Undersized Is No Surprise To Adelman

[Killboard]

Hey there. Im, like others twolves fans, thinking about the pros and cons of move our best player and future HOF (?) to a new spot where he will be best known like the best hustler and wrestler in the league. Maybe a couple of inches less, but everything else is there for his new role, including Darko in the roster .
Anyway is a good read about our coach and undersize issues.
http://www.iamatrailblazersfan.com/ArticleDisplay/tabid/120/ItemID/737/Default.aspx

[Torcher]

In my opinion, simply, I want a center that can defend the paint, and Love is clearly not that kind of guy. Therefore, I would be hesitant to moving Love up to the center spot unless we get a really good defensive PF. (Which is unlikely considering how few of them are in the league now)

[shangrila]

I doubt Love gets huge minutes at centre, especially since he's slimmed down so much. Maybe he'll be put there for matchup purposes or to get the Beas-Williams-Love frontcourt some minutes, but apart from that I doubt he plays major minutes there.

[B Calrissian]

I hope his slimming down helps him cover perimeter PFs. If not he might as well play center most nights. It's not like there are a lot of centers with a big role on offense and on the other side they'll be pulled away from the basket.

[younggunsmn]

This was my first thought when I heard Adleman was hired: "Oh no, more smallball."

I question whether Houston going small so much last year had to do with lack of talent (Hill/Thabeet) and injuries (Miller/Yao) or philosophy. They may have been better defensively with Chuck Hayes at C than Hill or Thabeet. But Darko would have been better defensively than Hayes, and he did average 2 blocks per game in 24 MPG last year.

I'm prepared for lots of tolliver-love and dwill-love frontcourts if they play this year, but I would prefer Randolph/Darko/Pek to get 100% of the mins at center. I don't mind Darko at center as long as we aren't running the offense through him, but I doubt he and Pek see much court time unless we are facing a Bynum/Pau/Howard type.



When Love is in the game I want him protected by a shotblocker who can defend the more dominant frontcourt player. Hopefully Adelman will be a lot smarter with matchups than Rambis was, even if we see more smallball.

[eyeteeth]

I will change my mind about this several times over the course of the season (sometimes within the same night, I am sure), but right now I'm more interested in seeing what Pek can do with a year of experience and a coach who (hopefully) treats him better.

I watched Love play C a lot last year, and it was good sometimes, but not ideal. Given that Adelman was almost certainly given the big bucks for his relationship with KLove, it will be very interesting to see how this conundrum plays out.

[Devilzsidewalk]

there will be times when Love is overpowered in the paint and guys are getting to the rim without trouble, but the potential is there for Love to make centers pay with jumpers if they try to camp out in the paint and on defense they have the length and speed to make a nice 1-3-1 zone work well

[AdamIsSoBaked]

hey guys long time wolves fan here, do u think Adlemen will push managerment to trade for a big center like shaq?

[Yes We Kahn]

hey guys long time wolves fan here, do u think Adlemen will push managerment to trade for a big center like shaq?

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/67686 ... ts-analyst

[AdamIsSoBaked]

I said LIKE Shaq, didn't I?

[The J Rocka]

hey guys long time wolves fan here, do u think Adlemen will push managerment to trade for a big center like shaq?

Long time Denvery Nuggets fan here and I've seen Anthony Carter play, and while he does have a longer leash than he should have (JR Smith was always a way better player and could've taken some of ac's minutes) he still was a pretty tough defender and decent backup point-gard

[AdamIsSoBaked]

So I can't be a fan of 2 teams?

[Biff Cooper]

To start the season off, it seems like we are going to have to play fairly conventional lineups. Once our guys get efficient and smart enough on offense to attack adventageous match-ups, I think we are going to see Adelman play a lot of small ball. I've said it before, but I can't wait to see us putting line-ups on the court that other teams can't match up against without changing personel.

[Yes We Kahn]

I said LIKE Shaq, didn't I?

Well the Wolves do have a pretty much conventional center in Darko. He isn't as massive as Shaq, but not many are. So, I guess I don't really know what you are getting at. Maybe if you suggested some names, there would be a better discussion.

