Thursday, September 20th, 2012 at 2:20 pm  |  81 responses

Kevin Love Would Be Surprised if Timberwolves Miss the Playoffs


Kevin Love applied considerable pressure on the Minnesota Timberwolves’ front-office to improve the roster over the summer, citing his impatience with the team’s development. Love must be pleased with the direction of the franchise, given that he expects the T-Wolves to qualify for the postseason this year. From the Portland Tribune: “Entering his fifth season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Love hasn’t had a sniff of the postseason. Minnesota, in fact, has finished fifth and last in the Northwest Division in each of his four seasons. That could change in 2012-13 as the Timberwolves have beefed up a roster that has their Western Conference competition on notice. ‘It will be a big surprise to me if we didn’t make a huge leap this year and make it to the playoffs,’ the Lake Oswego native said. With Hall of Fame-to-be coach Rick Adelman and rookie phenom Ricky Rubio at point guard,the Timberwolves nearly made it there a year ago. They were 21-19, but a game later, Rubio was lost for the season with an ACL knee injury. Thus began a progression of injuries that saw the Wolves without their top five scorers — including Love — at one point. They went into free-fall, losing 13 of their last 14 games to finish 26-40. That’s all in the rear-view mirror now. During the offseason, General Manager David Kahn bolstered a returning nucleus of Love, Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, J.J. Barea, Luke Ridnour, Wesley Johnson and Derrick Williams by signing free agents Brandon Roy, Andrei Kirilenko, Greg Stiemsma and Russian guard Alexey Shved and trading a first-round pick for Chase Budinger. ‘We’re going to have a chance to be very good,’ Love said. ‘We’re hoping Brandon can stay healthy through 82 games. Kirilenko is a big addition. Shved hopefully is going to be a big deal for us. We’ll have more firepower in terms of veterans. Brandon and Andrei will help our locker room and on the court. It will make Coach Adelman’s job a lot easier. If everything is put together, if Ricky comes back healthy, we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.’”

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  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    as would i. they really retooled this summer.

  • http://twitter.com/niQknacks niQ

    Should be an exciting team once Rubio returns.

  • http://twitter.com/Jzakoni Verified Account

    im rooting for this twolves squad.. hadn’t seen much excitement since the Marbury/Garnett days

  • http://twitter.com/Jzakoni Verified Account

    this team needs rubio… didn’t this team go 5-22 after he went down?! Kevin Love gives himself too much props

  • LakeShow

    What did Love say about himself?

  • RKJ92

    I think they look like a 42 win team this season should be really exciting to watch! gonna be happy to see Brandon Roy back on the court again!

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Countdown to the time when K-Love can leave Minnesota and head to a team/city where he has a chance to win something…A top 3 PF in basketball shouldn’t waste away in Minnesota for too long….ask Kevin Garnett.

  • RKJ92

    we’ll see he has a nice pg in Rubio though and sounds pretty loyal, im not sure if he wants to give that up to be a 2nd option on a good team, I think he likes being the Man

  • macaroni

    PLAY-OFF IS A MUST

  • Redd

    He sounds loyal? What? Have you been following what he’s said?

  • Redd

    Houston, Denver, Nola, LA, LAC, OKC, San Antonio, Portland, Dallas, heck even Warriors. It’ll be a crazy and interesting Western Conference this year. We’ll see but definitely not a sure thing Twolves get in.

  • LakeShow

    Portland will suck.
    Houston will suck.
    Nawlins will suck.
    All less than 40 win teams.

  • Redd

    I’ll give u no and Houston just because you don’t know if those teams will turn around but not Portland.

  • http://twitter.com/KingofKushSmoke PimpMaster of yo Hoe

    Brandon is the x factor. With a healthy B Roy they have a legit big three.

  • LakeShow

    Portland is going to be awful. No way around it.
    They have LA and that’s it…
    Batum is a good glue guy for a good team.
    Matthews really never should get more than 30MPG on a decent team.
    No point guard.
    No Center.
    No depth.
    I just don’t see it.
    Plus Memphis.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    He sounds like he wants to win now. KG was as loyal as they come and he sounded like he wished he would have left Minnesota earlier than he did. Is Rubio enough to push that team into a top 3 or 4 spot in the West? No. Is Brandon Roy going to return to the form he was in before the surgeries on his knees? No. Wherever he goes, unless that team has a superstar PG or wing player, K-Love will be the man. He’s had two great seasons that have shown that he’s a top 10 player.

  • gusisit

    dont leave out memphis, come on man

  • LakeShow

    Rubio isn’t. But a somewhat revamped Roy, an AK-47 and an improved Pek with an ever improving Love is.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    Damien Lillard is going to win ROY. Were you who thought he was overrated before the draft? That kid is going to be really good.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    But you are completely right, Portland will be pretty awful.

  • Redd

    That’s the beauty, we don’t see it. For all we know the Warriors could come out and get top 5 seed. But as it is today we can only say Warriors won’t be an elite team.

    As it is today, Portland has been a decent playoff team when healthy . I will admit though that that was in 2011 but also last year health was an issue so we’ll see, you do have an argument though.

