After 16 games

[Leado01]

This trade might be a way to open the court back up for running successfully the way we did earlier in the season. I think we're going to see Pek off the floor and Love playing center on defense more often. Defense creates easy baskets, fast breaks, etc. . .

We still have 4 players that can shoot the 3 (Love, Martin, JJ although it's been spotty, and Chase when he returns). Teams have been sitting back on our fast break and by putting a 2nd shutdown defender on the floor it's going to require teams offensively to include 4 players in the offense (leaving a single defender).

[TAFKASP]

Through 16 games we've seen this team can be dominant when it's shooters are all hitting their shots.
Through 16 games we've seen this team can be terrible when it's shooters are all NOT hitting their shots.

What we really haven't seen much of is what this team is when some aren't hitting their shots while others are. To me that is the most frustrating part, that the team as a whole goes hot or goes cold. You would expect Love or Martin to have bad shooting days here and there, but you wouldn't expect both to be all net, or all air in the same game, every game!! This team of extremes cannot continue an entire season, can it?

[markkbu [enjin:6588958]]

This trade might be a way to open the court back up for running successfully the way we did earlier in the season. I think we're going to see Pek off the floor and Love playing center on defense more often. Defense creates easy baskets, fast breaks, etc. . .

We still have 4 players that can shoot the 3 (Love, Martin, JJ although it's been spotty, and Chase when he returns). Teams have been sitting back on our fast break and by putting a 2nd shutdown defender on the floor it's going to require teams offensively to include 4 players in the offense (leaving a single defender).

Leado, this is exactly what I have been thinking with regards to the trade. We are going to go for even more fastbreak points when with Luc and Corey (and Bud when he gets back) running all the time. Teams have adjusted a bit to Corey running(although it is still obviously effective), and it will take even more adjustment to react to 2 wings running a lot.

It looks like a running team is what Flip and Adelman are putting together. It also obviously works well with Love's and Rubio skill sets.

In order for teams to defend all that running, they will need to reduce their offensive capabilities, or just give up a lot of fast break points. That, in addition to the excellent defenders will make it very hard to run an effective offense against us.

Flip and Adelman seem interested in getting players that are good at something (referencing a thread by Abe here) and then building a team that accentuates those skills. I like it a lot. It seems like a low risk/ decently high reward strategy.

Plus, as out team is build to do things that people are good at, they will have better stats and their trade value will go up, giving us added flexibility. (ie for how Brewer and Martin have been playing, they have shown good value for their contracts and may be able to be leveraged in a deal at some point in the future)

[thedoper]

Through 16 games we've seen this team can be dominant when it's shooters are all hitting their shots.
Through 16 games we've seen this team can be terrible when it's shooters are all NOT hitting their shots.

What we really haven't seen much of is what this team is when some aren't hitting their shots while others are. To me that is the most frustrating part, that the team as a whole goes hot or goes cold. You would expect Love or Martin to have bad shooting days here and there, but you wouldn't expect both to be all net, or all air in the same game, every game!! This team of extremes cannot continue an entire season, can it?

We are built for execution wins by outscoring our opponents right now. When the game slows down it really exposes our weaknesses. I think it will be consistent because that is the makeup of our team. I don't see that going anywhere without a dynamic wing. If one thing became clear last night it is that you need at least one really athletic wing to give yourself a chance to contend in this league. I don't think Budinger is that answer.

[Lipoli390]

I agree with Doper. Given this team's (1) lack of an athletic wing who can break down defenses and score off the dribble, (2) lack of a rim protector, and (3) thin bench -- this is a team built to finish in the 8-10 range in the Western Conference. I had the Wolves pegged as a 6th seed right before the season started. But we're not as good as I was hoping. And I don't see the return of Budinger and Turiaf as particularly significant.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I agree with Doper. Given this team's (1) lack of an athletic wing who can break down defenses and score off the dribble, (2) lack of a rim protector, and (3) thin bench -- this is a team built to finish in the 8-10 range in the Western Conference. I had the Wolves pegged as a 6th seed right before the season started. But we're not as good as I was hoping. And I don't see the return of Budinger and Turiaf as particularly significant.

Lip, you may end up being right, but we need to be patient. We're in a rough stretch and guys have come back down to earth after some hot starts (Love and Martin mostly).

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Through 16 games we've seen this team can be dominant when it's shooters are all hitting their shots.
Through 16 games we've seen this team can be terrible when it's shooters are all NOT hitting their shots.

