Page 1 of 1

Q&A on Love--other big men.

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 4:02 am
by revprodeji
Timberwolves.com caught up with all three of them, as well as Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale, to get their respective thoughts on a variety of topics with just nine days remaining before the June 26 NBA Draft.

Love Part

Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale:
Q: On if he agrees with Wolves Assistant General Manager Fred Hoiberg that Kevin Love reminds him of his former teammate, Bill Walton:
McHale: Fred wasn't born when Bill Walton was throwing all those passes. Never listen to a (Iowa State) Cyclone when it comes to history. He's completely different. I don't want to counteract my friend Freddy, but Bill was an over-the-head passer ... Kevin's really that Wes Unseld. He's got a really good feel for the game, moves the ball up and down the floor really well. He does some really good things. And again, I think Kosta Koufus shot the ball very well, he can spread the floor for a seven-footer. Ajinca's really interesting, he has a 7-7 wingspan. It was really a good group ... All four big guys were impressive to me.

Q: On how Love measured out at pre-draft camp:
McHale: I think Kevin measured out in shoes 6-9 and 1/2. Let me tell you something, the difference between 6-9 1/2 and 6-10 really isn't all that much. These are some really long kids out here today, that's why it was interesting to watch him. He did a nice job against them.

Q: On if Love is a legitimate option at third pick:
McHale: A lot of guys are a legitimate option.

Q: On if Love is athletic enough to play the post in the NBA:
McHale: Yeah, I think so. I think Kevin looks really good. He's always been a really good small area quickness player. When you're a big guy, you're playing in small areas, you're not running around normally out to the three-point line.

Q: On Love's basketball IQ:
McHale: He just knows how to play. There's a gift in knowing how to play. It makes you faster, it makes you quicker, it makes you everything because you're anticipating everything, you're a step ahead.

Q: On if he enjoys evaluating big men more so than other prospects:
McHale: Yeah I think so. You like to see big guys. Unfortunately in our league its getting so doggone small. I never thought I'd see a Finals were the center would be Kevin Garnett and the power forward would be James Posey. I was born too soon. I'd like taking my chances against Posey down there, he'd be setting right next to Doc Rivers very quickly. But you know, it's a smaller league right now so it's nice to see big guys.

Q: On questions about Love's size:
McHale: Antonio McDyess plays center for Detroit, they had the best record. Right now, Kevin (Garnett) finishes the game at five (for Boston) and James Posey at 6-6 at the four. (The Lakers) play (Vladimir) Radmanovic at the four a lot when they have (Pau) Gasol at the five and (Phil Jackson) isn't happy with what (Lamar) Odom's doing. And some of the guys who are 6-10 in our league, might as well be 6-6. Nothing is more overrated, in my opinion, than your height, if you're over a certain height. ... What I heard was the Lakers' length was going to overwhelm the Celtics, how's that working out? Yeah, it's overrated. Those are big kids. Would you be asking me that if instead of being 6-9 1/2 he was 6-10 1/2? So that inch, that's going to throw everything into a completely different light? Again, Al (Jefferson's) 6-9 but Al scores against guys 7-2 all the time. Does Al look 6-9 when he plays? No. It's all relative to a lot of stuff. (If) they're basketball players, they're basketball players.


French center Alexis Ajinca
Q: On if he can play in the NBA:
Ajinca: I feel I can play (in the) NBA. But I really need some weight.

Q: On how he played Tuesday:
Ajinca: I think I played good. I showed I can run and shoot the three or two. I think I played good today.

Q: On how many teams he is working out for:
Ajinca: I've got 15 workouts.

Q: On how many times he has been to the United States: Ajinca: This is my fourth time.

Q: On how he feels his game is progressing:
Ajinca: I feel I learn every day because playing against big guys that are the same age as me (is) good for me.


Texas A&M center DeAndre Jordan
Q: On why he thinks his draft stock has improved in recent weeks:
Jordan: Workouts are going well, I mean, they are going great. The work that I put in after the tournament its working out, but the past six seven weeks, just working hard everyday, just trying to get better is helping me move up I guess.

Q: On how he prepares for pre-draft workouts:
Jordan: Just rest, but at the same time you have to be in shape, you have to be willing to bump a little bit. You have to be able to go up and down when you are tired. You have to be mentally tough and push it so you can finish the workout and not be sluggish (at the end).

Q: On the differences between the college and the pro game:
Jordan: (The NBA's) a lot more physical. You can play a lot more physical because at the college level they don't let you bump as much. But here they kind of like that. They let you do it. Its pretty much the physicality and you have to be mentally ready.

Q: On what he can bring to the Wolves:
Jordan: Athleticism, rebounding, just a defensive force.


Ohio State center Kosta Koufos
Q: On what he tried to show on the court.
Koufos: I just tried to show as much as possible. I just wanted to play hard and go after it. Just get up and down the court, that's about it.

Q: On the differences between pre-draft workouts for different teams:
Koufos: They do pretty much the same things. A lot of shooting, a lot of 1-on-1, 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 and such. Some teams mix in different things as others do as well.

Q: On if he is open to playing for any NBA team:
Koufos: I'm just going to any team that wants me. I'm just going to go out and try my best and enjoy it.

Q: On how he would fit in with the Wolves:
Koufos: They are an up-tempo team, a very young team as well, I feel like I could fit in with the up-tempo style. God blessed me with this opportunity and I'm just making the best of it.

Q: On how playing one year at Ohio State helped him improve his game:
Koufos: Coach (Thad) Matta helped me a lot. I got mentally tougher (and) physically tougher. That one year did help me a lot.

Re: Q&A on Love--other big men.

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 4:51 am
by Klomp

Re: Q&A on Love--other big men.

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 6:22 am
by revprodeji

Re: Q&A on Love--other big men.

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:19 am
by 4ho5ive
Gold practice jerseys? WTF? Im intrigued, could this be part of our transformation?