    Nonetheless the idea that Twolves won’t make it again isn’t far fetched.

  • Kilo

    That is how he should feel. He is wring but he should have confidence in his squad.

  • LakeShow

    Lillard is the only bright spot on that team besides Lamarcus.
    I dunno who it was going in on him on the draft. I don’t know about ROY for him, but I like his game and see him excelling in the L. I see Davis claiming that ROY though.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    i think Lillard should be the frontrunner mainly because he’s going to have the ball in his hands. Austin Rivers and Eric Gordon are going to do their very best to keep it away from Anthony Davis even though he is literally going to be the best rookie (imo).

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    I don’t think they’d be a top team even if all of those things happen. OKC, both LA teams, Denver..none of those teams are going anywhere for a while. If he has a chance to get to a big market in the future and the T’Wolves are at best a team that can barely get into the playoffs, he should leave.

  • LakeShow

    Ah, I see your perspective.
    Forgot about Rivers on his team.
    Still, that’s what is great about The Brow, he doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective nor show his effectiveness. He really can win ROY with only 10 points. As long as he gets his 10 boards and 2.5+ blocks a game and shows he is game changer I think the L will look fondly on him being the #1 pick.
    I wouldn’t mind at all seeing Lillard win it though. Kinda hope he does if he deserves it anyway.

  • roscoe

    MIN 2012 win % = 39%. Adelman is a good coach, but I just don’t see it yet w/out a trade at the deadline. They need better defenders (4th worst D in the West 2012. > 100 PA. Negative 2.2 DIFF). Rubio could miss the 1st two months. Their big issue is size in the front court. Lastly, the owner is looking to sell need I say more.
    West playoff teams in no particular order:
    OKC – lock
    LAL – lock
    SAS – lock
    LAC – lock
    MEM – lock
    DEN – lock
    DAL – New front court = strong. Oj mayo = solid replacement 4 Cessna. Dirk’s Health??
    UTH – I could be wrong about UTH, but I like them more than GSW, SAC, or MIN.
    West lottery bound teams:

    GSW – I could be wrong about GSW. Bogut is going to make a difference w/ D. Lee.
    SAC – I could be wrong about SAC. Talented.
    MIN – Love is solid, Rubio makes an impact, & AK47 is back, but depth/size are issues.
    POR – Last year’s coach was previously the towell boy, no disrepect, but come on.
    NOLA – Young fellas w/ bright future.
    HOU – Scola’s absence creates a huge hole folks.
    PHX – No question.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    you are very right, he could still win it that way….i just don’t know if it’ll be enough. i might really be overrating Lillard, but I’m thinking he goes for no less than 16 a game with 5+ assists and shoots something like 45-38-80.

  • LakeShow

    Hmm, impressive numbers for a rookie.
    I’ll go with the 16 PPG
    Slightly less on the FG% like say 43-44%
    35% on 3 pointers, just because it’s hard to acclimate yourself to the NBA 3 point line.
    And just a hair under on the assists also.
    In other words: I agree.

  • LakeShow

    Mhh, yeah your right probably more like a high spot of the 5th seed if all goes perfect. Most likely 6th or 7th seed this year.
    I see the T-Wolves, Denver, and Memphis competing for playoff positions next year. Warriors could get in that mix too.

  • RunNGun

    Timberwolves will make the playoffs whether it is a 6-8 seed; signing up for LP again.

  • RunNGun

    I agree w/ the locks. However, DAL is on the decline; OJ Mayo is overrated. UTH is in lottery ghetto. MIN, SAC, or GSW should take those two last spots.

  • RunNGun

    Houston is mess right now after acquiring all those draft picks and losing out on the D12 chase. NOLA… no chance.

  • Datkid

    congratulating yourself? and why do you say that?

  • http://twitter.com/Jzakoni Verified Account

    he feels like he deserves entitlement

  • Jimmer

    they’re gonna win the first round

  • angdulval

    Garnett/Cassell/Sprewell days were more awesome

  • AngDulVal

    Linsanity will ensue

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    I think Denver and Memphis are both significantly better than Minnesota. Golden State and Minnesota will be fighting for the 8th spot if both teams stay healthy.

  • latoya block

    Despite all of the poor fitting players, new coach, short training camp, condensed season, rookie point guard, and slew of injuries, last season’s squad actually won 26/66 or in other words 39% of the total games. Which is what you are predicting for this upcoming season. HMMMM… The team is much improved. Honestly, they almost doubled their win percentage from the 10-11 to 11-12 seasons and their points differential decreased from -6.6 to -2.2. Fact is, their upward trajectory is clear whether you choose to see it or not.

