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Wolves owner Glen Taylor has come out saying he wants to see improvement between now and the end of the season. I wanted to look at exactly where the Wolves are struggling and how the losses have piled up.

Wins – 11, against the likes of - Bucks, Kings, Knicks, Clippers, Cavs, Pistons, Cavs, Hornets, Nets, Wizards, Raptors (Just 2 Western teams).

• 1 point loss – Kings, Thunder
• 2 point loss – Nuggets
• 3 point loss – Bobcats, Celtics, Kings
• 4 point loss – Kings, Rockets
• 5 point loss – Lakers, Blazers, Jazz
• Less than 10 point loss – 25
• More than 10 point loss – 12

Looking at the above, 11 games have been decided by fewer than 5 points, all against Western teams except the Bobcats & Celtics – 30% of our losses. This comes down to veteran leadership, turnovers, bad defense, bad decision making and not having a go-to guy, which we clearly have lacked. Ridnour, Telfair and Webster are our most experienced players and none of them have been considered clutch performers during their careers.

Wolves clearly need more defensive intensity to close out games and need players that can hit the big shots – Beasley and Ridnour are the only ones who seem to step up, or have plays drawn up for them. Beasley is capable of hitting big shots; it’s his carless turnovers and forced shots that keep him off the floor. Ridnour is a career 90% FT shooter, yet we have seen him miss big FTs this season, and taken some ill-advised field goal attempts.

Defensively, Darko is our best shot blocker, and has fouled out of 4 games this season. Love on the other hand, does not go for blocks – he has just 18 for the season and has never fouled out. I’m not advocating for Love to start hacking people, but he’s got to learn how to play tougher defense if he wants to help his team win close games. Brewer is a decent defender, he sometimes gambles, but usually comes away with 2 steals a game, and is getting better and running through screens and putting a hand up. Wes has potential to be both a good defender and a clutch scorer – once the confidence returns. Lately he’s taken on a more aggressive attitude and his points have increased. Webster is an ok defender and an above average FT shooter, who can easily draw fouls.

I think, next season, the Wolves need a veteran, pass first, defensive minded Point Guard that can get other players involved in the offense, draw fouls and hit FTs and hit clutch shots.

Free Agent veteran guards available next year that could help the Wolves are:

Mo Williams, Jose Juan Barea, Aaron Brooks, TJ Ford, Shannon Brown, Carlos Arroyo, Earl Boykins, Sasha Vujacic, Goran Dragic, Leandro Barbosa, Earl Watson.

All those point guards seem like bad fits or wouldn't come here. Brown would be alright as he's a good defender and has played in a similar offense.

I think Rubio should help the pg defense somewhat, then I think we need another wing who can create, and an energy defense/shotblocker at the 4-5.

I think guys playing out of position is hurting this team.

Johnson and Brewer are 3's. Beasley and Love are 4's.

Webster/Ellington are the only SG's we really have.

I think its time to start Flynn. Ridnour is a backup, and I think we need him to be a backup.

Flynn/Webster/Beasley/Love/Darko should be starters. Love/Beasley are both to good to have one on the bench right now.

And we need an athletic 5 who can rebound. Outside of Love, our rebounding is iffy. We give up way to many offensive boards, and Pek can't play above the rim. How many missed dunks does the guy have? lol

I'm just hoping Rubio works out, thats just a huge hole right now @ PG. Another center would be nice too.

Ice32 wrote:I think, next season, the Wolves need a veteran, pass first, defensive minded Point Guard
Mo Williams, Jose Juan Barea, Aaron Brooks, TJ Ford, Shannon Brown, Carlos Arroyo, Earl Boykins, Sasha Vujacic, Goran Dragic, Leandro Barbosa, Earl Watson.

The guys I bolded are either not pass-first, not defensive, or not a point guard (or all three)

Ice32 wrote:Free Agent veteran guards available next year that could help the Wolves are:

Mo Williams, Jose Juan Barea, Aaron Brooks, TJ Ford, Shannon Brown, Carlos Arroyo, Earl Boykins, Sasha Vujacic, Goran Dragic, Leandro Barbosa, Earl Watson.

