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http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/136923083.html

A couple minutes after Rick Adelman stood out in the hallway and said the Wolves moved the ball better than they had all season, Love sat at his locker stall and was asked if he agreed with that assessment and why that might have been so?

"Um," he looked up and said, "Mike being out?"

Then he offered, "I'm kidding, I'm kidding."

This could be interesting how this turns out. Maybe the team REALLY ARE getting tired of Beasley not passing.

Beasley is gone whether it is a trade or via FA at the end of the year.

We can talk about how the ball moves better without him out there, but last year proved to me at least, that occasional game when that might be the case, changes little. We are, for the most part, a better team with Michael Beasley on the floor.

This is also part of the reason Rubio needs to play more with him. He doesn't have nearly as many iso looks with Rubio on the floor as he does with Ridnour on the floor cause Ricky's out there play making. Luke is okay, but he doesn't spur ball movement like Rubio does. It's contagious. That's also why the starting unit always starts so stale.

He's being passive-aggressive.

He's letting us know how he feels without hurting any feelings, so he says it in a joking sense and even adds the "i'm kidding" part.

I forgot what % of a joke is the truth, but if we as fans can see that Beas is hogging the ball, i'm pretty sure people who's JOB it is to notice these things/associate with these people and make adjustments are seeing it also

I think this is one of those times where a guy can both poke fun at someone and drive a point home with him. This is what guys do, especially guys on a team. They crack jokes, they make fun of each other. I do think Mike HAS been passing more this year. I also think Mike has known he is the only guy on the team that can do anything with the ball. Especially last year. Most of the time he is on the court, who is he going to pass it to? Darko? Wes? Luke? I'm not going to blame him for looking at those options and deciding to keep it. He does need to move the ball more often, yes, but he also needs guys out there with him that are worth moving the ball to.

Classic Love.

I'm pretty sure Love thought there was a bit of truth to that comment. I'm pretty lukewarm when it comes to Beasley, but you shouldn't throw your teammates under the bus in public.

I mean I thought it as the game was wrapping up. The wizards are terrible so I wouldn't put much weight on the outcome. As inconsistent as Beasley has been at times, he is our best offensive player in creating his own shot. I think he just has to be more consistent on making sure he is part of the offense rather than THE offense. I still like Beas, as Zgoda pointed out, he is just turning 23!

I have always sensed a bit of tension between Love and Beas even though they try to act like it isn't there. I am sure Beasley is the loud center of attention and Love probably gets tired of it because he feels he should be the focal point and attention grabber. I believe that Beasley is "maturity" away from being our best player and I am sure that this pisses Love off after everything he has done.

**I realize that "maturity" is a loaded term and is very open to interpretation. Basically, I am saying Beas has the tools, he just has to put everything together. Whether or not that happens, I really don't know, I can only hope.

champalift wrote:I have always sensed a bit of tension between Love and Beas even though they try to act like it isn't there. I am sure Beasley is the loud center of attention and Love probably gets tired of it because he feels he should be the focal point and attention grabber.

Since when is Beasley the center of attention, focal point and attention grabber? Last I checked, Beasley isn't the one taping interviews with the national media. If anything, Beasley likely gets mad about Love getting all the attention.

I think this isn't a joke from Beasley point of view.

If true its a bad comment, even if it was a joke. K. Love as the leader of the team should get everybody involved and inspire them

Klomp wrote:

champalift wrote:I have always sensed a bit of tension between Love and Beas even though they try to act like it isn't there. I am sure Beasley is the loud center of attention and Love probably gets tired of it because he feels he should be the focal point and attention grabber.

Since when is Beasley the center of attention, focal point and attention grabber? Last I checked, Beasley isn't the one taping interviews with the national media. If anything, Beasley likely gets mad about Love getting all the attention.

I don't think he means with the media. He means in the locker room. Did you already forget about Beasley interviewing everyone for media day last year? He was an attention grabbing fool.

