Minnesota Timberwolves (8-10) vs San Antonio Spurs (12-7)

[weasel]

Stat of the game: The Spurs were limited to 79 points in the loss — lowest total since a 77-71 loss at Philadelphia last Feb. 11.

Stat of the game II : After entering the fourth quarter tied at 64, the Spurs proceded to shoot 27.8 percent from the field in the fourth quarter. It was their lowest in a fourth quarter this season.

Stat of the game III: Thanks to strong performances from Love and Pekovic, the Timberwolves had a 50-26 edge in points in the paint and an 8-4 edge in second-chance points. The minus-24 differential in the paint was the largest single-game deficit of the season for the Spurs.

Weird stat of the game: The Spurs grabbed only two offensive rebounds in the game. It ranks as one of their three lowest single-game offensive rebounding games since 1985-86. It was their fewest offensive rebounds in a game since grabbing no offensive rebounds in a victory over Utah on Jan. 23, 2002.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2012/01/28/game-rewind-these-arent-the-same-ol-t-wolves-are-they/

[weasel]

The list of misfiring Spurs began with Tim Duncan, who finished 2 of 12 for nine points. Duncan had a season-high four of the Spurs’ eight blocked shots, but was clearly bothered at the offensive end by Minnesota’s Nikola Pekovic.

A 6-foot-11, 290-pound center who drew the start in place of the ill Darko Milicic, Pekovic finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. He drove the Spurs batty all night with what they thought were illegal screens to free Rubio.

Popovich argued for the call throughout the game. When officials finally did blow their whistle for a moving screen, the call went against Duncan, negating Parker’s would-be go-ahead jumper with 4:36 to go.

Minutes later, Pekovic again swallowed up Parker on a screen, allowing Rubio to sink a tie-breaking 20-footer with 2:56 left.

Asked about Pekovic’s screen-setting ability, Spurs swingman Danny Green was diplomatic.

“It was unique,” Green said.

Parker, the player most often victimized by Pekovic’s picks, had less to say.

“I have no comment,” he said, chuckling.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2012/01/27/shooting-touch-abandons-spurs/

[weasel]

I just glanced through a game chat for Spurs fans. They were ALL beyotching about us getting preferential treatment from the refs. They all hate Love. And they gave Pek and Rubio nicknames; Pek was called "Big Foot" and Rubio was called "Teen Wolf". They say Rubio picked up his flopping ability from Manu, and they can't wait to run Love and Rubio out of town when we play down there on 3/21.


http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2012/01/27/spurs-vs-timberwolves-game-chat-5/

[horaceworthy]

Yea I don't think Beasley was horrendous last night either. I mean, he's a scorer, hi job is take shots and Jim Pete hates Beasley so his faults were magnified but the writing is on the wall. Perspective one Beasley right now doesn't allow him to have to many games like that. If he would take more open looks and pass up opportunities where he needed to make a shot last year he would be fine.

Basically, Rubio and this system simplify the game for him. He will need to create less and pull the trigger after the passer finds him more open more often. He still wants to create or beat his man and that's where he gets in trouble. He's going to take shots, that's why he is on the team but he can't afford to have too many 3/10 games because people are going to rip him. He's better off disappearing for stretches but that's not his nature.

We will see what Adelman does with him, maybe he can coach that out of him.

Jim Pete doesn't hate Beasley, he's frustrated by him. He defends Beasley as much as anyone, but Beas didn't have a good night on friday, plain and simple. The first 3 makes were great to see, but the 8 straight misses were bad, particularly given how most of them came about.

Beasley's got talent, but he's too happy to settle for long twos, and he takes too long to make decisions with the ball. He needs to learn how to let a guy like Rubio make him better. Right now it doesn't look like he fits with the Rubio/Adelman brand Wolves.

[theGreatRC]

Well Adelman has Wes Taking it to hole more and Darko finishing strong, so he can make Beasley attack the rack than settling for long Js

[Klomp]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WxKw9dJQGM[/youtube]