I'd like to comment on the "Wiggins didn't rebound our do anything else" comment. First in regard to his rebounding: he averages around 4 a game, certainly substandard for a small forward. But I notice how often he's in defensive rebounding position and goes up next to a teammate for the board. 95% of the time he defers to the teammate and lets him grab the ball. This is going to sound crazy, but if he was just a little more selfish out there he could easily get 2 more boards per game. This is one example where stats can be a little misleading. Kevin Love used to grab 95% of the rebounds contested by his own teammates, and his numbers would be inflated by it. The bottom line is these boards are going to be team rebounds no matter who gets them. It's just not in Wig to fight his own teammate for them.
In terms of playmaking and assists. I've certainly seen improvement in Andrew's passing and playmaking instincts. Though I would rather see him shoot than pass, he IS doing a better job of finding teammates in scoring position. The problem is he can't pass the ball to himself. Too often his setups result in missed shots. There were several examples last night.
The two areas where Wig needs to improve the most in my opinion are hitting the offensive glass, and playing defense off the ball. He should get a couple offensive boards every game, he's too athletic not to. He should also be better at anticipating and using his length to get steals. He's like the anti-Corey Brewer. He never gambles. He's always conservative on defense. A guy with his gifts should be able to impact the game coming off the ball. These are things he can still get, he has time. Hopefully it will be part of the game slowing down for him.
Game Report - Wolves v. Hornets
Re: Game Report - Wolves v. Hornets
I just finished the game here are my thoughts.
Lavine on Batum...I don't think Batum scored. Batum guarded but Belly and light it up baby! Lavine was much better getting through screens and was tight on him early on.
Payne played well again. He is mostly under control. It also playing hard. It's just a couple games but it's a nifty development. Jim said Thibs said Payne is doing well in practice.
Wiggins is terrific.
The Wolves are a poor defensive team and so that effects them in the 3rd quarter too but as others have said it's the offense that's the problem. Why? Idk part of it is straight up bad luck. They get sole god shots and they miss including at the rim. Then they spend 14+ seconds of the shot clock doing nothing (Rubio shares some blame too) and they get some poor shot.
Towns is part of the problem he isn't moving the ball. He tries to do to much. What sets Towns apart from any other player of his size is his ability to hit jump shots. If Towns was a SG you would THRILLED with his ability to hit shots from everywhere. So a bunch of the shots he takes aren't exactly bad shots but oddly sometimes he tries to drive then do 3,000 moves. People may hate me saying it but...did KGs work with him last year help? He needs to slow down and take whatever chill pill Payne is taking. Lol
Dunn had some nice moments. He has zero interest in going to the Rim right now. He is virtually no threat to score. Fortunately he is a rookie and does planets of other good stuff.
Belly played well overall but struggled guarding guys when it came to screens. So did other Wolves players and as another poster said Rubio seems to never get over a screen. It's weird.
People are not happy about this team and where they are record wise and these 3rd quarters but I think they are gonna figure it out. There are some flaws in this team including defense and lack of scoring from the PG position. There have been some very positive recent developments though. I still feel really good about where this team is going.
Lavine on Batum...I don't think Batum scored. Batum guarded but Belly and light it up baby! Lavine was much better getting through screens and was tight on him early on.
Payne played well again. He is mostly under control. It also playing hard. It's just a couple games but it's a nifty development. Jim said Thibs said Payne is doing well in practice.
Wiggins is terrific.
The Wolves are a poor defensive team and so that effects them in the 3rd quarter too but as others have said it's the offense that's the problem. Why? Idk part of it is straight up bad luck. They get sole god shots and they miss including at the rim. Then they spend 14+ seconds of the shot clock doing nothing (Rubio shares some blame too) and they get some poor shot.
Towns is part of the problem he isn't moving the ball. He tries to do to much. What sets Towns apart from any other player of his size is his ability to hit jump shots. If Towns was a SG you would THRILLED with his ability to hit shots from everywhere. So a bunch of the shots he takes aren't exactly bad shots but oddly sometimes he tries to drive then do 3,000 moves. People may hate me saying it but...did KGs work with him last year help? He needs to slow down and take whatever chill pill Payne is taking. Lol
Dunn had some nice moments. He has zero interest in going to the Rim right now. He is virtually no threat to score. Fortunately he is a rookie and does planets of other good stuff.
Belly played well overall but struggled guarding guys when it came to screens. So did other Wolves players and as another poster said Rubio seems to never get over a screen. It's weird.
People are not happy about this team and where they are record wise and these 3rd quarters but I think they are gonna figure it out. There are some flaws in this team including defense and lack of scoring from the PG position. There have been some very positive recent developments though. I still feel really good about where this team is going.
