Minnesota Sports Forum

I hope Bazz can get some minutes with Martin out. I still think the guy could turn out to be useful. Just keep in mind in relation to the initial post of this thread that Bazz was still talked about as a top 5 pick until around this time of the year last year when it came out he was older than we thought he was etc. We see his weaknesses now, but the guy was still putting up numbers on a talented UCLA team and it didn't seem like the situation was even that great for him. I think his stint in NBDL shows the guy has some actual talent that could turn out to be useful if he can figure out how to fit his game into the NBA. As is stands right now his team pretty desperately needs a young guy to become another starter on this team either someone currently on the roster a draft pick or getting lucky by signing some cheap guy that turns out to be something like the Spurs do every freaking year (Danny Green or Stephen Jackson type young guy nobody else wanted too bad would be neato). If something like that doesn't happen...yeah Love might leave and honestly I wouldn't even blame him. Will Bazz be that guy that could maybe kinda sorta save the franchise? (Yeah that sounds ridiculous but is it?) Probably not even though all they need is an average starter, but we can all hope right? Sigh...

I haven't watched a game on weeks, but it seems like I was wrong about Barea although I think he is still being forced into doing more than he should be becasue their isn't enough depth to make him more of a role player looking at his shooting stats they are not good. Thats hurt the wolves not having him hit shots. Shved has also been awful overall. I seem to have been wrong about both of those guys and there overall poor play has really hurt the team. When Corey Brewer is your 2nd best shooting perimter player on your team...well thats not good.

I'll just say that I liked MCW alot in the draft last year, but not for this team as he was a bad fit next to Rubio although they would have been fun on D they would have been brutal shooting the ball.

Bazz has the inside track to be a starter on this team. He is the only SF on the team with the potential to be an actual two-way player. He really needs to spend this off-season locking down his defense and that would give him his shot at starting, let alone playing. Bud, Brewer and LRMAM are all one-way players so they are limited in what they bring to the table. The first unit could use a better 4th scoring option than Brewer, but Flip and Adelman aren't going to sacrifice defense to get it.

If we don't go on a run after the allstar break then there is no reason that Shabazz and Deing don't see more minutes. I really hope Flip can make a move before the trade deadline. Anything to reduce long term salary moving forward would be a huge benefit.

bleedspeed177 wrote:If we don't go on a run after the allstar break then there is no reason that Shabazz and Deing don't see more minutes. I really hope Flip can make a move before the trade deadline. Anything to reduce long term salary moving forward would be a huge benefit.

Just to keep our playoff chances in proper perspective, if the teams ahead of us just play .500 ball the rest of season (quite unlikely considering they're 10 games over now), the Wolves have to go 21-8 the rest of the way to tie them. I think we can safely start experimenting with a new lineup now without risking too much.

I realized that. I am saying if we lose 2 of the next 10 we need to start playing for the future. Meaning playing the guys that we plan to keep next year.

bleedspeed177 wrote:I realized that. I am saying if we lose 2 of the next 10 we need to start playing for the future. Meaning playing the guys that we plan to keep next year.

That makes sense to me, bleed. I don't think we beat Indy without Pek and Martin, or Portland on their court, so we should have those two losses by Sunday. We will also be past the trade deadline, so we'll know what our roster is. Let's hope that Rick/Flip recognize that it's time then to start looking ahead.

I think this is where Flip talks to Rick. Then Flip addresses the team and tell them go 8-2 over the next 10 games are we need to start thinking about next year. Bench Barea, Hummel, and Cunningham. Rick then agrees to start giving Shabazz 20+ minutes a night at SF. Play Shved at PG.