Game Report - Wolves v. Pelicans

[Lipoli390]

A fun game and nice win. The arena was almost full as it was Friday night, but it was a louder, more engaged crowd against the Pelicans. There's definitely a very different vibe in the arena and especially among the players on the bench and court since Thibodeau's departure.

As for the game, it was actually similar to the Mavs game with the Wolves getting off to a fairly slow start and both games going down to the wire. KAT was fantastic in both games as well. Towns is playing like a superstar and has been for a while now. It's fun to watch. The biggest difference between the two games of course, was the outcome - with the Wolves coming out on top against the Pelicans. There were a number of other differences between the two games that contributed to the different outcome. Here's a sit of those positive differences:

1. The Wolves took more 15 more 3-pointers than the Pelicans, the reverse of the night before when the Mavs took 14 more 3-pointers than the Wolves.

2. Tyus played 28 minutes and Teague only 21, the reverse of the night before when Tyus played 18 and Teague 30.

3. Dario Saric was taking shots and hitting them shots last night, making 4 of 7, including 2 of 3 from behind the arc. He also got to the line for 4 shots and made all of them. He did all of that in 16 minutes. In contrast, the night before he was 0 for 5 from the field with no trips the the line in 18 minutes. My main issue with Dario against the Mavs wasn't that he was missing shots; it was his sheepish sulking, which made him passive and resulted in his failure to continue shooting or at least attack the basket and draw fouls. In that sense, Dario reminds me of Belly. My friend in Philly told me that's how Saric was with the Sixers. That has to change.

4. Luol Deng got some minutes last night and was tremendous whereas he didn't play at all the night before or any other game to speak of. Deng's performance last night suggests that he might be a better contributor than Tolliver off the bench.

5. Rose didn't play last night while Okogie's minutes increased from 22 to 41 as a result. I thought Rose played well against the Mavs, so I'm not sure this difference was a major factor in last night's win. However, Okogie does so many positive things while on the court. His relentless defense really disrupts the opposing team's offense in ways that aren't always readily apparent. And he's less ball-dominant than Rose, which I think tends to make bring out the best in the players around him.

Wiggins played well defensively last night. I liked the 6 boards and 2 blocks in his stat line. He was hustling and making plays. However, his offense was pretty bad again last night as he hit only 33% of his 21 shots and only 25% of his threes. He also had 5 turnovers. His bad handle was on full display last night. Ryan is going to have to put major constraint on how Wiggins is used in the offense. He simply can't be allowed to be the main ballhandler in any half-court possessions. He should only get the ball in the half court on post-ups, cuts and catch-and-shoots. Three or four dribbles should be his max.

Teague's a good player, but Tyus is a much better fit for this team as the main PG. Teague's unfortunate re-tweak of his ankle at the end of the 1st half may have been the main reason the Wolves won last night because he forced Ryan to go with Tyus as the main PG througout the 2nd half.

Can't say enough about KAT. 27 point, 27 rebounds and 4 blocks doesn't even tell the full tale. He was altering shots defensively when he wasn't actually blocking them and he was dominating offensively in multiple ways. He clearly dominated the boards. He has out played AD both games in which they've gone head-to-head this season, but last night the gap was bigger.

Overall, our pace of play is better. If nothing else, our guys are not longer looking to the bench to hear what Thibodeau is telling them to do or not do. As a result, the players seem to be playing more instinctively, being more decisive and making quicker decisions. It will take time for the players to adjust to playing this way. And they'll have to learn to embrace the three over long twos. Ryan's approach to practice - negative points for long twos - is a good start. But it will take time for the guys to unlearn what's been drilled into them. So far, I like what I'm seeing.

I should also note how refreshing it is to see our head coach, Saunders, actually talk with his assistants during the game. That almost never happened under Thibodeau and there were a a number of occasions when an assistant approached Thibodeau to talk with him but were waived away angrily by their boss. It's also refreshing to see our head coach pat player on the back and talk with them rather than ignoring them as they come off the court and barking at them with instructions or criticism.

