"If anyone's to blame..."

Post #1 » by **Klomp** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 9:09 am

Asked if he hears the clock ticking, Rambis directed the questioner to Kahn, who said, "I don't like that we haven't been competitive on the road, and I recognize it needs to change, but I don't have a clock. We have to demonstrate over the next several weeks that this will stop.

"If anybody deserves the blame, it would be me -- and certainly not Kurt -- because I chose to have these players on this team."

Kahn spoke in terms of weeks to see progress from a team he says needs to get "healthier, a little bit more experience, a little less demanding schedule, more cohesive, more organized, less new."

Rambis looks at the bigger picture and speaks in terms of years.

"I wish it would happen faster," he said. "I know fans are frustrated. The players are frustrated, players are angry. But so much of it is just like life. They've got to grow up, they've got to mature as ballplayers. They've got a lot of learning to do."

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/106923478.html

jade_hippo · Post #2 » by **jade_hippo** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 9:14 am

^^ this makes me feel no better

Brad Childress has given statements that have been more motivating than this. These guys need to pay me for season tickets this year. I've been loyal, I've shown my support, I buy merchandise, I buy my tickets, I've been rewarded by speeches of how this team is going to suck for a while (using the term years) and get to see a product where we cannot put 5 guys on the floor at the same time who are trying. Why do I do this to myself... something HAS to change

AQuintus · Post #3 » by **AQuintus** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 10:29 am

So Kahn is saying that fans should be demanding that he gets fired? Because I have no problem with that.

Post #4 » by **Calinks** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 12:39 pm

LOL. At least these guys are taking ownership. Unlike Wittman.

Dewey · Post #5 » by **Dewey** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 1:17 pm

Taylor was clearly unhappy last year and made some pretty strong statements about his expectations this season. I'm pretty sure Taylor won't let this coninue with the patience Kahn is suggesting ... IMO Kahn is already in "buy more time" mode to try and find a solution, while Rambis is discovering he is not a zen master.

southern wolf · Post #6 » by **southern wolf** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 1:38 pm

jade_hippo wrote:this makes me feel no better

Krapinsky · Post #7 » by **Krapinsky** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 3:17 pm

Dewey wrote:Taylor was clearly unhappy last year and made some pretty strong statements about his expectations this season. I'm pretty sure Taylor won't let this coninue with the patience Kahn is suggesting ... IMO Kahn is already in "buy more time" mode to try and find a solution, while Rambis is discovering he is not a zen master.

Look, if people went into this season thinking that the youngest team in the NBA, a team with all new players that have never played together before, a team where the majority of the players are learning a complicated system, and a team missing two of its starters, was going to be a competitive team in the early going, well then you had your delusional-homer goggles on.

I'm as guilty as any. But let's temper our expectations a little bit.

Post #8 » by **Worm Guts** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 3:22 pm

I'm not bothered by the record, I'm bothered by the way they've lost. I don't care how young or untalented this team is, it shouldn't be down 30 in the 3rd quarter and that's happened 3 times in 7 games.

TMo519 · Post #9 » by **TMo519** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 3:35 pm

Yeah, you can't get repeatedly killed on the road and then preach patience. It's not about the 1-6 record, it's that when they get punched in the face, there's no fight in them at all (on the road at least). You can't allow yourself to get beat down repeatedly and then say "Oh, I'm young". That's not acceptable at all, and it feels like the only one feeling that way is Beasley. Games will get away from you, that happens, especially with young teams, but your four road games should not be lost by an AVERAGE of 30 points, that's just ridiculous.

I figured no more than 2 wins, especially given the schedule, which is absolutely brutal for a young team trying to figure itself out. But you gotta have some fight in you to not allow yourself to get routed every time you step on the floor away from your arena.

Krapinsky · Post #10 » by **Krapinsky** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 3:42 pm

It's our first road trip and the schedule has been hellacious and seen injuries to our #1 scorer and current starting point guard. I agree that the effort has been disheartening, but I think we're getting beat by 30 first and foremost because we're overmatched. Our starters match up with the benches of just about all these teams. Let's get these guys home and let them regroup before we start grabbing the pitchforks.

john2jer · Post #11 » by **john2jer** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 4:53 pm

So we're going to go 76-6, I don't see what the big deal is. Did you all expect 82-0? Patience.

Dewey · Post #12 » by **Dewey** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 5:01 pm

Krapinsky wrote:
Dewey wrote:Taylor was clearly unhappy last year and made some pretty strong statements about his expectations this season. I'm pretty sure Taylor won't let this coninue with the patience Kahn is suggesting ... IMO Kahn is already in "buy more time" mode to try and find a solution, while Rambis is discovering he is not a zen master.

Look, if people went into this season thinking that the youngest team in the NBA, a team with all new players that have never played together before, a team where the majority of the players are learning a complicated system, and a team missing two of its starters, was going to be a competitive team in the early going, well then you had your delusional-homer goggles on.

I'm as guilty as any. But let's temper our expectations a little bit.

So these are the excuses for not moving the ball effectively or play team defense? And who's delusional? Team defense is a fundamental - no need to offer any excuses because they are young and haven't played together. They are professionals. The offensive system is NOT complicated ... yet ... Rambo has pointed this out as well as the commenting offense is different for some - not all. Missing Webster and Flynn does not provide any excuse for our inability to move the ball or play team defense. We're not talking about win-loss records, we're talking about being competitive as a team ... which we clearly are not.

eyeteeth · Post #13 » by **eyeteeth** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 5:12 pm

I think the one that stings was Memphis. I can see losing this way to Miami and Orlando, and the Hawks have been playing great in the early going, so them too. But a lot of fans, myself included, judge this team against Memphis. The Love/Mayo trade, the pursuit of Gay... it's a benchmark team. We needed to do better against them.

