And the Thunder rolls..GDT

[Lipoli390]

Ryan seems to be giving this game away with the group he has on the court at the beginning of the 4th quarter

Cool - I almost posted the exact same message from Target Center about 1:30 into the 4th quarter. I didn't like it when that group first took the floor at the beginning of the quarter and it was crystal clear a minute-and-a-half in that it was a ridiculous lineup to have on the floor. That was the game right there. I'm glad Terrell finally got some minutes today, but not surprisingly it was clear by the 4th quarter that he wasn't up to the task of quarterbacking this team in crunch time against a really good team like OKC. Tolliver is a marked step down from Saric generally and tonight Saric was hot. Yet Ryan went with Terrell and Tolliver well into the 4th quarter. Saric only played 32 minutes tonight while KAT and Wiggins played 33 and 32 minutes respectively. So they all had more minutes in them for today's game.

A little over a minute into the 4th I was yelling to get Tyus, Saric and KAT in the game. Had Ryan done that, I'm convinced the Wolves would have won the game today. Alas, at least we helped our lottery position today.

I'm hoping that Ryan's decision to go with that lineup for the first part of the 4th was intended for evaluation purposes and part of a strategy to put evaluation and development ahead of winning with the side benefit of helping the team's lottery position. However, if Ryan's decision to go with those guys several minutes in to the 4th reflected his judgment that it would give the Wolves the best chance of winning the game, then I have a hard time accepting him as this team's head coach next season.

It was fun listening to KAT's dad tonight who, as you know, sits close to our seats. He was really getting on his son for waiting too long and allowing the double-team to come before making his move. It was when KAT finally starting attacking right away that he started to dominate in the 2nd half. He's a great very vocal fan and he's harder on his son than he is on any of the other players or the team in general.

It was nice to see Dario get hot tonight from behind the arc. He sure plays hard.

Overall, it was good to see this team play hard and play well once again as they have for the past couple weeks. I'm encouraged going into next season by what we've seen lately, especially what we've seen from KBD, Okogie, Tyus and Wiggins. The ball moves much better in the offense than it did under Thibodeau and the players all seem energized and enjoying the game. It's worth speculating on what the Wolves record would be right now if Covington hadn't gone down just before Ryan took over. No doubt it would be a lot better.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I don't know...the defense continues to be less than inspiring. Okogie seems to be the only guy making plays out there on that end. It looks like KAT gave up on that side a few weeks ago and has been just plain sloppy lately on both sides. And Wiggins was getting torched by Schroder. Then there is Saric, who gets the typical "white guy from Europe" targeting from refs, meaning anytime a penetrating guard so much as brushes against Saric, it's a foul. Same thing happened to Bjelly when he played with us.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

I missed the 2nd half but Wiggins was great in the first half. He made a nice back door cut, set a couple good picks and his shot looked great. Like Van Gundy said, if only he could be consistent, this could be a really strong team.

[Lipoli390]

I don't know...the defense continues to be less than inspiring. Okogie seems to be the only guy making plays out there on that end. It looks like KAT gave up on that side a few weeks ago and has been just plain sloppy lately on both sides. And Wiggins was getting torched by Schroder. Then there is Saric, who gets the typical "white guy from Europe" targeting from refs, meaning anytime a penetrating guard so much as brushes against Saric, it's a foul. Same thing happened to Bjelly when he played with us.

Q - I think you've become a bit too jaded, which is understandable. Yes, the defense hasn't been impressive. But this team has been playing competitively and keeping games close while shorthanded against highly motivated teams with better players like the Thunder, Heat, and Warriors. Meanwhile they've beaten teams with comparable players on the floor like the Grizzlies and Mavs while actually beating the Warriors in a tough overtime game. I saw a lot of tenacity from the Wolves in that game. I'm encouraged by what we've seen from Okogie, Tyus and KBD the last month. I'm intrigued by the improvement Okogie and KBD can make over the offseason. Add Covington back to the mix next season with those three and KAT and you have a decent core.

