RealGM

What do you think? With a shortened season, brutal schedule, young legs, Adelman, does Kevin Martin actually put the Wolves into playoff contention?

He'll help, but we won't be close to the playoffs. We're still very lacking on the defensive end, and that isn't going to change with Martin.

I think it gives us a realistic shot, depending on how ready Rubio and Williams are. I think it definitely gets us there by next year.

Houston, New Orleans (w/o Paul), Phoenix, Sacramento, Denver, Utah, and Golden State are all teams I'd potentially put behind us if we had Martin.

It really depends on what we have to give to acquire him, but I'm leaning towards yes.

No. Not even close to enough defense, and Kevin Martin isn't solving that problem.

It would be pretty unlikely this season with the center spot the way it is, and having 2 rookies playing significant minutes. Would be fun to watch though.

shrink wrote:No. Not even close to enough defense, and Kevin Martin isn't solving that problem.

You don't need defense to make it to the playoffs. Just look at the Suns, Knicks, and Nuggets.

Varejoa and Martin would make Minny a playoff team IMO

Martin for Millicic and Johnson

Varejoa for Beasly and Pekovic

$$ works

5.Varejoa/Anthony
4.Love/Williams
3.Williams
2.Martin/Malcom
1.Rubio/Luke

Krapinsky wrote:I think it gives us a realistic shot, depending on how ready Rubio and Williams are. I think it definitely gets us there by next year.

Houston, New Orleans (w/o Paul), Phoenix, Sacramento, Denver, Utah, and Golden State are all teams I'd potentially put behind us if we had Martin.

I might even add Portland to that list depending on LMA's health.

Also, Adelman should get the team playing better defense with or without Martin.

Martin would help in making the playoffs, but yes, defense would still be an issue to compete in the playoffs ... playoff teams can raise the level of play, and I don't think we are to that point by any means. Consistency from Milicic, Love and Beas stepping up, Randolph deciding he can impact, and the rookies holding their own are all pieces of the puzzle.

Mavs
Thunder
Lakers
Blazers
Spurs
Grizzlies
Clippers (with CP3)
Suns (with Nash)/Wolves (with Martin)
------------
Wolves (with Martin)/Suns (with Nash)
Kings
Rockets
Warriors
Nuggets
Jazz
Hornets

Locks
OKC, POR, LAL, SAS, DAL, MEM

Too soon to tell
HOU, NOH, MIN (with Martin), PHX, GSW, LAC

Lottery team
SAC, DEN, UTA

He'd bring us into "fighting for the 8th seed", which wouldn't be a very good return on investment when you look at how long we've been terrible.

We would have a shot at the 8th seed, yeah.

Jordan, Gasol, Jefferson, Millsap, Scola, Howard, Paul, Bynum, Nene

Too soon to tell

Here's the first question.
How many games is Adelman as coach worth over Rambis? 10? 15? 20?
Rambis was the absolute worst coach in the NBA by a large margin last year, and Adelman is a top 3 coach in the NBA this year. My guess is Adelman with last year's team wins 15 more games than Rambis did, so we would have been a 32 - 50 team with Adelman.

Now add in Rubio and take off Foye....maybe another 4-8 wins?
Add D. Williams and Kevin Martin and take off Beasley and, say, Pekovic (they need size) and what does that add? another 5-10 wins?
Does Randolph adding 15 lbs of muscle playing in a contract year make him a significantly better player?
Does Wes Johnson remember how to shoot the 3 and play solid defense under Adelman?
Does Webster stay healthy, giving us a legit 2 way player on the wing?

Clearly we could fall short and win 30-35 games, but I think we'd win 40+ games with that team. Every team got a year older, in our case that means more of our players turned 23 and have some experience. It's easy to imagine players like Wes Johnson and Randolph being significantly better than last year as well (especially Randolph, who added 15 lbs of muscle and is in a contract year).

"New NBA rule set to ruin Kevin Martin's career"

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1141059

Guy986 wrote:

"Rip-through" moves, in which an offensive player swings the ball into a defender's outstretched arm and then attempts a shot once he has created contact, will be considered non-shooting fouls if the contact begins before the offensive player starts his shooting motion.

Also, on drives to the basket, a shooting foul will be called only if contact occurs after the offensive player has begun his shooting motion, not after he has initiated his leap toward the basket.

"Certain types of contact involving the shooter were all being called in his favor," Jackson said. "It doesn't look good for the game. There was a strong feeling that those types of plays were creating an ill-advised reward for the shooter, often with three free throws."

The league will also make traveling in the post and on the perimeter a point of emphasis, with a player hopping off of and landing on the same foot viewed as an automatic violation. Referees will also consider locking or clamping an opponent's arm or hand under the basket while battling for a rebound and discontinued or hesitation dribbles as automatic violations.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/73295 ... ls-2011-12

Youu take away the Rip Through move. You take away some of his driving foul to the rim. You take away his pumpfake then jump into defender move. You call traveling more often in the perimeter. Kevin Martin loses 30% of his offense. :cry:

shrink wrote:Youu take away the Rip Through move. You take away some of his driving foul to the rim. You take away his pumpfake then jump into defender move. You call traveling more often in the perimeter. Kevin Martin loses 30% of his offense.

I refuse to underestimate the ability of floppers finding new and improved ways to flop.

Plus, the driving to the hoop rules will be ignored 5 games into the season, like the arguing with the ref for non-calls was last year. The rip through move is definitely gone though.

I didn't watch any Houston games last year except for one when they played the Wolves. Can somebody tell me how Martin looked under Adelman, particularly on the defensive end?