Fools Gold or Rise of the Pack? (Wolves vs Rockets Game 4 GT)

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

I still think we have a punchers chance. Thibs needs to make some adjustments.

Houstons only defensive plan is to harass KAT, Wiggs, or Butler every time they have the ball. They are leaving taj open all game or just letting teague iso a big. But Thibs isnt realizing what they are doing, so he leaves him out there or goes small with crawford or Rose. The obvious answer is Bjelly stretching the floor.

Wiggs, KAT, and Butler can pass from the doubles, but not if everyone is crowded in the paint.

[Monster]

And let the emotional roller coaster begin. Wolves fans are the best. Harden was the best player in the league this year and Houston was the best offense. This isn't going to be the only game they steamroll another team. The sky isn't falling, it's only the first step in a process.

Agreed.

I got a feeling us three are going to need a therapy session after these next couple of days.

I feel like us 3 have similar view points on where the wolves are as an organization. I'm with you sky isn't falling. We held the best offense in the NBA to the 12th best offense in the playoffs for 14 quarters. Then the rockets got loose it happenes.

Add MLE guy, draft a quality player. Continue development of Wiggins/Kat/tyus/Patton.

Saw enough signs this postseason. It was good for our players to go through this. I'm very happy with this season

Agreed.

The best therapy might be to take some breaks from the board here and there.

One of the best developments we could have seen from this team was Wiggins bringing it on both sides of the ball in the playoffs. If the effort and defense he showed in this series is something of the things to come we are in very good shape. It's only a couple playoff games but it's been pretty good to see and he was trending that way as the season went on.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I didn't think the officiating was any worse than normal in that 3rd quarter. A bad call here or there... sure. Probably.

But 95% of that was the result of the two teams on the floor. Minnesota played poorly offensively and didn't deserve many calls. Houston played phenomenal. Focusing on the calls seems misguided.

The Wolves were outclassed. Thoroughly outplayed.

_________________________
NBA Officiating Blurbs.

- The Wolves have ONE player on its roster who can play the foul game, both offensively and defensively. Jimmy Butler. He gets away with more than the average player. Houston has two of the very best in the NBA in Harden and Paul. Plus, they have the defensive version of that in PJ Tucker.

And let's not forget... the Wolves made the playoffs in part because Taj Gibson played a very PJ Tucker-like 4th quarter + OT bodying up on Jokic.

- Those things aren't only because the NBA wants Houston to win. Those guys can sell calls and know how far to push things. It's a skill. (Annoying as hell... but a skill).

For example, Capela moves constantly on illegal picks. Calling it even once would go a long way... and I don't know why Thibs and staff isn't (maybe they do) sending in hours of game film on the subject and calling it out in a press conference. That being said... Capela is either taught or has a special instinct on knowing how far to push it without a call.

Last night, he was moving on a pick for a Gordon three pointer. But look closer... As Teague was trying to get around Capela... Capela made it look like Teague pushed him into an "accidental" reset pick. That's a crafty play. The type of non-flashy play that wins games. The Wolves young core guys, Wiggins and KAT, have no such nuance to their games.

That comes with experience. And dedication to the little things.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Good observation Abe. Screen setting is probably one of THE most important fundamentals of running an NBA offense. Al Horford is another guy that pushes the envelope big time, but rarely gets called out. He is a master and it makes a big difference for his team's offense.

[Monster]

Good observation Abe. Screen setting is probably one of THE most important fundamentals of running an NBA offense. Al Horford is another guy that pushes the envelope big time, but rarely gets called out. He is a master and it makes a big difference for his team's offense.

Meanwhile It's sometimes a victory if Towns even makes contact with iso guy on a screen. Ok the last 50 games it isn't that bad but he has a long way to go. Also that Capela guy with all that nuance...turns 24 in a few days. Not too shabby. He also isn't the biggest strongest body type either to do all the stuff he does.

[Coolbreeze44]

KG was the best screener ever. He would literally get away with extending an arm to make the screen more effective.

[thedoper]

The best screens are always illegal ones. I think this speaks to KAT a bit in general and what we have learned from this series. Part of KAT seems to expect things to be handed to him from what I can see. That he deserves calls, that he deserves the benefit of the doubt. The reality is that he has to go and take it, bend the rules his way and take control. His passion is great but it is too obvious when he is unhappy with the outcome on the court. These things are learned in the playoffs and high pressure situations, I'm glad KAT and Wiggins are getting a dose of it now. I expect both of them to come in with a more professional picture of their personal expectations to what they need to bring on a nightly basis.

