longstrangetrip wrote:I didn't see last night's game, but I was there for the Pacers' debacle. And it was shocking to me to see how poorly we got back on defense and how many easy layups we gave up...the worst I have ever seen from a Wolves team. As much as I like Bazz, a lot of this is on him...substituting him for Butler in the starting lineup totally changes both our half court and transition defense. I will also offer that Teague does not appear as adept as Rubio at getting back. Whatever it is, it needs to stop...Tuesday night was painful to watch, and I don't know if last night was any better.
Last night was worse in some ways.
After being outscored 18 - 6 in transition vs. the Pacers... it was 24 - 0 last night.
Stan Van Gundy: "we're not usually scoring a lot of fast-break points..."
"Counting the playoffs, I've coached something like 900 games in this league, so I can't remember all of them... I might have seen a disparity like that before, but it is certainly rare."
Thanks for that info, abe...I think. And I thought Tuesday was discouraging...
It's a team thing for sure, but Bazz has ALWAYS been a problem when it comes to proper spacing. His favorite spots on the floor are in the paint or along the baseline. Plus he works very hard for offensive rebounds. Combine that with his inability to make 3's and it's a spacing disaster both offensively and in our ability to get enough men back in defensive transition. He basically occupies the same space as most traditional 4s and 5s.
It's easy to admire Bazz's hustle on the O-glass and tough interior baskets. Yet the spacing issue is an absolute killer for us. No wonder there has never been a time in his 4+ seasons that the team has been better with him on the court versus off of it.
(Sorry, Bazz is hardly our only problem, but KAT has been piled on enough today!)
longstrangetrip wrote:I didn't see last night's game, but I was there for the Pacers' debacle. And it was shocking to me to see how poorly we got back on defense and how many easy layups we gave up...the worst I have ever seen from a Wolves team. As much as I like Bazz, a lot of this is on him...substituting him for Butler in the starting lineup totally changes both our half court and transition defense. I will also offer that Teague does not appear as adept as Rubio at getting back. Whatever it is, it needs to stop...Tuesday night was painful to watch, and I don't know if last night was any better.
Teague is often the only guy back trying to guard basically 2-3 free rooming players.
longstrangetrip wrote:I didn't see last night's game, but I was there for the Pacers' debacle. And it was shocking to me to see how poorly we got back on defense and how many easy layups we gave up...the worst I have ever seen from a Wolves team. As much as I like Bazz, a lot of this is on him...substituting him for Butler in the starting lineup totally changes both our half court and transition defense. I will also offer that Teague does not appear as adept as Rubio at getting back. Whatever it is, it needs to stop...Tuesday night was painful to watch, and I don't know if last night was any better.
Teague is often the only guy back trying to guard basically 2-3 free rooming players.
Last night, there was one particular play that illustrated this...
It was a weird rebound into the corner (I believe from another wayward Muhammad shot). Towns chased it for a bit with Bradley. Well, we know who's getting there first.
It didn't lead to a transition opportunity... but the Wolves D was never set as they scrambled with KAT behind the play. Peterson commented on it as it was happening, with something like "Why is KAT going for that rebound there"
Remember, there are teams that barely even try to rebound offensively for the past decade. Heck, Thibs' pre-previous stint in Boston had this strategy. So are the Wolves trying to buck that trend now... or is KAT and others making mental mistakes free-wheeling?
longstrangetrip wrote:I didn't see last night's game, but I was there for the Pacers' debacle. And it was shocking to me to see how poorly we got back on defense and how many easy layups we gave up...the worst I have ever seen from a Wolves team. As much as I like Bazz, a lot of this is on him...substituting him for Butler in the starting lineup totally changes both our half court and transition defense. I will also offer that Teague does not appear as adept as Rubio at getting back. Whatever it is, it needs to stop...Tuesday night was painful to watch, and I don't know if last night was any better.
Teague is often the only guy back trying to guard basically 2-3 free rooming players.
Last night, there was one particular play that illustrated this...
It was a weird rebound into the corner (I believe from another wayward Muhammad shot). Towns chased it for a bit with Bradley. Well, we know who's getting there first.
It didn't lead to a transition opportunity... but the Wolves D was never set as they scrambled with KAT behind the play. Peterson commented on it as it was happening, with something like "Why is KAT going for that rebound there"
Remember, there are teams that barely even try to rebound offensively for the past decade. Heck, Thibs' pre-previous stint in Boston had this strategy. So are the Wolves trying to buck that trend now... or is KAT and others making mental mistakes free-wheeling?
Good breakdown. My guess is it's some of both. I think we would agree in a vacuum that there are players on this team that have offensive rebounding as a strength. Therefore it would make sense to try and utilize that strength. HOWEVER obviously if you do that at the wrong time or too much it can have disastrous results. The bad transition D is a result of a few factors.
Discipline in shots taken offensively. Some bad shots on one end lead to the other end. Let's add in some bad passing here too but that's obvious. So basically bad offense.
Effort. Towns jumps out at me how many times some big just flat out beats him down the floor. It's not just him but...
Discipline. Knowing when you have guys back to go for the rebound, what the other team is doing, matching up when down the court, getting your ass down the court when you know you have a situation that calls for it. Honestly this is the area I think the Wolves have the biggest issue with. And really if they were disappointed and knew what the hell they were doing on both ends the other stuff would clear up. This team hasn't played well together yet which shouldn't be shocking considering all the new players and short preseason. I'm looking toward another 10-15 games and see where they are at then.