I don't know what to do about Saric. I think the Wolves should shop him this summer, but keep him unless we get a really good deal. That stretch when he was raining threes today was a good example of what he can bring to this team. I haven't given up on him yet. As for Wiggins, I'm hoping that his recently improved might entice some team to take him and his salary without requiring the Wolves to give up any valuable assets or take back an equally bad contract. Otherwise, his improved play is encouraging for the Wolves if we don't find a trade partner. Maybe Teague will want out and accept a 3-year $9 million per year deal from some other team, leaving the Wolves some cap room to sign a solid free agent. In any event, we'll be able to spend a sizable portion of our MLE this summer on a FA even if Teague opts in.

What this franchise really needs is to get lucky for once in this year's lottery and end up with a top 3 pick. (Even top 4 would be great). This team needs another star to pair with KAT and the only way I see that happening is through the draft. So far the only likely NBA stars I see are Zion and Ja, although Barrett and even Darius Garland strike me as potentially elite NBA players. But I'm early in my draft research. And I may be alone on this message board in seeing Josh Okogie as a potential star. Watching his combination of athleticism, freakish length, fierce intensity and underappreciated high basketball IQ, I can't help but see a budding star in Josh - even more now than when we drafted him and I was a huge Okogie fan back then.

[mrhockey89]

The Wiggins/Dieng phenomena is not as bizarro world as some may think. Wiggins is more involved in the design.. . like he was back when he was good, and we have sets that get Gorgui open 16 foot shots...where he excells.

Ryan effect.

Agree to disagree then, because I don't recall ever thinking of Wiggins as "good" (i.e. he's always been a liability) until recently.

[mrhockey89]

Timberwolves are in bizarre world lately (pun intended)... Wiggins playing well consistently? Towns playing worse? Dieng making positive contributions and impact?

That was story at halftime. But looking at the whole game it was Wiggins carrying the team offensively in the 1st half and Towns carrying the team offensively in the 2nd half with Saric adding a lot of scoring in the 3rd quarter as well. You have to like the way Wiggins has been playing lately. I remain baffled by both Thibodeau and now Saunders having Wiggins close out quarters, exposing his poor handle and mediocre basketball IQ. But that's not Andrew's fault. His shooting has gotten better, he's been a bit more aggressive and he's been playing hard on both ends.

I agree it's sorta confusing as to how they're giving him the ball at end of games. I'm wondering if that's as much to do with lack of shot creators on this team as much as anything. If we're going iso at end-game situations, about the only other player we have that can get his own shot in that situation is Rose.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I don't know...the defense continues to be less than inspiring. Okogie seems to be the only guy making plays out there on that end. It looks like KAT gave up on that side a few weeks ago and has been just plain sloppy lately on both sides. And Wiggins was getting torched by Schroder. Then there is Saric, who gets the typical "white guy from Europe" targeting from refs, meaning anytime a penetrating guard so much as brushes against Saric, it's a foul. Same thing happened to Bjelly when he played with us.

Q - I think you've become a bit too jaded, which is understandable. Yes, the defense hasn't been impressive. But this team has been playing competitively and keeping games close while shorthanded against highly motivated teams with better players like the Thunder, Heat, and Warriors. Meanwhile they've beaten teams with comparable players on the floor like the Grizzlies and Mavs while actually beating the Warriors in a tough overtime game. I saw a lot of tenacity from the Wolves in that game. I'm encouraged by what we've seen from Okogie, Tyus and KBD the last month. I'm intrigued by the improvement Okogie and KBD can make over the offseason. Add Covington back to the mix next season with those three and KAT and you have a decent core.

I don't know what to do about Saric. I think the Wolves should shop him this summer, but keep him unless we get a really good deal. That stretch when he was raining threes today was a good example of what he can bring to this team. I haven't given up on him yet. As for Wiggins, I'm hoping that his recently improved might entice some team to take him and his salary without requiring the Wolves to give up any valuable assets or take back an equally bad contract. Otherwise, his improved play is encouraging for the Wolves if we don't find a trade partner. Maybe Teague will want out and accept a 3-year $9 million per year deal from some other team, leaving the Wolves some cap room to sign a solid free agent. In any event, we'll be able to spend a sizable portion of our MLE this summer on a FA even if Teague opts in.