And the schedule has been simply brutal. It angers me that this is how a very young team is expected to open the season. It is not necessary, and bottom line, somebody decided it would be this way. Right now they are living with no accountability. It makes me wonder if they're one of the supposedly innumerable people that Kahn has pissed off over the years. This schedule s so bad it seems almost personal. :evil:

Post #14 » by **The J Rocka** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 5:13 pm

Yeah the only thing I'm not liking is the effort out of our players. These type of blowouts shouldn't happen on a daily basis. The thing is though we have only played 7 games. The blame speech shouldn't have came out this early. Just give them some time. If anything I hope these tough games will help them learn. As the season progresses, hopefully these guys will get it together and we will see better basketball.

Krapinsky · Post #15 » by **Krapinsky** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 5:36 pm

Dewey wrote:
Krapinsky wrote:
Dewey wrote:Taylor was clearly unhappy last year and made some pretty strong statements about his expectations this season. I'm pretty sure Taylor won't let this coninue with the patience Kahn is suggesting ... IMO Kahn is already in "buy more time" mode to try and find a solution, while Rambis is discovering he is not a zen master.

Look, if people went into this season thinking that the youngest team in the NBA, a team with all new players that have never played together before, a team where the majority of the players are learning a complicated system, and a team missing two of its starters, was going to be a competitive team in the early going, well then you had your delusional-homer goggles on.

I'm as guilty as any. But let's temper our expectations a little bit.

So these are the excuses for not moving the ball effectively or play team defense? And who's delusional? Team defense is a fundamental - no need to offer any excuses because they are young and haven't played together. They are professionals. The offensive system is NOT complicated ... yet ... Rambo has pointed this out as well as the commenting offense is different for some - not all. Missing Webster and Flynn does not provide any excuse for our inability to move the ball or play team defense. We're not talking about win-loss records, we're talking about being competitive as a team ... which we clearly are not.

I cannot believe how wrong this post is. Yes, chemistry is the #1 thing that matters here. Moving the ball and team defense require familiarity both with the systems and your teammates. Team defense is absolutely not fundamental. I can't think of anything less fundamental in the sport. Shooting is fundamental. Dribbling is fundamental. They are paid like professionals but they are very early in the learning process -- just like any young professional. I'm pretty sure if my firm asked me to go command a jury trial I would have no idea what to do. But hey, I'm a professional right? Teams like Boston, LA, and San Antonio are the best example of effective ball movement and team defense. You know what they all have in common? Veterans that have been in the league along time and played together for years. This is the most important thing in the league. I'm pretty sure if you charted all the teams you would see quite a linear pattern between factors that go into team chemistry and wins.

Swish4 · Post #16 » by **Swish4** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 5:37 pm

The team is young and learning on the run, playing the schedule we've had so far seems like trying to start a campfire in a monsoon. We can only pull out of this in increments and it's gotta start with hustle and defense. Our defensive game prep needs to be better, learning what tendencies other teams and individual players have. I suppose that will come in time. Right now I would just tell the guys to be aggressive on defense and damn the fouls, just get after it and set a tone for hardnose defense. Set the mindset that they're not getting an easy shot, even if we have to foul them. And when we foul we need to foul hard. I think it's better to start out overaggressive and gradually refine it from there than to start off timid. The best defenses force their will on the opposition.

Krapinsky · Post #17 » by **Krapinsky** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 5:45 pm

You guys do realize our starting lineups have included four of the worst defenders in the league right? Ridnour, Ellington, Beasley (at SF), and Love are all in the bottom 5% as defenders at their respective positions. Until that changes expect blow outs. Those four guys simply can't play together at the same time and expect to be competitive.

Post #18 » by **Worm Guts** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 5:54 pm

This is beyond blowouts though. Opposing teams could be winning by 50 if they wanted to. I'd expect D-league teams to be more competitive.

Swish4 · Post #19 » by **Swish4** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 5:56 pm

Krapinsky wrote:You guys do realize our starting lineups have included four of the worst defenders in the league right? Ridnour, Ellington, Beasley (at SF), and Love are all in the bottom 5% as defenders at their respective positions. Until that changes expect blow outs. Those four guys simply can't play together at the same time and expect to be competitive.

You're absolutely right, I'm not as worried about Ridnour and Ellington as they are backups when everyone's healthy. But having 2 bad defensive players as our "team leaders" is not good at all. I think at least Beas has some potential to get better, but I think he'll always struggle guarding most NBA 3's. The influence on the younger guys could be very bad. That's another reason I'd move Love now if we can get equal value for a solid defender.

Krapinsky · Post #20 » by **Krapinsky** » Tue Nov 9, 2010 6:03 pm

Worm Guts wrote:This is beyond blowouts though. Opposing teams could be winning by 50 if they wanted to. I'd expect D-league teams to be more competitive.

I really would not expect D-league teams to be more competitive against the likes of the Miami Heat, the Orlando Magic, and a desperate Rockets team. It will get worsee tonight, but I think it will get better. Obviosuly, the players don't like getting embarassed and being a laughing stock. The team just has a lot to work on.