Doncic makes the Wolves his B!tch! GDT

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

This is where Saunders is similar to Thibs. When it's crunch time, all creativity and sets to free up KAT for a shot go out the window. He's one of the top shooters in the entire NBA. It's coaching malpractice not to somehow manufacture some solid looks for him.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Look at the Dallas bench, which absolutely kicked our ass tonight. A bunch of undrafted free agents and 2nd rounders. This franchise absolutely nailed it with Dirk. Nailed it with Doncic. Nailed it with Carlisle. And then hit a bunch of little bloop singles with these other role players that Carlisle takes and squeezes every ounce of potential out of. This is what a really well-run franchise does.

[Wolvesfan21]

I agree with you guys, it's weird that it's always been Wiggins given the ball, or Butler while he was here down the 4th. KAT's not exactly a great handler and distributor but he should be having his number called for the open 3P. They all seem to defer to Wiggins ISO as long as he has been here, not a play designed for KAT very often. I use to complain about this too, especially when Wigs was less effective, but he's been pretty solid down the stretch so I can't be as upset as I was when Thibs did it.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Abe's Barely Behind Real-time DVR Review:

- Doncic is only 20! He's really really good. And he's a huge fucking whiner. Holy cow. We're in for 15+ more years of another entitled superstar who's owed every single call. Cool.
(more on this topic later... )

- Covington was on fire. But man... he takes some terrible shots. They went in, so it's cool. But they're just terrible shots.

- Jalen Brunson with a season high for points (in the 4th quarter alone). Hey Timberwolves... he's LEFT-HANDED and will always go that direction. Just thought you'd like to know.

- Dallas 7 - 9 on threes in the 4th... and they got hot. But many of those shots were wide open without a hand in the face of the shooter. Bad D.

- This game was won by the Mavs bench. Dallas shot 18 - 33. Wolves shot 6 - 18. Wright and Curry are both better than any Wolves bench player... and they were mostly meh. It was Kleber and Brunson.

- Teague. Ooof. It's time. It wasn't just bad Teague tonight. He didn't even look like an NBA quality player tonight. Wow. It was really bad. If he's not hurt... he's literally stealing money right now. Wolves PGs shot 0 - 8. Who woulda thought I'd be pining for Kevin Ollie or Jerryd Bayless right now.

- Boban M is immense. He towered over Porzingis when they were standing by the bench.

- Dig giving two bonus points to Doncic with the late silly foul... only to see Covington not shoot the half-courter to protect his shooting percentage. The new NBA!

- You can't win in today's game built around a big. I don't care how many threes that big hits. YOU CAN'T WIN WITH A BIG AS YOUR CLEARCUT BEST PLAYER. The NBA refuses to let that happen with the way the game is officiated today. So we can marvel at Towns efficiency and his ability to post really good stats. But comes late in a game... and especially a playoff type game... NOPE. No chance. It's not happening.

Everything over the rest of the season... and next season and the rest of KAT's contract... is all fluff. And it's not nearly all his fault. He's running uphill both ways in the new NBA. It's so futile.

It's never been easier to keep the ball out of the hands of big men. Blame it on coaching. Blame it on KAT. But I blame the NBA. You can give it to Doncic or James or Harden or Giannis 93 feet away from the hoop. Everything else is built around guys like that. Not guys like KAT.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Good to see KBD hit another couple 3's tonight. Man, that is encouraging. I was a little surprised he played over 20 minutes though, as he was REALLY invisible other than those two 3's.

[Wolvesfan21]

Abe- The talk the last few games about Teagues shoes lead me to believe the plate in his foot could be an ongoing problem, his shot looked completely terrible. He's 25% on the year way below his avg, he's got to be hurt with his foot. I think he might be done. I can't think of the word but his foot could be getting worse and worse overtime.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Abe- The talk the last few games about Teagues shoes lead me to believe the plate in his foot could be an ongoing problem, his shot looked completely terrible. He's 25% on the year way below his avg, he's got to be hurt with his foot. I think he might be done. I can't think of the word but his foot could be getting worse and worse overtime.

Yeah. I thought of that, too. Something is off. Very very off.

Not really sure what the Wolves can do about it at this point though sans chalking up a lost season to poor PG play.

[Wolvesfan21]

Abe- The talk the last few games about Teagues shoes lead me to believe the plate in his foot could be an ongoing problem, his shot looked completely terrible. He's 25% on the year way below his avg, he's got to be hurt with his foot. I think he might be done. I can't think of the word but his foot could be getting worse and worse overtime.

Yeah. I thought of that, too. Something is off. Very very off.

Not really sure what the Wolves can do about it at this point though sans chalking up a lost season to poor PG play.

Degenerative foot problem maybe, that was the word I was trying to think of. Yeah his 3P on the year was 25% coming into this game. He doesn't look right. Teams are leaving him wide open.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

The real problem tonight was defensive consistency throughout the whole team and the fact that Dieng, Teague, Graham, and Napier were all piss poor. They were completely outplayed by Dallas' bench and it was the difference.

I'll keep trying to hammer this home and hope someone on the coaching staff understands it, but Bates-Diop needs to be starting. He's one of the better role players we actually have and can provide some relief for Towns and Wiggins when they have to kick the ball out. Culver, Graham, Okogie, Teague, and Napier just aren't capable of making teams pay right now.

[thedoper]

The real problem tonight was defensive consistency throughout the whole team and the fact that Dieng, Teague, Graham, and Napier were all piss poor. They were completely outplayed by Dallas' bench and it was the difference.

I'll keep trying to hammer this home and hope someone on the coaching staff understands it, but Bates-Diop needs to be starting. He's one of the better role players we actually have and can provide some relief for Towns and Wiggins when they have to kick the ball out. Culver, Graham, Okogie, Teague, and Napier just aren't capable of making teams pay right now.

I like that idea. I dont think that Okogie has the goods to be a starter. Big energy off the bench but its hit or miss.