What this franchise really needs is to get lucky for once in this year's lottery and end up with a top 3 pick. (Even top 4 would be great). This team needs another star to pair with KAT and the only way I see that happening is through the draft. So far the only likely NBA stars I see are Zion and Ja, although Barrett and even Darius Garland strike me as potentially elite NBA players. But I'm early in my draft research. And I may be alone on this message board in seeing Josh Okogie as a potential star. Watching his combination of athleticism, freakish length, fierce intensity and underappreciated high basketball IQ, I can't help but see a budding star in Josh - even more now than when we drafted him and I was a huge Okogie fan back then.

I think Saric can be a very good rotation player for someone, but we need to go in a different direction. The other big man that plays next to KAT must be elite defensively. There is simply no way this team will ever be a top 10 defense with KAT anchoring the defense. For one, he's just not very good at it. And two, he is relied upon too much offensively and therefore has to play soft sometimes to avoid foul trouble. It's just not going to work. I'm all for getting a 25 MPG defensive big that allows KAT to play PF and focus mostly on offense. Saric isn't that guy. Dieng isn't that guy. And Taj isn't that guy.

[Lipoli390]

I don't know...the defense continues to be less than inspiring. Okogie seems to be the only guy making plays out there on that end. It looks like KAT gave up on that side a few weeks ago and has been just plain sloppy lately on both sides. And Wiggins was getting torched by Schroder. Then there is Saric, who gets the typical "white guy from Europe" targeting from refs, meaning anytime a penetrating guard so much as brushes against Saric, it's a foul. Same thing happened to Bjelly when he played with us.

Q - I think you've become a bit too jaded, which is understandable. Yes, the defense hasn't been impressive. But this team has been playing competitively and keeping games close while shorthanded against highly motivated teams with better players like the Thunder, Heat, and Warriors. Meanwhile they've beaten teams with comparable players on the floor like the Grizzlies and Mavs while actually beating the Warriors in a tough overtime game. I saw a lot of tenacity from the Wolves in that game. I'm encouraged by what we've seen from Okogie, Tyus and KBD the last month. I'm intrigued by the improvement Okogie and KBD can make over the offseason. Add Covington back to the mix next season with those three and KAT and you have a decent core.

I don't know what to do about Saric. I think the Wolves should shop him this summer, but keep him unless we get a really good deal. That stretch when he was raining threes today was a good example of what he can bring to this team. I haven't given up on him yet. As for Wiggins, I'm hoping that his recently improved might entice some team to take him and his salary without requiring the Wolves to give up any valuable assets or take back an equally bad contract. Otherwise, his improved play is encouraging for the Wolves if we don't find a trade partner. Maybe Teague will want out and accept a 3-year $9 million per year deal from some other team, leaving the Wolves some cap room to sign a solid free agent. In any event, we'll be able to spend a sizable portion of our MLE this summer on a FA even if Teague opts in.

What this franchise really needs is to get lucky for once in this year's lottery and end up with a top 3 pick. (Even top 4 would be great). This team needs another star to pair with KAT and the only way I see that happening is through the draft. So far the only likely NBA stars I see are Zion and Ja, although Barrett and even Darius Garland strike me as potentially elite NBA players. But I'm early in my draft research. And I may be alone on this message board in seeing Josh Okogie as a potential star. Watching his combination of athleticism, freakish length, fierce intensity and underappreciated high basketball IQ, I can't help but see a budding star in Josh - even more now than when we drafted him and I was a huge Okogie fan back then.

