X-Factor for 2012-13
Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 8:52 pm
Who do you all think is going to be most crucial player for the Wolves this year if we hope to take the next step? Assuming that Roy can give us 20-25 minutes a night and that Rubio is back in top form by the first of the year - both admittedly optimistic assumptions - whose performance has the potential to have the greatest impact overall on the teams success?
Basically, I am trying to figure out which of our players is the most important for this year. We know with some certainty that Love is going to produce every night and that Rubio, when he returns, is a terrific floor general. Outside of those two, there a lot of questions marks. I listed the five guys I think are most important for the Wolves if they aspire to make the playoffs for the first time since KG left.
1.) Chase Budinger - Air Bud needs to hit at least 38% of his 3P and provide a steady option on the wing. With Roy's knees and Shved's inexperience he is our only reliable option. He will get plenty of open looks and he needs to knock them down. If Bud can produce offensively and be a serviceable perimeter defender, I think the Wolves will be in good shape to win 45-50 games. He isn't our best player nor the flashiest, but we need him to be consistent more than we need anything else. The wings behind him, aside from AK47, all come with serious questions marks and cannot be counted on for providing consistent minutes.
2.) AK47 - If Kirilenko brings veteran leadership and defensive versatility without disrupting the flow of the offense he might prove to be the perfect addition to this team. His ability to bring credibility to the team defensively and harass the Durant's and Rudy Gay's of the schedule might be the difference between the Wolves finishing just outside the playoffs and us playing meaningful postseason games. I think he will become a dependable starter. AK47's game, like Rubio's, affects the rest of the players on the court with his willingness to do the little things; he could provide a huge facelift to the team's synergy with his all-around game if things go right.
3.) Nikola Pekovic - Continued growth from Pek is expected, and if he can give the Wolves 16 and 8 on a nightly basis, he will be a massive reason we have any success. I am expecting Pek to do well again - his strength and touch down low are natural gifts that cannot be taught. Pek can be a star in this league - there simply aren't very many offensively potent centers like him, and even fewer who aren't a liability at the end of the game due to horrid FT shooting. Considering we have only Stiemsma behind him, any serious regression from Pekovic could be a huge problem for the Wolves' playoff aspirations. That scary reality makes Pek among the most important players for the Wolves this season.
4.) Brandon Roy - Roy just needs to play. If he can start and provide fourth quarter scoring, Roy might be the secondary scoring option that we need to become more than a middling contender. If Roy is wholly rejuvenated and contribute 25-30 productive minutes on a nightly basis, I think the Wolves have a roster that can compete with any team in the NBA.
5) Luke Ridnour - Luke needs to provide a steady hand until Rubio returns. A return to trigger-happy 2010-11 version of Ridnour is not going to help this team win games. He must find a way to get Pek and Love the ball consistently and be more than a moving cone on defense. Whether or not the Wolves can jump out to a decent start in Rubio's abscense will fall largely on the shoulder of Ridnour.
6.) Derrick Williams/Aleksey Shved - If one of these two youngsters can find a niche in this rotation and provide some scoring for the second-unit, it will be a massive boost to the team. Williams needs to be more consistent and find ways to get others involved. Shved, if he can gain strength and hold his own physically, could possess the overall offensive skill-set that we need off the bench.
7.) Greg Stiemsma - Stiemer needs to bring 15 minutes of hellacious effort on nights when Pek gets into foul trouble. If he can prove he wasn't a product of Boston's proven defensive system, he is the rim-protecting big we need off the bench to combat imposing frontcourts like the Lakers, Utah, Memphis, Dallas and Sacramento.
Basically, I am trying to figure out which of our players is the most important for this year. We know with some certainty that Love is going to produce every night and that Rubio, when he returns, is a terrific floor general. Outside of those two, there a lot of questions marks. I listed the five guys I think are most important for the Wolves if they aspire to make the playoffs for the first time since KG left.
1.) Chase Budinger - Air Bud needs to hit at least 38% of his 3P and provide a steady option on the wing. With Roy's knees and Shved's inexperience he is our only reliable option. He will get plenty of open looks and he needs to knock them down. If Bud can produce offensively and be a serviceable perimeter defender, I think the Wolves will be in good shape to win 45-50 games. He isn't our best player nor the flashiest, but we need him to be consistent more than we need anything else. The wings behind him, aside from AK47, all come with serious questions marks and cannot be counted on for providing consistent minutes.
2.) AK47 - If Kirilenko brings veteran leadership and defensive versatility without disrupting the flow of the offense he might prove to be the perfect addition to this team. His ability to bring credibility to the team defensively and harass the Durant's and Rudy Gay's of the schedule might be the difference between the Wolves finishing just outside the playoffs and us playing meaningful postseason games. I think he will become a dependable starter. AK47's game, like Rubio's, affects the rest of the players on the court with his willingness to do the little things; he could provide a huge facelift to the team's synergy with his all-around game if things go right.
3.) Nikola Pekovic - Continued growth from Pek is expected, and if he can give the Wolves 16 and 8 on a nightly basis, he will be a massive reason we have any success. I am expecting Pek to do well again - his strength and touch down low are natural gifts that cannot be taught. Pek can be a star in this league - there simply aren't very many offensively potent centers like him, and even fewer who aren't a liability at the end of the game due to horrid FT shooting. Considering we have only Stiemsma behind him, any serious regression from Pekovic could be a huge problem for the Wolves' playoff aspirations. That scary reality makes Pek among the most important players for the Wolves this season.
4.) Brandon Roy - Roy just needs to play. If he can start and provide fourth quarter scoring, Roy might be the secondary scoring option that we need to become more than a middling contender. If Roy is wholly rejuvenated and contribute 25-30 productive minutes on a nightly basis, I think the Wolves have a roster that can compete with any team in the NBA.
5) Luke Ridnour - Luke needs to provide a steady hand until Rubio returns. A return to trigger-happy 2010-11 version of Ridnour is not going to help this team win games. He must find a way to get Pek and Love the ball consistently and be more than a moving cone on defense. Whether or not the Wolves can jump out to a decent start in Rubio's abscense will fall largely on the shoulder of Ridnour.
6.) Derrick Williams/Aleksey Shved - If one of these two youngsters can find a niche in this rotation and provide some scoring for the second-unit, it will be a massive boost to the team. Williams needs to be more consistent and find ways to get others involved. Shved, if he can gain strength and hold his own physically, could possess the overall offensive skill-set that we need off the bench.
7.) Greg Stiemsma - Stiemer needs to bring 15 minutes of hellacious effort on nights when Pek gets into foul trouble. If he can prove he wasn't a product of Boston's proven defensive system, he is the rim-protecting big we need off the bench to combat imposing frontcourts like the Lakers, Utah, Memphis, Dallas and Sacramento.
