not able to finish like the players Rubio passes to, but it was still fun.

They just need to figure out why they or loosing at the end of every first quarter, and not have to try to overcome a 15+ point deficit, to come back and make the game interesting at the end. I am sure Adelmman will figure it out soon, since I think every fan already has

[EBass]

Quote:

He would yell Ricky Rubio, and make a bullet pass to me

Ha!

[Scott K]

We will be at the game tonight, hopefully they can win, I will be bringing 4 kids, my 2, and 2 of their friends. The other 2 kids have never been to a professional game before, and when the Wolves are winning, it can be a awesome experience in Target Center, but when they are losing, it can be very boring, with a quiet audience.

[Scott K]

And looky what I just found

Quote:

Every fan who buys a ticket to the Wolves' home game on Monday will receive a free ticket for Wednesday's game, compliments of Kevin Love.

The move is both generous and great PR for Love, who is presumably angling for a max-money extension in the next 10 days. The Wolves play the Kings tonight, with the Pistons visiting on Wednesday.

I love Love!

[fishersofmen]

Nice win for the Wolves, a game they should have won. Ridnour is playing solid ball right now. I look forward to Love being on this team for years to come.

[Scott K]

It was a great game by the Wolves, there were a few shaky moments, but they got it back on track when it counted. Rubio could have easily gotten a triple double, but was content with what he gets.

[Scott M]

Shoulda beat the Hawks after leading all game, they would be where we optimistically projected them if they finished a few more games. I like the new starting backcourt.

[Scott K]

We really need to get a shooting guard on our team soon. We would be playoff caliber if we even had average talent at the wing. There are some names floating around out there, that I think could be had. They may as well do a trade to get someone good now, and dump a player or two that their contract is up after this season (Beasely, AR). Assuming they would be getting one out of free agency this offseason anyway, considering we dont have a 1st round pick this year.

I figured we would start the first month of the season a little below 500, being we had a tough first week of the season, and with a new coach, a new scheme, and no time to get the bugs worked out. I think we will have a strong second half, and we may creep into the 8th seed, if not we will be close. Next year, if we can fill our SG need, I think we could even win a series in the playoffs?? To be honest, we have a good team now, that can run with the best teams out there, but they are just lacking a little out put from a scoring position, get it filled, and we could contend now.

[fishersofmen]

Thats a fine avatar you have da_chise........

I agree we need a 2guard and one with some size. Not sure what we could get for Beasley or how many teams would be willing to take a risk on him but I wouldn't mind getting rid of him either. According to Sid on CCO this morning Ridnour is just as good as Kobie Bryant Lol. Everyone in the studio busted out laughing.

[Scott K]

As much as I hate Kobe, I would be ecstatic to make an even up trade for him

[mrklean]

Another reason Sid needs to go hes lost it

[Scott K]

I will defend sid to the point that Luke has looked good as of late. Just not Kobe good.

[mrklean]

haha agreed, i really think we need to get rid of Beasley, look at how they are playing without him its kind of nice, maybe get some draft picks or something

[Scott K]

I will be at the game again tonight, thanks to Kevin Love!

It looks as though Webster may get a few minutes tonight, and JJ should be back tonight as well. Miller should be getting some minutes next week sometime, wich would be great to get some production from the center for once. Hopefully Webster can help us with the lack of scoring from the wing, at this point, anything is an upgrade. I would sure like to see Darko not be a starter anymore, but I dont think Miller will be contributing starter minutes this season, or more then likely, never. But just to have some true center in there that isnt afraid to get his toes stepped on, or afraid he might bump into someone under the basket will really help, especially a player that can score. If Webster can come back and play like he did last year, it will be a huge improvement over anything we have gotten out of our so called SG this season.

Although playing small ball with 2 pg in the game at the same time has been keeping the other teams on their toes, and we have been scoring much better because of it.

Go Wolves!

[Jarrid Houston]

First time chiming in on this thread. Biy its nice to watch baskettball again. I do like the T pups, but it has been a messy more than a few years putting up with them. Anyway, haven't been this excited about a bball team since KG, Spreewell, Cassel, etc...I like Ricky, but he needs to get better at shooting the ball. I love Beasley, but he needs to get healthy, I love the littel white kid (rubert?) great shooter, and Love, well dont even have to comment on him. He is a special player! Go T wolves!!

[Scott K]

Quote:

According to Charley Walters, the Timberwolves will offer Kevin Love a four-year, $60 million contract extension prior to the January 25 deadline.

Take the report with a huge grain of salt. The $60 million is a lot less than a max extension, and it's possible Love may not be so fond of the offer. Love could hit the market as a restricted free agent in the offseason or choose to opt in for the 2012-13 campaign before becoming an unrestricted free agent the following year. The Timberwolves should be doing everything possible to lock up Love long-term as soon as possible.

I am thinking it will take a little more then this to get er done. Hopefully Love doesnt take this as an insult, and decide to hold a grudge. Although, as stated, it is just a rumor. I dont think Taylor is dumb enough to let his next superstar leave, since he has seen what it does for attendance. They have one week left to get him an offer he cant refuse, so get it done!

[fishersofmen]

Yea they better not screw this one up with Love, just starting to get fans excited again and back in the building.

I would like to see Ray Allen join the team. Boston is on the verge of blowing that team up and rebuilding. I realize he is 36 but is still scoring 17 pts a game. Allen and KG are free agents this summer. What do you guys think am I dreaming? Think how good this team would be if we added a player like that and got rid of Beasley!!!