First I become shocked how we can't score in the second half and then I am shocked that we ended up scoring points in the first half. For the record, here is the 1st - 2nd half scoring.

58 - 36 vs Nuggets
55 - 40 @ Blazers
51 - 34 @ Warriors

Love is not in game shape and stinks in the second half. Legs just not there and coming up short on many shots. Yet, we still try to run the offense through him so much, even though he is not ready for that. Ball movement is dead.

We need Rubio. Or just give it to Shved and make sure Kirilenko is in the game with him. I like Shved more when he has the ball and creating than off the ball with Barea dribbling down the shot clock.

We have to come up with some backcourt D. Just ridiculous how we are getting torched there and from 3 point land.

Frustrating, frustrating losses piling up to teams that we have to beat. I know there is the whole season ahead of us, but I still can't stand what is currently happening, except for the getting healthy part.

BTW, not sure if anyone posted this, but the Blazers broadcast was what League Pass used the other night. They were really impressed with the work out that Rubio had before the game, saying he was cutting and doing everything. They said after his doctor's visit, he might be back in a week. Let's hope at least by the Dec 7 home game vs. Cavs.

Yea I don't think we are going to be able to win until Rubio comes back. Ridnour & Malcolm Lee as our starting guards is laughably bad. They combined for 2 points!

This team has tons of other problems as well. AK47 has come back down to earth. Steamer hasn't been playing quality basketball lately. K-Lav is terrible on defense, and call me crazy but we are worse on offense as well when he's on the court. He gave up 2 easy baskets because instead of running back on defense, he was arguing with the refs. Is it too late to trade him for Harden and Ibaka?

The only players I trust right now to play their roles are AK47, Pek, Cunningham, and Shved, although I do think Barea gets a lot of undeserved hate. Ricky and Budinger can't come back soon enough.

BonK wrote:
Yea i have to say Jim Pete is noticably better this season. It made me happy when he called out K-Lav for crying like a little biatch all game long.

Tod Murphy wrote:
Ahh yea, I heard this from a friend. I also keep forgetting to drop some story info from my boy. He went to Marquette and is a big dude. He just finished filming a commercial in the cities with Rubio. For the commercial he played in five on five scenes in which he said Rubio was doing whatever he wanted for the commercial, physically. He said nobody was watching what he was doing and he was running, throwing him lobs, playing defense against the guy in-between takes, etc.

About his time at Marquette - He said Wes Matthews is a spoiled, silver spoon rich kid that nobody really hung out with. And he said Lazar was real cool and asked Rubio about him. Rubio said was sad to see Houston cut him, everyone likes Lazar.

roundhouse wrote:
100% spot on, from my perspective.

Love is having a terrible impact. If all he's going to do is shoot like shit, play no defense, and not be a leader, put Derrick Williams back out there, he at least tries his ass off on D (come on ya'll, give him that much. He IS putting forth the effort on that side of the court).

There is absolutely no reason Shved doesn't see 35 minutes a night. Fyck it. He will make mistakes but he is soooo long he can still challenge shots on d unlike the Hobbit boys and he can actually make plays.

Trade K-Lav for Iblocka and Harden! Oh wait, crap..........

Dang, after advocating that trade all last year I don't look so stupid anymore huh? Iblocka and Harden are playing like total beasts this year.

daddyfatsax wrote:
AWESOME, thanks. Love the insider nuggets like these!

College Wolf wrote:
But Harden's just a sixth man and Ibaka can't even create his own shot and is just a role player... said most of TwolvesBlog

1. Howl to DFW for the tidbits. I did some reading on Wes last night, his dad had a 12+ year pro career so he is a spoiled athlete son just like K Lav and Kobe.

2. Here is my top frustrations of the season to date....why is Pek not getting any touches and when he does, he is doing this new Marc Gasol running hook move? What happened to unstoppable low block, 65% fg% Pek who was fed the ball every few possessions? If you ask me, this is the biggest surprise of the season...the lack of reliance on the best offensive player on the team outside of Love and Malcolm Lee. What gives? Why is Love the new low post option every possession? Isnt he supposed to manage the midrange on offense? Ugh.

3. The other is just outside shooting. You have to think those are going to start dropping. Law of averages.

4. Rubio is going to make a huge difference, but as Roundhouse correctly alluded to...unless the SG play improves, this team will not be able to fight in the West. EVERY team is good or close to .500 and it is bizarre. Even Phoenix and GS are holding their own. Sorry Daddy, but Malcolm Lee's offensive ineptitude is killing the team to date. I would rather start Luke at the 2 when Rubio comes back. That actually worked last year.

WallyWorld wrote:
Oh my lord I cannot express my frustrations properly through the internet. It seems to be some combination of Adelman and the guards' faults that Pek doesn't get the ball where he needs it. After the first five games he has just given up posting deep because Luke either doesn't see him or has NO idea how to pass the ball that deep in the post. It requires a touch that only AK, Rubio, and Malcolm Lee have. If I see another catch at 12 feet by Pek I'm going to punch Donovan McNabb next time I see him downtown Mpls because he still hangs out there for some strange reason...

Don't get me started on Love. He looks horrible. 2004-2011 Carmelo horrible.

WallyWorld wrote:
No need to apologize, you are spot on!

daddyfatsax wrote:
Completely maddening. And what is worse...people are more down on Pek for it (at least media folk). But he looks totally different on O because of his decreased role. Did he even get a touch the 4th quarter against GS? I think when he finally did he got to the line and ended a huge scoring drought. During most of that time, I want to say Love was fed the ball on the left elbow for a post move just about every possession Barea didnt throw up an ill-advised shot. Since when is Love a post player....or a better post player than one of the best scorers in the league in the post in Pekovic? I just don't get it. What's with the turnaround jumpers? Running hooks? No way. Pick and roll and low block spin move baby hooks. That is Pek's game to a T. Have we seen a single low block score from Pek this year? Probably, but when in doubt rely on hyperbole.

I don't like it at all and consider it a key reason for the 5 g L streak.

Love came back 2 weeks too early and his shot is flat. He will be fine....we can be rational on him I think.

daddyfatsax wrote: