Our biggest weakness that we need to fix to make playoffs

theGreatRC · Post #1 » by **theGreatRC** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 6:39 pm

..is we need to learn how to win/stay in games without Rubio on the court.

It's so amazing how different we look without him running the show, it's almost sickening. Seeing Luke or barea(no offense) run the pg spot hurts my eyes to the point of burning.

I think if we can't learn how to play the game without Rubio, we arent going to make the playoffs.

Anyone else see this as our biggest weakness? More important than a sg or c? (pek is looking promising as our C btw).

Esohny · Post #2 » by **Esohny** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 6:47 pm

I think if the Wolves had an above average SG, then not only would they play better with Rubio in the game, but Barea/Ridnour would have a guy next to them who could do some damage in the halfcourt, instead of them trying to create offense the whole time.

In the short term, the offense would be more effective when Rubio is out if the PG would just get the ball to Pekovic deep in the post (where he generally is), or run pick and pops with Love for 3pt shots. I have to think that either guy could manage that.

Saltine · Post #3 » by **Saltine** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 7:23 pm

Shooting guard, it's been our weakness for years.

prefuse73 · Post #4 » by **prefuse73** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 7:25 pm

Sure, lets trade for Rondo and we are set... Seriously, if backup PG is our biggest weakness.. we would be at the top of the WC right now. SG is an will be our biggest weakness.

Ridnour or someone of his like, is the best you are going to get as a back up PG. The best course for us is to find that consistent 3rd option who can create for himself and others from the SG spot. Someone like a Harden who can play with a PG or be a PG. The hope is that Malcolm Lee, can be that guy. If Rubio goes down, then a Lee/Ridnour would be passable (hopefully). If not, we must get someone that will.

theGreatRC · Post #5 » by **theGreatRC** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 7:41 pm

Backup pg isnt our problem, i never said it was.

Our problem is our inability to outplay opponents without Rubio on the floor.

It was evident from day 1to against OkC and its still evident against our game last night against sac

Post #6 » by **Klomp** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 7:43 pm

A go-to scorer. Our offense stagnates without Ricky because no one knows what to do when hes out because no one is consistent enough to create shots for themselves or others. I'd also say that players try harder to get open when Rubio's on the court because they know he'll give them the ball.

Post #7 » by **tsherkin** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 7:48 pm

The Wolves definitely need a go-to scorer, and they need to turn either offense OR defense into a strength so that they can separate themselves from the pack. This will be difficult given their current roster, but it won't be all that hard to build upon moving forward. The Wolves hover right around the median mark on both ends of the court, so they need to make one area a tool they can use to leverage success, or they're just going to treadmill.

Now, you put a halfway competent wing scorer alongside Rubio and Love instead of the Beez, and that'll happen on the offensive side of things with reasonable alacrity.

AQuintus · Post #8 » by **AQuintus** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 8:03 pm

tsherkin wrote:Now, you put a halfway competent wing scorer alongside Rubio and Love instead of the Beez,

Why instead? Why not with? Unless you believe that Beez himself would be enough value in a trade for that halfway competent wing scorer.

Post #9 » by **tsherkin** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 8:06 pm

AQuintus wrote:Why instead? Why not with? Unless you believe that Beez himself would be enough value in a trade for that halfway competent wing scorer.

Because Beasley is terrible and shouldn't be on the roster.

Post #10 » by **Worm Guts** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 8:20 pm

The Wolves do need a wing (or wings), but I think there's still a lot of opportunity for internal growth offensively with recent emergence of Pekovic and Williams not getting much playing time yet or performing to his draft position.

Swish4 · Post #11 » by **Swish4** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 9:19 pm

It would be great to have a guy like Dragic to back up at PG, but I suspect he'll be a starter somewhere before long. We should be able to make due with Rid and Barea, they're both experienced enough and above average as backups. I'm real curious to see how a healthy Malcolm Lee fits in before we'd make a move on a SG.

lazfa199 · Post #12 » by **lazfa199** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 9:36 pm

tsherkin wrote:Because Beasley is terrible and shouldn't be on the roster.

Hes the only other sf we have.... you want to get rid of beas and play wes the whole game?

Post #13 » by **tsherkin** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 9:58 pm

lazfa199 wrote:Hes the only other sf we have.... you want to get rid of beas and play wes the whole game?

Not the most palatable of choices, I realize. Wes isn't this bad, though, and you know it; he went all of last year and shot alright. Certainly better than he is shooting now, anyway (although he's still finishing at the rim well enough). I'd let him shoot himself into a rhythm, personally; Beasley is hurting the team with what he's doing right now anyway, so what difference does it make? Well, I suppose a lot, since the Wolves are scrapping it out for a possible playoff spot and the Beez is at least MAKING his 3-pointers. I'll give him that.

eyeteeth · Post #14 » by **eyeteeth** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 10:16 pm

tsherkin wrote:
lazfa199 wrote:Hes the only other sf we have.... you want to get rid of beas and play wes the whole game?

