1. I love the chemistry of this roster.  And no matter what people say, chemistry matters.
2. Luke Ridnour impresses me is shooting has been better then advertised.  Granted, it has only been three games.
3. Darko has to be more than a black-hole on the block.  Especially when this season his averages are is 22 minutes, 24% shooting from the field, 67% from the foul-line, 5.3 rpg and 4.7 ppg.  The only bright spot – he is averaging 3.3 blocks per game which is 3rd in the league.  But come one, please show me something!
4. Micheal Beasley has been great to watch.  He has hustled, made big shots, and looks very motivated.  But Beasley’s relationship with the fans reminds me of  Randy Moss when he was with the Vikings – either time.  I hope it ends better.
5. Kevin Love needs to remember that it is OK not shot the 3-point shot every time you get the ball there.  But I love the double-doubles.
6. Corey Brewer still impresses me.  Even though he is not starting – and without an extension, he is an important player off the bench.  He brings a ton of hustle and athletic ability and has improved his shooting.
7. I don’t understand limiting Love to 25 mins a game.  What is the point?  Saving him for the playoffs…wait.  Nope.  He is only 22 years old.
8. Wes Johnson has a nice jumper, can get off the floor, rebounds well, but struggles with ball-handling.  All in all, I like him as a player…so far.
9. Kosta Koufos has the worst hair in the league.  But is surprisingly productive with his minutes.
10. Anthony Tolliver has been fun to watch, but the only way he should play over Love is if Love loses an arm.
11. I still think Sebastian Telfair is gone once Jonny Flynn gets healthy.
12. I do wonder what will happen to the rotation when Flynn and Martell Webster return.
13. The Wolves average 55 rebounds a game which is best in the league.  They also grab 12.7 rebounds more a game than their opponents.

Other NBA Thoughts

1. The Heat will struggle on the road, but could very well go undefeated at home.  Mike Miller needs to get healthy ASAP!
2. Depth will not be an issue with the Lakers, but Kobe does not look great.  But give it time.
3. The Clippers are 0-4 and Baron Davis is out of shape, but Blake Griffin looks amazing averaging a double-double (give him the ROY already) and Eric Gordon is legit.
4. Even though the Magic were destroyed by the Heat, I still think they will meet in the Eastern Conference Finals.
5. The Cavs beat the Celtics, but I have to believe we will see roster moves ala David Kahn in the next 14 months.
6. Houston Rockets = my favorite non-Minnesota team.  They added Brad Miller and Courtney Lee from free agency, Luis Scola is 3rd in scoring in the NBA, and this team looks legit.

7. Monta Ellis averages 27 ppg and is shooting 59% from the field.  He is going to be an All-Star reserve.  Write it down!
8. The Pistons make me sad.  Richard Hamilton is counting down the days to the trading deadline.
9. You know Kevin Durant is the leading scorer in the league, Scola is third, but do you know who is second? Derrick Rose.  Boozer can not come back soon enough.
10. Rajon Rondo amazes me.  He is leading the league with 16.7 assist per game and is third on the team in rebounding at 6.3 per game (Paul Peirce is 2nd).  Only through three games, but still.  That’s amazing!  I can’t wait for Kendrick Perkins to come back and then the insanity will ensue!  PS Glen Davis is scoring as much as KG.
11. New Orleans’ Marcus Thornton for Sixth Man Of The Year!  Like the Cavs, this roster is going to blown up.
12. Maybe Chauncey Billups is tried from this summer, but he is not playing well.  That can not make the Denver front office feel good.  Outcome = see the Cavs and Hornets.  Enjoy Melo while you can.
13. The Bucks look bad, I feel bad for Michael Redd, he is a classy guy.  But that is $18M not even in street clothes.
14. Dallas is old and Dirk is leading the team in rebounding – look out.

Well, the Wolves face the Heat tonight in Miami, and it could be ugly.  Or the Wolves could step it up and make a game of it.

