Andrew Wiggins on Defense.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Timberwolves fans saw one of the most versatile defenders in NBA history for more than a decade. Are we looking at the next-generation version?

Andrew Wiggins played stocky, crafty, bulldozing PF, Zach Randolph, during a critical point late in the 4th quarter on Sunday. Two days later... he started the game locked up against crafty, savvy, smart and talented Chris Paul to start the game.

Granted, he was exposed in both situations. Randolph was too strong. And Paul absolutely destroyed the Wolves in the first half in one of the more impressive halves I've ever seen from a PG. BUT...

It says something about what the Wolves are doing with Wiggins this season. They trust him. Or, at the very least, they're challenging him in new and unique ways to try to get the most out of him. Personally, I say keep those challenges coming. Throw everything and the proverbial kitchen sink at the kid. If he's as good as many people proclaim, he'll be able to take it on.

Do you guys agree?

[Phenom]

For sure. Andrew appears to be the type of player that loves to take challenges head on. If nothing else it keeps him engaged and helps keep him from being passive. Plus I believe that playing against the best will make him the best he can be. He will learn a lot by guarding different positions.

[Carlos Danger]

Timberwolves fans saw one of the most versatile defenders in NBA history for more than a decade. Are we looking at the next-generation version?

Andrew Wiggins played stocky, crafty, bulldozing PF, Zach Randolph, during a critical point late in the 4th quarter on Sunday. Two days later... he started the game locked up against crafty, savvy, smart and talented Chris Paul to start the game.

Granted, he was exposed in both situations. Randolph was too strong. And Paul absolutely destroyed the Wolves in the first half in one of the more impressive halves I've ever seen from a PG. BUT...

It says something about what the Wolves are doing with Wiggins this season. They trust him. Or, at the very least, they're challenging him in new and unique ways to try to get the most out of him. Personally, I say keep those challenges coming. Throw everything and the proverbial kitchen sink at the kid. If he's as good as many people proclaim, he'll be able to take it on.

Do you guys agree?

To be fair...Randolph scored only 7 points and had 7 turnovers in that game. Wiggins had 25 points and 2 turnovers. Considering Randolph's season average is 16.5 points/game, I wouldn't call that a strong game for him or say that he exposed Wiggins (who scored well above his season average that game).

[AbeVigodaLive]

Timberwolves fans saw one of the most versatile defenders in NBA history for more than a decade. Are we looking at the next-generation version?

Andrew Wiggins played stocky, crafty, bulldozing PF, Zach Randolph, during a critical point late in the 4th quarter on Sunday. Two days later... he started the game locked up against crafty, savvy, smart and talented Chris Paul to start the game.

Granted, he was exposed in both situations. Randolph was too strong. And Paul absolutely destroyed the Wolves in the first half in one of the more impressive halves I've ever seen from a PG. BUT...

It says something about what the Wolves are doing with Wiggins this season. They trust him. Or, at the very least, they're challenging him in new and unique ways to try to get the most out of him. Personally, I say keep those challenges coming. Throw everything and the proverbial kitchen sink at the kid. If he's as good as many people proclaim, he'll be able to take it on.

Do you guys agree?

To be fair...Randolph scored only 7 points and had 7 turnovers in that game. Wiggins had 25 points and 2 turnovers. Considering Randolph's season average is 16.5 points/game, I wouldn't call that a strong game for him or say that he exposed Wiggins (who scored well above his season average that game).

I know some might feel the urge to defend Wiggins or other Wolves at all costs... but... the strategy paid off for the BRIEF time it was employed in favor of the Grizzlies.

I can remember three possessions where the Wolves went small vs. big with Wiggins guarding Randolph. Randolph turned it over once on a travel. (He played terrible in that game by the way). He was fouled another time. And he scored pretty easily another time.

On the other end, the Wolves didn't get the ball to the corner where LaVine was standing while being guarded by Randolph. On the next possession, Randolph checked Wiggins. Wiggins settled for a step-back 22 footer instead of attacking the bigger, slower player.

I don't think it was a good matchup for Wiggins. But I did dig that Saunders is seemingly willing to go with "I believe in my guy more than you do in yours and we're going to bend you to play our style"... even if it didn't work great the first time out. I like that he gave Wiggins that challenge. And I think Wiggins learns with it... especially about settling for long jumpers when he has the advantage in that situation.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Yeah, this has been a tremendous year for Wiggins from a developmental standpoint. Flip has thrown everything but the kitchen sink at him this season. I also love the variety of situations he's been put in. Sometimes he's been the go-to guy; other times he's had to fend for himself. Sometimes he's guarded the Harrison Barnes of the worlds; other times he's guarding James Harden (or Chris Paul or Zach Randolph).

However, I don't think he will ever impact the game defensively in the way KG did (not that you are implying he will). Bigs have a huge influence on team defense since they have to navigate pick and roll defending and patrol the paint to a much greater degree.

Wiggins and Rubio form a great foundation in terms of our perimeter defense. Wiggins is still error-prone at times, but he'll only get better. Now we need to find a big (either PF or C) that can be equally as good. We don't need all 5 guys to be elite defenders, but if you have two perimeter defenders and one interior defender, you're in pretty good shape.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Yeah, this has been a tremendous year for Wiggins from a developmental standpoint. Flip has thrown everything but the kitchen sink at him this season. I also love the variety of situations he's been put in. Sometimes he's been the go-to guy; other times he's had to fend for himself. Sometimes he's guarded the Harrison Barnes of the worlds; other times he's guarding James Harden (or Chris Paul or Zach Randolph).

However, I don't think he will ever impact the game defensively in the way KG did (not that you are implying he will). Bigs have a huge influence on team defense since they have to navigate pick and roll defending and patrol the paint to a much greater degree.

Wiggins and Rubio form a great foundation in terms of our perimeter defense. Wiggins is still error-prone at times, but he'll only get better. Now we need to find a big (either PF or C) that can be equally as good. We don't need all 5 guys to be elite defenders, but if you have two perimeter defenders and one interior defender, you're in pretty good shape.

Agreed. I just wanted to point out the versatility with Wiggins in that he's being asked to guard a wide range of players. Funny you mention Garnett. He did impact the game a lot defensively, but it wasn't always in typical big man ways like a guy like Duncan could. And I think that's why Duncan has had more postseason success. His skills defensively (still great at the PnR, just not Garnett great) and better rim protection was critical for some of those runs.

It's part of what separated the two guys, even though both were all-world defenders.

[mrhockey89]

I know this won't be a popular take, but this is part of the reason I wouldn't mind seeing the Wolves take a hard look at Stanley Johnson. I know we need better talent up front, specifically PF, and I know that we're hoping that LaVine turns into a stud, but I'd absolutely drool at the thought of having a 1-3 of Rubio at the point, Wiggins at SG (I like him better at SG than SF, but clearly he can play both well), and Stanley Johnson at the 3. Super role player or not, the defensive potential there and fit just is off the charts I think...

The end.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I know this won't be a popular take, but this is part of the reason I wouldn't mind seeing the Wolves take a hard look at Stanley Johnson. I know we need better talent up front, specifically PF, and I know that we're hoping that LaVine turns into a stud, but I'd absolutely drool at the thought of having a 1-3 of Rubio at the point, Wiggins at SG (I like him better at SG than SF, but clearly he can play both well), and Stanley Johnson at the 3. Super role player or not, the defensive potential there and fit just is off the charts I think...

The end.

Hockey, I may be prejudiced because I've been following Stanley Johnson since his sophomore year, but at this point I take him if we have the 4th pick and it comes down to him or Mudiay.