Kevin Love Injury Update

With Pekovic obtaining a sprained ankle and Chase Budinger undergoing surgery, the Minnesota Timberwolves are clearly facing a ton of injuries that has somewhat incapacitated their lineup. With so many injuries, one cannot help but question for how long the team is going to take it. This only fuels fans' excitement about the return of the team's biggest superstars from the injury list, namely Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love.

In an earlier post, I've discussed about the possibility of Rubio returning by December but he is quick to point out that he won't rush the return. In the case of Kevin Love, he had already submitted an X-ray of his right hand to a New York hand specialist for it to be properly examined. A couple of bones were reportedly broken in Love's hand while he was performing knuckle push-ups.

The hand specialist will evaluate the progress of Love's injury recovery based upon what is seen in the X-ray. The same doctor already examined Love last October and said that he won't be needing a surgery. Hence, the Wolves' power forward is positive about his recovery and is looking at his return to the court. Love says, "Hopefully, the next step is strengthening, flexibility and gradually get into dribbling."

When asked about when he might get to see action again, he cited "early December". Another good sign? Love has removed the protective cast on his hand, which means that he is one step closer to getting back in condition for the game. However, his doctor has advised him from doing any contact drills as of yet, especially ones that requires the use of his hand.

TWolves Overcome Injury Woes to Deal Mavs Their Third Consecutive Loss

Image: Dallasnews.com

With both their main players power forward Kevin Love and Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio out due to their respective injuries, the TWolves relied on head coach Rick Adelman’s leadership off-court and their deep bench to get early season wins until their top dogs return to the court sometime in December. But despite of a growing injury list and a rather patched lineup, the Twolves managed to do the difficult task.

The short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the home team Dallas Mavericks on Monday wherein the final score stood at 90-82. Nikola Pekovic is the leading scorer for the TWolves after he put in 20 points, despite being pulled out late in the third quarter due to a sprained ankle. Pekovic did not return to the court, which means another man down to the Wolves team that has already been suffering from one injury to another.

Only ten players suited up for the TWolves, including the injured Pekovic. But even with a depleted lineup, Minnesota’s defense has been consistent all season long, which helped them to fend off the Mavs’ rally. The team’s defense has been so brilliant that they are among the top 5 defensive teams in the NBA so far.

As proof of the Wolves’ great defense, the Dallas Mavericks shot the lowest field goal percentage this season at a lowly 36.3 percent. Since the first 3 minutes of the game, the Mavs had been trailing the Wolves until the latter eventually went away with the win on the road.

Image: sports.yahoo.com

According to Andrei Kirilenko, forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves, this can be attributed to the team’s “character”. He said, “nobody really looks down and nobody feels sorry. Everybody just keeps coming out and trying to give their best.”

Chase Budinger is scheduled to undergo operation on his torn lateral meniscus, which he injured last Saturday after filling for an injured Brandon Roy. Speaking of Roy, the game against Dallas was the second game he missed due to a sore right knee. With Barea also missing the third game this season due to a left foot sprain, Pekovic’ recent injury further adds more chaos to the lineup that is already hampered with one injury after another.

But coach Adelman is not worried about the team’s campaign this season, noting that “hopefully [they] can get some guys back and maintain the same energy level [they] had [in this game].”

Aside from Nikola Pekovic, other players also stepped up for the TWolves. Luke Ridnour put in 15 points and added 8 assists to help his team’s cause. Meanwhile, reserve Dante Cunningham added 14 points in this game. This is only the fourth win for the TWolves in the last 23 meetings with the Mavs.

Ricky Rubio Injury Update, T-Wolves Plagued with Injury Woes

Image: USA Today

In a March game against Los Angeles Lakers, sensational Spanish rookie Ricky Rubio collided with LA guard Kobe Bryant and injured his knee in the process. Since then, he has had surgery on his knee for a torn ACL but since then Rubio hasn’t suited up to play for the Timberwolves just yet. With the start of the 2012-2013 NBA season, his fans and that of the T-Wolves are looking forward to his return and there has been some positive news about his impending return into the lineup.

