Comments on: Time for Miller: Wolves beat OKC 105-103 on final shot

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 05:10:12 +0000

I actually think Love will be an ok pro. Not a guy you can build a team around, but a solid second option and reliable scorer. Most of his struggles right now is just a bad situation. McHale must have been smoking something when he decided a duo of two unathletic, ball-dominant, undersized post players was the way to go.

But then again, McHale is always making bad calls like that.

I think if Love were on a team where he could be the full time power forward and have the post offense run through him, he’d do ok. He’d be great in a system like Utah’s or San Antonio’s where his lack of athleticism won’t matter much. His game is almost identical to Boozer’s anyway.

But ya….I think he’ll pan out as a worthwhile pro. Just not on this team.

By: UCLA Fan

UCLA Fan — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:58:27 +0000

Was just lurking around here to see what you all are saying about our boy Kevin Love and have a couple of comments:

It was obvious to everyone in Westwood that Westbrook would be a solid NBA pro — he’ll soon make All Defense teams, can handle/distribute the ball playing the “1″, has the size/body to play the “2″, a decent jump shot with range. Taken at #6 might be a little high, he may not be all-star, HOF calibre, but he’s going to be solid, top-level NBA starter.

OTOH, to those who watched with their heads and not their hearts, Kevin Love appeared to have multiple problems projecting his game to an NBA level. He’s 6′8″, plays below the rim and has no discernible inside or outside offensive game to get his own shots. The rebound putbacks he got in college would come back in his face in the NBA. His decent, though not great, outside shot is easily defended because he’s no threat to drive around the defender. He doesn’t command double teams, negating his supposed great passing ability (0.9 Assists/gm to date). In short, you can’t run offense through him.

On the defensive side, well, 6′8″, slow, unathletic, can’t jump, below the rim guys don’t have a prayer checking the likes of tall “4s” like Stoudemire, Duncan, Wallace, Garnett, Gasol etc., and won’t fare much better against ’shorter,’ athletic “4s” like West, Boozer, Brand, Aldridge (watch out for Portland), etc. Most PFs in this league should have no problem going right over and right around Love.

NBA greats like Karl Malone and Chris Webber were rendered ordinary when leg injuries brought their game below the rim. Love’s (alleged, not yet proven) skills alone are not enough to make him a serviceable, let alone lottery pick, “4″ at the NBA level.

Love is the next Kevin McHale only in their mutual misjudgment of his abilities. I feel for the T-wolves fans — you deserve better — however as an LA guy who HATES McHale I couldn’t be happier that he’s the one who got duped.

By: wow...WOW

wow...WOW — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:32:41 +0000

well I hope everyone had a nice thanksgiving…as for myself, I was in Philly w/ the wife and her family for the week. nice to see the wolves have won another game…and funny to see how mccants’ roll has dwindled w/ the team…

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 17:44:05 +0000

Westbrook, Mayo, and Gordon (and, of course, Rose) all look like the real deal. I wish we would’ve drafted any of those guys to shore up our backcourt (especially Westbrook because he looks competent at the point and is a great defender). It makes me feel almost physically ill to watch Love struggle so badly and to see all these guards playing great, especially given that Love doesn’t have a natural position on this team. Westbrook would’ve been great here, and his athleticism could’ve really changed our team. His shooting isn’t great right now, but he does so many other things that it really doesn’t matter. I agree that he looks a bit like Wade did during his rookie year.

Did we even bring in Westbrook for a workout?

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:48:47 +0000

Also, don’t misconstrue what I just said as not liking Westbrook. I actually love the guy, and it’s to a point where I’m thinking we should have drafted him. His aggressiveness and athleticism remind me a lot of Wade is his rookie year, and he has that attitude of taking over a game, which is what we need. He’s going to be an incredible player….Presti definitely knew what he was doing. But ya, right now Russell’s shot is definitely pretty bad.

By: jballer13

jballer13 — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:48:06 +0000

I thought Bassy looked great in there last night. He did everything a PG needs to do. He set up the offense and the guys looked more comfortable with him running the show. Then he even hit a couple big 3’s. If Love or Smith could dunk the ball he would’ve had 3-4 more assists. His defense is still a little suspect but he looks like he could be a solid back-up PG for us long term and if he continues to improve his shooting he could be a quality starter.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:43:45 +0000

Westbrook is shooting 34% from the field this season. That’s worse than Corey.

2-7 against Houston
4-13 against Boston
1-8 against Utah
1-10 against Indiana
3-19 against Orlando
3-12 against Philadelphia
5-14 against New Orleans
4-14 against Cleavland

Still think he’s tearing it up? Look, bottom line is Westbrooks’ best games have been against us, and that’s a problem. I think we’ve seen between him and Rondo and Tony Parker that Foye just isn’t quick enough to stick with the fast point guards in the league, and there’s a ton of them….Westbrook and Rondo and Parker and Chris Paul and Devin Harris and Jordan Farmar and Aaron Brooks and Louis Williams and Jerryd Bayless and TJ Ford and Jameer Nelson and DJ Augustin and Derrick Rose….I mean, the only up and coming point guard that isn’t blindingly fast or athletic is Deron Williams. So if Foye can’t stick with anyone except Deron Williams, we’re in a lot of trouble.

By: Sportsjunkie

Sportsjunkie — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:35:41 +0000

It was a nice win for the team. Smith played awesome….Brewer also stepped up, even though his minutes are down. Wittman is a little more practical in how he plays him….tonight Gomes needs to step up if the team has a chance against Denver

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:41:53 +0000

Mike Miller is the type of player that we need to keep, if we are going to build a decent enough team to attact a quality free agent in 2010. Good to see McCants sitting on the bench, contributing to the team winning that way. If we had some of his typical turnovers and one-on-three offense where he ends up throwing up a shot as he is triple-guarded, we would have lost another tight game like this.

By: footer

footer — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:00:48 +0000

I just read the headline article and saw that McCants sat on the bench all night. Hmmmm, and we won. But didn’t he have a great shooting performance the previous night (and we lost). I’m starting to have a real love/hate relationship with that guy.