sjm34 wrote:LIp, are you sure that Adelman didn't just drift off into a nap last night? Maybe that's why Rubio didn't get back into the game on a timely manner.
I don't watch the practices, but I don't see how putting Dieng in for some of DC's minutes could possibly be a bad thing.
Spacing issues? Cunningham, whether he should be used that way or not... is open for those 18 - 20 footers on a second unit that is terrible at shooting. With Dieng in there, it's even more congested.
But you're right... what is there to lose at this point?
What congestion? We don't have a bench guy scoring down low!
AbeVigodaLive wrote:Can't disagree with much here.
One note about Dallas and the officiating. By many reports, the Wolves seemingly try to avoid fouling. I think Q has provided the stats on that one, including MN's ability to dominate free throw totals most nights.
But does last night's game illustrate why that's a strategy doomed to fail? Think about the KG-era Boston Celtics. They fouled. A lot. (Whether it was called or not.) As a result, their physical play helped dictate how the game would be officiated. Officials won't call EVERY foul. It's entertainment after all. But Boston was able to help dictate where the line would be drawn with every crew. If one crew gave them more leeway... they'd take it.
But if your strategy ends up with your players playing soft from the get-go to avoid fouls when you don't even know where the line will be drawn that night...
See where I'm going with this?
And on a secondary note, the playoffs are tougher. For fans who watched the 7 first round exits, many can remember how successful soft, jump-shooting teams fare when it gets more intense and physical. Even Terrell Brandon would agree with that. (maybe)
Heck, just check out the Wolves futility in the 4th quarter this season. Or, its record in close games. Those are the times when things get more physical. And it seems like this team has no idea where it stands in those moments.
For everything negative towards the Wolves about last night... kudos to Carlisle, Marion and Co. for "figuring out" a way to win, any way they could.
Yep, this is a good point, and I think the wolves suffer from this issue frequently. Building on this point.....how often have we seen Pek foul someone hard. I don't believe that it is very common. Marion should have been knocked on his ass last night for how much he was driving to the basket. We NEVER do that, and I believe that we need to more than we do.
Great in depth post Lip. Thanks as always for doing it.
Just a few thoughts or augmentations on what you said.
Marion had one of the best shooting nights of his career last night. I haven't (and won't) research it,but the guy hit most everything that he shot. I'm sure that defense played a role in that, but a player HAS to be on fire to shot 14-19 and 4-6 3s. That is a large reason why we lost.
One more thought on Marion's scoring. The majority of his shots were in the paint..............at what point should Martin (cause it looked like Brewer was on Ellis earlier in the game) count on help from the inside? Setting a screen to get lose from someone's man is not that difficult to do when there is not help inside.
Calderon has one of his best nights of the year from an assist perspective last night. Maybe none of that is on Ricky, but that also hurt us.
Ricky did many things very well last night, but if Ricky can't score, this team will need to be restructured. Right? Right now Ricky is the 5th scoring option. That leaves Brewer as the 4th scoring option. A team that relies on Brewer to be the 4th scoring option on the team will not be very good. (Going into the season, I was expecting Brewer to be 5th scoring option on the first team with multiple scoring options on the second team)
I don't know of any team that has ever existed where the ball dominate PG was the 5th scoring option in the starting lineup. So, I am not claiming any degree of expertise on this one, but it just sounds like a terrible way to build a team, with a PG who can't score, and 2 inside guys that can't team defend.
In previous years, Ricky would drive to the hoop more. He would get beat up a bit, but atleast we knew that we could count on him for some points and keep his defenders honest (with honest defenders being the biggest problem of Ricky not scoring IMHO)
The holes that I am describing are just to glaring for teams not to consistently exploit them.
sjm34 wrote:LIp, are you sure that Adelman didn't just drift off into a nap last night? Maybe that's why Rubio didn't get back into the game on a timely manner.
I don't watch the practices, but I don't see how putting Dieng in for some of DC's minutes could possibly be a bad thing.
Spacing issues? Cunningham, whether he should be used that way or not... is open for those 18 - 20 footers on a second unit that is terrible at shooting. With Dieng in there, it's even more congested.
But you're right... what is there to lose at this point?
What congestion? We don't have a bench guy scoring down low!
No. But Adelman has tried to keep Pekovic or Love on the floor with that unit more often. So, Dieng should conceivably have a place to go with Love on the court. With Pekovic though... not so much.
Good report and no doubt the lack of bench production is our biggest problem right now. 0-8 in games decided by 4 points or less--wow. Granted that's on the starters too because they haven't gotten over the hump. But even an average bench would probably result in 3 to 4 more wins those games.
NBA apologizes for missed call. Amazing. I was thinking about it: if Love gets the foul there I think he makes both free throws 75% of the time. He has hit clutch free throws before and he was having an amazing game. So I think it's very likely he hits both. And if he does I say the Wolves win the game 75% of the time in overtime. They had the momentum and the crowd. So if you do the math: if Love makes both free throws 75% of the time and the Wolves win in OT 75% of the time, that means the refs robbed us of a win 50% of the time.
Look how huge that win would have been:
--Takes a win away and adds a loss to a team you very well may be competing with for a playoff spot at the end of the year
--Wolves go back over .500, huge psychological boost
--Wolves finally win a close game, again psychological boost
--Wolves keep winning streak alive which gives them more confidence in next game
--Love finally gets rewarded for having a monster game with a win
--More fans show up to the next game, etc., because the team is on a winning streak...may also be more into the game which makes it harder on the Pels
--I retain a little bit of the tiny amount of sanity I have left due to being a Wolves fan
Yes, the Wolves lost the game with their shoddy first half play. But still, they played well enough in the 2nd half to deserve a coin flip chance of winning the game. Instead, the refs took that away and who knows what the overall effect of that missed call will be. Disgusting.
I am not sure why Adelman has not changed up the second unit. Try having Price run the second unit. Slow down the pace and grind time off the clock with that unit. Obviously they can't be counted on to add to a lead or close the gap.
bleedspeed177 wrote:I am not sure why Adelman has not changed up the second unit. Try having Price run the second unit. Slow down the pace and grind time off the clock with that unit. Obviously they can't be counted on to add to a lead or close the gap.
It's kind of sad to be checking out the clock on the corner of the screen with 3 minutes left in the quarter and thinking... "OK, the Wolves need to go on a run here so there's more wiggle room when the 2nd unit comes in."
But that's become the reality when I watch a game.
I think back to the preseason. How did Adelman not figure out the bench then? It seemed like he played guys that didn't make the team to much and didn't figure out a rotation or a unit that works together. They also talked about the reserves beating the starters. Where is that unit?
I'm ready to see Rubio play more with the reserves to get them going. I would like to see him with Shabazz, Hummel, Budinger, and Turiaf. He should get some easy buckets for these guys and get the unit going. If he doesn't he might actually start taking some shots.
Bring back Othyus Jeffers if Price isn't play. He is lighting up the D-League and is familiar with our team. He couldn't hurt taking some minutes from Shved.