[rapsuperstar31]

Man we have to get the schedule makers to get us more games against OKC and Pelicans, we seem match up really well against both teams the past two seasons! I like what I'm seeing with Ryan Saunders experimenting a bit with rotations trying to see what works. When Covington comes back I'd love to see some minutes together for Tyus, Covington, Okogie, Saric, and Kat to see what happens. Tyus is really starting to change my opinion on him, watching him his rookie year was pretty brutal as players could drive past him like he was standing still. I would really like to see Tyus get at least 24 mpg going forward with a good chunk of time with our starters to see if we want to sign him beyond this season and to see more of his worth!

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

A fun game and nice win. The arena was almost full as it was Friday night, but it was a louder, more engaged crowd against the Pelicans. There's definitely a very different vibe in the arena and especially among the players on the bench and court since Thibodeau's departure.

As for the game, it was actually similar to the Mavs game with the Wolves getting off to a fairly slow start and both games going down to the wire. KAT was fantastic in both games as well. Towns is playing like a superstar and has been for a while now. It's fun to watch. The biggest difference between the two games of course, was the outcome - with the Wolves coming out on top against the Pelicans. There were a number of other differences between the two games that contributed to the different outcome. Here's a sit of those positive differences:

1. The Wolves took more 15 more 3-pointers than the Pelicans, the reverse of the night before when the Mavs took 14 more 3-pointers than the Wolves.

2. Tyus played 28 minutes and Teague only 21, the reverse of the night before when Tyus played 18 and Teague 30.

3. Dario Saric was taking shots and hitting them shots last night, making 4 of 7, including 2 of 3 from behind the arc. He also got to the line for 4 shots and made all of them. He did all of that in 16 minutes. In contrast, the night before he was 0 for 5 from the field with no trips the the line in 18 minutes. My main issue with Dario against the Mavs wasn't that he was missing shots; it was his sheepish sulking, which made him passive and resulted in his failure to continue shooting or at least attack the basket and draw fouls. In that sense, Dario reminds me of Belly. My friend in Philly told me that's how Saric was with the Sixers. That has to change.

4. Luol Deng got some minutes last night and was tremendous whereas he didn't play at all the night before or any other game to speak of. Deng's performance last night suggests that he might be a better contributor than Tolliver off the bench.

5. Rose didn't play last night while Okogie's minutes increased from 22 to 41 as a result. I thought Rose played well against the Mavs, so I'm not sure this difference was a major factor in last night's win. However, Okogie does so many positive things while on the court. His relentless defense really disrupts the opposing team's offense in ways that aren't always readily apparent. And he's less ball-dominant than Rose, which I think tends to make bring out the best in the players around him.

Wiggins played well defensively last night. I liked the 6 boards and 2 blocks in his stat line. He was hustling and making plays. However, his offense was pretty bad again last night as he hit only 33% of his 21 shots and only 25% of his threes. He also had 5 turnovers. His bad handle was on full display last night. Ryan is going to have to put major constraint on how Wiggins is used in the offense. He simply can't be allowed to be the main ballhandler in any half-court possessions. He should only get the ball in the half court on post-ups, cuts and catch-and-shoots. Three or four dribbles should be his max.

Teague's a good player, but Tyus is a much better fit for this team as the main PG. Teague's unfortunate re-tweak of his ankle at the end of the 1st half may have been the main reason the Wolves won last night because he forced Ryan to go with Tyus as the main PG througout the 2nd half.

Can't say enough about KAT. 27 point, 27 rebounds and 4 blocks doesn't even tell the full tale. He was altering shots defensively when he wasn't actually blocking them and he was dominating offensively in multiple ways. He clearly dominated the boards. He has out played AD both games in which they've gone head-to-head this season, but last night the gap was bigger.

Overall, our pace of play is better. If nothing else, our guys are not longer looking to the bench to hear what Thibodeau is telling them to do or not do. As a result, the players seem to be playing more instinctively, being more decisive and making quicker decisions. It will take time for the players to adjust to playing this way. And they'll have to learn to embrace the three over long twos. Ryan's approach to practice - negative points for long twos - is a good start. But it will take time for the guys to unlearn what's been drilled into them. So far, I like what I'm seeing.

I should also note how refreshing it is to see our head coach, Saunders, actually talk with his assistants during the game. That almost never happened under Thibodeau and there were a a number of occasions when an assistant approached Thibodeau to talk with him but were waived away angrily by their boss. It's also refreshing to see our head coach pat player on the back and talk with them rather than ignoring them as they come off the court and barking at them with instructions or criticism.