    Also, the point you were trying to infer about Glen Taylor, Twolves owner,looking to sell the team literally had me shaking my head. The man is 71 years old and has been dealing with health issues the last few years. Last season, he did an interview where he frankly talked about his future passing and him basically not wanting to leave the task/burden of caring for two franchises (Wolves and Lynx) on his wife and children.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Depends on if Utah keeps all of their frontcourt players or if they trade one or two. I don’t think the roster they have now will be the same roster come next April. They’re good enough now to get in the playoffs. Mo Williams is an upgrade from Devin Harris. Sacramento is talented but they need to decide what to do with Tyreke. Whether he’ll be a small forward, a point guard or a two guard. Portland is just a bad team. Aldridge is on his own. Batum is talented but he and LA aren’t enough to get it done. Houston is young, too young. Dallas will be a 5 or 6 seed. I can see them losing in the first round. I’d also say that Kevin Love is more than solid. He’s a superstar. Could make a serious argument for him being the best power forward in basketball given that he both scores and rebounds consistently. Best rebounder in the league. Phoenix is worse on paper than Portland is. They’re counting on Michael Beasley to be the player Miami thought he would be when they drafted him. He’s shown no signs of it. Golden State is an interesting team. Great young core of guys. If Stephen Curry can stay healthy and Harrison Barnes can mesh with both he and Klay Thompson, they’ll be fun to watch and could sneak into the playoffs. Andrew Bogut is a great fit there.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Correction: Wesley Johnson got traded to Phoenix so he’s no longer a part of their core.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    I’m with you. He said nothing about himself. I’ve never heard him say anything about himself or give himself any kind of props. I think he’s just making comments that any player of his caliber would make. He deserves to be surrounded with guys that he can win with. He looks around and sees his peers getting to the playoffs and winning. There’s nothing wrong with him wanting the same for himself.

  • pposse

    this comment embodies everything with what is wrong with the league right now.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    What’s wrong with it? Guys want to be on winning teams? What’s really wrong is these fans who act like players belong to them and their teams. They belong to themselves only. Their loyalty should be to themselves before anything else. That’s the way it is.

  • pposse

    did MJ ever go to management and complain that he didn’t have enough ‘tool’s’ to win a ring? NO. Does D Rose actively recruit F.A to come play for the Bulls? NO. And your wrong, their loyalty should be towards the fans that put them on the damn pedestal these idiots put themselves on. Your logic dictates that the league should consist of 6 teams max..and 82 regular season games should’nt be played. Your logic makes it IMPOSSIBLE for teams like the Bobcats or Raptors or Warriors to EVER compete. Why should I as a fan buy any NBA merchandise if i can’t expect some sense of loyalty in return from the player? The sad part is, most NBA players think like you do, which makes them soft, weak minded selfish pricks. Shame on you.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Different time period. Everyone compares today’s stars to 80s/90s stars. Different guys. Can’t compare them. And people shouldn’t compare Jordan to anyone. D-Rose and Durant have different mentalities. Doesn’t make them right and it doesn’t make guys like LeBron, Melo, CP3, Deron Williams and Dwight Howard wrong. You may not like it. But it is what it is. Fans overestimate their importance way too often. No, a player should be loyal to himself before he thinks about a bunch of people who don’t really know him and could care less whether he wins or loses as long as he entertains them (fans). My logic dictates simply that guys should want to win and if they are in a situation where they can’t, it is absolutely ridiculous to stick it out on a losing squad just so that the fans can be happy. Shame on you for really being the soft/sensitive one and wanting the players to just make you happy and to completely forget about the goals they have for themselves and their careers. Too many fans catch feelings when a player makes a decision that is best for himself. There is no virtue in being the best player on a team that sucks and staying there when you have an opportunity to be in a better place playing with better players.

  • pposse

    so..your logic dictates that the league should only consist of a max 6 teams b/c really what your saying is that at most there are only 6 teams that have a chance in any given year to win it all, provided that the stars of these days align themselves with eachother because thats what they need to do in order to win. But there are 30 teams. Yah, fans don’t matter at all to the sport..thats why the fans pay $100 per tickets to go watch these guys play. Don’t you get it, the stars from yesteryear didn’t just ‘stick it out’ they made it work! Sure some didn’t get rings, but no one is denying the type of ball player a Pat Ewing was, or a Gary Payton. The mentality that you speak of regarding Durant and Rose is what all of these other clowns should be on, but they aren’t. You call it ‘different’ i call it ‘right’ I pay a lot of money to watch my teams play ball, and if they are competing and have likable players ill even pay more money. To act like fans don’t have investments in the sport just cause they aint playing is foolish. Put it this way, as a Bulls fan i’ll spend cheddar to go sit 100 level at the United Center, i’ll go to the bar and watch them play too..probably buy anywhere from 5-10 beers. On the flip side, if i was a Warriors fan…I would’nt waist my time trying to buy a 100 level ticket, I might go to the bar to watch them play, but im not trynna buy 5-10 beers to watch them. I’d probably buy like 2 beers and call it a night, cause that team sucks!

  • pposse

    on a side note, Deron Williams had a chance to play alongside Dirk in his hometown, and turned it down…that was a hoe move. Dirk done proved himself already, and he still turns them down, and for what? to play with Brook Lopez Crash and Joe Johnson?!

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    i was saying Lakeshow is completely right, i just pressed reply to my own comment on accident. — and because they will be awful.. they don’t have anyone outside of Aldridge and Lillard, and Lillard isn’t going to be a 2nd star in the sense that he makes your team a winner….so, they will be awful.

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