Re: Game Report - Wolves v. Hornets
CoolBreeze44 wrote:I'd like to comment on the "Wiggins didn't rebound our do anything else" comment. First in regard to his rebounding: he averages around 4 a game, certainly substandard for a small forward. But I notice how often he's in defensive rebounding position and goes up next to a teammate for the board. 95% of the time he defers to the teammate and lets him grab the ball. This is going to sound crazy, but if he was just a little more selfish out there he could easily get 2 more boards per game. This is one example where stats can be a little misleading. Kevin Love used to grab 95% of the rebounds contested by his own teammates, and his numbers would be inflated by it. The bottom line is these boards are going to be team rebounds no matter who gets them. It's just not in Wig to fight his own teammate for them.
In terms of playmaking and assists. I've certainly seen improvement in Andrew's passing and playmaking instincts. Though I would rather see him shoot than pass, he IS doing a better job of finding teammates in scoring position. The problem is he can't pass the ball to himself. Too often his setups result in missed shots. There were several examples last night.
The two areas where Wig needs to improve the most in my opinion are hitting the offensive glass, and playing defense off the ball. He should get a couple offensive boards every game, he's too athletic not to. He should also be better at anticipating and using his length to get steals. He's like the anti-Corey Brewer. He never gambles. He's always conservative on defense. A guy with his gifts should be able to impact the game coming off the ball. These are things he can still get, he has time. Hopefully it will be part of the game slowing down for him.
Good post. On Wiggins rebounding I want to add that this was the 2nd or 3rd game in a row Wiggins has been VERY active late in the game going to the boards. It's the 2nd game in a row he has drawn a foul going to the boards (therefore no rebound on the stat sheet) late in the game. Imo espcially late he is certainly putting forth that effort. Other than him improving his defense off the ball including when it comes to screens he has been just terrific.
Re: Game Report - Wolves v. Hornets
The thing I think is interesting is thibs is a smarter sam Mitchell temperament wiser and KG said that wiggins has no heart (reported by lip), and Wiggins is the only player that seems to enhance his game this season through 10 games.
Just got done listening to the Lowe Post podcast and Zach lowe had David Thorpe on and they talked wolves for about 10 minutes and man did David Thorpe absolutely killed Sam Mitchell saying he is like the worst NBA head coach ever and it will take thibs time to get his defensive system across because Sam Mitchell talk just terrible tendencies. (I don't think I have ever heard a coach rip into another coach so badly).
People might be right on Thibs at halftime but it is hard for me to blame it all on him. Like does a little yelling all of a sudden make our guys forget how to play basketball. It is amazing to me.
One more thing doogie tweeted saying Dunn dosen't pay attention during timeouts
Just got done listening to the Lowe Post podcast and Zach lowe had David Thorpe on and they talked wolves for about 10 minutes and man did David Thorpe absolutely killed Sam Mitchell saying he is like the worst NBA head coach ever and it will take thibs time to get his defensive system across because Sam Mitchell talk just terrible tendencies. (I don't think I have ever heard a coach rip into another coach so badly).
People might be right on Thibs at halftime but it is hard for me to blame it all on him. Like does a little yelling all of a sudden make our guys forget how to play basketball. It is amazing to me.
One more thing doogie tweeted saying Dunn dosen't pay attention during timeouts
Re: Game Report - Wolves v. Hornets
Lip I am curious about what all you heard Thibs yelling at the players. During this game I ended up watching the game on my iPhone with headphones and because of that setup I was able to hear thibs more clearly at least the first half I was paying more attention. On offense he was often encouraging guys telling them to "take him" when they had the advantage or a good position to score or "move it" when making another pass would be adventagious. I wasn't able to understand what he was saying on defense but Jim said he lets you know what he wants you to do. It's been a point I have heard more lately about how you have to communicate on the floor. Thibs is communicating are his players communicating to each other? Thanks for your thoughts or anyone else that's been to a game. I'm just curious if he is yelling stuff that is positive general instructions or ripping guys Etc.
Re: Game Report - Wolves v. Hornets
Monster -- It's mainly telling the players what to do, but it includes rants at the team for mistakes. My Bulls season ticket holder friend warned me about Thibs' micromanaging from the bench -- calling every play and telling the players exactly what to do on every possession. It worked in Chicago -- for a while. But I just don't see that style working generally in the NBA and I'm afraid it's a particularly bad approach for our young team because it tends to disconnect them from their natural instincts and slows them down. My take on KAT is that way too focused on listening to what Thibs is shouting out form the bench and it's interfering with his game.