Fun night last night, huh Lip! Yeah the interaction between Ryan and his coaches and players is such a huge change. Like I said, who knew that assistant coaches actually had something to offer, that a collaborative system generally works better than an autocratic one, and that players might play better when they are not micromanaged and given some positive reinforcement rather than just angry scowls? I wonder if any psychologists know about these phenomena, or are we on to something groundbreaking here :) .

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Fun game. KAT was an absolute beast. I mean, it's not often we see a Wolf impose his will on a game on BOTH ends, but he absolutely did that last night. Really, really good to see.

I like that Ryan is trying to get more 3's up. It would have been a blow out if we actually made them! Tolliver wasn't even close on a couple of his attempts, which was a little infuriating since it always feels like that wouldn't happen if he were wearing a different jersey. I'm hoping the green light will help all these guys shoot more freely and ultimately more accurately.

Wiggins....love the aggressiveness and shot selection, but damn, he has to have some of the worst hands in the NBA. The way he gets the ball stripped from him is like taking candy from a baby. Can't believe this is such a problem 5 years in....alright we won, so enough on Andrew.

Tyus Jones...LOVE the way he plays the game. Not the most physically gifted, but damn, just knows what he's doing out there. I hope he keeps improving.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Fun game. KAT was an absolute beast. I mean, it's not often we see a Wolf impose his will on a game on BOTH ends, but he absolutely did that last night. Really, really good to see.

I like that Ryan is trying to get more 3's up. It would have been a blow out if we actually made them! Tolliver wasn't even close on a couple of his attempts, which was a little infuriating since it always feels like that wouldn't happen if he were wearing a different jersey. I'm hoping the green light will help all these guys shoot more freely and ultimately more accurately.

Wiggins....love the aggressiveness and shot selection, but damn, he has to have some of the worst hands in the NBA. The way he gets the ball stripped from him is like taking candy from a baby. Can't believe this is such a problem 5 years in....alright we won, so enough on Andrew.

Tyus Jones...LOVE the way he plays the game. Not the most physically gifted, but damn, just knows what he's doing out there. I hope he keeps improving.

I agree on all points. As for Tolliver, I can usually predict whether his three is going in while the ball is in the air. If he is completely unrushed, I feel like he will make 75% of them...his stroke is that nice. But like most players and even more so, he doesn't make his challenged threes. I felt last night that he was forcing things rather than letting the game come to him, and wasn't surprised he was so awful on his shooting. I think (hope?) Ryan is going to really use his full roster, so Tolliver will get more chances, and he will make some key threes when he is open and gets the ball delivered at the right time.
I also agree on your Wig points. Some are trying to attribute the fire in his eyes to the coaching change, but I saw it in the final Thibs games too...something has gotten into him, maybe the booing in the Atlanta game, and he has been active at both ends of the court. But his handle is terrible and especially last night...five TOs is just not acceptable for a guy who is not a great facilitator. That said, I prefer him continuing to try to het to the basket than relying on long fadeaways. He only had 3 FT attempts last night, but he will get more if he keeps driving. Hopefully he can learn from KAT (and even Okogie at 19!) how to hide the ball on his drives to keep it from getting poked away. If he can improve his handle and take threes when they are there, I see him as a potential consistent 25 PPG guy.

And just to continue the lovefest, I'm with you on Tyus too. NO turnovers again last night even with a more aggressive offensive approach. And his defense! Sure he had some issues with Holiday, but so did Teague and Okogie...Jrue was very good last night. I watched the Duke game yesterday and heard Dick Vitale marveling at Tre Jones' defensive approach...the low stance, the constant focus on the ball, the quick hands. And I felt like I was looking at a version of Tyus. I don't know if it was their AAU, Duke or Apple Valley coaches or some family member, but somebody taught these guys how to play defense the right way. Tre is no athletic phenom either, but he is already proving to be a plus defender.

One more insignificant point. It was interesting to see Tyus, Okofor and Towns all on the same court...three guys forever linked in their college careers, but going in completely opposite directions. Tyus saw what a college scoring machine he had in Okofor, and used his facilitating skills to make Okofor a potential #1 pick...hard to believe Flip publicly was going back and forth on these 2 in the weeks going up to the draft. Maybe he was bluffing, but there was no reason to when you're holding the first pick...thank god he clearly made the right choice.

