RealGM

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:28 pm**

We were wrong. We got it wrong. The team wasn't looking for a no-risk experiment. It wasn't looking for a defender. When Kahn called Darko "Mana from Heaven", he didn't mean Darko was taller than Jefferson, or faster than Jefferson, or a more natural center than Jefferson. Our list of "why" reasons went in the wrong direction: we were thinking of size, not skill. Of defense, not offense. Of roster, not system.

The Wolves weren't looking for a center who could traditionally rebound, block shots, and defend the paint. They were looking for a center who could facilitate. Because that's what a center needs to do in the Triangle. Not a Dwight Howard or Amare Stoudemire, but a Luc Longley.

That's why the team targeted Darko for trade. Why Kurt Rambis spent the last two months of the season killing himself....and his team's record....to convince Darko he had a place here. And why the team bid so high on a guy who started off determined to leave the NBA, and ended up with only one real suitor: the Wolves.

The number of 7 footers who can rebound and block shots? Endless. The number of 7 footers who can make a picture perfect behind-the-back bounce pass from the free throw line to a baseline cutter? You can practically count them on one hand. Darko has a very rare talent combination for a center: court vision, passing ability, and the basketball IQ to utilize it without micromanagement. That he can rebound, block shots, jam up a pick-and-roll, and has a sweet little hook shot is just bonus material.

I'm not going to play stupid pretend any of this changes anyone's mind. Some of you are going to be very upset that the Wolves traded Al Jefferson and passed on DeMarcus Cousins because of this. That we chose against the "next Hakeem" because of our system. I get that, I understand that. But it's over and done with. There are plenty of other articles for you all to complain about that in. Darko is our man, for better or worse. Fortunately this preseason, we're seeing a lot of the "better" aspect.

Darko's put up modest averages of 6.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, playing just 20 minutes a game (and, of course, missing the second Indiana contest entirely). Yet he is a net +36 overall, and he is third among centers in assists per game (second in assists/48, behind only Joakim Noah. His total EFF is a +11.29

His presence was especially felt tonight against the Bucks....when Darko entered the game at the start of the fourth quarter, we were trailing 80-88. He proceeded to pile up 2 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists over the next 12 minutes as a pivitol reason the game went to overtime, then grabbed the final offensive board in OT to give Ridnour one last shot at a game winner.

His final line of 12 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, and just a single turnover in 30 minutes is exactly the kind of play the Wolves knew Darko was capable of. But more importantly, it displays the breadth of Darko's impact on our team. He has a significant hand in every aspect of what we do....scoring, rebounding, defending, and....especially important....facilitating.

That's what I mean by the "Darko Dimension". Not some freakish Twilight Zone of Milicics, but rather that do-it-all presence that makes everything else work. I was wrong too....Luke Ridnour is not initiating our offense. Michael Beasley is not the most important Timberwolf this season. We'll flourish with him, but can do without him; we can't do without Darko. He's the one who gets the ball and decides where it will go. That's his job in the Triangle offense. It all starts with him. When Darko plays well, we can run perhaps the most famous and successful system professional sports has seen. When he plays poorly, or not at all, everything falls apart.

That is why Darko, more than any other player this year, holds the success of our team in his hands.

http://www.canishoopus.com/2010/10/23/1 ... -dimension

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:42 pm**

Always a pleasure to read Oceanary's work, he is by far the best guy currently writing about the wolves.

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:43 pm**

still don't buy it as an excuse for not drafting Cousins (he can pass to).

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:46 pm**

Tirion wrote:still don't buy it as an excuse for not drafting Cousins (he can pass to).

Its not just whether he can pass, its about facilitating an offense. Cousins doesn't have the IQ for that.

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:54 pm**

Klomp wrote:
Tirion wrote:still don't buy it as an excuse for not drafting Cousins (he can pass to).

Its not just whether he can pass, its about facilitating an offense. Cousins doesn't have the IQ for that.

that's what they said about Shaq and he did pretty well in the triangle.

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 2:00 pm**

the real question for me is: where does Rubio fits in Rambis system? Cause one thing the Triangle notorious for, it's that it not really point-guard friendly. Especially to the ones who are not good shooters.

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 2:24 pm**

+1 with regards to Klomps comment.
Also, Cousins was offensively impressive in summer-league and less so against tougher opposition in pre-season. Lets see how it goes on in reg season. I may be wrong, but something tells me that Wolves would've suffered with Cousins among other things due to the fact i believe he would have had a hard time getting acclimated to Rambis philosophy, which is related to Klomps comment. Darko already seems to be incorporeted well with it. It appears Cousins has a lot of freedom and iso-plays in SAC offensively.

