Minnesota Sports Forum

And then looking at these Wolves. . .and then remembering the old Ricky. . .makes me long for some more drive and kick game. The Spurs really separated themselves tonight with the drive and kick. I am having visions of the sequence where Bonner, and whichever guard it was, kept driving and kicking back and forth until they shook the Wolves. It happened 3 or 4 times until Bonner eventually got the wide open 3.

I seem to recall that when Ricky first came over, this was what he was doing. He was driving a lot more and finding the seams. This is when the team did not have near the talent or shooters that he has now. This brought the razzle dazzle and excitement that catapulted Ricky into a )(up and coming) superstar level.

Now there is a ton of high post and high-low action that takes Ricky out of the action a lot. It isn't as bad as when he was in Spain but I feel it limits Ricky and limits the easy shots that the team could be getting. I think letting Ricky loose again will get him back to where we all want him and create easier opportunities for everyone else, even Love.

Phenom, I think you have to consider the fact that teams have scouted rubio. They now play him for the pass and are therefore closing in on the passong lanes whenever he drives to the hoop. They would rather rubio shoot in than him finding open teammates.

Rubio also shot well when he first came here. his mid range game the first few games was good. Then he started struggling and never really got it going again as far as his shot is concerned.

I love rubio for his effort, defense and competitiveness. The fact that he is still very effective only shows how good he is at his strengths. But he needs to make himself a threat on offense, it will help himself and especially the whole team. He needs to work on that.

worldK, Some of it is certainly due to his poor ability to finish in the paint. He also gets himself caught behind the hoop a lot but I think the majority of this falls on the offense sets. Ricky is still able to get into the lane if he wants. Sometimes I feel like Adelman is treating Love and Ricky like they are Webber and Bibby. Bibby got way more spot up opportunities compared to Ricky but Love and Pek are much more like finishers compare to Webber and Divac. Maybe Rick's strong desire for Love to be a facilitator has something to do with this. Maybe the team just needs more time to find their true identity. Maybe Rick won't be here when that happens.