Why Did we Start so Lazy?

[Lipoli390]

Sadly, I was there. Pathetic effort tonight. Not worth a game report. The place sounded like a tomb. The only Wolves players worth watching were Towns and Ricky. Wiggins showed again why he's unlikely to ever achieve Allstar caliber status - a terrible handle and inconsistent effort/focus are two big anchors that will keep him from becoming the star we have all thought he can be.

At least we didn't let our grip on the 5th slot in the lottery slip away tonight. If nothing else, tonight's game was a reminder that we don't necessarily have the talent around which we can build a championship team. In my view, Towns is the only sure thing. I'm a big Zach fan. I also like Ricky and Gorgui. And although Wiggins continues to frustrate me, I still acknowledge his considerable talent and potential. Nevertheless, this roster is still very uncertain long term. All the more reason for taking the best player available in the upcoming draft. I do t think we're in a position yet to start filling needs.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Why did we start so lazy?

I just hope nobody baited somebody into a confession, secretly recorded it, and then let it get on the internet. But we were so bad last night, we probably can't rule it out.

[bleedspeed]

You guys are missing the point of this. Bjelica had a great game. Hopefully this is a start of him putting it together and being part of the solution next year.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I don't know if I saw laziness and lack of effort from our guys. What I did see was a Clippers team 100% dialed in and not taking us for granted. JJ Redick was blanketed all over LaVine from the opening tip defensively. And Luc Richard is one of the premier wing defenders in the NBA. One of the reasons Philly's defense was halfway decent last year wasn't just Nerlens Noel, but the fact Luc Richard started 60-some games for them. Their defense took a massive step backwards this year without him.

Then you have DeAndre Jordan, who is a one man paint protector. I forgot how damn nimble that dude is.

I think it's fair to say that we didn't match their intensity and for that, our guys should get some grief.

One thing hopefully LaVine learns with time is how to move without the ball the way Redick does. That dude is an expert at using off-the-ball screens to free himself up for open jumpers. And ultimately, Zach is a jump shooter first and foremost. That is his bread and butter tendency, so he needs to get better at moving without the ball.

[Carlos Danger]

Seven games left before another really long off season. I'm going to drink these last games in - good or bad.

Nice to see Bjelica do something. He has not been what many promised he'd be. But I'll give him a mulligan for year one same as I did for Adriene Payne last year.

I don't get as high or low on Wiggins as some do on here. I think he's fine. Not to say I don't want to see more improvement from him next year (I do). But guys develop at different speeds. I think he's done just fine so far. A more competitive team next year with some veteran guys who can still play will hopefully ratchet up the entire team's intensity. I like to think we'll be talking about the last couple playoff spots this time next year.

[GymRat [enjin:6592663]]

Mitchell doesn't have this team run much secondary or tertiary action without some sort of very delayed primary read. You get a screen, a pass, and then a long read by the receiving player before making a drive or another pass. There is zero weak side action that gives the first option anything new to see. It's basically attack, shoot, or start over.

There is a reason we struggle against a good defensive team like the Clippers. We do nothing on the back side and don't make Jordan run all over the place. We also didn't take advantage of Dieng in the post when Towns was on the perimeter. While our offense has been very good this year, it still relies on a lot of pseudo isolation. Heck, when have we ever run a double high screen like the Clippers did last night? Or ran side-to-side elevator doors for open jumpers for LaVine or Wiggins after feigning a high PnR? Never.

Our players are succeeding based on their talent and athleticism in spite of the limited play sets. I don't buy they aren't smart enough to learn them. And if you're going to lose anyway, why not try to put in something creative and have them fail at it a ton so they can learn before next year?

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

I don't think it was sloth so much as fear. When Jordan blocked those two shots, you could just see them try to avoid him.

[Coolbreeze44]

Mitchell doesn't have this team run much secondary or tertiary action without some sort of very delayed primary read. You get a screen, a pass, and then a long read by the receiving player before making a drive or another pass. There is zero weak side action that gives the first option anything new to see. It's basically attack, shoot, or start over.

There is a reason we struggle against a good defensive team like the Clippers. We do nothing on the back side and don't make Jordan run all over the place. We also didn't take advantage of Dieng in the post when Towns was on the perimeter. While our offense has been very good this year, it still relies on a lot of pseudo isolation. Heck, when have we ever run a double high screen like the Clippers did last night? Or ran side-to-side elevator doors for open jumpers for LaVine or Wiggins after feigning a high PnR? Never.

Our players are succeeding based on their talent and athleticism in spite of the limited play sets. I don't buy they aren't smart enough to learn them. And if you're going to lose anyway, why not try to put in something creative and have them fail at it a ton so they can learn before next year?

Great post GR

[Jester1534]

Sadly, I was there. Pathetic effort tonight. Not worth a game report. The place sounded like a tomb. The only Wolves players worth watching were Towns and Ricky. Wiggins showed again why he's unlikely to ever achieve Allstar caliber status - a terrible handle and inconsistent effort/focus are two big anchors that will keep him from becoming the star we have all thought he can be.

At least we didn't let our grip on the 5th slot in the lottery slip away tonight. If nothing else, tonight's game was a reminder that we don't necessarily have the talent around which we can build a championship team. In my view, Towns is the only sure thing. I'm a big Zach fan. I also like Ricky and Gorgui. And although Wiggins continues to frustrate me, I still acknowledge his considerable talent and potential. Nevertheless, this roster is still very uncertain long term. All the more reason for taking the best player available in the upcoming draft. I do t think we're in a position yet to start filling needs.

I was there too and the crowd biggest reaction was the halftime show for freakin belle bill devo. I have to blame the team for the flat crowd. I was all jacked up to see the game. Then in the first half our starting 5 had 16 points and we shot like 29% from the field in first half. Your gonna kill any crowd playing like that. Tbh the highlight of the night was Rudez at least when he came up off the bench for garbage time he wanted to freakin play.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

Bell Biv Devoe? Seriously? I hope every a-hole from my college, who thought they and Bobby Brown were going to be the next soul all-stars, saw that. Ha-ha.