[Lipoli390]

Fun game. KAT was an absolute beast. I mean, it's not often we see a Wolf impose his will on a game on BOTH ends, but he absolutely did that last night. Really, really good to see.

I like that Ryan is trying to get more 3's up. It would have been a blow out if we actually made them! Tolliver wasn't even close on a couple of his attempts, which was a little infuriating since it always feels like that wouldn't happen if he were wearing a different jersey. I'm hoping the green light will help all these guys shoot more freely and ultimately more accurately.

Wiggins....love the aggressiveness and shot selection, but damn, he has to have some of the worst hands in the NBA. The way he gets the ball stripped from him is like taking candy from a baby. Can't believe this is such a problem 5 years in....alright we won, so enough on Andrew.

Tyus Jones...LOVE the way he plays the game. Not the most physically gifted, but damn, just knows what he's doing out there. I hope he keeps improving.

I agree on all points. As for Tolliver, I can usually predict whether his three is going in while the ball is in the air. If he is completely unrushed, I feel like he will make 75% of them...his stroke is that nice. But like most players and even more so, he doesn't make his challenged threes. I felt last night that he was forcing things rather than letting the game come to him, and wasn't surprised he was so awful on his shooting. I think (hope?) Ryan is going to really use his full roster, so Tolliver will get more chances, and he will make some key threes when he is open and gets the ball delivered at the right time.
I also agree on your Wig points. Some are trying to attribute the fire in his eyes to the coaching change, but I saw it in the final Thibs games too...something has gotten into him, maybe the booing in the Atlanta game, and he has been active at both ends of the court. But his handle is terrible and especially last night...five TOs is just not acceptable for a guy who is not a great facilitator. That said, I prefer him continuing to try to het to the basket than relying on long fadeaways. He only had 3 FT attempts last night, but he will get more if he keeps driving. Hopefully he can learn from KAT (and even Okogie at 19!) how to hide the ball on his drives to keep it from getting poked away. If he can improve his handle and take threes when they are there, I see him as a potential consistent 25 PPG guy.

And just to continue the lovefest, I'm with you on Tyus too. NO turnovers again last night even with a more aggressive offensive approach. And his defense! Sure he had some issues with Holiday, but so did Teague and Okogie...Jrue was very good last night. I watched the Duke game yesterday and heard Dick Vitale marveling at Tre Jones' defensive approach...the low stance, the constant focus on the ball, the quick hands. And I felt like I was looking at a version of Tyus. I don't know if it was their AAU, Duke or Apple Valley coaches or some family member, but somebody taught these guys how to play defense the right way. Tre is no athletic phenom either, but he is already proving to be a plus defender.

One more insignificant point. It was interesting to see Tyus, Okofor and Towns all on the same court...three guys forever linked in their college careers, but going in completely opposite directions. Tyus saw what a college scoring machine he had in Okofor, and used his facilitating skills to make Okofor a potential #1 pick...hard to believe Flip publicly was going back and forth on these 2 in the weeks going up to the draft. Maybe he was bluffing, but there was no reason to when you're holding the first pick...thank god he clearly made the right choice.

All good points. I can confirm that flip wasn't bluffing about Okofor. He and I were exchanging emails at the time and he really liked Okofor. Told me that he "flipped" from Okofor to KAT only after KAT had his private workout with the Wolves. Flip said he noticed then, like he did with KG, just how special KAT was going to be. I loved Flip, but his judgment on young players wasn't always the best - e.g., taking Bazz over the Greek Freak. But credit Flip for eventually taking KAT and also for trading up and taking Tyus. I don't fault Flip for his judgment on Wiggins. At the time, it was a great gamble. My problem is with the decision to give Wiggins a max deal.

[kekgeek]

I was also at the game, my buddy was able to get us 4th row seats behind the wolves bench. Just a few thoughts

1) First time I have been to a game since the renovations to Target Center. They are really nice. Now Target Center is still not the best stadium in basketball but it is a huge step up from where they were. Seats are a ton better. Also I enjoyed getting drinks and food delivered to my seat (I don't get seats like this often) it was nice.

2) Just in general, Anthony Davis was not as big as I imagined him to be. He is really long but he doesn't have girth to him like KAT does. I would also say Mirotic was a ton bigger than I thought he was in person.

