I used to think we lacked two-way players. Now I think we have a bunch of zero-way players.

[horatio81 [enjin:7751176]]

I'm starting to think the problem with the Wolves isn't a lack of two-way players so much as a surplus of zero-way players.

Love, Pek, Martin, and Rubio have good and bad points. For Love, the good outweighs the bad so substantially that he might be MVP. For others, the final tally isn't quite so favorable. Pek gives you scoring and rebounding but no shot-blocking from the one position on the floor where you absolutely need shot-blocking. Rubio's all-around game and defensive respectability almost cancel out his historically poor shooting. Martin is a legit shot-maker and floor stretcher even if he's exceedingly one dimensional and a defensive liability.

Still, I think you can go to war with those as your four best players. Most of the stats bear this out.

What happens after those four? A bunch of players you'd be hard pressed to describe as "pluses" on either end of the floor. Brewer is an offensive liability AND a severely overrated defender. Barea is a defensive liability AND shooting poorly on the season. Hummel is a defensive liability AND shooting poorly on the season. Mbah Moute is a slight defensive plus but so horrendous on offense as to reliably cancel himself out. Shved has been garbage on both ends. Cunningham is another defensive tweener with a comically limited offensive game.

I'm not sure exactly how the roster came to be this way, but players 5-10 violate a pretty long-standing rule: if you want to play in the NBA, you need to do at least one thing extremely well. Our bench (and one fifth of our starting five) simply aren't good NBA players. It's not that they're bad at one or two things. These guys are bad at most or even all things.

Strange as it may sound, I think getting Chase back (assuming he's fully recovered) might completely change this team. He's a total plus on the offensive end, so he's already bringing more to the table than anyone five through ten on the roster. That's kind of a sad state of affairs when you consider contending teams usually have a man with at least one elite skill 1-7 or 1-8, but we'll take what we can get.

[slimcalhoun27 [enjin:6640095]]

To have Hummel even on the team speaks loudly of how poor our Bench is. Hummel is a D League or Euro Talent ONLY. IMO. We seriously have spent way to much on lack luster talent. (Barea, Brewer, Shved and Budinger) thats nearly 18 Mil for not one starter or 6th man talent. Sorry to rant, but we are terrible beyond the starters and I still have serious doubts about our SF. Brewer, is maybe a 8th man talent on a good team. Flip needs to go fishing and perhaps chum the water with Barea, Brewer, Shved for a possible Shark.

[slimcalhoun27 [enjin:6640095]]

I want to see what our Bench point difference ratio is so far this season. Also what our 3-4th quarter scoring difference is. We can not keep a lead.

[thedoper]

I want to see what our Bench point difference ratio is so far this season. Also what our 3-4th quarter scoring difference is. We can not keep a lead.

Here is the bench v opponents bench not including tonights game:
http://www.hoopsstats.com/basketball/fantasy/nba/minnesota-timberwolves/bench/profile/14/17/7-1-1-eff

Depressing. Can't find the 3rd v 4th quarter summarized anywhere.

[Lipoli390]

Horatio -- Excellent analysis. I agree with you completely. We have a bench problem -- i.e., a group of what your termed "zero-way" players.

[slimcalhoun27 [enjin:6640095]]

Thanks Doper...appreciate the insight. Sad indeed

[Papalrep]

I have seen Bud look good. Unfortunately it was two seasons ago

[observerII [enjin:6598557]]

Not likely to see him look good ths year either. His comeback to full strength will take some time -- and he isn't exactly Jordan Incarnated.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Budinger at 70-80% is still better than any other bench wing we have. Big upgrade in production.