CoolBreeze44 wrote:When we push the pace and move the basketball we are almost unstoppable. For some reason we can't always handle that prosperity and resort to things counter to it. Lip is right that our winning formula is scoring more than the opponent, and we should be able to do that most nights. I'm going to say it - I hate Crawford's game. Sure there are nights he's going to go off and be an X factor. But he's like a shooting guards version of Bazz. He's focused on getting up as many shots as possible and mostly ignoring the defensive end. He's a 41% career shooter and has played on a lot of bad teams.
And there is no doubt our tired legs played a part in last night's loss. The energy level between the teams in the 4th quarter was evident. And Wig was dragging himself up and down the court on that ankle. I like his toughness, but he probably shouldn't have been out there.
Cool -- I like Crawford and what he can do, but I'm with you in not liking his game. If we're behind and need to make up a lot of ground in a hurry, I like him. But if not (as when we have a big lead) or if he's in a cold spell, then I don't want him on the court. There was a point last night when it was clear he was not shooting well and hurting the team immensely. I was yelling at the TV for Thibs to take him out, but Thibs kept him in there and Crawford continued to sabotage our offensive with his ball-hogging and poor shooting. I would have rather had Bazz in there. At least Bazz would have taken the ball to the hole and possibly drawn some fouls and he would have helped on the boards.
We both agree our tired legs had something to do with last night's loss. But I just finished watching the replay of last night's Celtics come-from-behind win over the Rockets. Like the Wolves, the Celtics were also on the tail end of a back-to-back. Like the Wolves, they were missing a key starter in Jaylen Brown. Yet, they showed incredible sustained energy throughout the 2nd half fighting their way back from a 26-point deficit to win against a very good team. It's interesting how we all (myself included) are quick to make excuses for the Wolves. But if the Celtics can muster the energy I saw from them in last night's game, then "tired legs" might be an explanation for last night's Wolves' loss, but it's not an excuse.
Another thing watching the Celtics is how quickly Kyrie gets the ball up the court and then the ball-movement they show in the half court. By getting the ball up the court, opponents can't easily set their defense. The Wolves make it very easy for opposing teams by taking their team getting the ball up the court and then by the lack of ball-movement. The last few games, the Wolves have improved their pace ball movement in the half court. But as you and others have noted, they revert to the completely motionless iso style in the 4th quarter. It's maddening.
