Bulls vs. Cavs

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

LaVine isn't ready to play minutes, but we're supposed to play Mbah a Moute, Muhammad and Hummel instead? Riiight.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I completely agree with your take, q, that rebounding isn't only about athleticism and length. In fact, I think it's mostly about desire and grit. Rodman had it, Barkley had it, Love has it. So when I see a long, athletic guy like Young with poor rebounding numbers, I have to question his effort. But since I haven't seen him play very much, I threw it out to the board to see if there's some other factor in play here.

As for the Wiggins 2 vs.3 discussion, to me it's much more about what he projects to be defensively than his offensive skills. The line between the offensive duties of a SG and a SF gets blurrier every year...heck, Adelman said they were largely interchangeable in his offensive system. But I start to get the cold sweats when I try to imagine Wiggins defending James or Anthony. I understand that most defenders struggle against these guys, but Wiggins would be giving up 60 pounds, and that would be a complete mismatch. Conversely, despite his excellent height and length, he appears to have the requisite quickness and athleticism to guard most NBA 2's. I think he could quickly prove to be an elite SG defender in the NBA.

Cam makes a good point that if the Wolves see LaVine as their SG of the future, it would be better for Wiggins to be a SF. I don't disagree with that take, but we don't know yet if LaVine is going to be a PG or a SG. If you think Rubio is here long-term, it's best that LaVine become a SG and Wiggins a SF. But since I think LaVine may not be ready for regular minutes at the 2 this year, I expect Wiggins to spend more time there. Eventually as he packs more weight onto his frame, Wiggins should be able to defend bigger forwards.

[worldK]

Let's just call Wiggins a wing at this point. One point I disagree with you on Q, is I see both Wiggins and Lavine getting a ton of minutes this year. I don't see why they would play behind Shabazz, Bud, Mbah and Hummel. They are the future, court time this year will be huge for them.

I agree cool. I dont see how and why wiggins and lavine should play behind bazz, mbah and hummel. I could see bud getting the nod over lavine but wiggins will start right away in my view.

[Coolbreeze44]

I have VERY low expectations for Bud at this point. I wish we could move him, anything he provides is a bonus.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

LaVine isn't ready to play minutes, but we're supposed to play Mbah a Moute, Muhammad and Hummel instead? Riiight.

LaVine isn't ready to play minutes, but we're supposed to play Mbah a Moute, Muhammad and Hummel instead? Riiight.

Cam, I have the same thought as Q that LaVine is likely to need some adjustment time. He looked great to me in SL, but that's SL, and defense gets much tougher once the regular season starts. And Zach just wasn't given as much opportunity to play a lot of minutes last year like the other lottery picks were. The game is going to seem really fast to him. Maybe he'll fool me, but Alford really held him back last year, and that's going to impact his adjustment time. I don't see that as a big problem though. Wiggins can take his SG minutes until he is ready to defend big SF's.

[Coolbreeze44]

LaVine isn't ready to play minutes, but we're supposed to play Mbah a Moute, Muhammad and Hummel instead? Riiight.

LaVine isn't ready to play minutes, but we're supposed to play Mbah a Moute, Muhammad and Hummel instead? Riiight.

Cam, I have the same thought as Q that LaVine is likely to need some adjustment time. He looked great to me in SL, but that's SL, and defense gets much tougher once the regular season starts. And Zach just wasn't given as much opportunity to play a lot of minutes last year like the other lottery picks were. The game is going to seem really fast to him. Maybe he'll fool me, but Alford really held him back last year, and that's going to impact his adjustment time. I don't see that as a big problem though. Wiggins can take his SG minutes until he is ready to defend big SF's.

LST, I can't think of a reason why they wouldn't give this guy baptism by fire. We're not winning the title next year. The more game experience he gets the better IMO. Plus I don't see what's to be gained by playing the goof troop extended time.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

LaVine isn't ready to play minutes, but we're supposed to play Mbah a Moute, Muhammad and Hummel instead? Riiight.

LaVine isn't ready to play minutes, but we're supposed to play Mbah a Moute, Muhammad and Hummel instead? Riiight.

Cam, I have the same thought as Q that LaVine is likely to need some adjustment time. He looked great to me in SL, but that's SL, and defense gets much tougher once the regular season starts. And Zach just wasn't given as much opportunity to play a lot of minutes last year like the other lottery picks were. The game is going to seem really fast to him. Maybe he'll fool me, but Alford really held him back last year, and that's going to impact his adjustment time. I don't see that as a big problem though. Wiggins can take his SG minutes until he is ready to defend big SF's.

LST, I can't think of a reason why they wouldn't give this guy baptism by fire. We're not winning the title next year. The more game experience he gets the better IMO. Plus I don't see what's to be gained by playing the goof troop extended time.

Could be, cool...it certainly would be more entertaining if Flip gave LaVine a lot of minutes, because he's an exciting athlete. He just seems so young to me though. Compare him physically and in interviews to Oladipo last year (I recognize VO was a year older coming into the league)...one seems like a man, and one seems like a boy to me. I think Flip thinks Zach has huge long-term potential, and is going to be careful to not put him in situations where he might be overwhelmed. Flip's an owner now, so he has to think long-term, and bringing Zach along slowly might be the best way to ensure he doesn't lose his confidence early in his career. I guess we'll just have to see how it plays out.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Corey Brewer is even more rail thin than Wiggins and he defended the Durant's and Lebron's. You can't stop them, but if you make them fight for every spot by keeping with them it does make life more difficult which is all you can ask. LRMAM can also play spot minutes against the elite guys to spell Wiggins.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

"But I start to get the cold sweats when I try to imagine Wiggins defending James or Anthony. I understand that most defenders struggle against these guys, but Wiggins would be giving up 60 pounds, and that would be a complete mismatch."

Why can't Andrew Wiggins guard those players if Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Trevor Ariza, Thabo Sefalosha can? Those guys are roughly 20 pounds heavier than Wiggins, but like all great defenders, they play with leverage and they take advantage of their length. Wiggins does that while having elite lateral quickness. I think he'd be fine on defense against any wing.

In comparison, Andre Iguodala and Nic Batum are the same weight as Wiggins. Both are considered very good defenders and matchup with the elite wings every opportunity they get.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Flip has minority ownership. That percentage is probably so small it's not even worth mentioning. It's just an "atta boy" from Glen Taylor to one of his buddies. He won't be influenced by his minority ownership.

Also, maybe LaVine's not a guy you should bring along slowly. Seems like UCLA did just that with him last year and it looks like it was a poor decision. Throw him into the fire and see what happens. Let that confidence and ego shine as well as his skills.