Cam's Thoughts On MIN/ORL Game -- Post Game Write Up

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Think this was a perfect season opener for us. The first quarter showed us what we can be, the second and third showed us what not to be and the 4th Q and OT tested Sota's mental toughness.

*K-Love: 31 pts, 17 rebs, 4 ast.
*Rubio: 13 pts, 11 ast, 6 rebs, 3 stl.
*K-Mart: 23 pts.
*Brewer: 16 pts, 3 stl.
*Pekovic: 11 pts, 7 rebs.
*Cunningham: 10 pts, 6 rebs, 20 mins, 5-7 FG

D-Will didn't see the floor tonight, but I wasn't upset because unlike a bunch of you, I love DC. He does all the little things (boxing out, running/diving for loose balls, fastbreak defense, etc). His mid-range jumper is getting even more reliable and how about that big tip-in at the end of the first half?? Tough to say D-Will should have gotten his minutes after how well DC played.

Love's an MVP candidate. Period. Completely ate at the FT line and was a magician, for lack of other words, around the rim. Don't know how he does it, but he's as good of a finisher as there is in the league. Missed some three-pointers that we know he can make, but he nailed the biggest shot of the game to force it into OT. Adelman's so good at getting Love open on last shot attempts. That play reminded me a ton of the one we ran against the Clippers several years ago. Hell of a game from out guy. Would also like to note that he was a great passer AND defender tonight. The effort on D was there, his post D was smart and worthy and I only saw one time where he was arguing a call instead of getting back down the floor. In his defense, it was a terrible no-call and I'd be pissed too. Best outlet passer in basketball, I'm convinced. K-Mart and Brewer both blew some fastbreak tries off a Love outlet DIME or else he would have finished with six assists. That's the type of facilitating we're looking for. :D

I thought Brewer played a really good game. He blew some easy's here and there, but made up for it with really good defense and fastbreak dominance. Never seen someone release after a FT try as fast he did tonight, my goodness. Love and Rubio had Brewer open down court so many times I lost count. 1-4 on three-point tries. I can live with that. Missed two wide open corner threes, if I remember correctly, that I thought he should have made. Really solid performance from our new/old SF. :)

Rubio, Rubio, Rubio. Filled the stat sheet that's for damn sure. A ton of smart and amazing plays with a few dummy's mixed in. Constantly put guys in good positions to score. Easily could have had four or five more dimes had the shots been converted. Big time defensive plays in OT and I swear he's going to lead the league in steals this year. NBA's Most Wanted Theft. Room to grow still, but a good night for our point guard.

K-Mart was relatively quiet for the first three Qs it felt like and then made up for it in the 4th and OT. He's money on the left side of the court and for some reason isn't nearly as good on the opposite side. Could have something to do with his shooting form or just because he's right-handed, not sure. HUGE and-1 runner to stretch the lead in OT. 9-9 at the FT line. We got what we paid for. He'll get more efficient as the season goes on.

Why was Pekovic on the bench so long? It felt like we didn't get much of him in the second half and then he played in OT. I didn't understand it. He would have been much better late in the game securing boards instead of Ruriaf, no offense to Ronny. Wasn't foul trouble as he ended the game with three PFs. Couldn't have been fatigued. Maybe giving him an elongated breather so he was fresher for OKC? I really don't know. Played OK. Good post defense on Vucevic. Pek missed a couple easy's early in the game, but nothing too bad. How about that free-throw jumper he took in the first quarter? Is that something he's adding this year? He missed it, but it was lined up.

OKC up next. I feel like we should beat them as well, especially since Westbrook's out. Gonna have to clean up some of the sloppiness and step it up on defense even more. We always matchup with the Thunder pretty well and I expect Friday's game to be no different. Go Wolves! :D

[Lipoli390]

Cam -- I like the way you broke down what we learned about this team from how they played in the different periods. Nice insights.