It's definitely KAT's fault... it's best to call him out specifically.

[AbeVigodaLive]

From a recent publication:

"Just check out the insane production of Towns over his last 22 games. He's averaging 26.4 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.9 blocks with a true shooting of 64.0 percent. Wolves are 10-12 in those games and probably lucky to be that good. Saunders has done a good job coaching the team, but at some point we're back to weather the guys on this team have the focus and desire to actually matter in this league. And that includes everybody."

Team down to its 5th/6th string PG.
Wiggins shooting sub 40% since Christmas
Covington out for that entire stretch of games

Meh. Perfect opportunity to pile on the one guy playing well -- and blame him for the rest of the team's struggles.

Is there something in the Minnesota water?

- Kevin Garnett was an MVP... HOF... caliber player who was ripped repeatedly despite posting big stats on teams that didn't go anywhere.
- Kevin Love was the first guy in history to be among the league's Win Shares leaders on a losing team... but he too was ripped for posting big numbers on losing teams.
- KAT is posting insane efficiency and good to great counting stats who is being ripped constantly for team success.

Are we really the land of 10,000 Hollow Stats ---- or merely victims of one lousy owner?

Or something else entirely?




[Note: C'mon The Athletic... See "weather/whether"... be better than that at least.]

[thedoper]

We're so eager to be relevant so we settle when we're almost there. This goes from ownership down to the fans. Ultimately its a low self-esteem if I were to apply a psychology to it. Huge overvaluing of our talent always, always sure the worse will happen (it usually does), and totally conservative mentality when applied to risk. People still talk about the 1 time Taylor paid the luxury tax as an achievement, when it was really more of a last ditch effort. The only hope for this franchise is a wholesale change of direction starting with the owner. On Jon K's last podcast he stated that Taylor wants to fix this and set the franchise on a good path, nothing scares me more.

There is something in the water in Minnesota, anyone that knows the history of the Minnesota river can recognize that Taylor grew up drinking that water. I've always personally wondered if the water had something to do with it.

[Monster]

From a recent publication:

"Just check out the insane production of Towns over his last 22 games. He's averaging 26.4 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.9 blocks with a true shooting of 64.0 percent. Wolves are 10-12 in those games and probably lucky to be that good. Saunders has done a good job coaching the team, but at some point we're back to weather the guys on this team have the focus and desire to actually matter in this league. And that includes everybody."

Team down to its 5th/6th string PG.
Wiggins shooting sub 40% since Christmas
Covington out for that entire stretch of games

Meh. Perfect opportunity to pile on the one guy playing well -- and blame him for the rest of the team's struggles.

Is there something in the Minnesota water?

- Kevin Garnett was an MVP... HOF... caliber player who was ripped repeatedly despite posting big stats on teams that didn't go anywhere.
- Kevin Love was the first guy in history to be among the league's Win Shares leaders on a losing team... but he too was ripped for posting big numbers on losing teams.
- KAT is posting insane efficiency and good to great counting stats who is being ripped constantly for team success.

Are we really the land of 10,000 Hollow Stats ---- or merely victims of one lousy owner?

Or something else entirely?




[Note: C'mon The Athletic... See "weather/whether"... be better than that at least.]

The guy that does those power rankings (never read them before just now) was a former Wolves guy I believe. More bizarre might be the "Saunders has done a good job coaching the team" comment combined with the rest of what was said. Doesn't exactly make sense.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I know "power rankings" are about the most trite of NBA analysis...

I just think we're on a huge run of "blame KAT" commentary from basically all sides. This is not to dismiss very real criticism for the guy... but it's sort of relentless... at least in comparison to more in-depth contextual discussions about the problems of the team.

The guy still has yet to miss an NBA game, which is pretty remarkable at this point.

[Monster]

I know "power rankings" are about the most trite of NBA analysis...

I just think we're on a huge run of "blame KAT" commentary from basically all sides. This is not to dismiss very real criticism for the guy... but it's sort of relentless... at least in comparison to more in-depth contextual discussions about the problems of the team.

The guy still has yet to miss an NBA game, which is pretty remarkable at this point.

I agree with you to some extent. Honestly I think AD gets a bigtime pass at times. I've seen him look disinterested playing against us twice in the last 2 years. Plus he misses games. Towns did suck early in the seaosnnbut since then the guy has pretty much shown up in every game except the Philly one but hardly anyone else did either. Meanwhile the guys that have played well this last stretch that Dario Saric has said was important...Dario has done his part.

[TAFKASP]

https://minnesotasports.enjin.com/forum/m/15059925/viewthread/32509548-wiggins-absolute-worst/post/137024615#p137024615

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I know "power rankings" are about the most trite of NBA analysis...

I just think we're on a huge run of "blame KAT" commentary from basically all sides. This is not to dismiss very real criticism for the guy... but it's sort of relentless... at least in comparison to more in-depth contextual discussions about the problems of the team.

The guy still has yet to miss an NBA game, which is pretty remarkable at this point.