3) Pre-game stuff, like I mentioned earlier Tolliver could not hit anything pre-game so I am not shocked how bad he shot in the game. I legit saw him miss 7 straight corner 3s pre-game. I liked the connection Deng and KBD had pre-game playing one on one and laughing and seemed like a great connection for a guy who isn't with the main club most of the year. Deng is a great teammate.

4) The seats right in front of us where Tyus Jones mom and Jahil Okafor Dad. Jahil Okafor dad was wearing a Kalihl Mack Jersey and he was a blast. He was rooting hard for the Pelicans but any time Tyus did something good he would get bumped up for Tyus it was cool to see. My buddy and Jahil's dad were chirping at each other all game in good fun. So many laughs that came in the interactions between his dad and my friends. I just think it was cool that Jahil dad gave us the time of day. We are a bunch of late 20s random people but the fun he had with us was sweet. We all hugged it out after the game. Made me a Jahil fan.

5) Overall great win. KAT stud, Tyus was good. Wiggins at least attacked. Okogie was good. Gibson and Saric both gave solid minutes. Deng was a good boost. Overall super fun expiernece and got to see a good game. I had a just a tad of bit of alcohol in me but man was it a blast to watch the wolves have fun and I think it is safe to say KAT is taking that next step.

[Lipoli390]

I was also at the game, my buddy was able to get us 4th row seats behind the wolves bench. Just a few thoughts

1) First time I have been to a game since the renovations to Target Center. They are really nice. Now Target Center is still not the best stadium in basketball but it is a huge step up from where they were. Seats are a ton better. Also I enjoyed getting drinks and food delivered to my seat (I don't get seats like this often) it was nice.

2) Just in general, Anthony Davis was not as big as I imagined him to be. He is really long but he doesn't have girth to him like KAT does. I would also say Mirotic was a ton bigger than I thought he was in person.

3) Pre-game stuff, like I mentioned earlier Tolliver could not hit anything pre-game so I am not shocked how bad he shot in the game. I legit saw him miss 7 straight corner 3s pre-game. I liked the connection Deng and KBD had pre-game playing one on one and laughing and seemed like a great connection for a guy who isn't with the main club most of the year. Deng is a great teammate.

4) The seats right in front of us where Tyus Jones mom and Jahil Okafor Dad. Jahil Okafor dad was wearing a Kalihl Mack Jersey and he was a blast. He was rooting hard for the Pelicans but any time Tyus did something good he would get bumped up for Tyus it was cool to see. My buddy and Jahil's dad were chirping at each other all game in good fun. So many laughs that came in the interactions between his dad and my friends. I just think it was cool that Jahil dad gave us the time of day. We are a bunch of late 20s random people but the fun he had with us was sweet. We all hugged it out after the game. Made me a Jahil fan.

5) Overall great win. KAT stud, Tyus was good. Wiggins at least attacked. Okogie was good. Gibson and Saric both gave solid minutes. Deng was a good boost. Overall super fun expiernece and got to see a good game. I had a just a tad of bit of alcohol in me but man was it a blast to watch the wolves have fun and I think it is safe to say KAT is taking that next step.

Great game for you to come to. You weren't too far from us - across the isle and 5 rows behind you. We saw the guy you're talking about, but didn't know until I read your post that he was Okafor's dad. You could tell he was enjoying himself -- standing up and cheering on his Pelicans repeatedly. I could see some fans in our area were annoyed by him. But I enjoyed watching him. Glad you were able to joke around with him. Sounds like a good guy.

Tre Jones used to come to a lot of games last season, sitting in those seats where you saw his mom. The section you were in is where most if not all of the Wolves players' friends and family sit. Derrick Rose's girl friend sits right across the isle from us in the section you were in. Also near us in that same section are KAT's dad, members of Wiggins' family, including his sister, and members of Gorgui's family including his mom - although we haven't seen his mom much this season.

Hope you can get to some more games - maybe get those same seats again sometime.

[Monster]

A fun game and nice win. The arena was almost full as it was Friday night, but it was a louder, more engaged crowd against the Pelicans. There's definitely a very different vibe in the arena and especially among the players on the bench and court since Thibodeau's departure.