Here are the Wolves next five games;

• Nov. 2nd @ Miami
• Nov. 3rd @ Orlando
• Nov. 5th Vs. Atlanta
• Nov. 7th @Houston
• Nov. 9th @ LA Lakers

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls: Kirk Hinrich is gone and he finally has a legit post player to run the pick and roll with (Carlos Boozer). Rose is a better shooter than he was in college, and he still is one of the top five pure athletes in the league.  His major flaw is his 3-point shooting and I would like his assist to turnover ratio improve.  And with Boozer, I would expect to see an increase in his assist numbers.  The Bulls will success will fall squarely on his shoulders.

Blake Griffin, LA Clippers:  Last season’s No. 1 had high expectations prior to his knee injury, but now he is healthy and the Clippers are going to look to him even more.  With a solid preseason, Griffin looks to prove he was worth the first pick and reassure Clippers-nation he is healthy, able to play, and the cruise is a thing of the past!

Richard Hamilton, Detroit Pistons:  Hamilton played in only 46 games last season which was career low.  Hamilton will be 33 on Valentine’s Day, is due to make $12.5M this season,  and all signs are pointing to the trade of this crucial piece to the 2006 NBA Championship.  I imagine he ends up with a team like the Thunder, Spurs, Jazz where he can help them win and play in the postseason again.

Eric Gordon, LA Clippers:  After a very good, but injury-filled sophomore season, Gordon proved he is a capable NBA player.  And players always seem to take a big step forward after playing for Team USA.  After a season where Gordon played 36 minutes a game and scored 16.9 ppg, it would seem Gordon is maxing his potential, but I would imagine Gordon will continue to elevate his game as teams will have to decide where to focus their defensive attention.

Darren Collison, Indiana Pacers: When Chris Paul went down with injury, there was great concern whether Collison could hold his own or not.  But Collison proved he was even more legit than most people gave him credit.  Collison averaged 12.4 ppg and 5.7 apg for the season, but when he started get more minutes, his production rocketed.   From Jan. 30th to the end of the season when he started averaging over 39 minutes a game, he scored 19.2 ppg and 8.4 apg.  With the Pacers, he will get to run the show – and could be an all-star.

Houston Rockets Starting Back Court: Aaron Brooks had a spectacular season, after having a sensational playoffs, and the Rockets handed him the keys to the team and he did not disappoint.  Then the Rockets traded for Kevin Martin.  And both continued to be productive.  Can that continue?  How will the departure of Trevor Ariza effect them?  More touches?  The question which will need to be answered is “How will they work Yao?” And how do the initiate the offense?  No matter the answer, this duo is going to give teams fits every night.

Mo Williams, Cleavland Cavaliers:  Now that LeBron has taken “his talents to South Beach”, Williams will now have the ball in his hands much more and will need to score.  But I fear he is going to be a great fantasy player which puts up numbers, which won’t equal wins.  I don’t expect the Cavs to relevant in the Eastern Conference Playoff picture, but he will be out to prove a point.

Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzles:  Randolph comes off of a great season with the Grizzles where he was rewarded with his first All-Star game.  Randolph seems to have found a home in Memphis, or maybe he has finally matured.  Remember, he is only 29 and had been in the league since 2001.  Where Randolph really shined was his offensive rebounding where he averaged a league high 4.1 a game.  And he was tied for third for overall rebounding at 11.7 a game – a career high.

Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee Bucks: After only playing 105 games out of a possible 164 in the last two seasons, Bogut is playing to justify the 5-year, $60M contract extension he signed in 2008.  He is due $12M this season alone.  Prior to his season ending injury last season, Bogut was off to his best season as a pro; 15.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg with 2.5 blocks a game as well.

Gerald Wallace, Charlotte Bobcats:  Can he improve on a season where he averaged 41 mins a game, 18.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg, shot 37% from distance, got to the foul-line 7.2 times a game?  Other than ppg which was the 2nd highest or his career, all were career highs. Or will a whole season along side Stephan Jackson present the same opportunity?  Wallace is a good player, not a great player, but he is the type of guy all teams need to win.  And the Bobcats saw just want they have in Wallace.

Al Jefferson, Utah Jazz: I was sad to see him, but it was time.  Jefferson becomes the primary low-block scoring threat and like Carlos Boozer, will not play defense.  He is a player to watch as he moves further away from his ACL injury and in many cases it can take well over a season to get back to 100% after such an injury.  My bet is he will get back to a double-double player and will love play with Deron Williams.