Mid Range Jumper?

[Loose Goose [enjin:8265301]]

Pek is starting to hit the mid range jumper and adding to his overall game I know he's not the perfect fit on Def next to K-Love but a talented C and PF combo is something a good coach can use to take advantage of on a regular basis. Playoff match-ups are often won and lost by finding an advantage and weather or not the other team can adjust to it properly.

Speaking of Playoffs and Mid-Range jumpers......Ricky must develop / improve his Mid-Range Jumper for us to make the playoffs and do anything in them! Due to this reality he must work on it every practice and also in game. It sucks that he might only shoot 1-5 or 0-5 on mid-range jumpers in a game but constant effort, practice and testing his progress in each game is how he will improve. I'd look to get him 4-5 mid range jumpers before half-time each game because with out that MN ain't going to the playoffs or doing anything in them. 2nd half you play to win so if he's hitting tell him keep shooting, if he's not then Jose gets the majority of the mins 2nd half.

Ricky needs to see that we know he can develop a mid-range jumper and that we are encouraging him to take those shots in the first half and if he does well he well continue to play. If he doesn't, his play will be limited because his game is limited.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Welcome to the board, Loose Goose. I take it from the fact that you re posting at 3am Minnesota time that you are located somewhere far away from Target Center...or that you suffer from insomnia!

I don't agree that Ricky needs to hit those jumpers for the Wolves to make the playoffs. We were in a position to beat a very good Clippers team on their court with Ricky contributing a lot of assists but no points. I don't have a problem with that if he doesn't feel comfortable with his jumper...in fact sometimes I wish Brewer could develop the same conscience! I do agree with you that if Ricky can hit that jumper, like he did last summer in international play, it makes him a much more complete player and makes the Wolves much better. But I have to agree with something Lip posted in the Rubio thread. The time for him to hone this skill is next summer. Skip international play, hire a shooting coach (I can make myself available :) ), and spend 4 hours a day improving that weak aspect of his game.

We can only dream...

[Loose Goose [enjin:8265301]]

I work night shift sometimes so my shift is coming to an end.

I disagree you can improve during the season and in game is the best time to test that improvement when the man guarding you is doing everything he can to stop you.

Improvement needs to start yesterday and be a continual process! Why wait? He's extremely skilled so working on shooting shouldn't break down the rest of his game, if anything it will build confidence and lead to even better overall play.

[maelstrom11 [enjin:6599701]]

Ricky needs to put more arc on his shot. Over the last three years it's gotten flatter and flatter every year. His jumper didn't look that bad form wise his rookie year. Now it is atrocious. Also his ability to finish at the rim has degraded some too. His rookie year I rarely remover him missing lay ups etc. I was actually really impressed with how he could drive and finish back then where as lately I cringe when he goes in for a layup.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

As a team, we're 3rd in FT attempts, and we're 4th in percentage. As much as I hate seeing a slow game, Ricky needs to get a few more attempts per game(less than 3 attempts per game right now). And I want to see a couple more and-1's from Pek with a couple smashes.

[ace [enjin:6598567]]

Ricky needs to put more arc on his shot. Over the last three years it's gotten flatter and flatter every year. His jumper didn't look that bad form wise his rookie year. Now it is atrocious. Also his ability to finish at the rim has degraded some too. His rookie year I rarely remover him missing lay ups etc. I was actually really impressed with how he could drive and finish back then where as lately I cringe when he goes in for a layup.

Before his rookie year he spent the entire summer working on his jumper. He started the season shooting really well, and everyone thought his troubles were some type of myth. With the tight lockout schedule, there wasn't much practice time and he regressed. Since then, he's either been hurt or playing a full schedule with the Wolves or Spain. I think if he could somehow be convinced to skip international play, like Lip said, and put up 1500 jumpers a day all summer with a coach he would come back with a much improved shot.

[thedoper]

Before his rookie year he spent the entire summer working on his jumper. He started the season shooting really well, and everyone thought his troubles were some type of myth. With the tight lockout schedule, there wasn't much practice time and he regressed. Since then, he's either been hurt or playing a full schedule with the Wolves or Spain. I think if he could somehow be convinced to skip international play, like Lip said, and put up 1500 jumpers a day all summer with a coach he would come back with a much improved shot.

I think so far he has been treated with gratitude for even coming here to play, then the injury earned him some sympathy. But he needs to understand that next season will greatly affect his bottom line for his first long contract if he doesn't improve his shooting. He never should have been allowed to play international ball last summer, and if he does this summer I just think it proves that the Wolves and the NBA is not his top basketball priority. Someone has to start playing a little hardball with the guy.