As for the game, it was actually similar to the Mavs game with the Wolves getting off to a fairly slow start and both games going down to the wire. KAT was fantastic in both games as well. Towns is playing like a superstar and has been for a while now. It's fun to watch. The biggest difference between the two games of course, was the outcome - with the Wolves coming out on top against the Pelicans. There were a number of other differences between the two games that contributed to the different outcome. Here's a sit of those positive differences:

1. The Wolves took more 15 more 3-pointers than the Pelicans, the reverse of the night before when the Mavs took 14 more 3-pointers than the Wolves.

2. Tyus played 28 minutes and Teague only 21, the reverse of the night before when Tyus played 18 and Teague 30.

3. Dario Saric was taking shots and hitting them shots last night, making 4 of 7, including 2 of 3 from behind the arc. He also got to the line for 4 shots and made all of them. He did all of that in 16 minutes. In contrast, the night before he was 0 for 5 from the field with no trips the the line in 18 minutes. My main issue with Dario against the Mavs wasn't that he was missing shots; it was his sheepish sulking, which made him passive and resulted in his failure to continue shooting or at least attack the basket and draw fouls. In that sense, Dario reminds me of Belly. My friend in Philly told me that's how Saric was with the Sixers. That has to change.

4. Luol Deng got some minutes last night and was tremendous whereas he didn't play at all the night before or any other game to speak of. Deng's performance last night suggests that he might be a better contributor than Tolliver off the bench.

5. Rose didn't play last night while Okogie's minutes increased from 22 to 41 as a result. I thought Rose played well against the Mavs, so I'm not sure this difference was a major factor in last night's win. However, Okogie does so many positive things while on the court. His relentless defense really disrupts the opposing team's offense in ways that aren't always readily apparent. And he's less ball-dominant than Rose, which I think tends to make bring out the best in the players around him.

Wiggins played well defensively last night. I liked the 6 boards and 2 blocks in his stat line. He was hustling and making plays. However, his offense was pretty bad again last night as he hit only 33% of his 21 shots and only 25% of his threes. He also had 5 turnovers. His bad handle was on full display last night. Ryan is going to have to put major constraint on how Wiggins is used in the offense. He simply can't be allowed to be the main ballhandler in any half-court possessions. He should only get the ball in the half court on post-ups, cuts and catch-and-shoots. Three or four dribbles should be his max.

Teague's a good player, but Tyus is a much better fit for this team as the main PG. Teague's unfortunate re-tweak of his ankle at the end of the 1st half may have been the main reason the Wolves won last night because he forced Ryan to go with Tyus as the main PG througout the 2nd half.

Can't say enough about KAT. 27 point, 27 rebounds and 4 blocks doesn't even tell the full tale. He was altering shots defensively when he wasn't actually blocking them and he was dominating offensively in multiple ways. He clearly dominated the boards. He has out played AD both games in which they've gone head-to-head this season, but last night the gap was bigger.

Overall, our pace of play is better. If nothing else, our guys are not longer looking to the bench to hear what Thibodeau is telling them to do or not do. As a result, the players seem to be playing more instinctively, being more decisive and making quicker decisions. It will take time for the players to adjust to playing this way. And they'll have to learn to embrace the three over long twos. Ryan's approach to practice - negative points for long twos - is a good start. But it will take time for the guys to unlearn what's been drilled into them. So far, I like what I'm seeing.

I should also note how refreshing it is to see our head coach, Saunders, actually talk with his assistants during the game. That almost never happened under Thibodeau and there were a a number of occasions when an assistant approached Thibodeau to talk with him but were waived away angrily by their boss. It's also refreshing to see our head coach pat player on the back and talk with them rather than ignoring them as they come off the court and barking at them with instructions or criticism.

Fun night last night, huh Lip! Yeah the interaction between Ryan and his coaches and players is such a huge change. Like I said, who knew that assistant coaches actually had something to offer, that a collaborative system generally works better than an autocratic one, and that players might play better when they are not micromanaged and given some positive reinforcement rather than just angry scowls? I wonder if any psychologists know about these phenomena, or are we on to something groundbreaking here :) .

I can't help but mention that Thibs has a degree in Counseling... lol

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

A fun game and nice win. The arena was almost full as it was Friday night, but it was a louder, more engaged crowd against the Pelicans. There's definitely a very different vibe in the arena and especially among the players on the bench and court since Thibodeau's departure.

