“The guys have to be ready to play. We’ve been trying to figure out how we’re going to be as successful, as consistent as we can, but it’s a big hole in our lineup,” Adelman said. “But I think we have guys who are going to come in, they’re going to do their job, and we have to find a way to win. I mean, that’s the way it is. A lot of teams have faced the same thing in this league, so we’re no different.” In the meantime, Love continues to watch from the sidelines and prepare his body for his return—something that comes along with the territory of recovering from injury. He said he knew immediately on Oct. 17 that something was wrong. While working out with personal trainer Rob McClanahan at his apartment complex, Love said he was doing a set of knuckle pushups when he suffered the injury. He said he could tell based off his experience suffering a broken left hand in his second year with the Wolves. As the hand continued to swell, he went to see Wolves athletic trainer Gregg Farnam at Target Center, who sent him on to see a doctor. “It was a pretty freak accident,” Love said. Though he was disappointed in hearing the expected duration of his recovery, he said the focus has switched to maintaining his body’s strength and conditioning so he is able to begin playing as soon as possible. Since it is a shooting hand injury, how it will affect his mechanics is still to be determined. He said it’s important to keep his endurance up so even if it takes a little time to get re-acclimated to his shooting stroke, he’ll still be able to play and contribute immediately. “I think the touch will come back pretty easily, and I think as long as I keep my weight down, keep in shape and keep my legs ready, if all that is intact and I stay mentally prepared it’s going to come back pretty easily,” he said. “And the good thing about it is when my hand heels and I’m cleared to go, whether or not my touch is back the first day, I’m going to be there and ready to go.” In the meantime, he said he’ll be there to help his teammates however he can until he makes his return to the court. “And still be a leader, still be as vocal as possible and be with the guys whether we’re on the road, whether we’re at home or we’re in practice,” he said. “In that regard, I’m excited I’m still with the team 100 percent. It’s bittersweet, but you have to find a way to prevail from this.”