Optimistic Thread...NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS ALLOWED!!!!!

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

There are generally two sides to most issues, and there is a lot of data out there to support a stance. But let's celebrate this big day for the Wolves and bask in the glow of optimism for awhile. This thread is designed for optimistic takes only on the future of the Wolves. Negative rebuttals are not allowed (there are plenty of threads where rebuttals can be posted!). Anyone displaying any negativity in this thread will be subject to the wrath and scorn of this community! I'll start.

Ricky Rubio: I found an article about Ricky scoring 51 points at age 16 against older competition, and another time posting a quadruple double. I think that Ricky is still in him somewhere. I maintain that Rick Adelman's dour personality sucked the joy out of Ricky's game, and that Flip will try to restore it. Ricky looks like he is having fun this summer in the FIBA clips I have seen, and I look for him to bring that joy to Target Center. He looks 15 pounds bigger which should help his finishing, and he is finally paired with the long elite athletes that can bring out the best in him. He's set for a huge year.

Andrew Wiggins: This guy has been under the microscope since he was 14, and has been consistently called the best prospect since LeBron...not LeBron, mind you, but the best prospect since. His athleticism is off the charts, and experts believe he could be an elite defender even in his first year. The Wolves have lacked players who can create their own shot, and Wiggins seems to be able to get off his step back jumper any time he wants. He's the #1 pick in the best draft in years, and has an enormously high ceiling.

Zach LaVine: He's about the only guy who can make Andrew Wiggins look average as an athlete. A truly gifted athlete who seems to be able to do extraordinary things in an effortless manner. Watching him in workouts and Summer League, I can only conclude that Steve Alford is the dumbest coach in the history of college basketball. He's not a tweener...he's a true combo guard, with the shooting touch to be a SG and the handle to be a PG. Despite being underutilized at UCLA, he put up unbelievable numbers in on-the-ball defense. He has the luxury of playing behind Rubio and Martin, so Flip can ease him into the league without pressure. But as he develops his body and learns the NBA game, he has the potential to be a star.

Anthony Bennett: Deserving or not, he was the #1 pick in the 2013 draft after a monster year at UNLV. He possesses freakish shooting and ball handling skills for a guy with his bulk and length, and can score inside and out. His much discussed rookie struggles are easily dismissed because of his pre-season surgery and resulting 15 pound weight gain. The weight is now gone and he is healthy, and he looked like a different player in SL...announcers were raving about him. With a veteran PF in Young on the roster, Flip again has the luxury of bringing him along at a relaxed pace, but I think he will be more than ready to contribute this year. AB is going to show up with a huge chip on his shoulder, and will want to erase all memories of last year as soon as possible. A major steal by Flip to get this guy as a throw in in the deal.

Thad Young: Another steal for Flip, as he basically got the guy ESPN calls the 7th best PF in the league for almost nothing. The same article said that replacing Love with Young only costs the Wolves 6 wins! He averaged almost 18 points a game last year, and has become a disruptive and effective perimeter defender. He plays hard and never takes a play off, and is a wonderful addition to the locker room. Although he is a 7-year veteran, he's still only 26!

Pek and Gorgui: Pek went 17.4 and 8.7 last year, and those rebounding numbers are poised to soar with Love gone. With Gorgui Dieng showing that he is ready to start in the NBA, I look for Pek to come out and play even harder in an effort to keep his starting role. But if he gets injured, we have a double double machine and shotblocker extraordinaire waiting to take his place.

Shabazz Muhammad: Adelman's refusal to play Shabazz last year was the most frustrating part of the season for me. And yet despite not having the confidence of his coach, he still led all rookies in points per minute. Shabazz is a volume scorer, as he showed by setting the scoring record for Pac 12 freshman. He is a relentless offensive rebounder, almost unstoppable on the left block, and a consistent hard worker on the court. Shabazz is exactly the kind of guy that Sam Mitchell can turn into a good defender. Flip drafted him, and he will give him a chance to be a player his year.

I'm excited about many more things, but I'm tired and his post is too long. Who's next?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Then there's this...ante up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR2fmZRJD3g

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Good read, LST! Thanks for putting the time in to make that post. 82 wins here we come!

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Good read, LST! Thanks for putting the time in to make that post. 82 wins here we come!

Not including playoffs!

(Prediction...Tim will post in this thread)

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Dead air for first nine minutes, then Flip's presser:
http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/timberwolves-live-streaming-news

[TAFKASP]

There are two things that fans enjoy in a sports team, winning, and optimism. I think we have here a core that will be able to grow into the winner, finally!

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I enjoyed Flip's press conference...lots of optimism.

Biggest surprise to me? Mike Brown telling Flip that Bennett was one of his best PnR defenders, since I have been saying that may not be a strength for him. We already know that Thad Young is a superb perimeter defender, so it's nice that Brown thinks AB is too.

[MikkeMan]

Ricky Rubio: I found an article about Ricky scoring 51 points at age 16 against older competition, and another time posting a quadruple double. I think that Ricky is still in him somewhere. I maintain that Rick Adelman's dour personality sucked the joy out of Ricky's game, and that Flip will try to restore it. Ricky looks like he is having fun this summer in the FIBA clips I have seen, and I look for him to bring that joy to Target Center. He looks 15 pounds bigger which should help his finishing, and he is finally paired with the long elite athletes that can bring out the best in him. He's set for a huge year.

I think that I have not seen before anyone in this board to mention Ricky's 51 points game. That is one of the most ridiculous stat lines that I have ever seen. Ricky had 51 points, 24 rebounds and 12 assists triple double in that game. In addition he had also 7 steals and that game was not any meaningless lopsided practice game but it was final of the European championship tournament. Spain won that game against Russia after double overtime 110 - 106.

You can find box score of that game here:

http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_KNce8jInH7Qj1EsyH5rjn2.gameID_4771-64-A-1.compID_YUjW-7-FJ,kK9s431Lyr41.season_2006.roundID_4752.html

And if you want to watch whole game, it can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pUBUdGVT58

[Phenom]

This Wolves team will be the new 90's Bulls, minus the triangle.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

In one of those games LST mentioned (think it was the quad double), I believe Rubio hit the game-winner as well. Rubio has the aggressiveness and handle needed to get to the rim. It's just the finishing we need him to be better at. I don't give a shit about his mid-range jumper if he can just finish at the rim a lot better than what he's shown.