[AbeVigodaLive]

The best screens are always illegal ones. I think this speaks to KAT a bit in general and what we have learned from this series. Part of KAT seems to expect things to be handed to him from what I can see. That he deserves calls, that he deserves the benefit of the doubt. The reality is that he has to go and take it, bend the rules his way and take control. His passion is great but it is too obvious when he is unhappy with the outcome on the court. These things are learned in the playoffs and high pressure situations, I'm glad KAT and Wiggins are getting a dose of it now. I expect both of them to come in with a more professional picture of their personal expectations to what they need to bring on a nightly basis.

I was watching Game 3 of the Boston series. NOTHING was going right for Boston... or for Horford.

The officiating was no exception. He got hosed on 2 or 3 straight calls. He had every right to throw a hissy fit... but each time... if he hesitated at all, he hustled back into the play. And at the end of the bad run, he even calmed down M. Morris after he was the one who got the technical.

Big deal? Maybe.

But I think that sort of attitude sets the tone. I'm not saying Horford should just take it... but there are places to pick and choose when to react and when to set an example.

[thedoper]

The best screens are always illegal ones. I think this speaks to KAT a bit in general and what we have learned from this series. Part of KAT seems to expect things to be handed to him from what I can see. That he deserves calls, that he deserves the benefit of the doubt. The reality is that he has to go and take it, bend the rules his way and take control. His passion is great but it is too obvious when he is unhappy with the outcome on the court. These things are learned in the playoffs and high pressure situations, I'm glad KAT and Wiggins are getting a dose of it now. I expect both of them to come in with a more professional picture of their personal expectations to what they need to bring on a nightly basis.

I was watching Game 3 of the Boston series. NOTHING was going right for Boston... or for Horford.

The officiating was no exception. He got hosed on 2 or 3 straight calls. He had every right to throw a hissy fit... but each time... if he hesitated at all, he hustled back into the play. And at the end of the bad run, he even calmed down M. Morris after he was the one who got the technical.

Big deal? Maybe.

But I think that sort of attitude sets the tone. I'm not saying Horford should just take it... but there are places to pick and choose when to react and when to set an example.

I agree fully. Don't show up the ref and whine. They'll let you have some leeway too if you have a professional approach. Get back hard and make a chippy play of your own. These are vet approaches though. I hope that it was a learning experience for our youth.

[AbeVigodaLive]

The best screens are always illegal ones. I think this speaks to KAT a bit in general and what we have learned from this series. Part of KAT seems to expect things to be handed to him from what I can see. That he deserves calls, that he deserves the benefit of the doubt. The reality is that he has to go and take it, bend the rules his way and take control. His passion is great but it is too obvious when he is unhappy with the outcome on the court. These things are learned in the playoffs and high pressure situations, I'm glad KAT and Wiggins are getting a dose of it now. I expect both of them to come in with a more professional picture of their personal expectations to what they need to bring on a nightly basis.

I was watching Game 3 of the Boston series. NOTHING was going right for Boston... or for Horford.

The officiating was no exception. He got hosed on 2 or 3 straight calls. He had every right to throw a hissy fit... but each time... if he hesitated at all, he hustled back into the play. And at the end of the bad run, he even calmed down M. Morris after he was the one who got the technical.

Big deal? Maybe.

But I think that sort of attitude sets the tone. I'm not saying Horford should just take it... but there are places to pick and choose when to react and when to set an example.

I agree fully. Don't show up the ref and whine. They'll let you have some leeway too if you have a professional approach. Get back hard and make a chippy play of your own. These are vet approaches though. I hope that it was a learning experience for our youth.

Did that example of fighting through adversity when nothing was going right have anything to do with the big late-game comeback in Game 4?

I don't know.

But I would guess that leaders who seem unflappable do set the tone for super young guys to keep battling and competing even against long odds. The Celtics nearly won that game.




[Note: One other note about that game for those that didn't watch it. The Celtics were down 2 with about 5 seconds left. They lobbed the ball inside on a play with ridiculous wide spacing and men all around the court. BUT... the play wasn't for the two pointer. It was for Morris to pass it to Rozier for the game's "most efficient" shot... a corner three for the win on the road. The Bucks took that action away... so Morris' second option was getting a good look himself. My point is that the entire sequence and thinking behind it illustrates why Stevens is a good coach.]