Not the most palatable of choices, I realize. Wes isn't this bad, though, and you know it; he went all of last year and shot alright. Certainly better than he is shooting now, anyway (although he's still finishing at the rim well enough). I'd let him shoot himself into a rhythm, personally; Beasley is hurting the team with what he's doing right now anyway, so what difference does it make? Well, I suppose a lot, since the Wolves are scrapping it out for a possible playoff spot and the Beez is at least MAKING his 3-pointers. I'll give him that.

Beasley still leaves a lot to be desired, but he is making many fewer idiotic plays per game than he was at this time last year. He is still what, 22? 23? I was hardly making responsible decisions at that age, and I don't care how many millions of dollars he makes, he comes from a sh*t upbringing, where a lot of decision making psychology is formed. He appears to be doing his best to rise to expectations and do what coach Adelman wants him to. If Kahn and Adelman continue to have confidence in him, I will trust their judgement.

Bottom line? His best case development is still far better than his trade value. And since he is certainly tradable, we will know when Adelman and Kahn decide he has gone south of that probability curve by when they trade him.

rugbyrugger23 · Post #15 » by **rugbyrugger23** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 10:19 pm

SG! The more I watch Morrow from Nets he fits the bill. He is not the 'sexy' trade like Harden but a young vet who can shoot the lights out, play some D, not overly long but not undersized, athletic enough, and team player. Beasley for Morrow anyone?

Saltine · Post #16 » by **Saltine** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 10:24 pm

I'd rather move Ridnour for Morrow, the salaries match, could add in Ellington as well.
If we move Beas we just have issues at SF, and we'd have to take someone else from NJ, the salaries don't work... Morrow 'only' makes $4 million.

weasel · Post #17 » by **weasel** » Wed Feb 8, 2012 10:32 pm

tsherkin wrote:
lazfa199 wrote:Hes the only other sf we have.... you want to get rid of beas and play wes the whole game?

Not the most palatable of choices, I realize. Wes isn't this bad, though, and you know it; he went all of last year and shot alright. Certainly better than he is shooting now, anyway (although he's still finishing at the rim well enough). I'd let him shoot himself into a rhythm, personally; Beasley is hurting the team with what he's doing right now anyway, so what difference does it make? Well, I suppose a lot, since the Wolves are scrapping it out for a possible playoff spot and the Beez is at least MAKING his 3-pointers. I'll give him that.

Looks like you forgot how good Beas was last year before his injuries piled up. So, both players are not reaching their potential right now, and only one of them deserves to keep playing. Did I get that right?

post0115 · Post #18 » by **post0115** » Thu Feb 9, 2012 5:55 pm

We don't just need a SG that can shoot. If that was it then Ellington should fit that need. If we are moving forward with Wes at 3 and Rubio at 1, then we need a scoring guard. The SG doesn't need to be an all-star, but should be a scorer that can get around 20 points per game. Other descriptions: solid shooter (we miss way too many open shots), average defender (Wes will be top wing defender as is his current role), and smart/competitive. I see Rubio/Love as very comparable to Stockton/Malone. We just need to get a Jeff Hornacek type player and then just be patient in letting the team grow. The thing we have to be mindful of is to not end up with the SG version of Beasley.

We can keep Beasley and have him come off the bench. I like him, but he needs to just continue to change for the better (which he is doing).

I also don't see any trades happening this year unless a team gives us a good offer for Randolph (RFA in offseason), so the trade for a SG would likely happen in offseason.

Candidates off the top of my head: Kevin Martin, OJ Mayo, Marcus Thornton, Harden, Afflalo

horaceworthy · Post #19 » by **horaceworthy** » Thu Feb 9, 2012 8:09 pm

tsherkin wrote:
lazfa199 wrote:Hes the only other sf we have.... you want to get rid of beas and play wes the whole game?

Not the most palatable of choices, I realize. Wes isn't this bad, though, and you know it; he went all of last year and shot alright. Certainly better than he is shooting now, anyway (although he's still finishing at the rim well enough). I'd let him shoot himself into a rhythm, personally; Beasley is hurting the team with what he's doing right now anyway, so what difference does it make? Well, I suppose a lot, since the Wolves are scrapping it out for a possible playoff spot and the Beez is at least MAKING his 3-pointers. I'll give him that.

Wes is such a weird player. Last year he did a decent job making jumpers and moved the ball smartly, but was allergic to the paint. This year he's looked really good around the rim and shown some ability/willingness to get there, but now he can't make jump shots an makes some stunningly boneheaded passes when he tries to move the ball.

The wing situation is such a headache for the Wolves right now. It seems like every single one of them is hurting the team with what they're doing right now. Very frustrating.

Post #20 » by **C.lupus** » Thu Feb 9, 2012 8:51 pm

horaceworthy wrote:Wes is such a weird player. Last year he did a decent job making jumpers and moved the ball smartly, but was allergic to the paint. This year he's looked really good around the rim and shown some ability/willingness to get there, but now he can't make jump shots an makes some stunningly boneheaded passes when he tries to move the ball.

Next year he's going to put it all together!

Or he's going to suck epically.

I agree the wing positions are so frustrating this year. There is some talent there but....

The least they could do would be to take turns sucking and not all do it at once.