As for the game, it was actually similar to the Mavs game with the Wolves getting off to a fairly slow start and both games going down to the wire. KAT was fantastic in both games as well. Towns is playing like a superstar and has been for a while now. It's fun to watch. The biggest difference between the two games of course, was the outcome - with the Wolves coming out on top against the Pelicans. There were a number of other differences between the two games that contributed to the different outcome. Here's a sit of those positive differences:

1. The Wolves took more 15 more 3-pointers than the Pelicans, the reverse of the night before when the Mavs took 14 more 3-pointers than the Wolves.

2. Tyus played 28 minutes and Teague only 21, the reverse of the night before when Tyus played 18 and Teague 30.

3. Dario Saric was taking shots and hitting them shots last night, making 4 of 7, including 2 of 3 from behind the arc. He also got to the line for 4 shots and made all of them. He did all of that in 16 minutes. In contrast, the night before he was 0 for 5 from the field with no trips the the line in 18 minutes. My main issue with Dario against the Mavs wasn't that he was missing shots; it was his sheepish sulking, which made him passive and resulted in his failure to continue shooting or at least attack the basket and draw fouls. In that sense, Dario reminds me of Belly. My friend in Philly told me that's how Saric was with the Sixers. That has to change.

4. Luol Deng got some minutes last night and was tremendous whereas he didn't play at all the night before or any other game to speak of. Deng's performance last night suggests that he might be a better contributor than Tolliver off the bench.

5. Rose didn't play last night while Okogie's minutes increased from 22 to 41 as a result. I thought Rose played well against the Mavs, so I'm not sure this difference was a major factor in last night's win. However, Okogie does so many positive things while on the court. His relentless defense really disrupts the opposing team's offense in ways that aren't always readily apparent. And he's less ball-dominant than Rose, which I think tends to make bring out the best in the players around him.

Wiggins played well defensively last night. I liked the 6 boards and 2 blocks in his stat line. He was hustling and making plays. However, his offense was pretty bad again last night as he hit only 33% of his 21 shots and only 25% of his threes. He also had 5 turnovers. His bad handle was on full display last night. Ryan is going to have to put major constraint on how Wiggins is used in the offense. He simply can't be allowed to be the main ballhandler in any half-court possessions. He should only get the ball in the half court on post-ups, cuts and catch-and-shoots. Three or four dribbles should be his max.

Teague's a good player, but Tyus is a much better fit for this team as the main PG. Teague's unfortunate re-tweak of his ankle at the end of the 1st half may have been the main reason the Wolves won last night because he forced Ryan to go with Tyus as the main PG througout the 2nd half.

Can't say enough about KAT. 27 point, 27 rebounds and 4 blocks doesn't even tell the full tale. He was altering shots defensively when he wasn't actually blocking them and he was dominating offensively in multiple ways. He clearly dominated the boards. He has out played AD both games in which they've gone head-to-head this season, but last night the gap was bigger.

Overall, our pace of play is better. If nothing else, our guys are not longer looking to the bench to hear what Thibodeau is telling them to do or not do. As a result, the players seem to be playing more instinctively, being more decisive and making quicker decisions. It will take time for the players to adjust to playing this way. And they'll have to learn to embrace the three over long twos. Ryan's approach to practice - negative points for long twos - is a good start. But it will take time for the guys to unlearn what's been drilled into them. So far, I like what I'm seeing.

I should also note how refreshing it is to see our head coach, Saunders, actually talk with his assistants during the game. That almost never happened under Thibodeau and there were a a number of occasions when an assistant approached Thibodeau to talk with him but were waived away angrily by their boss. It's also refreshing to see our head coach pat player on the back and talk with them rather than ignoring them as they come off the court and barking at them with instructions or criticism.

Fun night last night, huh Lip! Yeah the interaction between Ryan and his coaches and players is such a huge change. Like I said, who knew that assistant coaches actually had something to offer, that a collaborative system generally works better than an autocratic one, and that players might play better when they are not micromanaged and given some positive reinforcement rather than just angry scowls? I wonder if any psychologists know about these phenomena, or are we on to something groundbreaking here :) .

I can't help but mention that Thibs has a degree in Counseling... lol

And a Master's Degree at that...for the life of me, I can't figure out why he wasn't successful in that field...