I think Saric can be a very good rotation player for someone, but we need to go in a different direction. The other big man that plays next to KAT must be elite defensively. There is simply no way this team will ever be a top 10 defense with KAT anchoring the defense. For one, he's just not very good at it. And two, he is relied upon too much offensively and therefore has to play soft sometimes to avoid foul trouble. It's just not going to work. I'm all for getting a 25 MPG defensive big that allows KAT to play PF and focus mostly on offense. Saric isn't that guy. Dieng isn't that guy. And Taj isn't that guy.

Q - I think you're right about this. But if we assume defensive stalwarts at the two wing positions with a solid defender at PG then perhaps we can do well with a more offensive oriented big like Saric alongside KAT. In addition to defenders, we need scorers who can hit threes and stretch the floor. Right now, KAT and Covington are the only two who can do that reliably. Saric might be another one who can do that. One problem with this roster is that we need both defenders and 3-point shooters. But we also need balhandlers who can create off the dribble -- something that neither Wiggins nor Covington can do. I suppose getting a rim-protecting big who can rebound would allow the Wolves to make more use of KAT's perimeter shooting and other skills. It's a tough one and I haven't sorted it all out in my mind.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I don't know...the defense continues to be less than inspiring. Okogie seems to be the only guy making plays out there on that end. It looks like KAT gave up on that side a few weeks ago and has been just plain sloppy lately on both sides. And Wiggins was getting torched by Schroder. Then there is Saric, who gets the typical "white guy from Europe" targeting from refs, meaning anytime a penetrating guard so much as brushes against Saric, it's a foul. Same thing happened to Bjelly when he played with us.

Q - I think you've become a bit too jaded, which is understandable. Yes, the defense hasn't been impressive. But this team has been playing competitively and keeping games close while shorthanded against highly motivated teams with better players like the Thunder, Heat, and Warriors. Meanwhile they've beaten teams with comparable players on the floor like the Grizzlies and Mavs while actually beating the Warriors in a tough overtime game. I saw a lot of tenacity from the Wolves in that game. I'm encouraged by what we've seen from Okogie, Tyus and KBD the last month. I'm intrigued by the improvement Okogie and KBD can make over the offseason. Add Covington back to the mix next season with those three and KAT and you have a decent core.

I don't know what to do about Saric. I think the Wolves should shop him this summer, but keep him unless we get a really good deal. That stretch when he was raining threes today was a good example of what he can bring to this team. I haven't given up on him yet. As for Wiggins, I'm hoping that his recently improved might entice some team to take him and his salary without requiring the Wolves to give up any valuable assets or take back an equally bad contract. Otherwise, his improved play is encouraging for the Wolves if we don't find a trade partner. Maybe Teague will want out and accept a 3-year $9 million per year deal from some other team, leaving the Wolves some cap room to sign a solid free agent. In any event, we'll be able to spend a sizable portion of our MLE this summer on a FA even if Teague opts in.

What this franchise really needs is to get lucky for once in this year's lottery and end up with a top 3 pick. (Even top 4 would be great). This team needs another star to pair with KAT and the only way I see that happening is through the draft. So far the only likely NBA stars I see are Zion and Ja, although Barrett and even Darius Garland strike me as potentially elite NBA players. But I'm early in my draft research. And I may be alone on this message board in seeing Josh Okogie as a potential star. Watching his combination of athleticism, freakish length, fierce intensity and underappreciated high basketball IQ, I can't help but see a budding star in Josh - even more now than when we drafted him and I was a huge Okogie fan back then.

I think Saric can be a very good rotation player for someone, but we need to go in a different direction. The other big man that plays next to KAT must be elite defensively. There is simply no way this team will ever be a top 10 defense with KAT anchoring the defense. For one, he's just not very good at it. And two, he is relied upon too much offensively and therefore has to play soft sometimes to avoid foul trouble. It's just not going to work. I'm all for getting a 25 MPG defensive big that allows KAT to play PF and focus mostly on offense. Saric isn't that guy. Dieng isn't that guy. And Taj isn't that guy.

Maybe KAT can be more aggressive defensively if he stopped committing so many offensive fouls.

[TAFKASP]

If we're doing Garth Brooks GDT titles we need to use Friends In Low Places (in the standings).