Detroit is going to get Pist On (Wolves GT)

[Coolbreeze44]

I think it's pretty worrisome that Nowell is playing this way, yet this team has no confidence that Moore could push Nowell out of the rotation and take his role.

I'd like to see Moore play some minutes when we are closer to full strength. If ANT is down we're going to need buckets from Nowell and he's going to need to learn the defense. Nowell used to get buckets, so he should get buckets again. He's broken right now

The Nowell thing is so frustrating. The table has been set perfectly for him to succeed, yet he has defied all logic. He paid his dues during his first two seasons with a combination of G-League experience and spot play with the main team. Then last year he finally got some regular playing time as a result of the Covid outbreak and played very well.

Then heading into his 4th year, his role was VERY clearly defined and he got regular minutes from the get-go.....and he has been an utter disappointment. Just wasn't expecting this level of incompetency from someone who really seemed poised for a breakout year. :-(

Has he been to the optometrist?

[Lipoli390]

I note all the criticism of Finchie and TC in the GDT. but my sources tell me that neither of them was responsible for SloMo, KAT and JMac being out tonight. The PG position is key to winning consistently in this league, and our two best ones were on the bench last night. Both SloMo and JMac have run the offense well and played good defense when they have been running the point (and not surprisingly both are among our best performers in on/off), but neither has been able to stay healthy this year. So we're forced to watch a team playing shooting guards at the point. Or not watch, as I choose to do after halftime last night.

Nowell has been terrible this season, but the sad fact is that D-Optional Russell is only a slightly better version. Neither can play decent NBA defense, and when they're out there together the result is inevitable...a poor shooting team like the Pistons makes 17 out of 32 3-point shots...53%! And while both are quite good at creating their own shot, neither is particularly interested in doing the things a good PG needs to do to make an offense click. Is anyone really surprised that the Wolves had almost as many turnovers as assists last night with our 2 best PGs out? Blame TC if you want, but it's not his fault our two best PGs can't stay healthy. And blame Finchie if you want, but if pining for more minutes from Wendell Moore is where we are now, it's easy to understand the predicament he is in with our injuries. I'd be giving DLo and Nowell 54 minutes too with the players we have available.

This team is just fine when SloMo plays, and we will be really good when KAT and JMac return. Patience.

FNG - I have to question your sources. My sources tell me that TC was the reason Anderson, KAT and JMac were out last night. Cam's sources say Finch was responsible. Could both my sources AND Cam's sources be wrong?

[AbeVigodaLive]

https://twitter.com/ChristopherHine/status/1613381623822565376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1613381623822565376%7Ctwgr%5E0d27923793cfcdcd7bff233364bc2bbc2d414a48%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redditmedia.com%2Fmediaembed%2F109qeot%3Fresponsive%3Dtrueis_nightmode%3Dfalse

Interesting exchange with Chris Hine and Ant. Sounds like the training staff doesn't hold enough sway to hold him out. Ugly way to handle our most important player.

This is the NBA. So things are pretty simple.

If a star player wants to play... he plays. If a star player wants to sit... he sits.

The training staff can share information and make suggestions. The coach can talk to the player. The front office can use its influence. But at the end of the day -- as we've seen with players across the league for many years -- stars determine their own availability.

I guess we should be happy, however, that we have a star who WANTS to play, even when not at 100%. It's better than the alternative.

The only rub is Edwards' reasoning for it in the Detroit game. Nobody knows why he returned for sure...


[Note: Edwards had 5 points entering the 4th quarter with the team effectively out of the game. He played all 12 minutes and scored 15 points. Ahem... not saying that was the reason, only that (1) we know NBA players care about their stats (2) good stats = big contracts (3) and we've seen it before with other players in MN.]

[FNG]

I note all the criticism of Finchie and TC in the GDT. but my sources tell me that neither of them was responsible for SloMo, KAT and JMac being out tonight. The PG position is key to winning consistently in this league, and our two best ones were on the bench last night. Both SloMo and JMac have run the offense well and played good defense when they have been running the point (and not surprisingly both are among our best performers in on/off), but neither has been able to stay healthy this year. So we're forced to watch a team playing shooting guards at the point. Or not watch, as I choose to do after halftime last night.

Nowell has been terrible this season, but the sad fact is that D-Optional Russell is only a slightly better version. Neither can play decent NBA defense, and when they're out there together the result is inevitable...a poor shooting team like the Pistons makes 17 out of 32 3-point shots...53%! And while both are quite good at creating their own shot, neither is particularly interested in doing the things a good PG needs to do to make an offense click. Is anyone really surprised that the Wolves had almost as many turnovers as assists last night with our 2 best PGs out? Blame TC if you want, but it's not his fault our two best PGs can't stay healthy. And blame Finchie if you want, but if pining for more minutes from Wendell Moore is where we are now, it's easy to understand the predicament he is in with our injuries. I'd be giving DLo and Nowell 54 minutes too with the players we have available.

This team is just fine when SloMo plays, and we will be really good when KAT and JMac return. Patience.

FNG - I have to question your sources. My sources tell me that TC was the reason Anderson, KAT and JMac were out last night. Cam's sources say Finch was responsible. Could both my sources AND Cam's sources be wrong?

You wouldn't think so, Lip...but my source is Dougie, and he's never wrong!

Anyway, the injury gods are with us tonight against the Suns. They'll be missing Paul, Booker, Crowder, Shamet and both Camerons, and Ayton is questionable. Can they even field a team?

[AbeVigodaLive]

Saric looms.

[thedoper]

Saric looms.

I can see a 20 20 game already for him.