Ricky Rubio on Timberwolves: ‘I have to go pull this team in the playoffs’

[bleedspeed]

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/08/07/ricky-rubio-on-timberwolves-i-have-to-go-pull-this-team-in-the-playoffs/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

[thedoper]

I've always respected Ricky's confidence, now he finally has to put his money where his mouth is.

[bleedspeed]

Health is the key for this team. If everyone is available for 70 games I could see us making the playoffs. That is a big ask for Rubio and Pek at this point.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Health is the key for this team. If everyone is available for 70 games I could see us making the playoffs. That is a big ask for Rubio and Pek at this point.

I just don't see it. Even if Wiggins and Lavine make a jump, Towns is still just a rookie and KG is still only a 20 MPG guy and they are our only shot at a respectable defensive frontcourt. I don't see anyone making the playoffs in the West that don't have good rim protection for most of the game. GS, SA, OKC, LAC, MEM, NO, HOU, and PHX (picked up Chandler this off season) are the 8 teams I see making the playoffs this year if everyone is healthy.

[TAFKASP]

Health is the key for this team. If everyone is available for 70 games I could see us making the playoffs. That is a big ask for Rubio and Pek at this point.

I just don't see it. Even if Wiggins and Lavine make a jump, Towns is still just a rookie and KG is still only a 20 MPG guy and they are our only shot at a respectable defensive frontcourt. I don't see anyone making the playoffs in the West that don't have good rim protection for most of the game. GS, SA, OKC, LAC, MEM, NO, HOU, and PHX (picked up Chandler this off season) are the 8 teams I see making the playoffs this year if everyone is healthy.

You cannot expect Rubio to say "I need to pull this team to the verge of the playoffs..." can you?

Regarding your top eight, all it takes is one significant injury to the wrong player and one of those teams can drop like a rock. Even the Champs, lose Curry and that team is going to struggle. I'll be happy so long as they're knocking on that door all season while progressively getting better over the course of the year. Knock on the door, if the older, more experienced teams slam it shut so be it.

[Mstermisty [enjin:6864008]]

If this team is ever going to be great, meaning a contender, it starts this season. At the very least take the first step and challenge for a playoff spot right until the end. But if they could actually make the playoffs, the experience for the young guys would be invaluable.

Rubio just needs to stay on the court this year. If he does that, he will help us. Of course he could help us even more if he could crest the 40% shooting mark. But if he goes down for an extended period of time, I could easily see the ship sinking again. Unless of course Miller finds the fountain of youth, Jones develops rapidly (looked like a 3rd stringer in summer league), or Lavine, well, actually forget Lavine, that experiment failed. Bottom line is Ricky has to stay healthy for this team to have a chance.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

I love Rubio and Garnett's attitude. Thats the atmosphere you want the young guys to be a part of.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Health is the key for this team. If everyone is available for 70 games I could see us making the playoffs. That is a big ask for Rubio and Pek at this point.

I just don't see it. Even if Wiggins and Lavine make a jump, Towns is still just a rookie and KG is still only a 20 MPG guy and they are our only shot at a respectable defensive frontcourt. I don't see anyone making the playoffs in the West that don't have good rim protection for most of the game. GS, SA, OKC, LAC, MEM, NO, HOU, and PHX (picked up Chandler this off season) are the 8 teams I see making the playoffs this year if everyone is healthy.

You cannot expect Rubio to say "I need to pull this team to the verge of the playoffs..." can you?

Regarding your top eight, all it takes is one significant injury to the wrong player and one of those teams can drop like a rock. Even the Champs, lose Curry and that team is going to struggle. I'll be happy so long as they're knocking on that door all season while progressively getting better over the course of the year. Knock on the door, if the older, more experienced teams slam it shut so be it.

I assumed your theory was that we'd be a playoff team with everyone healthy for every team. We were the most injured team in the league last year so I don't think it's fair to play the we'll be healthy and they won't game. If health is equal I don't see how we're a playoff team. One injury to us and we go down the toilet also. Just look at last year to see how that went when Ricky went down. If we get a lot of health luck we might be able to contend for a playoff spot, but I don't think it's fair to just assume the injuries will only benefit our ability to make the playoffs.

[Mstermisty [enjin:6864008]]

Playing the hypothetical injury game:

Losing Wiggins to a severe injury would be a huge blow. But at least we know who to put out there in his place: Bazz or Lavine. It may work and it may not.

But the problem with losing Ricky is what we have behind him: Two legit point guards on the roster--one guy is older than dirt, the other guy was playing high school ball in Minnesota two years ago. Don't get me wrong, I love both these guys for what they bring (and really like the potential of Jones), but if Ricky goes down both these guys would be moved into roles they are not suited for at this point in their career. Does that sound familiar? Last year Lavine had to start at point guard for a stretch when Ricky went down. Pure insanity.

[Monster]

Ok I am all in on this reasonable hypothetical if teams are healthy do we have a chance for the playoffs. I say yes. Rubio Pek Martin KG and Wiggins are legit NBA starters. Then you have young guys like Bazz Towns Lavine who have either production or promise or both. Then you have a couple bench guys that are pretty legit in Dieng and Miller and to a certain extent Rudez. The rest of the roster of Payne Bennett Tyus Bjelica are wildcards with Bjelica being a guy that should be able to give you something right away.

IF HEALTHY this team has enough talent to be a pretty good team but we don't know about Pek being available Martin is likely to miss 20+ games and Rubio has been healthy one season. In addition you have a creaky guy like KG miller has been an iron man but he is limited in minutes. Bennett has been hurt nearly half his NBA career Bazz Is in a similar boat. Those are injury minutes concern guys and then you have the typical injuries that happen to the guys you don't worry about. If we could get 65 games out of Pek Martin KG and 70 or so out of Rubio and no catastrophic injuries to the rest of the team sure the playoffs are possible. This team has a legit mix of young and established talent throughout the roster. It also has the contracts to make a small deal at the deadline to shore up anything if we are making a run.

I am not saying the playoffs are happening because health is a big issue for this team and there is a lot of young players but this team has a lot more talent on it throughout the roster than usual 16 win teams.