Wolves at Pistons 11.11

[Coolbreeze44]

My biggest takeaway is the improvement in Wiggins handle. It's not just a little better, the difference is stark. So much for not being able to teach an old dog new tricks.

[Tactical unit]

My biggest takeaway is the improvement in Wiggins handle. It's not just a little better, the difference is stark. So much for not being able to teach an old dog new tricks.

I know it's early in the year but the difference in this Version of Wiggins vs last year makes me think he was depressed last season. He looks so much different, he gets after it, seems calmer and more confident. Has improved in so many aspects! Many have said he has the talent or should be a top player in the league. I guess this is why you don't give up on young talent and try like hell to develop it. Give Wiggins credit he's changing before our eyes and I'll say I'm fully on board with him and Kat as center pieces of the franchise.

[worldK]

My biggest takeaway is the improvement in Wiggins handle. It's not just a little better, the difference is stark. So much for not being able to teach an old dog new tricks.

I know it's early in the year but the difference in this Version of Wiggins vs last year makes me think he was depressed last season. He looks so much different, he gets after it, seems calmer and more confident. Has improved in so many aspects! Many have said he has the talent or should be a top player in the league. I guess this is why you don't give up on young talent and try like hell to develop it. Give Wiggins credit he's changing before our eyes and I'll say I'm fully on board with him and Kat as center pieces of the franchise.

Good take. Coaching and relationship makes a difference as well. I remember last season during thibs time, Wiggins was on one of his shooting slumps. I think it was Jim Pete who said that he saw the coaches repeatedly have wig shoot nothing but mid range shots in practice to get him going. Ugh.

This season, effort was made to make wig go downhill constantly and to get him to trade mid range for 3's. He trusts Ryan and do as told. Credit him for improving his handle in the off season and that certainly helps his game this season. He has been fun to watch and root for in this 10 games.

As doper keeps pointing out, the motor issue went silent as wig starts making shots and plays by playing the way ryan wants him to play.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

My biggest takeaway is the improvement in Wiggins handle. It's not just a little better, the difference is stark. So much for not being able to teach an old dog new tricks.

I'm not seeing it that way. I think it's better, but not starkly so. He's not getting to the basket any more frequently than he did in his early years. In fact, he made even more of a living in the paint back then.

The biggest difference to me is he's actually making a higher percentage of his mid-range-ish shots. That floater for example is something he's converting on that he didn't in years past. And when he does take long 2's, he's making a higher percentage of them.

We'll see if the improved accuracy holds up. It would obviously be a major game-changer for this franchise if it does.

[Wolvesfan21]

There was some dude on here that defended Thibs as a good head coach, I don't know who that was though. :LOL:

[thedoper]

My biggest takeaway is the improvement in Wiggins handle. It's not just a little better, the difference is stark. So much for not being able to teach an old dog new tricks.

I think this year is proving that Wiggins is coachable. Ryan (and Rosas?) clearly gave him some objectives to look at and he's changed his strategy. The "just go out there and work harder" mantra of Thibs didnt work on Wiggins. Maybe he has a brain and has to be given a rationale for where he's placing his effort?

[Coolbreeze44]

My biggest takeaway is the improvement in Wiggins handle. It's not just a little better, the difference is stark. So much for not being able to teach an old dog new tricks.

I'm not seeing it that way. I think it's better, but not starkly so. He's not getting to the basket any more frequently than he did in his early years. In fact, he made even more of a living in the paint back then.

The biggest difference to me is he's actually making a higher percentage of his mid-range-ish shots. That floater for example is something he's converting on that he didn't in years past. And when he does take long 2's, he's making a higher percentage of them.

We'll see if the improved accuracy holds up. It would obviously be a major game-changer for this franchise if it does.

Well I don't think one can improve his hands very much, so it must be the handle that's better. He's not getting stripped nearly as much, and you have to admit he looks more comfortable on the perimeter with the ball. I think he went to work this summer and it's showing in his handle.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

My biggest takeaway is the improvement in Wiggins handle. It's not just a little better, the difference is stark. So much for not being able to teach an old dog new tricks.

I think this year is proving that Wiggins is coachable. Ryan (and Rosas?) clearly gave him some objectives to look at and he's changed his strategy. The "just go out there and work harder" mantra of Thibs didnt work on Wiggins. Maybe he has a brain and has to be given a rationale for where he's placing his effort?

So, just to be clear, you think Ryan Saunders is the only coach that has worked with Andrew Wiggins to tell him to focus his attention on getting by his defender and attacking the rim versus settling for contested jumpers? That would be pretty damning on some highly-regarded basketball minds. I'm not so sure I can believe that...

I think what's more likely is that Wiggins became an adult/professional this off-season and really worked on improving his game -- evident by a noticeably better handle although with still room to grow -- as well as getting a better understanding on his own of what shots to take and what shots he should pass up.

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

My biggest takeaway is the improvement in Wiggins handle. It's not just a little better, the difference is stark. So much for not being able to teach an old dog new tricks.

I think this year is proving that Wiggins is coachable. Ryan (and Rosas?) clearly gave him some objectives to look at and he's changed his strategy. The "just go out there and work harder" mantra of Thibs didnt work on Wiggins. Maybe he has a brain and has to be given a rationale for where he's placing his effort?

So, just to be clear, you think Ryan Saunders is the only coach that has worked with Andrew Wiggins to tell him to focus his attention on getting by his defender and attacking the rim versus settling for contested jumpers? That would be pretty damning on some highly-regarded basketball minds. I'm not so sure I can believe that...

I think what's more likely is that Wiggins became an adult/professional this off-season and really worked on improving his game -- evident by a noticeably better handle although with still room to grow -- as well as getting a better understanding on his own of what shots to take and what shots he should pass up.

I think ESPN not having him in the top 100 pissed him off.

[kekgeek]

There was some dude on here that defended Thibs as a good head coach, I don't know who that was though. :LOL:

It's still way to early. And I hope I'm wrong. Because I supported thibs. But Wiggins has had these stretches before.

First 18 games under thibs (1st 2 months):
23.4 pts 4 rebs 2 asts on 45/41/73 splits

First 10 games this year:
25.5pts 5 rebs 3 asts on 47/34/72 splits.

This is not to even bash Ryan or defend thibs. I'm just saying Wiggins has started seasons like this before. And everyone thought thibs got through to Wiggins 3 seasons ago. I really Wiggins can keep this up, but be has done this under thibs and couldn't sustain it. But it is huge for the wolves future he keeps this up and it's not just a Wiggins hot streak