Need to get/keep these Wolves going and the win versus Atlanta last night was a good start sans KEVIN LOVE. The Hawks entered with a very good record and a couple of studs in JOSH SMITH and AL HORFORD. We buried them then held on in classy fashion, and Smith and Horford both played well.

The Vikings made the playoffs, LUCIA'S team is by far the best college hockey team in the land and the Wild is the cat's ass with PARISE and SUTER. TEAM TUBBY is a top-10 product and hopefully stays that way after a week of meatgrinder games on the road.

The Wolves need to make the playoffs with or without Kevin Love. And they can. RICKY RUBIO took a positive step last night defensively, and his court awareness was quite impressive. As written/said for months he -- not Love -- is the heart and soul of this team and he's good enough to elevate us into the WC playoffs.

I liked the defense last night with Rubio, KIRILENKO, CUNNINGHAM and PEK. We were tough and made scoring difficult for the Hawks for patches of the game. There never will be a defensive identity with this team with Love on the floor, and if the PF spot with Cunningham and WILLIAMS works we'll be fine.

The game comes naturally to SHVED, and as we all know the kid is fearless and never, ever is afraid to shoot. I really like the backcourt with him and Rubio, and once Ricky is totally good to go it, indeed, will be "Run With the Wolves."

Not sure what to think about the prospects of Love maybe missing the rest of the season with the broken hand. I am incredibly down on him right now and so much so I couldn't care less if he plays for us again. Doesn't seem like he wants to be here, and if that's the case I'd say "Later, my man." He's such a unique offensive threat from the four spot I'd like to find a way to win with him, but the guys were very loose last night without him and/or ADELMAN and were short on anxiety attacks.

They'll battle The OKC tooth and nail tonite because that's what we generally do against the Thunder, and I am excited to watch the game along with Team Tubby at Illinois. The Gophs haven't played a road game in a month and are receiving national attention due to the ranking. For the first time in many years we have a proverbial target on our backs -- cool to see how they respond.