longstrangetrip wrote:Totally different situations, porkchop. The Wolves were projected to win 25 games this year, and that was before they lost three starters. Cleveland, on the other hand, was basically crowned champion before the season even started. People...well, me... were mocked when they suggested the Cavs might ONLY win 56 games. Now they find themselves in a dogfight with the Bucks and Brooklyn for the 5th spot in the East!
I'm not a fan of players trying to form "superteams", and I'm not a fan of Kevin Love. Since I can't enjoy a winning season for my Wolves, I'm at least going to savor the train wreck that is happening in Cleveland. I gotta get my gratification somewhere!
I don't necessarily feel what's going on in Cleveland is on Love. He goes long stretches without seeing the ball and when he does its almost exclusively pick and pops. Doesn't seem like they have any plays drawn up just for him.
Yes the Wolves have lost three starters, but it's not like they've been proven winners. Seems foolish now to think that Ricky, Pek and Martin could've got this team to .500.
bleedspeed177 wrote:I think Adrien is just fine defending the post and rebounding for us. The Cavs losing to me is just like how I didn't want the Heat to win. i will say I thought Love would be better then he has been there. That has been pretty surprising. I think if anyone leaves it will be him for the Lakers.
Don't necessarily disagree, but unfortunately he is stuck playing backup Center. I'd love for Flip to slide him over as our starting PF just to see how that affects our team defense and rebounding. I doubt it would dramatically improve, but I have to believe having some muscle and rebounding next to Dieng would be a small step in the right direction. Add Rubio back into the mix and perhaps we even start climbing out of the discussion of all-time worst defenses. As it stands today, we never have two true bigs on the floor at the same time and we are getting eaten alive in the paint as a result.
Totally agree Q. Obviously Adrien isn't going to be a long term solution at PF, at least I hope not. But we need his muscle and attitude right now. We are just getting overwhelmed down low, and it has little to do with Dieng.
Another double digit loss for the Cavs, as they fall to 6th behind the Bucks in the East...now just 4 1/2 games out of missing the playoffs! If Rubio is healthy and LeBron is still hobbled, the Wolves will beat the Cavs on the 31st.
Just watched the Kings trounce the Lebron-less Cavs to hand them their 5th loss in a row. Love's stats looked OK but he had very little positive impact on the game. I have to admit I was upset at first when Love forced his way out, but now I'd like to walk up to him and shake his hand vigorously in thanks. With Love as our best player, even if Ricky elevated his game, our ceiling was probably a first round playoff exit. Now with a rapidly blossoming Wiggins, and possibly adding a top pick next year, I'd say the ceiling is contention.
Many will be tempted to boo Kevin Love on the 31st, but the truth is he should be cheered. Because most likely he saved the franchise from years of mediocrity at best. Now at least there is real potential for something greater.
Without James the Cavs are playing a lot like the Wolves. They are losing consistently by double digits to below .500 teams. I don't like Love, but Blatt's comment about him was bush league...he's obviously worried about his job. A reporter asked why they weren't winning with 2 max players in the lineup and he replied that Love technically wasn't a max player...wow! Knowing what thin skin Kevin has, that comment can't be sitting well with him.
Misty, I agree with you that the trade that Love forced has improved the Wolves' prospects, especially in light of the rapid development of Drew Wiggins, but I still think Kevin should be booed when he plays here later this month. I'm not much of a booer...in fact, it bugs me when players get booed for the wrong reasons. Why would anybody ever boo Derek Jeter? But Kevin Love is a world class jerk and was disloyal to the franchise that I love, so if I were there on the 31st, I would boo him. I expect Target Center will be divided evenly between those cheering Kevin for the great stats he put up here and those booing him for being such a dink. Regardless, it will be fun to see TC full of energy for one of the few times this season. If Ricky is healthy and playing well, it could be a fun night.
Blatt said last night Love is not a max player. This is getting good.
LST that is a funny comment about the Cavs being the Wolves. I remember getting into a discussion about Kyrie v Rubio and their value to wins here after they had squared of on TNT last year. It seems they have almost an identical influence on wins playing next to Love. Lebron should have just come to the Wolves to play with Love.
He deserves to be booed, no question. And it should happen every time he touches the ball. We owe that guy nothing. He did what was best for him which is his prerogative. But cheering him would be foolish in my opinion. I mean pro sports still is about winning and losing, isn't it?