What we really haven't seen much of is what this team is when some aren't hitting their shots while others are. To me that is the most frustrating part, that the team as a whole goes hot or goes cold. You would expect Love or Martin to have bad shooting days here and there, but you wouldn't expect both to be all net, or all air in the same game, every game!! This team of extremes cannot continue an entire season, can it?

We are built for execution wins by outscoring our opponents right now. When the game slows down it really exposes our weaknesses. I think it will be consistent because that is the makeup of our team. I don't see that going anywhere without a dynamic wing. If one thing became clear last night it is that you need at least one really athletic wing to give yourself a chance to contend in this league. I don't think Budinger is that answer.

Dallas a couple years back? Detroit even further back? Was either of their wings "really athletic"? No. But they did have shutdown defenders (DAL - Marion, DET - Prince) and team chemistry. Why can't we fit that mold? I'll wait for a rebuttle.

*Also, that Big 3 Celtics team didn't have a really athletic SF. Unless Paul Pierce is really athletic...

*The Lakers? I don't think Ariza's really athletic. I think Brewer/MaM are on par in terms of athleticism.

Also, even though the Bulls haven't won a championship with him, they have been title contenders with Luol Deng. Is he an above average athlete? No. He's a lockdown defender with a limited offensive game (mid-range jumper, cuts and occasional dribble drives).

The notion that you have to have a really athletic SF to be a contender is silly.

[thedoper]

Through 16 games we've seen this team can be dominant when it's shooters are all hitting their shots.
Through 16 games we've seen this team can be terrible when it's shooters are all NOT hitting their shots.

What we really haven't seen much of is what this team is when some aren't hitting their shots while others are. To me that is the most frustrating part, that the team as a whole goes hot or goes cold. You would expect Love or Martin to have bad shooting days here and there, but you wouldn't expect both to be all net, or all air in the same game, every game!! This team of extremes cannot continue an entire season, can it?

We are built for execution wins by outscoring our opponents right now. When the game slows down it really exposes our weaknesses. I think it will be consistent because that is the makeup of our team. I don't see that going anywhere without a dynamic wing. If one thing became clear last night it is that you need at least one really athletic wing to give yourself a chance to contend in this league. I don't think Budinger is that answer.

Dallas a couple years back? Detroit even further back? Was either of their wings "really athletic"? No. But they did have shutdown defenders (DAL - Marion, DET - Prince) and team chemistry. Why can't we fit that mold? I'll wait for a rebuttle.

*Also, that Big 3 Celtics team didn't have a really athletic SF. Unless Paul Pierce is really athletic...

*The Lakers? I don't think Ariza's really athletic. I think Brewer/MaM are on par in terms of athleticism.

Also, even though the Bulls haven't won a championship with him, they have been title contenders with Luol Deng. Is he an above average athlete? No. He's a lockdown defender with a limited offensive game (mid-range jumper, cuts and occasional dribble drives).

The notion that you have to have a really athletic SF to be a contender is silly.

The main point is to have someone who can get his shot no matter what. The usual route seems to be having someone athletic to do that. But as you mention there are anomalies. I would love for us to be an anomaly too but right now we are not. Dallas was unique and Dirk is a 3 in a center's frame. He is one of the most unique bigs ever. Dirk could get his fadeaway jumper anytime he wants. His length v Love is no comparison and makes up for not having insane athleticism. Detroit had very dynamic players on the wing and a great scoring PG. Both are great examples that buck the trend but are anomalies.

Also I didn't say a SF, I said a wing. The Lakers had Kobe, enough said. Either way you need a go to scorer who can get the shot they want. We are not built in the mold of Det or Dallas right now because we don't have someone who can always get the shot they want. Martin and Love both need space away from their defender to get off a good shot. Our PG can get separation but is the worst shooter in the league (i.e not Chauncey). We just don't have that player now.

[TravisT [enjin:6669699]]

Q - I appreicate your zen-like approach of patience regarding this team's current state of affairs, but we've been patient for 10 plus year waiting to see this team make the playoffs again and look like a serious contender. This was supposed to be the year we saw promise, but instead we're seeing the flaws overshadow the positives. Again, your comparision of this team to that of the Pacers is laughable. I'll say it again, the Pacers are an aberation; not the norm. I'm not giving up completely on the team showing more, but it's not looking good. Other than Rubio, most of our core players have already hit their peak and are in their prime (yes, even Love). Rubio is the wild card if he can develop some sort of semblance of an offensive game. If he can, that could really push this team to a new level. Otherwise, Pek is who he is, Love is a great offensive player, but his lack of defense combined with Pek will not cut it. Same goes for Martin.