I think "help" is a strong word here.

I'd rather see Rubio and our draft pick get minutes over these "savvy" vets.

Nice comments and I agree....I really dont think though that Rubio is the answer, even if he decides to join the team.

This is a depressing thread. If you think about it logically...

Rubio comes over and we still suck (because he is young and inexperienced).

If Glenn wants results now, by the end of next season...Rambis and/or Kahn are gone.


I don't see how this team can really upgrade itself at this point, other than a trade of a bunch of young potential pieces for a good solid vet who is still on the younger side.

Maybe Flynn, Pek, Webster, and some of our picks for a Defensive C.

IF Beasley can turn into a big-time finisher, more of these close games will fall our way instead. I still don't know how we'll be a legit playoff team/contender with this bunch, as there are too many guys who don't play defense.

Getting rid of Rambis is the first thing that needs to happen.

Then you spend the offseason auditioning for coaches who have a gameplan that suits the personal on the team.

You get an automatic 10 extra wins with this approach next season and thats before you factor in Rubio and another high draft pick coming into the team.

Vindicater wrote:Getting rid of Rambis is the first thing that needs to happen.

Then you spend the offseason auditioning for coaches who have a gameplan that suits the personal on the team.

You get an automatic 10 extra wins with this approach next season and thats before you factor in Rubio and another high draft pick coming into the team.

Not really. Next season they'll still have a bunch of wings that can't create their own offence, an inexperienced point guard (and overall team really) and probably a lack of athleticism in the front court as well. This team just got too overhyped in the offseason; it's a minor miracle that they're actually in a position to win games like the San Antonio ones at all.

This team needs a wing that you can ISO consistently. Beasley can do it but only in certain match-ups. If they were to get an Iggy or Ellis type of player then the team would probably be at .500 right now. They also need more athleticism in the front court as Darko and Tolliver are the only "athletes" and even they're not spectacular.

Hey outsider here, what is the FO's opinion of Lambeer? think they'd give him a go if they let Rambis go? I REALLY wanted him as Phillys head coach or lead assistant this off-season (though I'm happy with Collins).

Would love to see the guy get a chance to be a head coach, lol or come to Philly as an assistant

Well, he took over the team when Rambis got ejected so I would say he's the lead assistant and would be the interim if Rambis got fired.

Nice little read there Ice. I'll raise a few list management issues that some of you may be able to answer as i don't get to see much of the T-Wolves play.

1. With the playing personnel that we have at the moment is Rambis and the rest of the coaching panel puting them in a position where they can develop and flourish to their potential?

2. If this isn't the case should someone be held accountable for not acquiring personnell that can execute the game plan on a nightly basis?

3. If it is in fact just a youth issue and the coaching panel have a view that by being young that they will learn from their mistakes?

Now i for one am a very patient person, i have to be i follow the Timberwolves with a passion. I dont subscribe to theory of getting rid of Rambis, despite his appalling coaching record. But my main concern is that i think Kahn and Rambis are trying very hard to put a rectangular jigsaw piece in a triangular place. Sure the idealogy of the triangle is great, but if you dont have the right jigsaw piece it will never fit in right, ever.

I think if we had Rubio + a center like Randolph coming in for Darko off the bench it would help a lot. We really struggle on defense when Pek/Koufus are in.

urinesane wrote:I think if we had Rubio + a center like Randolph coming in for Darko off the bench it would help a lot. We really struggle on defense when Pek/Koufus are in.

I hope your right, Kahn is banking our next 6-7 years on that along with them ebing able to fit intop Rambis's system.

My basic view is

Khans dream succesful = championship
Khans drean fail = 7-8 years in hell

What do you guys think about playing these guys through their mistakes and not benching them right away?

