LaVine is done for the year

[The One]

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18620657/zach-lavine-minnesota-timberwolves-torn-acl-miss-rest-season

He tore his ACL.

[2short]

Sucks.  They weren't going to do anything this year.  But i like the way the wolves are setting up team for future.

[Who]

I wonder if Minnesota will play better without him.

I don't think he adds a lot to the team. Good scorer but selfish on offense and a very bad defender & rebounder.

[MattyIce]

Sucks.  They weren't going to do anything this year.  But i like the way the wolves are setting up team for future.

i was also rooting for them, but don't we have their second round pick this year? 

[moiso]

I wonder if Minnesota will play better without him.

I don't think he adds a lot to the team. Good scorer but selfish on offense and a very bad defender & rebounder.

Agree.

[Darío SpanishFan]

Always bad news a serious injury, especially for a young, athletic player.

However, we own their second round, and they are a bit worse and hopefully we have a pick around 33, which is almost a late first round but with less salary implications.

[Ilikesports17]

with modern medicine most guys come all the way back from these injuries, but there are still a decent number who dont get all the way back for a few years and some never get it back.

wonder when he will be back? his game is entirely predicated on that unbelievable athletic ability.

[hpantazo]

That's really tough for Lavine. He hasn't gotten his big pay-day yet, and he won't have much time to prove he's fully worth it once he returns from such an injury. It takes guys at least a year and a half to start looking like their former selves, and for a guy like him who is reliant on athleticism so much, it's going to be tough.

Even Rondo who was not as reliant on athleticism lost a step after his acl tear and he has never been the same.

[SCeltic34]

I wonder if Minnesota will play better without him.

I don't think he adds a lot to the team. Good scorer but selfish on offense and a very bad defender & rebounder.

I know that a lot of people are high on his scoring/athletic ability but this has been my take on him as well.  Though I don't watch the TWolves much, I have not been impressed with LaVine when I have tuned into their games.  He was actually putting up great numbers even 1/4 to 1/3 way into the season, averaging > 22 PPG and about 44% from 3 if I'm not mistaken.

But his selfish decision making on offense and inability to make his teammates better are significant flaws.

Tough break for Minny and LaVine but I won't be surprised either if the team functions better without him.