#NBAVineRank: Rockets and Timberwolves tie for seventh
By Ian Levy
Welcome back to #NBAVineRank, our latest project here at The Friendly Bounce. We’ve ranked all 30 teams in terms of Vineability, and are counting them down as we kill time in the offseason. Today we check in on the Rockets and Timberwolves, who tied for seventh place.
25-21: Hey look, there are the Pacers
19-16: This is the Lake Show, but don’t drown though
15-11: Miami Heat just miss the top 10
10-9: Wizards and Spurs crack the top 10
7 Houston Rockets (7.8125)
7 Minnesota Timberwolves (7.8125)
This feels about right for these two teams, no? (Less of a question, more of a pat on the back for ourselves for doing a good job)
Jack (@jackhaveitall): Very fair. There’s no one we’ve mentioned already that I think should be ahead of them, and no one we haven’t mentioned yet that deserves to fall back. Tied for seventh is just right.
Ryne (@ryneprinz): We did good.
Taylor (@TaylorBojangles): We’re good at the #Vine #rank.
Zach (@ZachOliverNBA): I think it’s fair for both teams. Lot of fun pieces on both ends.
Wes (@wcgoldberg): I really think the Rockets are more Vineable than the Timberwolves. I mean, James Harden going to the foul line repeatedly? Dwight Howard barely trying and going to the foul line repeatedly? And what does Minnesota offer? Andrew Wiggins in transition? Karl Anthony-Towns’ rookie year? Zach LaVine dunking? …. Wait, maybe I got that first sentence backwards.
Are you more excited for Ricky Rubio’s passing skills or Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine’s dunk show?
Jack: Ricky. Don’t get me wrong, Wiggins and LaVine are extremely dope, but Rubio is my dude. I’ve always been a sucker for sick passes, and that’s all Rubio is about. And if you disagree, I’m going to need you to change your face.
Ryne: I have to agree with Jack on this. Rubio’s passes make me giddy. He’s a magician with the basketball.
Taylor: COME AT ME JACK. Give me Wiggins in flight. There’s something majestic about his dunks. Like they’re in slow motion.
Zach: Yes.
Wes: I love me some high flying dunks from some youngsters, but I feel like we haven’t seen Rubio pass the ball in a real life game in a decade. I’m stoked to see how he sets up his new teammates.
Who’s the low key Vine star waiting to emerge on one of these two teams?
Jack: I have to go with Montrezl Harrell. Of course the worry is he doesn’t get enough playing time, but anytime he’s out on the court, things are happening. He’s a bundle of energy and crashes the glass extremely hard. Tip-dunk city.
Ryne: Although he’s not the most in-your-face exciting player, Donatas Motiejunas has some pretty post moves and passes.
Taylor: Here’s a reminder that K.J. McDaniels is on the Rockets, but he’s already established himself as a Vine star. I’ll go with Shabazz Muhammad. He was doing #things last year before getting hurt. He also had that blown-dunk-turned-assist.
Zach: I like Montrezl Harrell a lot, but it depends if he gets to play. I also like Clint Capela. Dude can do some nice things with some monster blocks, and I imagine he could throw down a few monster dunks as well.
Wes: One thing we can bet on is that Rubio will miss some time. When that happens, Tyus Jones will get more minutes and, I think, be good for a few notable Vines. He’s not afraid to take contested shots, handles the ball well and plays with great energy. Or he’s this year’s Shabazz Napier. I don’t know.
As always, who’s the most Vineable player in this group?
Jack: Sheeesh, this is tough, but I have to go with my guy Ricky Rubio. His passing game is too nice.
Ryne: Is it cheating to say James Harden? I hope not. He throws down some monstrous dunks in traffic, puts guys on skates, and his step-back is so smooth.
Taylor: I’ll go with Wiggins. See aforementioned majestic comment.
Zach: James Harden. It’s probably a little closer with the likes of Ricky Rubio, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Dwight Howard, etc. in this group, but we know the things Harden does with that Eurostep and he’s underrated as a passer, so I’ll take him.
Wes: I’ve got to go with James Harden. He’s a phenomenal one-on-one player, beats guys off the dribble, throws it down, takes big shots, passes at crazy angles and always has the ball in his hands so he can do all of those things. By the end of the season, he will have more Vines to his name than anyone else on either team.