I know, it's me again and talking about Love and Beasley getting tons of minutes. But I really think they do. Let them play through their mistakes because any bad they bring will be outweighed by the good they bring. It's a young team, coach up the mistakes during practice, and lets work through them in a game.

Rambis is in love with running what I'll call "post-focused" offense (triangle, high post, double-high picks, etc.).

We don't have post players to do this.





This gym ain't big enough for both Rambis's offense and the personnel. Somethings gotta change.

Rambis

I don't think firing Rambis now is the right decision, I just feel it'd tear the locker-room apart. I'd definitely give him to the end of the season at least, if we hit 20 wins then I'd let him keep the job. Okay, 20 wins is still a pretty horrible record but it's an improvement over last year's diabolical season. At times this year we've really played good ball which I, for one, have loved watching. The 4th quarter's not so much, though. I have faith in what Rambis is doing, I feel he's a good guy who has a good rapport with the players and seems to have plenty of passion for the game and his team.

What's needed

I agree with most of what Ice has said in his original post. Not too sure about the PG situation, IF Rubio comes over then I don't see why we need another PG. Flynn's slowly getting his confidence back and Ridnour's been a solid player for us this season despite what people say. Telfair's either getting bought out/traded or so it looks that way so I don't think we need a PG. I think we need a SG, preferably someone decent in the clutch, can create space for open shots and can play a bit of D. Not too many of them around though so it's gonna be tough. The only other thing that could make a difference is an athletic minded PF/C, one who can block shots and give us plenty of hustle. Randolph would be a good fit here in my opinion anyway, he's gotta' be available after getting in D'Antoni's bad books. I'd like him here.

We're slowly progressing though, we're a far better team than last year and despite what our record says, I believe we've progressed quite a bit.

Next year we need a new starting PG, SG, and C. Also, Beasley needs to get a LOT more consistent and Love needs to become and average defender.

I am in the 'Rubio is coming over next year' camp, I think the potential lockout will force his hand contract-wise, but I don't think he's going to set the world on fire in a Chris Paulesque way his first year. I watched some Barca games and I think that while he will ultimately adapt to the NBA he will be overwhelmed in his first year or so - I think he will run the offense about as good as Ridnour does now in his first year. But between him and Ridnour I guess you could say that our PG needs are met for next season. We have to dump Flynn. He is not a cerebral player, and the position he plays calls for it.

Although I love Darko, I am coming to the conclusion that he doesn't belong in this starting lineup...I keep waiting for him to stop shooting that hook shot and use more of the post moves that he's shown flashes of, but that's just not his game. All of his highlights are when he's facing up. I don't think his defense is so great that it mitigates his inconsistency on offense. I'd much rather have an absolute lockdown defender if C offense is going to be inconsistent than what Darko does. If Darko could put it all together night in and night out I think he'd be great...but I just don't see it happening like that anymore.

Our SGs suck. Brewer is not the answer, neither is Webster or Ellington. If you could combine Brewer's defense and Ellington's handles and offense we would have a solid starter (but one that still couldn't create his own shot). I like Webster better off the bench. Wes isn't a SG, he's a SF. He plays a better game as a SF. Maybe Rubio can be a miracle worker and get Johnson some shots at SG but if Rambis is running this team next year the SG needs to be able to create his own shot otherwise we'll be in the same boat we are now.

In my ideal world I would probably trade for Iguodala and draft Valanciunas or Kanter and hope that Beasley can find a way to bring it every night and Love can learn how to defend. Then we should be able to win some games.

moss_is_1 wrote:All those point guards seem like bad fits or wouldn't come here. Brown would be alright as he's a good defender and has played in a similar offense.

I think Rubio should help the pg defense somewhat, then I think we need another wing who can create, and an energy defense/shotblocker at the 4-5.

Brown is far from a PG. You think your current PGs can't pass? Lol Brown is twice as bad. Dude is a SG.

Now if you would like to slide Wes Johnson over to the Lakers for him we can talk