Have the Wolves done a good job building around Pek/Love/Rubio?

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

I know there's people who say that the core of pek/love/rubio has shown that it doesn't work or will never work ect.

I think the difference bewteen a team like the wolves, and other teams with cores, is that those teams actually build around their strengths/weaknesses.

I think you can point out that after Rubios rookie year, along with Love and Pek's breakout year, that that was the time where it looked like our core was there.

I think it's easy to see what strengths and weaknesses that core brings, because it's the same now as it was then.

Strengths:
Really good low post scoring
Excellent passing
Great rebounding
Getting to the line a lot

Weaknesses:
Interior D
Poor perimeter shooting


Theres probably more, but If you were the GM, what would you try to surround that core? I would try to add as much 3 point shooters as we can. Also to find a big who can provide interior D.

So who have we tried to surround that core with to help space the floor?
AK
Dwill
Roy
Chase
Martin
Luc
Brewer
DC
JJ
Lexi
Bazz

Aside from Chase (whose been injured) and Martin ( whose in way to big of role), none of those players are known for their 3 point shooting.

What about our interior D?
Steamer
Lou
Turiaf
Deing

If you look at it Deing has been the only real player in 3 years that you could say is a player to surround that core with. 3 years!

[AbeVigodaLive]

The team STILL needs an athletic guy who can create for himself (score) or others from the wing/point.

JJ Barea was never going to work as that guy.

[KiwiMatt]

The team STILL needs an athletic guy who can create for himself (score) or others from the wing/point.

JJ Barea was never going to work as that guy.

I think J.J missed out on that memo Abe.

In his mind his ceiling = Kobe Bryant. Unfortunately in reality his ceiling = Nate Robinson without the roids.

[KiwiMatt]

I think it has more to do with the development of players and their roles more than the personel we've had to be honest.

Look at San Antonio. They are continually un-earthing players by bringing them through a proven system and playing them with in their abilities. Patty Mills, Boris Diaw, Danny Green, Gary Neal, George Hill, Matt Bonner - All guys who are far from stars but play with in their abilities in a proven system and excel at it

Now look at us - Our starting wings Kevin Martin and Cory Brewer are both really 6th men. Luke Ridnour was here for 2 years as a backup PG, but played a majority of his minutes at the 2. LMAM was traded for to matchup against superstar wings, yet isn't playing that role. Bazz is good for instant points off the bench yet gets scrap minutes. Cunningham is an end of bench player on any other team, but is the first big off the bench for us. The list goes on. We just fail to play these guys in the roles that best suits them.

Our franchise doesn't know how to utilise the personnel we have. Since the Flip coaching days we haven't had a coach that designs plays around the players on the roster. They've been force fed systems that don't really suit them. We need a coach who can develop these players into a cohesive unit.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Well said, Kiwi. Stan Van it is.

[worldK]

Kiwi, we did have a coach here after flip that play to the strength of his players in mchale. Big al was playing his best ball for him. The starting five was Gomes/Craig smith/al/telfair/foye. With the rookie love as the 6th man and mccants buried on the end of the bench. Mchale play foye at sg instead of pg and foye has played there since. Heck, even Rodney carney was playing well for mchale as he only took corner 3's or dunk. We were on a winning streak and had a winning record for January until al tore his all. Unfortunaly, I don't honk mchale will ever work here again now that flip is minority owner.

To answer the question on this thread, no we have not done well in building around love-Rubio-pek core. Kahn did make the trade and drafted Rubio and bring him here to play but screwed up a lot of opportunities. Flip had cap room, expirings, non guaranteed deals, dw and shved (back when they still have positive trade values)and the 9th and 26th picks when he started. He had used all of them and we are missing the playoffs and are the 10th seed in the west.

I view this off season as our last chance to build a contending team around love and Rubio. Pek may have to be traded because his our only trade asset that could get us that missing piece. I would hate that as pek is a unique player and a good one but we don't have time on our side. Flip has got to step up and do better with more limited assets than he had this past off season. Good luck flip.

[Papalrep]

Now look at us - Our starting wings Kevin Martin and Cory Brewer are both really 6th men. Luke Ridnour was here for 2 years as a backup PG, but played a majority of his minutes at the 2. LMAM was traded for to matchup against superstar wings, yet isn't playing that role. Bazz is good for instant points off the bench yet gets scrap minutes. Cunningham is an end of bench player on any other team, but is the first big off the bench for us. The list goes on. We just fail to play these guys in the roles that best suits them.

Our franchise doesn't know how to utilise the personnel we have. Since the Flip coaching days we haven't had a coach that designs plays around the players on the roster. They've been force fed systems that don't really suit them. We need a coach who can develop these players into a cohesive unit.

Great Post Kiwi

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I actually think offensively Adelman tries to get the ball to guys where they are the strongest. Look at how often he sets up plays on the left side of the floor for Love and Martin. That is by far their favorite side of the floor to shoot from and Rick constantly has them playing a 2-man game over there. Or how about Pek in the right box for quick duck-ins and post-ups? And we've even seen how he allows Shabazz to post up on the left box too, which is his favorite spot on the floor.

You can fault Adelman for his rotations, playing time decisions, and lack of emphasis on good, stout defensive principles. But I actually think he mixes and matches his corner offense with progressions that highlight the strengths of his players.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I think we can all agree that the team needs include better rim protection, better 3-point shooting, and better playmaking off the dribble. I'm not sure which order it's in nor do I think we have to perfectly solve every single problem. We're not a bad team by any stretch.

In terms of rim protection, we have the personnel in Turiaf and Dieng. It's just that Turiaf was hurt and Dieng was slow to get playing time. I personally think both of these guys will be kept for next season and we'll be seeing a lot more of them, especially Dieng, who has DPOY potential (some day) in my opinion because he can do so much more than block shots.

As for 3-point shooting, say what you want about Martin, but he's one of only two players on our team that can consistently knock down 3's (the other being Love). We need to hold onto him solely for that reason. Getting another 3-point shooter that can share time at SG with Martin would be great. I think there are a couple of options. One is to go out and get Nick Stauskas in the draft, as Cam and others have advocated. But there is no guarantee a rookie can replicate his college shooting, especially in year 1. The other option is to sign a veteran SG like Thabo, a classic 3 & D wing that could split time with Martin and probably play some 3 as well. And yet another option is to find another gunner like Jodie Meeks or Nick Young, neither of whom will be that costly.

I think finding a dribble-drive playmaker/scorer is the toughest need to fill, and frankly, I just don't know if it's possible without shedding serious salary, putting Rubio aside/trading him, and then going after someone like Isaiah Thomas or Kyle Lowry in free agency. I wouldn't advocate doing this by the way.

More than anything, we need a coach that teaches and emphasizes defense.

[TheFuture]

The other option is to sign a veteran SG like Thabo, a classic 3 & D wing

I'll take 2 or 3 of those please.