Klomp wrote:

champalift wrote:I have always sensed a bit of tension between Love and Beas even though they try to act like it isn't there. I am sure Beasley is the loud center of attention and Love probably gets tired of it because he feels he should be the focal point and attention grabber.

Since when is Beasley the center of attention, focal point and attention grabber? Last I checked, Beasley isn't the one taping interviews with the national media. If anything, Beasley likely gets mad about Love getting all the attention.

I am saying from an inside team perspective. I guarantee Beasley is the loudest guy in practice/meetings/etc. I guess my point is that I would bet those two kind of but heads in terms of who is the leader of the team. I am sure Beasley is simply louder than Love and Love probably gets frustrated with him. Sure Love is getting all the attention now nationally, deservedly so, but people like flashy scorers (complete opposite of Love). If Beasley can figure out his issues there is no doubt in my mind Beas and Rubio would be our "stars". Obviously this is amateur psychology, but this is just the vibe I pick up from those two.

I don't think Beasley can be better than Love. It's easy to look at their physical ability and say Beasley has more, but I think at this point Love as exceeded anything you can reasonably expect from Beasley.

Greco21 wrote:If true its a bad comment, even if it was a joke. K. Love as the leader of the team should get everybody involved and inspire them

I don't agree. NBA and Europe are different cultures for lifetime loyalty to a franchise and relationships between teammates.

My recap about this stuff is Beasley is (almost) out of this project, wich needs players with mind quickness, good hands, good capacity decision and solid defenders.

Perhaps Love must hold his tongue due his contract situation, but I think this was his opinion about Beas.

lobishome wrote:

Greco21 wrote:If true its a bad comment, even if it was a joke. K. Love as the leader of the team should get everybody involved and inspire them

I don't agree. NBA and Europe are different cultures for lifetime loyalty to a franchise and relationships between teammates.

My recap about this stuff is Beasley is (almost) out of this project, wich needs players with mind quickness, good hands, good capacity decision and solid defenders.

Perhaps Love must hold his tongue due his contract situation, but I think this was his opinion about Beas.

I have played basketball on an American High School. I understand the culture differences. Of course it is different being a pro but I do not think how this could turn positive for the Wolves. I mean is not Love making comments about Pekovic or Randolph. It is the star player making comments about a starter.

I would prefer the coaching staff making the statement.

IMHO whatsoever

Love: Milicic is overpaid, a bust, and pretty much useless...ha ha kidding
Milicic: I'm going to punch you so hard, your mom is going to feel pain. I'M JUST KIDDING!
Love: ha ha, can you let go of me now please?

cpfsf wrote:Love: Milicic is overpaid, a bust, and pretty much useless...ha ha kidding
Milicic: I'm going to punch you so hard, your mom is going to feel pain. I'M JUST KIDDING!
Love: ha ha, can you let go of me now please?

Greco21 wrote:I have played basketball on an American High School. I understand the culture differences. Of course it is different being a pro but I do not think how this could turn positive for the Wolves. I mean is not Love making comments about Pekovic or Randolph. It is the star player making comments about a starter.

I would prefer the coaching staff making the statement.

IMHO whatsoever

Perhaps I'm wrong

EDIT :Maybe if Adelman uses a electric dog collar in Beasley when Mick takes a bad decision ...

I'm kidding, I'm kidding.

lobishome wrote:I think this isn't a joke from Beasley point of view.

Good. Hopefully it got under his skin and he goes out to prove it isn't true. Whether it's at school, work, sports, relationships, everyone has been on the recieving end of this kind of thing. You either go home and cry about it, or you go out and prove it isn't true.

Greco21 wrote:If true its a bad comment, even if it was a joke. K. Love as the leader of the team should get everybody involved and inspire them

You don't become a leader by coddling everyone. You become a leader by making everyone around you better. Sometimes people get better when they get constant encouragement. Sometimes they get better when they are shown the truth. A good leader knows how and when to use which ever one is needed.

It's true. The offense flows better without Beasley. I don't think anyone disagrees privately. I don't think it will cause any sort of disruption because I'm sure Beasley has heard it before. If he hasn't he should've.