Preseason Bulls vs Wolves

[Lipoli390]

This Wiggins guy looks pretty good...wonder why Sam didn't play him the first 3 1/2 quarters.

Long - Which Wiggins are you referring to - Andrew or his bro? :). If you had seen the first half of the first quarter I think you'd know why Andrew Wiggins didn't get back in the game until the latter part of the 4th. He was pathetic - just like he was against the Thunder. He pulled off another one of his amazing disappearing acts, appearing a couple times just long enough to turn the ball over. I'm calling him the Great Wiggini in recognition of his talent for disappearing. And thus far in two preseason games I see no improvement in his shooting or ball-handling.

More significantly, I see no more intensity or passion in his game. Stacy King was all over that, referring to the lack of fire in Wiggins'' game and the fact that Wiggins had that same rap in college. At the same time, King praised Towns and the fire in his game.

LaVine played hard, but looked amazingly tentative and sometimes clueless on the offensive end.

Looks like this team will eventually be built around Towns, not Wiggins.

The question then is what will be eventually get out of Wiggins, LaVine, Shabazz, and Ricky? I'd like them all to go to Oz and seek out the Wizard there. Perhaps the Wizard could give Wiggins a heart, LaVine a brain, Shabazz some lateral quickness and Ricky physical resiliancy or the ability to heal.

[Lipoli390]

I wonder why we haven't seen Payne?

Payne was the only guy on our expanded roster who saw no action tonight. It was a DNP Coach's Decision. I'd say it's crystal clear that Payne did something that put him in Sam's doghouse. I guess we shouldn't be surprised. This is the guy who rolled his eyes in disgust when Flip, the guy who rescued him fronm NBA oblivion, substituted him out of a game. The term head case comes to mind.

[Carlos Danger]

Two hours of preseason basketball is really hard to sit through

HA! I was excited when you posted a link so I could watch. I ended up watching about 6 minutes. Brutal. This team still has no concept of what to do on defense. It's borderline unwatchable.

[shahidi124 [enjin:6591729]]

Are we leaving the corner 3 open by design? I swear, Bulls had at least 10 open 3s from there. There looked to be too much help in the paint at times by multiple guys when it wasn't needed which lead to the corner being wide open

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Are we leaving the corner 3 open by design? I swear, Bulls had at least 10 open 3s from there. There looked to be too much help in the paint at times by multiple guys when it wasn't needed which lead to the corner being wide open

You are absolutely correct that there is zero reason to sag off on perimeter players to double or help on post-ups. This is a perennial problem with this team and it demonstrates their lack of recognition that defending the 3-point shot is far more important than allowing a player like Gasol to operate in the post one-on-one. I'm fine with post guys taking contested jump hooks and turnarounds. Those are much less efficient shots than corner 3's.

The other thing this team needs to think about is the hard hedge/trap off ball screens. The goal is to ensure that there is no dribble drive penetration, but if the ball handler can get a pass off to the roll man, it's instantly a 4 on 3 situation.....which typically leads to an open 3 or dunk.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Edit: Oops. Accidentally posted updated wins predictions here.

[Monster]

One thing I liked was that the Wolves showed some fight and came back and made it a game at one point late in the 4th quarter. This game was never close but they didn't mail it in. That counts for something.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

These CSN guys are god awful. Give me Dave Benz everyday of the week over these morons

I like those guys, especially Stacey King. At one point tonight, he said Aaron Brooks looks like Billy Ocean, and just as you were trying to think of any Billy Ocean song, he starts singing "Car-i-bbean Queen!"

Then you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S5ghg-dsNEyoutube it, and of course, he's right. I dare you to watch 1 minute of that video without imagining Billy Ocean take a pull-up three from the stage.

Well, I always thought Billy Ocean and Michael Finley were separated at birth, so maybe Billy has some game. I have to admit I kind of like Stacey behind the mike too.

[Monster]

Are we leaving the corner 3 open by design? I swear, Bulls had at least 10 open 3s from there. There looked to be too much help in the paint at times by multiple guys when it wasn't needed which lead to the corner being wide open

You are absolutely correct that there is zero reason to sag off on perimeter players to double or help on post-ups. This is a perennial problem with this team and it demonstrates their lack of recognition that defending the 3-point shot is far more important than allowing a player like Gasol to operate in the post one-on-one. I'm fine with post guys taking contested jump hooks and turnarounds. Those are much less efficient shots than corner 3's.

The other thing this team needs to think about is the hard hedge/trap off ball screens. The goal is to ensure that there is no dribble drive penetration, but if the ball handler can get a pass off to the roll man, it's instantly a 4 on 3 situation.....which typically leads to an open 3 or dunk.

I concur with the thoughts of these posts.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

This Wiggins guy looks pretty good...wonder why Sam didn't play him the first 3 1/2 quarters.

Long - Which Wiggins are you referring to - Andrew or his bro? :). If you had seen the first half of the first quarter I think you'd know why Andrew Wiggins didn't get back in the game until the latter part of the 4th. He was pathetic - just like he was against the Thunder. He pulled off another one of his amazing disappearing acts, appearing a couple times just long enough to turn the ball over. I'm calling him the Great Wiggini in recognition of his talent for disappearing. And thus far in two preseason games I see no improvement in his shooting or ball-handling.

More significantly, I see no more intensity or passion in his game. Stacy King was all over that, referring to the lack of fire in Wiggins'' game and the fact that Wiggins had that same rap in college. At the same time, King praised Towns and the fire in his game.

LaVine played hard, but looked amazingly tentative and sometimes clueless on the offensive end.

Looks like this team will eventually be built around Towns, not Wiggins.

The question then is what will be eventually get out of Wiggins, LaVine, Shabazz, and Ricky? I'd like them all to go to Oz and seek out the Wizard there. Perhaps the Wizard could give Wiggins a heart, LaVine a brain, Shabazz some lateral quickness and Ricky physical resiliancy or the ability to heal.

I'm with you, lipoli...my comment reflected my disappointment in Wiggins' play the first 3 quarters. He's really a mystery to me right now.