5-on-5

[pumunga]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/5-o ... -questions
A lot of Williams love, a lot of Beasley hate, a lot of Kahn hate, some Rubio believers, some Rubio dis-believers.

[AQuintus]

It's really depressing to me that people like this, who know absolutely nothing about the Wolves or even basketball in general (Kidd not a star? wtf), are allowed to comment on those subjects on the largest sports website on the internet.

[Foye]

Bret LaGree, Hoopinion: Fiction. Star is subjective. Best I can tell, Rubio's upside is Jason Kidd and it's a fair question if Kidd was ever truly a star. I'd love for Rubio to be a fascinating addition to the NBA but the vast majority of great passing, poor shooting point guards don't turn out to be Jason Kidd.

I stopped after reading that.
Jason Kidd who took the NJ Nets to the finals twice not a star?
Prime Jason Kidd might even be a better player than prime Steve Nash, IMO.

[cpfsf]

Bret LaGree, Hoopinion: Fiction. Star is subjective. Best I can tell, Rubio's upside is Jason Kidd and it's a fair question if Kidd was ever truly a star. I'd love for Rubio to be a fascinating addition to the NBA but the vast majority of great passing, poor shooting point guards don't turn out to be Jason Kidd.

I stopped after reading that.
Jason Kidd who took the NJ Nets to the finals twice not a star?
Prime Jason Kidd might even be a better player than prime Steve Nash, IMO.

I would choose a rookie Jason Kidd over a rookie Steve Nash any day.

[Breakdown777]

Ethan Sherwood Strauss from Hoopspeak was especially annoying. His responses in a nutshell:

1st - William Tell Reference? MN is Cold Reference...2 terrible jokes.

2nd - Don Nelson would play Rubio at Center Joke.

3rd - This one is just laughable. Calls Williams relatively young, as if everyone on the team isn't in their early 20's. Says Wes should backup the 3 (then who plays the 2?) Just shows he's using MN as a punchline and not giving actual analysis.

4th - Coen Bros. Reference. Rips Beasley track record. More jokes and obscure references instead of talking about basketball.

5th - Says we'll be stuck in mediocrity. Says we need to win 2 lotteries. Must've forgotten we don't have a pick next draft. Once again, very little research with canned responses.

This dude is the definition of HACK!

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For Fun, maybe we should all take turns answering and discussing the ?'s asked. Here's my take.

1. Fact or Fiction: Ricky Rubio will be a star.
Fact, but it depends what you mean by star. I actually like the Jason Williams references, although I think Ricky will be some odd combination of Jason Williams and Rajon Rondo, with loads of room to improve.

2. Fact or Fiction: Rick Adelman should be the Wolves' next coach.
We can all probably skip this one because it will be a 99% emphatic YES across the board.

3. Fact or Fiction: Derrick Williams should start.
Fiction. Ease the rook in slowly. Once he gets comfortable, Barring any injuries that shake up the depth chart, we should roll with Rubio,Wes,Beas,Williams,Love unless Darko is needed for Defensive purposes.

4. Fact or Fiction: Michael Beasley has a bright future in Minnesota.
Fact. If those ankles don't get turned, I fully expect a year of numbers consistent to his better months last season. I think he'll be an excellent go-to-guy in the clutch as well, he's still our best option in one-on-one situations with the clock rolling down.

5. Fact or Fiction: Minny makes the playoffs while K-Love is still there.
Fact. If Kahn & Co. let Love get away, I'll have to give up on this franchise until there is another front office shakeup. Furthermore, once the older teams finally cave-in...MN should easily be able to nab a PO spot.

[shangrila]

1. Fact or Fiction: Ricky Rubio will be a star.
Fact, I guess. He's not going to be Chris Paul or Deron Williams, but a Jason Williams or Rajon Rondo level "star" with Jason Kidd as the absolute height of his ceiling would be a pretty good player.

2. Fact or Fiction: Rick Adelman should be the Wolves' next coach.
Fact.

3. Fact or Fiction: Derrick Williams should start.
Fact. He should, but he won't. Beasley is the incumbent and will start even if its just to up his trade value a bit.

4. Fact or Fiction: Michael Beasley has a bright future in Minnesota.
Fiction. I really, really, REALLY want to say Fact, but I'm struggling to see it right now. He's just not mature enough for the team to make a long term investment into him, and drafting Williams might have put one foot out the door as is.

5. Fact or Fiction: Minny makes the playoffs while K-Love is still there.
Fact. I think they'll be an 8th seed in the not too distant future, with teams like Dallas and San Antonio aging rapidly, and I would be surprised if the team let the first All Star (since KG) and a historic rebounder leave.

[AQuintus]

3. Fact or Fiction: Derrick Williams should start.
Fact. He should, but he won't. Beasley is the incumbent and will start even if its just to up his trade value a bit.

I just don't see it. Williams has a long way to go improving his shot creating ability to be considered a SF period, much less a starting SF in the NBA. If he is going to be a starter at all in his rookie season, it shouldn't be at the expense of Beasley, but rather Darko or Randolph with Love moving to the 5.

[C.lupus]

1. Fact or Fiction: Ricky Rubio will be a star.
Fact. He won't be a superstar, but he has too much innate feel for the game, court vision, and desire to make his teammates better to not succeed. He's a gym rat, too.

2. Fact or Fiction: Rick Adelman should be the Wolves' next coach.
Fact.

3. Fact or Fiction: Derrick Williams should start.
Fiction. For now, he needs to learn the NBA game and see what position he plays. I think he's going to be more successful at PF and Love is getting too skinny to play C, I'm afraid. A three-,an rotation with Love, Beas, and DWill could work very nicely, though.

4. Fact or Fiction: Michael Beasley has a bright future in Minnesota.
Tough call but I'll say fiction. I have a feeling he will eventually wear out his welcome with Adelman.

5. Fact or Fiction: Minny makes the playoffs while K-Love is still there.
Fact. Love isn't going anywhere unless Williams just outplays him. Adelman (assuming he's coach) will get this team to the playoffs.

[shrink]

"while Kevin Love is still there ..."

I hate ESPN. They want fly-over cities to just be considered talent pools for the major markets of their viewers.

[pumunga]

Man, i really hope their is a season.
1. Fact or Fiction: Ricky Rubio will be a star.
Fact. Rubio will be an all around great player, scorer, rebounder, passer, defense etc etc.

2. Fact or Fiction: Rick Adelman should be the Wolves' next coach.
YUUUP! - Dave Hester

3. Fact or Fiction: Derrick Williams should start.
Fiction... for now. Good guy to come off the bench, only way he starts is if Darko cant hang.

4. Fact or Fiction: Michael Beasley has a bright future in Minnesota.
I say Fact, Adelman probably says Fiction.

5. Fact or Fiction: Minny makes the playoffs while K-Love is still there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3-eavMSBnk
If Kevin wants to stay, he'll be here, if Kevin wants to leave, he wont be.