Johnson over Turner has proved to be a benefit rather than a setback thus far. Maybe Kahn knows what he does after all?

Oh, almost forgot. Thx a great deal for the article, about to read it now!

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 2:45 pm**

Tirion wrote:
Klomp wrote:
Tirion wrote:still don't buy it as an excuse for not drafting Cousins (he can pass to).

Its not just whether he can pass, its about facilitating an offense. Cousins doesn't have the IQ for that.

that's what they said about Shaq and he did pretty well in the triangle.

I don't remember anyone saying Shaq couldn't understand the triangle at the time. I remember the complaint being that no center had ever put up big numbers in the triangle (since at that point it had only been used successfully in Chicago and unsuccessfully in Dallas.) Shaq averaged 2.9 assists per game in his last year in Orlando... he was always a pretty good passer.

Your point on Rubio is very well taken though, Tirion. It seems that the vision is to be an open court team that can run, which obviously fits Rubio to a "T." But having him stand in the corner or make basket cuts in the halfcourt seems like a waste of his talents, just like it was a waste for Jason Kidd (who I think is the best potential comparison to Rubio) to run the triangle in Dallas.

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 3:38 pm**

I don't blame Kahn for passing. Sure we're going to act all offended now, and Adrian Wojzadfhaski is going to tell us who we really should have drafted. I can say though on draft day we knew Cousins had a Bad Attitude (I think he looks like BA from the A team), he refused workouts, didn't want to play in Minnesota, and may have given Ricky Rubio a bad impression of our team.

We are a better team than last year. I know that's not saying much, but we picked Johnson and we've got to focus on Rubio and our 2011 pick.

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 3:59 pm**

Darko is a good player, but...

was this article written by an insane person or is that just this guy's bit?

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 4:29 pm**

I read this earlier. It was a good read. Seems like he's on to something there.

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 5:33 pm**

The Wolves weren't looking for a center who could traditionally rebound, block shots, and defend the paint.

I hope this man, the writer, was wrong, otherwise the wolves will be destroyed in the paint. If Darko isn't a defender, who is going to defend, Koufos, Pekovic? ... please.

Without Darko as good defender, the paint roster will be a disaster similar to the perimeter roster of the last season, and the team will win less than 20 games again.

Shaq was right, he has exterminated all the centers and now every teams want a 7 footers as Pau Gasol.

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 6:44 pm**

So basically, Darko>Love?

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 6:49 pm**

That whole article is very good. It would be fun if it's all perfectly true. I think the balance of it is pretty right on.

The only thing he overlooks is that Darko does play good defense, so it's not like that isn't part of the reason we got him. And one of my simple pleasures as a Wolves fan is just watching Darko set a pick. He is very good at it.

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 7:21 pm**

in the opening 2 minutes of that game, darko proved what he brings to the table...played excellent interior team defence, blocked two shots and got an offensive tip out for another possession. darkos stats may not look great on a box score on some nights but he brings great intangibles that help you win. it's no wonder he usually does pretty well in the +/- stat

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 7:47 pm**

Calinks wrote:So basically, Darko>Love?

when it comes to wins. yes
when it comes to stats. no

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:36 pm**

I think he makes a lot of good Darko points, but what still concerns me is he able to be an 82 game starter? Not from an injury standpoint but more the fact that he has never done it. We have seen attitude from Darko and lack of effort at pretty much every stop. I would put more of that on DET than anything else, but he still has to produce. If he can be consistent, then I think this article is pretty accurate. To me being consistent means probably 11 and 8 with noteworthy post defense. He has a lot on his plate.

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 10:05 pm**

bball_jay wrote:
Calinks wrote:So basically, Darko>Love?

when it comes to wins. yes
when it comes to stats. no

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 10:30 pm**

LordBaldric wrote:
bball_jay wrote:
Calinks wrote:So basically, Darko>Love?

when it comes to wins. yes
when it comes to stats. no

I have to agree with the Dark Lord on this one. Love has shown that he impacts the games in lots of ways, stats included.

I actually think that the article made some decent points about Darko's contributions beyond stats, and we know he's a solid defender, but let's wait and see how he does when he's getting consistent minutes against top competition.

Posted: **Sat Oct 23, 2010 11:02 pm**

Darko's one of our most intriguing storylines this year. Who doesn't love a good comeback? NBA exile gets a second chance and becomes _____??? I'm hoping Darko pays off big for us, and we can laugh at the silly teams who let the Serbian Sleeper slip away.

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