Ricky Rubio: ‘I Get Mad Thinking That We’re Wasting Time. We’re Not Learning. It’s Time To Change.’
The Minnesota Timberwolves currently sit at 3-7 and with their season slowly starting to slip away already, the veterans are starting to speak up. Last night, the Wolves were outscored by the Hornets 36-17 in the third quarter and lost 115-108. Following the game, a frustrated Ricky Rubio said that the team seems to fall apart for one quarter every game and they are “not learning” from the mistakes:
Rubio: "It seems like we're not learning. We have to figure out what's going on."
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) November 16, 2016
Rubio: "It's one quarter every game that keeps us far from where we want to be. I don't know what it is, but I'm telling you, it's not fun."
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) November 16, 2016
Rubio: "This is the best team I've ever been around. I get mad thinking that we're wasting time. We're not learning. it's time to change"
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) November 16, 2016
The Star Tribune‘s Jerry Zgoda also quoted Rubio as saying that the team is trying to play “hero ball:”
“We have a lot of talent, we know we can score in a lot of ways,” Rubio said. “But if we don’t play as a team, it’s a waste of time. We try to play hero ball at one point when things aren’t working. It should be the other way around. It should be playing as a team.”
Head coach Tom Thibodeau echoed the point guard’s sentiments, saying that the team’s lack of learning bothers him:
“We’ve got guys who have been in the league for a while now,” Thibodeau said. “We’re making mistakes that never should be made, from fouling jump shooters to reckless passes and turnovers. It’s all decision-making: What’s a good shot? What’s a bad shot? It’s knowing when to shoot and when to pass. It’s knowing your job and then go do your job. It’s that simple.
“I don’t know if discouraging is the right word, but very concerned,” he said. “It tells you we’re not learning, and that bothers me.”