According to the Twolves guard, he does not want to rush his return and wants to make sure his knees are fully recovered before he goes back to play. Rubio recently talked to reporters at Target Center, who are eager to know how far along into his injury recovery he might be in.

According to Rubio, it might be “December, but it could be January”. The Spanish baller further adds, “I don’t want to say a time because I don’t want to rush it. I want to be ready when I am ready.”

It is clear that Rubio is taking his time to ensure that his knee is fully recovered instead of being pressured into coming back into the game. But he’s got good news for fans, though, wherein he said that “[now] I start running and I feel good. In three, four weeks, I’m gonna start agility…”

Rubio’s return is much anticipated, along with his teammate Kevin Love. The US national player and power forward for the Timberwolves broke his right hand during practice. Like Rubio, reports claim that Love should be able to make his return on December. Expert insiders, though, reiterate that these injuries should not greatly affect the team with its restructured roster during the off-season wherein they acquired Andre Kirilenko and Brandon Roy.

US Wins Olympic Gold Over Spain In Men's Hoops

LONDON (AP) - The Dream Team 2012 won the gold against a familiar opponent. Again.

image courtesy of NBA Philippines

The '92 Dream Team made basketball more relevant internationally. This year’s Team USA didn’t just prove that, they also show us how far they are from the pack.

The world number 1 Team USA fought off another big challenge from the world number 2 Spain, pulling away in the final minutes for a 107-100 win to bag their second straight Olympic gold last Sunday. And much like in 2008 Beijing Olympics, the American had to earn it.

Spain lost twice in the preliminary round and an 11-point halftime deficit against Russia in the semis’ halftime after scoring just 20 points, which is just on average, seven minutes worth of work for the USA. But Spain rallied with its twin towers of Gasol brothers and sweet shooting of Navarro for a 67-59 victory.

USA on the other hand, had a different kind of story heading to the semis. They get through opponents with large margins (with the exception of Lithuania) by pulling away late in the third or middle of the fourth.

But last Sunday’s Olympic gold match is off to the history books, as the scrappy Spaniards come with a fight.

USA lead Spain for only 1 point after 3 Quarters, it was a back-and-forth, physical, and impossible to dismiss finals and fans inside the North Greenwich Arena certainly got their money’s worth.

Juan Carlos Navarro was brilliant in the first half, especially in the first quarter where he scored 13 of his team’s 20 from three straight 3s. But the American’s perimeter defense picked off, and he wasn’t as effective in the second half as he was in the first half. He scored a total of 21.

Pau Gasol wasn’t a major factor for Spain in the first half, but his 13 points in the third were huge to keep his team close.

Kevin Love, on the other hand, may not jump off the stat sheets, but he kept on sending Marc Gasol to the bench because of foul-trouble with brilliant box-out and positioning.

Spain gave the US all they could handle, and the American just got enough breathing room late in the Fourth Quarter. Kevin Durant scored 30 points and 9 rebounds to lead the victory. Pau Gasol, on the other hand, gained the respect of the opposing team again with 24 points and 8 rebounds to keep Spain close to route.

Both teams got frustrated with the officiating, and it was a physical game as expected. Marc Gasol for example, was called for his fourth foul in the middle of the second quarter.

Both teams kept their poise heading to the fourth Q, but team USA spread their lead with under a minute to go, which all started from Lebron James’ monstrous get-away dunk and a dagger clutch 3.

Paul’s zig-zag drive to the basket in 50-second mark gives them an 11 point gap, and coach Mike Kryzewski of the United States responded with massive substitutions, sending James Harden and the current number 1 draft Anthony Davis to the court, as Bryant and James started their celebrations on the bench.

Earlier on that day, Russia also bagged the bronze with an 81-77 win against the 2004 Olympics champions, Argentina.