Posted by Rob Mahoney on March 3, 2010 under Previews | 
The Minnesota Timberwolves are a very, very bad basketball team…albeit one that completely embarrassed the Mavs right before the All-Star break.
But despite how limited Minny’s roster is, things don’t have to be quite so bleak. Ryan Hollins (or in tonight’s case, Darko Milicic) doesn’t have to start at center, general manager David Kahn doesn’t have to do what David Kahn does, and perhaps most importantly, the team’s two best players shouldn’t be forced into a system that needlessly keeps them from producing and evolving. Kurt Rambis is a disciple of Phil Jackson and Tex Winter, and as such, is installing the famed triangle offense. The only problem is that the triangle buster — the player in the vein of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant that holds the liberty to work around the system — is Jonny Flynn, the best players on the team don’t fit with the triangle or its objectives, and the rest of the roster isn’t talented enough to make up for it. Gee whiz.
In theory, they should be one of the most fearsome pairs of bigs in the league. But they’re not. They’re nice and fluffy. They’re a cute distraction, but hardly a team. They don’t reinforce each other’s strengths, but counter them while magnifying each other’s weaknesses. They are Kevin Love and Al Jefferson, and despite the fact that they’re both immensely talented and incredibly productive, they will never, ever work as a pairing.
Okay, they might. In fact, they probably will at some point, provided they’re kept together. But at this point in their careers, it seems like they’re both forces that while unstoppable, are slowing and hindering one another, despite their best efforts not to.
It’s one of those cases that has oh so little to do with personality, and everything to do with style and system. Despite the particular strengths and versatility of Love and Jefferson’s games, the overlap is such that they haven’t quite figured out how to best play alongside one another. Or rather, Kurt Rambis hasn’t best figured out how his two best players can be effective on the court at the same time, which is not a good thing. The triangle is an effective system if given the right personnel with the right mindset. But when the squad has such strength in its low post game, is the triple post really necessary? Especially when you just drafted Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio? Is that the type of core that you construct the triangle offense around? Really? Really, Kahn?
You can read my full piece on the problems between the Wolves personnel and coaching/management at HP.
The Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Dallas Mavericks:
7:30 CST
FSN SW
Posted by Rob Mahoney on April 1, 2009 under Recaps |
Photo by AP.
Box Score — Play-By-Play — Shot Chart — GameFlow
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.”
-William Arthur Ward
It was only a win over the lowly Timberwolves, who boast a .280 win percentage. It was only a victory in a game that was assumed as such. It was only a blowout in what deserved to be one, against a team that was missing two of their best players.
But boy did that feel good.
Back-to-back losses of the heartbreaking (Denver) and soul-crushing (Cleveland) varieties made an otherwise pedestrian win all the more delicious. There’s no reason the Mavs should have lost last night’s game, and they didn’t. They showed up, blew the Wolves out of the water, refused to concede their substantial lead, and finished the game with ease. That’s exactly the kind of win the Mavs need at this point in the season and their closing schedule. Wins aren’t just wins, but exercises in execution and boosts in the ever-important confidence level in a team that will surely be a playoff underdog.
The Mavs’ offense was white-hot, and for once wasn’t completely reliant on jumpshots. Almost every Mav was getting into the paint at ease, and Jason Kidd using laser-guided passing to cutters and players with good post position surely didn’t hurt. Essentially, the Mavs did everything right offensively. Want Dirk and JET to bust out of their mini-slumps? Boom, 44 combined points on 20-34 shooting. Think the Mavs need to get more easy baskets? Pow, 55% shooting overall, including a plethora of looks right around the rim. Tired of seeing a lethargic Josh Howard? Well golly gee, he was active on both ends on his way to 14 points (6-12 FG) and 6 rebounds in just 22 minutes. Rest for the weary? Kidd, Dirk, and Terry got to take catnaps on the bench, and finished a combined 15 minutes under their season averages.
Oddly enough, the Mavs only attempted 11 free throws despite a renewed commitment to get into the paint. Chalk it up to a Timberwolves defense that often wasn’t even in a position to foul, a Maverick team resolved to get good looks inside, and the mentality of a team staring down a significant deficit.
James Singleton (11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks), J.J. Barea (9 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds), and Brandon Bass (8 points, 4 rebounds) went out and did their jobs. Some of that came in garbage time, and some of it came in what basically amounted to third quarter garbage time, but their solid contributions made everything that much easier. There’s nothing wrong with going with the flow, succeeding without pushing the issue, and allowing the starters their aforementioned rest.
Kevin Love gave the Mavs some trouble, but how can you really complain when his shots and Mike Miller’s were practically the only ones falling? The Mavs could have done a better job on those two, but it’s always hard to maintain defensive intensity when nursing a lead hovering around 20. Both are talented offensive players, and I’m not going to beat the Mavs up about it. You hold a team to 39.8% shooting and win by 20, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.
It’s hard to pinpoint specifics that could really help the Mavs going into the postseason, but a win like this is best appreciated in a general sense. So chalk up the V, give the guys a round of applause, and get pumped for tonight’s game against Miami.
GOLD STAR OF THE NIGHT: The Gold Star of the Night goes to Josh Howard. Via Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News: “‘A world of difference,’ said James Singleton. ‘He brings so much to the table, it’s like a different team.’”
He only played 22 minutes, and only seemed limited in terms of his timing and conditioning. I noticed him grabbing his shorts a bit. But it’s great to have him back, and 14 points on 50% shooting is a smooth first game back. Glad to have you back (again), Josh.