Wolves vs Blazers GDT: quest for the 8th seed

[Porckchop]

Do Ricky's +/- numbers really matter if we aren't winning? On the one hand you are arguing that he's doing his job out there on the floor, but at the same time that says he's not a real difference maker if he's been a plus contributor to a losing team for so long. He has 3 20 PPG scorers next to him that seemingly have to show up every single game just to have a shot to win the game. Aren't you tired of that? Wouldn't you like a player that can step up and have a monster game to help out the big 3 every once in a while? It's just tiring giving a guy a pass because his stats say he's a positive when he never steps up to win a game for us. It's always gotta be someone else because he just can't do it.

This has essentially been my thoughts on him for 3 years. The problem with Rickys skill set is that it's so volatile. He's so bad at certain things that if he doesn't bring his A+ game in his strong areas it's a hot mess of a mismatch against the other teams pg. Now that he's looking like a minus defender it's getting even uglier.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Do Ricky's +/- numbers really matter if we aren't winning? On the one hand you are arguing that he's doing his job out there on the floor, but at the same time that says he's not a real difference maker if he's been a plus contributor to a losing team for so long. He has 3 20 PPG scorers next to him that seemingly have to show up every single game just to have a shot to win the game. Aren't you tired of that? Wouldn't you like a player that can step up and have a monster game to help out the big 3 every once in a while? It's just tiring giving a guy a pass because his stats say he's a positive when he never steps up to win a game for us. It's always gotta be someone else because he just can't do it.

Ricky made a game winning shot in the final second last year against OKC on the road. How soon we forget! That's the very definition of "stepping up to win a game for us". When was the last time LaVine made a game winning shot for us? He just had an opportunity against Denver recently and missed.

Also, we never seem to focus on the defensive side of the ball and getting stops, yet his defense was key to us getting a close win against Charlotte on the road. Who was it that pressured Kemba to step out of bounds on the in bounds play? Who was it that was isolated against him on the final play and contested a last second missed shot? Or do those plays not count as stepping up?

If you are looking for a PG to bail out the "big three" when they aren't playing well, then you might need to trade one of the big three to get that kind of PG. Dunn could be the answer, but right now he is more similar to Rubio than different!

[Mstermisty [enjin:6864008]]

I missed this game thankfully...just another terrible loss when we could have gotten some positive momentum going on turning the season around. Again I feel like I'm moving towards apathy with this team. Figured this would be the year that would finally be avoided, but no such luck.

I've always been a Ricky supporter but he is having his worst season as a pro and it's alarming. But Dunn is moving in the right direction, and my guess is when the playoffs are out of reach Thibs will move Dunn into the starting spot and see if Ricky fits as the backup. Then if Dunn continues to improve he will start next year and either Ricky will accept a backup role or they will move him, which considering his reasonable contract it shouldn't be hard to get something of value back. The real question is whether Dunn will improve enough to even be better than this year's version of Ricky. He is showing signs, and I guess the hope is that when he moves into the starting lineup he will figure out how to be effective.

Regardless until these young guys learn how to play defense even somewhat consistently we have no chance of turning this thing around.

[Duke13]

Lol. Q, that game was 60 games ago! Cmon man! That's in my best Chris Carter voice. How about the 35% shooting since. Cmon MAN! Best he makes nice chest passes to set guys up in good position, like very PG in the league. He's embarrassingly bad and overmatched. No other way to put it.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Lol. Q, that game was 60 games ago! Cmon man! That's in my best Chris Carter voice. How about the 35% shooting since. Cmon MAN! Best he makes nice chest passes to set guys up in good position, like very PG in the league. He's embarrassingly bad and overmatched. No other way to put it.

Well, it was just last March, so it wasn't THAT long ago. And it certainly wasn't that many wins ago unfortunately. Also no comment on the Charlotte game? Kahns asked a question about when he would step up and help us win a game and I pointed out two examples that we all remember. I honestly can't point out two similar examples for any of our Big Three! Can you? I remember that KAT last second jump hook against Portland (again, late last season), but otherwise, I can't think of two instances in that same time period where one of our big three closed a game out with a game winning shot or defensive play. It's more like the opposite is happening!

By the way, I will be the first to concede that Ricky has taken a step back this year and is proving to be more of a liability in Thibs' offense. But at least he works his ass off out there and does everything he can to help the team win. That includes selling out for loose balls, something we see precious little of from some of our other players.

[Porckchop]

Lawry just put up a 41 , 9 and 7 game and Wolves fans are over here reminiscing a game winning shot from last year from a guy who just shot 0-5 and sat the whole 4th quarter cuz he flat out stinks right now. Proof we all have our players we go to bat for however illogical it may seem.

[Duke13]

I'm looking for more then contesting a shot, and a steal at the end of a game. I've seen 95% of Rubio's games since he's been in the league, he's outmatched almost every game. He hustles, that's great!!

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Lawry just put up a 41 , 9 and 7 game and Wolves fans are over here reminiscing a game winning shot from last year from a guy who just shot 0-5 and sat the whole 4th quarter cuz he flat out stinks right now. Proof we all have our players we go to bat for however illogical it may seem.

Who is Lawry? And if you want a point guard that does that, which of the KAT/Wiggins/LaVine trio do you want to trade to get it?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I'm looking for more then contesting a shot, and a steal at the end of a game. I've seen 95% of Rubio's games since he's been in the league, he's outmatched almost every game. He hustles, that's great!!

So defensive plays that win games for us don't count? Huh, no one ever told me that!

And he doesn't just hustle. He is very skilled in everything but shooting and you know it. Unfortunately he's been put in a situation this year which puts even more importance on shooting than normal and he hasn't delivered.

By the way, I'm still waiting for you to cite two examples for any one of our big three where they delivered a game winning shot or game-saving defensive play. I'm not saying they aren't capable of it, I just honestly can't come up with two similar examples like I just did for Rubio. Can you?

[Duke13]

How about dribbling by a defender and finishing at the rim? He can't, even with a set pick, doesn't happen, let alone just beating his defender. I think we saw him and KAT run PnR to end the 3rd quarter and it was hilarious to try and watch him finish.