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Minnesota (1-3)
Pace: 100.3 (3), Off: 98.6 (17), Def: 96.3 (8)
Ricky Rubio has brought a lot more than slick passing to the NBA. The Wolves are scoring 103 points per 100 possessions with Rubio on the floor, and just 93 with him on the bench. They're just 1-3, but it's clear they're going to be more competitive than they've been since trading Kevin Garnett.

Kevin Love has made shedding pounds and swishing step-back 3s look as natural as his board work. Ricky Rubio plays entire fourth quarters and surely will start soon. A return to the Marriott downtown with two-story rooms is on the horizon.

Minnesota Timberwolves (2-3)
There are plenty of positive signs for Minnesota, which has won back-to-back games against Dallas and San Antonio after opening with close losses to Oklahoma City, Milwaukee and Miami. Kevin Love reported in the best shape of his life and has improved his defense while continuing to post elite rebounding, scoring and three-point-shooting totals, proving he deserves a max contract. Point guard Ricky Rubio has the court vision and instincts to rival those of elite peers like Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo, he's shooting better than anticipated and he's not being overwhelmed that often on defense. Rookie forward Derrick Williams has the luxury of operating beneath the radar -- unusual for a No. 2 pick on a losing team -- and is going to be, at minimum, a solid rotation player. And Rick Adelman is the ideal coach to sew these virtues -- which also include the contributions of glue guy Anthony Tolliver -- into a team. That said, the Wolves have played only one road game, they are committing turnovers at an alarming rate and they need more from the wing positions, where Michael Beasley and Wes Johnson had been struggling before helping Minnesota beat the Spurs on Monday.