I mean putting up stats and never missing games is great. It hasn't led to wins. Why is that? You can blame everyone else, but is it not on KAT as the best player on this team to lead this team and make sure everyone is showing up every night like he is? There's a lot of KAT is doing his part, but that's all he's doing. His part. Who is he making better on this team? That's what true transcendent players do. They raise the tide and not just their boat. Kevin Love was a shitty leader too even though he put up great stats. The last time we were relevant was KG and he's considered a great teammate and clearly elevated the whole team. That's part of why we brought him back to mentor KAT.

I think it's a middle ground. People like me have probably gone after KAT too much, but at the same time we want him to actually lead this team to something and not just put up his stats and look for other people to step up with him. He plays the most impactful defensive position in the NBA. He can do more things that elevate the whole team. I'm not interested in watching another Love look around at his help rather than lead them and elevate their games.

[Tactical unit]

He needs to get his fouling under control, so many of his fouls are boneheaded fouls that he doesn't have to commit. He gets frustrated so easily, he clearly needs a sports psychology coach. From my observation he has a weak mental mentality on the court and that's fine, because it means he can elevate to new levels of great, just fix it KAT! We need the best version of our All-star not one that rides the bench due to foul trouble.

[Lipoli390]

I know "power rankings" are about the most trite of NBA analysis...

I just think we're on a huge run of "blame KAT" commentary from basically all sides. This is not to dismiss very real criticism for the guy... but it's sort of relentless... at least in comparison to more in-depth contextual discussions about the problems of the team.

The guy still has yet to miss an NBA game, which is pretty remarkable at this point.

I mean putting up stats and never missing games is great. It hasn't led to wins. Why is that? You can blame everyone else, but is it not on KAT as the best player on this team to lead this team and make sure everyone is showing up every night like he is? There's a lot of KAT is doing his part, but that's all he's doing. His part. Who is he making better on this team? That's what true transcendent players do. They raise the tide and not just their boat. Kevin Love was a shitty leader too even though he put up great stats. The last time we were relevant was KG and he's considered a great teammate and clearly elevated the whole team. That's part of why we brought him back to mentor KAT.

I think it's a middle ground. People like me have probably gone after KAT too much, but at the same time we want him to actually lead this team to something and not just put up his stats and look for other people to step up with him. He plays the most impactful defensive position in the NBA. He can do more things that elevate the whole team. I'm not interested in watching another Love look around at his help rather than lead them and elevate their games.

As I recall, the Wolves didn't make the playoffs in KG's final season with the Wolves. Then he went on to win a championship with the Celtics. Hmm. Maybe, just maybe, one elite player isn't enough to make the playoffs. Instead of bringing KG back long after he could still play, perhaps the Wolves could have brought back Sprewell, Cassell and Wally Z in their prime to play with KAT.

Interestingly, the Pelicans have about the same record as the Wolves with AD anchoring their team. Last I looked, the Lakers were willing to offer all they own plus their first born for Davis. Meanwhile, I wonder how the Wolves would do if KAT were paired with Jrue Holiday and Mirotic? Or what if Wiggins was shooting better than 39% and getting to the foul line more often than every half moon? I've never seen anything more silly on this Board than the assertion that KAT is responsible for the Wolves not performing better. He's actually the only reason the Wolves aren't vying with the Suns for last place.

[worldK]

I know "power rankings" are about the most trite of NBA analysis...

I just think we're on a huge run of "blame KAT" commentary from basically all sides. This is not to dismiss very real criticism for the guy... but it's sort of relentless... at least in comparison to more in-depth contextual discussions about the problems of the team.

The guy still has yet to miss an NBA game, which is pretty remarkable at this point.

I mean putting up stats and never missing games is great. It hasn't led to wins. Why is that? You can blame everyone else, but is it not on KAT as the best player on this team to lead this team and make sure everyone is showing up every night like he is? There's a lot of KAT is doing his part, but that's all he's doing. His part. Who is he making better on this team? That's what true transcendent players do. They raise the tide and not just their boat. Kevin Love was a shitty leader too even though he put up great stats. The last time we were relevant was KG and he's considered a great teammate and clearly elevated the whole team. That's part of why we brought him back to mentor KAT.

I think it's a middle ground. People like me have probably gone after KAT too much, but at the same time we want him to actually lead this team to something and not just put up his stats and look for other people to step up with him. He plays the most impactful defensive position in the NBA. He can do more things that elevate the whole team. I'm not interested in watching another Love look around at his help rather than lead them and elevate their games.

As I recall, the Wolves didn't make the playoffs in KG's final season with the Wolves. Then he went on to win a championship with the Celtics. Hmm. Maybe, just maybe, one elite player isn't enough to make the playoffs. Instead of bringing KG back long after he could still play, perhaps the Wolves could have brought back Sprewell, Cassell and Wally Z in their prime to play with KAT.

Interestingly, the Pelicans have about the same record as the Wolves with AD anchoring their team. Last I looked, the Lakers were willing to offer all they own plus their first born for Davis. Meanwhile, I wonder how the Wolves would do if KAT were paired with Jrue Holiday and Mirotic? Or what if Wiggins was shooting better than 39% and getting to the foul line more often than every half moon? I've never seen anything more silly on this Board than the assertion that KAT is responsible for the Wolves not performing better. He's actually the only reason the Wolves aren't vying with the Suns for last place.

Great post lip. Agree in everything you said. Wolves should built around towns period.