GDT: Minnesota vs. Sacramento

[FNG]

It's a

This was the KAT we need to see all the time -- efficient scoring and solid defense.

I partially agree, except for the 6 TOs...many of them on really stupid passes. He needs to protect the ball much better.

Two consecutive good overall games against a very good Suns team and a not-so-good Kings team. After a week of defensive ineptitude, we really showed up on defense the last two games...looked a lot like the first two games.

DLo continues to shoot poorly, but I can say something about him that I've never said before: the Wolves are much better when he's on the floor instead of on the bench. The eye test says it, and the stats prove it...currently has the best on/off stats on the team! His improvement on defense is palpable (both team and on-ball last night), and he's protecting the ball better and making the right pass. It's still not a fluid offense when he's out there, but his play is considerably better than last year despite his bad shooting.

I thought PatBev had a very good overall game tonight despite missing all five of his threes. He is the straw that stirs the drink defensively, and the team followed his lead last night.

I also detected more confidence from Jaden tonight. He excelled on defense again and wasn't looking to hide on offense.

Not the prettiest game, but it was a good win that we needed.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I grabbed some screenshots from last night's game:

This one is when Towns picked up yet another offensive foul with his offhand (77th already this season) on a drive to the hoop.


Towns passing the basketball for most of the game:


The Timberwolves trying to rebound the basketball early in the game:


This one is a really cool POV shot of Malik Beasley in the first half:


Edwards whenever he gets the ball:


Towns when Edwards got the ball early in the 4th quarter:


Towns when Edwards got the ball the next time down the court:


Towns the next time Edwards got the ball:


Also Edwards in the 4th quarter:


Towns by the end of the night:

Great stuff Abe!

[kekgeek]

Ya A+ work Abe

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

4-9... You are what your record says you are. Typically, I don't like that saying because it ignores the context of the season, but in the Wolves case it rings true to this point. Minnesota has been healthy, all things considered, as they've only been without D'Angelo Russell and Patrick Beverley for two games (one suspension) while Naz Reid has missed one game. The Wolves have also been the beneficiary of their opponents missing significant players when they've played them. Simply, there are no excuses.

With all of that said...I'm going out on a limb here.

Call it hope. Call it blind faith. Call me crazy. Call me, maybe -- wait, let's get back to it. Tonight begins a four-game winning streak that gets Minnesota back in the hunt and out of the cellar. I believe in the talent on this team. I believe in Chris Finch. Here are the Wolves' next four opponents beginning with tonight's game:

11/17: vs. Sacramento Kings
11/18: vs. San Antonio Spurs
11/20: vs. Memphis Grizzlies
11/22: at New Orleans Pelicans

These are four winnable games; four games that Minnesota needs to win. A four-game streak puts the Wolves at 8-9 heading into a tough 20-game stretch. Quite literally, there are no easy games in December. This team is about to go through the ringer soon so they have to win these games or it can get very ugly, very quickly.

Anything is possible! It all starts tonight.

You were right.

It's also true that it could unravel quickly. They need to beat some real quality opponents in order to hang around .500. It won't be easy.

[FloriDuh [enjin:13427829]]

Gotta mention former PBO Rosas.

Like him or hate him, he is the architect for the current roster.

When Rosas was in charge, I felt confident he would make the small moves, in correct increments that would form the Wolves current roster. The bits and pieces, like Vando, Jmac, Naz, Prince, and Beas are all smaller parts of the puzzle. But we are now seeing everything come together and Rosas's vision finally materializing.

Now we have Gupta, who for now has been keeping the PBO seat warm. It gives me a little apprehension as to what he will do, whether it's a + or - to the current roster. Gupta is the wild card going forward as we improve this roster.

[Lipoli390]

Gotta mention former PBO Rosas.

Like him or hate him, he is the architect for the current roster.

When Rosas was in charge, I felt confident he would make the small moves, in correct increments that would form the Wolves current roster. The bits and pieces, like Vando, Jmac, Naz, Prince, and Beas are all smaller parts of the puzzle. But we are now seeing everything come together and Rosas's vision finally materializing.

Now we have Gupta, who for now has been keeping the PBO seat warm. It gives me a little apprehension as to what he will do, whether it's a + or - to the current roster. Gupta is the wild card going forward as we improve this roster.

I agree.