Timberwolves Power Rankings 2011-2012 season

[theGreatRC]

[1/2/12]

NBA.com has us #18, but the #8 team in the west. I like the respect we are getting from the media.

Minnesota (1-3)
Pace: 100.3 (3), Off: 98.6 (17), Def: 96.3 (8)
Ricky Rubio has brought a lot more than slick passing to the NBA. The Wolves are scoring 103 points per 100 possessions with Rubio on the floor, and just 93 with him on the bench. They're just 1-3, but it's clear they're going to be more competitive than they've been since trading Kevin Garnett.

http://www.nba.com/2012/news/powerranki ... ef:nbahpt1

West rankings:

2. Thunder
4. Spurs
5. Portland
7. Nuggets
8. Lakers
13. Clippers
14. Rockets
18. Wolves

ESPN has us ranked #17, 9th in the west behind Dallas.

http://espn.go.com/nba/powerrankings/_/year/2012/week/1

[cpfsf]

I liked being the underdog more.

http://espn.go.com/nba/powerrankings/_/year/2012/week/1

ESPN Power Rankings

3 Thunder
4 Nuggets
6 Blazers
7 Spurs
8 Lakers
10 Clippers
11 Rockets
15 Mavericks
17 Wolves

Kevin Love has made shedding pounds and swishing step-back 3s look as natural as his board work. Ricky Rubio plays entire fourth quarters and surely will start soon. A return to the Marriott downtown with two-story rooms is on the horizon.

[cpfsf]

http://www.nba.com/rookie-ladder/

NBA.com rookie ladder. I included the players aged in parenthesis.

1 Kyrie Irving (19)
2 Ricky Rubio (21)
3 Brandon Knight (20)
4 MarShon Brooks (22)
5 Norris Cole (23)
6 Jeremy Pargo (25)
7 Kemba Walker (21)
8 Jimmer Fredette (22)
9 Derrick Williams (20)
10 Tristan Thompson (20)

I'm not going to going to complain about Rubio being ranked #2. It's close, I'll leave it at that. Practically everyone on the Knicks forum believes Rubio should be #1.

Not sure why Freddette is listed at #8, he should be after Williams and Thompson.

[Yes We Kahn]

I think its only a matter of time before Williams gets comfortable and really starts making an impact. He is showing more and more flashes every game. I'm a believer. He will make his way up that list, but never as high as Ricky.

[shrink]

Williams dropped from #1 last week.

Rubio has the publicity to have a chance to win the Rookie of the Year Award. He needs to average double figures, and MIN needs to look respectable, but the opportunity is there.

[Yes We Kahn]

SI.com: #14

Minnesota Timberwolves (2-3)
There are plenty of positive signs for Minnesota, which has won back-to-back games against Dallas and San Antonio after opening with close losses to Oklahoma City, Milwaukee and Miami. Kevin Love reported in the best shape of his life and has improved his defense while continuing to post elite rebounding, scoring and three-point-shooting totals, proving he deserves a max contract. Point guard Ricky Rubio has the court vision and instincts to rival those of elite peers like Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo, he's shooting better than anticipated and he's not being overwhelmed that often on defense. Rookie forward Derrick Williams has the luxury of operating beneath the radar -- unusual for a No. 2 pick on a losing team -- and is going to be, at minimum, a solid rotation player. And Rick Adelman is the ideal coach to sew these virtues -- which also include the contributions of glue guy Anthony Tolliver -- into a team. That said, the Wolves have played only one road game, they are committing turnovers at an alarming rate and they need more from the wing positions, where Michael Beasley and Wes Johnson had been struggling before helping Minnesota beat the Spurs on Monday.

#3 Thunder
#4 Nuggets
#6 Lakers
#7 Blazers
#8 Clippers
#11 Spurs
#12 Rockets
#14 Wolves
...
#16 Mavs
#19 Grizzlies
#23 Kings
#24 Suns
#25 Warriors
#26 Jazz
#27 Hornets

[cpfsf]

Remove Jimmer Fredette from the Rookie Ladder, and add Markieff Morris instead.

[Foye]

Agreed Markieff was great when I watched GS-Suns.