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Official Game Thread: Hawks - Timberwolves

lethalweapon3

By lethalweapon3
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lethalweapon3 Grand Master

lethalweapon3

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Are the T’wolves gonna make it after all?

The brutal injury bug that caught Portland in years past has moved on to the Twin Cities, it seems. The Brandon Roy Experiment ended almost as soon as it began. Malcolm Lee was starting at shooting guard in place of Roy before hyperextending his knee. Chase Budinger tore a meniscus. Fans eagerly anticipated the return of Ricky Rubio from a knee injury only to watch him struggle while fighting off back spasms. Now franchise player and super-rebounder Kevin Love has re-fractured a hand and is out indefinitely.

The Timberwolves will try to soldier on tonight against the Atlanta Hawks at the Target Center, striving to climb back above .500 without most of these guys (Rubio will give it a go) as well as Coach Rick Adelman, who is on personal leave. Terry Porter will fill in for Adelman.

The Hawks have had good fortune against the Wolves of late with 12 consecutive victories, last losing by a point in Minnesota on April 9, 2006. Rashad McCants, Mark Blount, and Justin Reed led Minny in scoring on that day, eking out the win over guys like Esteban Batista and Royal Ivey.

The T’wolves have been tops in the league for rebounds per game (46.2), but Love gathered nearly of third of them (14.0). With Love out of commission once again, the rebounding and lead offensive duties will fall upon Nikola Pekovic. Already having a career season with a boost in usage, the Montenegrin responded well in a loss to Portland 3 nights ago (21 points, 15 assists, 2 blocks), and he’ll need consistent help from guys like Derrick Williams (18 points vs. Portland, but not improving much from his rookie year) and Dante Cunningham (career-high 5.3 RPG; league’s third-lowest TO%).

They’ll crash the offensive boards almost out of necessity, as they’re shooting 43.0 FG% (26th in NBA) and 29.5 3FG% (last in NBA) as a team.

Andrei Kirilenko and Greg Steimsma will try to slow opponents defensively. But they’ll need to stretch out to the perimeter to cool off the Hawks. Portland lit up the Wolves with a season-high (for an opponent) 16 three-pointers.

Rubio’s level of mobility will be interesting to see for T’Wolves fans, as well as for Jeff Teague, who despite 17 points really could get little going for the Hawks’ passing game (4 assists) in that fateful second half against the Celtics on Saturday.

Rubio came off the bench for five games (4.2 PPG, 4.0 APG, 2.4 TO/G, 23.8 FG%) as Adelman carefully monitored his minutes. Luke Ridnour and J.J. Barea still have been more than adequately sharing point guard duties as the staff brings Rubio along. With Devin Harris still sidelined, Lou

Williams will get plenty of minutes countering Minnesota’s enhanced depth at point guard. Williams will also try to counter Russian rookie Alexey Shved, who has scored in double digits in 6 of his last 7 games while also offering a couple double-digit games in assists in that stretch.

Minnesota’s fairly stingy with the personal fouls (18.1 PF/G, 28th in NBA), so expect a continuation of limited trips to the free throw line. Smarter shot selection by the Hawks than fans saw in the second half versus Boston will help them get the edge once again.

Go Hawks!

~lw3

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Ruckus Newbie

Ruckus

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Can't stop thinking about the thread a while back that saw us gaining Pekovic and D. Williams for Josh. I remember everyone freaking out about it while a few Squawkers with brains saw that as an excellent opportunity. I wish that trade would have gone down. We would be a better team right now without a doubt.

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Ruckus Newbie

Ruckus

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Not really sure what that has to do with it but if you are referring to Kevin Love, he's not playing and if you are not, then I don't know who you are referring to. Those guys are whooping us right now. Pekovic already has a double double.

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ryandauwalker Contributor

ryandauwalker

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Can't stop thinking about the thread a while back that saw us gaining Pekovic and D. Williams for Josh. I remember everyone freaking out about it while a few Squawkers with brains saw that as an excellent opportunity. I wish that trade would have gone down. We would be a better team right now without a doubt.

Definitely agree with this. Hard to watch this game and think otherwise.
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Ruckus Newbie

Ruckus

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Not just any huge guy... A well rounded huge guy. I have no desire for Dwight, Bynum or the likes. A big man that can rebound, shoot mid range, guard other big men, has a post game, and comes at a fair price however - sign me up immediately.

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wolvetigers Newbie

wolvetigers

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So silly. All some people understand are big names. Pekovic is putting up 20 and 20 on us right now. Wake up. He is exactly the type of player we need.

Sigh...a name has nothing to do with it -

Josh Smith = 16.8pts, 8.2rbs, 3.6 ast, 1.47spg, 2.3bpg

Pekovic = 15.9pt, 8.3rbs, 1.0 ast, 0.67spg, 0.89bpg

Pekovic trails in every category and is virtually even on rebounds...and trading him for Josh would make us better? Now add the game changing factor that Smith brings to the table. Now I would trade Zaza and a draft pick for Pekovic in a heart beat, but adding by subtracting does not help the Hawks..and here the numbers dont lie

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Ruckus Newbie

Ruckus

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Game changing factor? This is negative as often as it is positive. And these stats are skewed. Josh sees the ball on virtually every possession it seems. I'm not looking for an argument. I am fully aware how much many on here value Josh based on countless previous threads. And that's fine. I just simply do not.

Edited by HawkFan
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ryandauwalker Contributor

ryandauwalker

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Sigh...a name has nothing to do with it - Josh Smith = 16.8pts, 8.2rbs, 3.6 ast, 1.47spg, 2.3bpg Pekovic = 15.9pt, 8.3rbs, 1.0 ast, 0.67spg, 0.89bpg Pekovic trails in every category and is virtually even on rebounds...and trading him for Josh would make us better? Now add the game changing factor that Smith brings to the table. Now I would trade Zaza and a draft pick for Pekovic in a heart beat, but adding by subtracting does not help the Hawks..and here the numbers dont lie

2nd year in the league. Legit center. No more of Josh's nonsense. Also adding a true SF. It's worth discussing...Nevertheless, he's an expiring so it doesn't make sense to trade for him. However, it's nice to know that we can go somewhere else if Josh walks (or demands too much).
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wolvetigers Newbie

wolvetigers

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2nd year in the league. Legit center. No more of Josh's nonsense. Also adding a true SF. It's worth discussing...Nevertheless, he's an expiring so it doesn't make sense to trade for him. However, it's nice to know that we can go somewhere else if Josh walks (or demands too much).

I'm not against trading Josh, i just know we can get more for him than a 27year old center that avg 15pts a game. We need to package Josh with picks for a rising star that fills a need.
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Ruckus Newbie

Ruckus

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Ya think? What makes you think this? Josh's worth is probably a lot less than you think then. You expect to get a young up and coming star for him? Damn wouldn't that be awesome.

Edited by HawkFan
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