Game Report - Wolves v. Hawks

[Lipoli390]

Good crowed tonight - both size and noise. More importantly, a nice one-sided win for us tonight. If only we could play the Hawks every night. It appears to be a good match-up for us. But truth is, in spite of a couple tough losses that should have been wins, the Wolves victory tonight continued a streak of solid play dating back to the 4th quarter comeback win over the Bulls. In spite of the frustration of losing at home to the Kings Friday night and the collapse in the last 2 minutes against Houston, I think it's still fair to say the Wolves have turned a corner. But they still have a couple of corners to turn -- mainly consistency.

It was another model tonight for how the Wolves win games with this roster. Our big three score 20+ points efficiently, KAT pulls down double-digit rebounds (11 tonight) and Ricky gets double-digit assists (10 tonight with limited minutes in the 4th).

Zach is such a pure shooter and put his sweet shot on full display tonight. But I also love the way he's attacking the basket and drawing fouls this season. I think he's just scratching the surface of his dribble drive game as he continues to improve an already good handle, refines his ability to change speeds and direction with the ball and gets physically stronger. He has a great motor and he's fearless. Watching him in person, his improvement on the defensive end is obvious to the eye-test and I think defensive stats understate his defensive performance to date this season.

When Andrew's perimeter shot is falling, he's an offensive force. Tonight he was terrific offensively and pulled down a couple of nice rebounds as well. He's still not getting to the hole or drawing fouls lately like he used to and tonight was no exception. Otherwise his game tonight was terrific, including a couple nice passes while driving the lane.

KAT was tremendous as evidenced by his 20+ points, 11 boards and 3 blocks. And he carried us early. But I want to mention Gorgui Dieng. Watching him day in, day out makes me understand why Thibs the PBO signed him to a lucrative extension this past fall. He is a true glue guy. He's typically asked to guard the opposing team's best big (tonight it was Howard) and he mans up consistently. He's all effort all the time. He's also probably our smartest player seemingly in the right place at the right time nearly all the time. Gorgui, Ricky and Dunn are our best at coming up with loose balls.

Speaking of Dunn, his defense was relentless again tonight. He's a true ball hawk with the sort of motor you need on any team intending to eventually be a championship contender.

When Bazz has the ball he has the sort of one-track mind a dog has when it smells bacon. For Bazz the bacon is shooting. He gets the ball and he's obsessed with shooting. But I want to say a few words on his behalf. Yes, he takes shots he shouldn't when a pass would clearly be the better play. But the guy gives you everything he has ever minute he's on the court. He'll hit the floor diving for a loose ball when no one else on our team does and he did that again tonight. He's also a excellent rebounder who got us some big buckets tonight on the offensive boards. His defense has improved enormously. It's unlikely he'll be with us next season and he might even be traded this season by the Feb. deadline. But having a player like Bazz come off the bench is often part of the mix of a good team. Bazz is all business and all effort. I'll take a player like him any day over the likes of a Jordan Hill who spends most of his time on the bench doing a really good Wes Johnson impression.

Again, a good win tonight. Let's see if we can keep this going.

[bleedspeed]

I would be curious what our record is when Ricky tops 10 assists. (Looked it up 4-1)

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Accurate report, Lip. Yeah, it was finally fun to be at Target Center last night...the crowd was into it and having fun. And what a relief to have a relatively quiet Thibs with his voice shot! I know we joke about this, but it was a much more pleasant experience for the fans last night...and I didn't see KAT looking nervously over his shoulder at the bench all night!

Special mention has to be made of Ricky Rubio, who has done something in the past two games that may be unprecedented...double figure assists with NO turnovers! Truly remarkable. We need the Big Three to get their points, but last night proved once again the Ricky is the straw that stirs the drink. And while I agree with you about Bazzy's energy, I don't think he is the only player on our roster who will dive for a loose ball...I think both of our PGs will do that too.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Yay, they finally win a game I attended! I sat next to my Dad and neither of us relaxed until there was 8 minutes left in the 4th.....you never know with this team.

But the real highlight? Free Cherry Berry today for the family!!!

(Oh, Shabazz was awful IMO).

[bleedspeed]

But the real highlight? Free Cherry Berry today for the family!!!

(Oh, Shabazz was awful IMO).

Do you have to have a ticket stub for that Cherry Berry?

[AbeVigodaLive]

Assists to TOs ratio is a nice stat. And Rubio is on a great run. That being said, Harden, Westbrook and James are in the top 4 for TOs. Westbrook had 5 vs. the Wolves. Is it one of those stats that we use because it says something good about our players? Is it legit? Does it actually raise questions about the limitations of a player while still touting that player?

Rubio currently sits 4th... behind Ish Smith who's on his 10th team in 7 seasons. And another guy who's routinely ripped for struggling with his outside shot.

Sometimes, Rubio has stirred the drink... last night, I saw him benefiting from the team's three top scorers shooting lights out for stretches... 13 - 18 on three pointers? That's why the Wolves won.



[Note: That being said, Rubio made a great skip pass to a wide open shooter in the corner at least once. We rip Wolves players for defensive lapses. Wow. Schroder was counting Christmas presents or something in his head and Rubio made him look silly.]

[bleedspeed]

Great points Abe.

[Porckchop]

I have to believe that Ricky is headed towards the all time record for 1 for something shooting nights by a starting pg. It may even become an unbreakable record , the Ripken of his generation.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I have to believe that Ricky is headed towards the all time record for 1 for something shooting nights by a starting pg. It may even become an unbreakable record , the Ripken of his generation.

I can guarantee that no player in NBA history has received as much glowing praise as Rubio has after 1 - something games. And that's not necessarily as big of a knock on him as it might seem at first glance. Clearly, the guy is doing somethings right to receive so much praise for so many years.

[Brooklyn_Wolves [enjin:14608167]]

Assists to TOs ratio is a nice stat. And Rubio is on a great run. That being said, Harden, Westbrook and James are in the top 4 for TOs. Westbrook had 5 vs. the Wolves. Is it one of those stats that we use because it says something good about our players? Is it legit? Does it actually raise questions about the limitations of a player while still touting that player?

Rubio currently sits 4th... behind Ish Smith who's on his 10th team in 7 seasons. And another guy who's routinely ripped for struggling with his outside shot.

Sometimes, Rubio has stirred the drink... last night, I saw him benefiting from the team's three top scorers shooting lights out for stretches... 13 - 18 on three pointers? That's why the Wolves won.

We are 5-1 this season when he gets 10+. Of course he "stirs the drink". You're such a poorly disguised hater.