Anyways, to answer your question.. No, I don't think that they will make a trade for someone like Shaq. Of course, I would love Dwight on this team #dreaming

[B Calrissian]

So I can't be a fan of 2 teams?

Guess not.


"suspended"

[horaceworthy]

This was my first thought when I heard Adleman was hired: "Oh no, more smallball."

I question whether Houston going small so much last year had to do with lack of talent (Hill/Thabeet) and injuries (Miller/Yao) or philosophy. They may have been better defensively with Chuck Hayes at C than Hill or Thabeet. But Darko would have been better defensively than Hayes, and he did average 2 blocks per game in 24 MPG last year.

I'm prepared for lots of tolliver-love and dwill-love frontcourts if they play this year, but I would prefer Randolph/Darko/Pek to get 100% of the mins at center. I don't mind Darko at center as long as we aren't running the offense through him, but I doubt he and Pek see much court time unless we are facing a Bynum/Pau/Howard type.

When Love is in the game I want him protected by a shotblocker who can defend the more dominant frontcourt player. Hopefully Adelman will be a lot smarter with matchups than Rambis was, even if we see more smallball.

Adelman's played size in the past. I think what he's typically gone with is the guys he feels can make good decisions on the floor, regardless of size. His MO seems more to trust guys who are skilled and/or make good decisions rather than size and/or athleticism.

That's why I think Darko and Randolph are probably the guys most in danger of seeing their minutes yo-yo unless they make major strides in terms of cutting down the dumbassery.

I'm actually wondering if Derrick Williams will see some time at C. Isn't he bigger than Love now?

[Guy986]

This was my first thought when I heard Adleman was hired: "Oh no, more smallball."

I question whether Houston going small so much last year had to do with lack of talent (Hill/Thabeet) and injuries (Miller/Yao) or philosophy. They may have been better defensively with Chuck Hayes at C than Hill or Thabeet. But Darko would have been better defensively than Hayes, and he did average 2 blocks per game in 24 MPG last year.

I'm prepared for lots of tolliver-love and dwill-love frontcourts if they play this year, but I would prefer Randolph/Darko/Pek to get 100% of the mins at center. I don't mind Darko at center as long as we aren't running the offense through him, but I doubt he and Pek see much court time unless we are facing a Bynum/Pau/Howard type.

When Love is in the game I want him protected by a shotblocker who can defend the more dominant frontcourt player. Hopefully Adelman will be a lot smarter with matchups than Rambis was, even if we see more smallball.

Adelman's played size in the past. I think what he's typically gone with is the guys he feels can make good decisions on the floor, regardless of size. His MO seems more to trust guys who are skilled and/or make good decisions rather than size and/or athleticism.

That's why I think Darko and Randolph are probably the guys most in danger of seeing their minutes yo-yo unless they make major strides in terms of cutting down the dumbassery.

I'm actually wondering if Derrick Williams will see some time at C. Isn't he bigger than Love now?

This +100

Adelman didn't play Chuck Hayes for his defense. Defense is good to have but what Adelman really value in his big is basketball IQ. Hayes was #2 in APG among Center(behind Horford) and #1 in assist to turnover ratio. One of the frontcourt player absolutely need to be able to read the court and make good decisions under Adelman. Which is why i think Love will see plenty of minutes at Center.

I remember when Hasheem Thabeet was traded to the Rockets, one of the reporter asked Adelman if he would ever consider playing him in the rotation.. his response was "lol".

So just because someone has length doesn't mean Adelman will play him. If Darko is really the 2nd coming of Divac, he would be the ideal big for Adelman.

[Klomp]

I think we'll see a lot of Love/Tolliver lineups in the post. Who is labeled as the center is meaningless.

[Worm Guts]

Unless trades are made, I think it'll be tough to get Tolliver in games after drafting Derrick Williams.

[Klomp]

Unless trades are made, I think it'll be tough to get Tolliver in games after drafting Derrick Williams.

I thought that at first, too. But I really think hes one of those high basketball that Adelman loves. He will slowly take minutes away from Pekovic, Milicic, and Randolph IMO.