The NBA’s elite teams – the Heat, Thunder and others — have two or three high performance scorers, guys who can produce at least 20 points per game or more, and are able to close out games. The Wolves aren’t even a playoff team yet but to approach the elite company of teams like the NBA champion Heat they need help for All-Star forward Kevin Love who averaged 26 points per game last season.
The next highest scoring average on last season’s club was center Nikola Pekovic at 13.9 points per game. David Kahn, the Wolves president of basketball operations, acknowledged yesterday that his team may have to take a scoring by “committee” approach next season.
At times last season, Pekovic was the helper needed to not only complement Love but keep him from wearing down. Pekovic and last season’s rookie forward Derrick Williams were included in names Kahn mentioned as important potential scorers for next season. “It’s hard to say right now, but at a minimum I think we have a lot of people who can score,” Kahn told Sports Headliners. “Whether they can score at 20 points per game remains to be seen, but they can score.”
Another name Kahn mentioned was new acquisition Brandon Roy who in five seasons with Portland averaged 19 points per game and made a reputation for himself as one of the NBA’s better shooting guards. Knee problems forced the 28-year-old Roy to temporarily retire and he didn’t play last season.
But at a news conference yesterday at Target Center Roy talked about playing 35 minutes per game for the Wolves. That’s a lot more than the 27.9 he averaged during the 2010-11 season when he struggled with his knees.
Asked about taking the big shot late in games for the Wolves, Roy said: “I’ve always felt comfortable down the stretch in games. I don’t think that part of my game has ever left. For me, it’s just trying to do what best fits this team. Maybe that’s me handling the ball at the end, closing out a game, or Rubio or Love. But I just try to keep a good pulse on what we need and I know Adelman does a great job of that also.”
Roy said his goal late in games has always been to create a “high percentage look.” That could mean creating a good shot, or setting up a teammate for that opportunity.
If Roy can do either for the Wolves, he may earn “chairman” status on the scoring committee that will usually defer to “CEO” Love. No doubt Love, point guard Ricky Rubio and coach Rick Adelman say welcome.