Rand: Let's pretend about Wolves

The NBA lockout is depriving us all of many things. It will continue to do so for a while, it seems, based on the news that the first two weeks of the regular season have been canceled. The Wolves, in fact, would have made their home preseason debut Tuesday at Target Center if not for the labor mess. But while the lockout is messing up a lot of plans, we feel it shouldn't interfere with your ability to read high-quality preseason feature stories about your favorite NBA team. So here is an OBVIOUSLY FAKE story about the amazing chemistry Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio are developing on and off the court in an alternate universe in which there is no lockout:

It was a simple drill, really -- a two-on-two scrimmage at the end of practice designed to see which of the fatigued Timberwolves players still were playing at a high level. On one team: Luke Ridnour and Darko Milicic. On the other: The Future.

Rubio and Love had the ball. Rubio took a slow dribble right as Love -- who shed 20 pounds in the offseason -- dashed to screen Ridnour. Rubio crossed over and drove hard to the hoop. Love cut to the hole, not knowing exactly what to expect but knowing he should always keep his hands and head up. Rubio got Milicic in the air and flipped the ball to Love, who finished with a two-handed slam as Ridnour watched helplessly.

It's a sight the Wolves hope to see often this season.

"It's amazing," Love said. "I've never seen anybody like Ricky, with his vision. It's like we both already know exactly what the other one is going to do on the court."

Rubio, standing next to his teammate as Love spoke, grinned.

"I just like to pass the ball," he said. "That's what I do."

The feeling is mutual. Rubio and Love have been almost inseparable since camp started. On it, they're working together on the nuances of new coach Rick Adelman's offense. Off the court, the two of them along with rookie Derrick Williams and fellow youngster Wes Johnson have been at the core of several team-building events: a bowling night, a trip to the movies and even go-kart races.

"Seeing Darko in one of those little cars was worth the price of admission alone," Williams said.

A huge night out -- details are being kept top-secret -- is being planned for Rubio's 21st birthday, which is barely a week away.

"We might be in Fargo," Love said, noting the team has a preseason game there the night after Rubio turns 21. "So let this be a warning to Fargo: Watch out for the Spanish Sensation. That's all I can say."

When told of the big plans, Adelman, 65, chuckled.