Three challenges heading into training camp

[Sundog]

Wolves training camp is right around the corner, so I thought I’d start a discussion of the main challenges I see for the Wolves this season. I’m sure there are others but here are the three that are on my mind, in reverse order of importance:

Challenge number 3: The Wolves bench was pretty bad overall last season. Connelly tried to shore things up by splitting Prince’s contract between two players, Shake and Troy Brown Jr, and by resigning NAW. I think the bench will be better… but it’s pretty important that they are.

Challenge number 2: I’m a big Gobert fan, but I think it’s important for overall team success that Rudy swallow his pride and accept a lower usage role on offense. He struggled last season, as we all saw. Do the things you’re good at, big fella, and don’t expect to be a primary focus of the offense like you were at Utah. Those days are over. Whether he can accept that will be pretty critical to team success and chemistry.

Challenge number 3: Jaden took a significant leap last year, absorbing some increase in offensive usage in the absence of KAT, and responding wonderfully (except for that wall punch…). Now with KAT back, can the Wolves give Jaden the usage he clearly showed he’s due, so that he can continue his growth trajectory to being Pippen to Ant’s Jordan? If they can’t, I don’t know that McDaniels will resign here. Success in responding to this challenge partly depends on challenge #2, and largely on the coaching staff.

What are you fellas looking for heading into next season?

[Lipoli390]

I think you nailed it, Sundog! Well done!

Regarding the bench, TC seems genuinely excited about Shake who he emphatically cast as a point guard. I remain cautiously optimistic about NAW. I’m really hoping the NAW we saw in the playoffs last season is the NAW will see consistently next season. I’m not counting on anything from Troy Brown, but I’m ready to be pleasantly surprised by him. We shouldn’t underestimate the loss of Prince - his three-point shooting, toughness and maturity were important to last season’s team. Hopefully, Shake, Troy and NAW can more than make up for the loss of Prince.

I agree a reduced offensive role for Rudy and the ascendency of Jaden will be critical variables next season.

It probably goes without saying that KAT’s health will also be a critical variable. If he’s healthy like he was two seasons ago, this team can be very good. Think about how well this team did winning 46 games two seasons ago with KAT and no other allstars on the team. Next season, a healthy KAT will be playing with all-star or superstar level Ant, along with much-improved versions of Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid. Instead of Pat Bev, Vanderbilt, Beasley and DLO, the team will have Rudy, Slo Mo, Conley, Shake and NAW. So on paper, this team should be a 50-win team baring significant injury or illness to one of our top players. If KAT and Ant remain healthy all season but the team still doesn’t win more than 45 games and advance beyond the first round of the playoffs, that says something really bad about the guys who have replaced, Vanderbilt, Pat Bev, Beasley and DLO.

[Lipoli390]

I should add that Mike Conley’s health will be a major variable as well. He’ll turn 36 before the season starts. You never know what you’ll get from a player in his mid 30s. If you look at past players in their mid 30s you see that their performance typically declines year to year before suddenly dropping off precipitously. Moreover, Conley has had a hard time staying healthy once he go has his mid 20s. Here are the number of games he played in each season since turning 27:

Age 27: 70
Age 28: 56
Age 29: 69
Age 30: 12
Age 31: 70
Age 32: 47
Age 33: 51
Age 34: 72
Age 35: 67

What these numbers tell us is that we can expect him to miss at least 10 games but more likely 15-20 games. Fortunately, his production hasn’t tailed off significantly. So when he has played he’s been effective well into his 30s as he was last season when he arrived in Minnesota. I’m just worried about what we do in those 15 games Conley misses.

[KG4Ever]

Shake more than held his own when thrust into the starting lineup. 76ers had a very impressive record when Shake started or got a lot of minutes. So I'm not worried about Conley missing a little time and I hope we rest him plenty given his age. We got Shake and we got SloMo, who I think could fill in if necessary. Ant could also slide over to point when needed. Conley is a good player, but we have a deep enough bench to be fine when he sits.

[Q-is-here]

Lip mentioned good health, which is a challenge for every NBA team. So it probably goes without saying, but keeping our key guys relatively healthy is the number one challenge in my opinion. Sacramento last year finished 3rd in the Western Conference due mostly to the fact that their top 8 rotation players all played in 70 or more games each. Nearly every team in the West is pretty damn good on paper if you assume their top 8 guys stay healthy. We need the injury gods to smile upon us this year.

So assuming our season isn't derailed by injuries, then I definitely agree with the other three challenges that Sundog listed.

- I have questions about the bench too, but I think they can mostly hold serve if our starters don't get too banged up. I think it probably has a better balance of offense and defense with NAW replacing Nowell and Reid becoming more of a bench scorer. I am a bit worried about the lack of gunslingers that can hit the 3 in high volume.

- Gobert definitely needs to live in the dunker spot more and lurk just outside of the lane, not IN the lane. That being said, I still think you need to feed the big man to keep him engaged. Run a few early pick and rolls with him and Conley, but then as the game progresses, he needs to know how to stay out of people's way while still making himself available for easy buckets.

- McDaniels might have a little window to create some offense with that second unit if KAT and/or Ant are sitting. Otherwise, he's going to play off the actions generated by others.

[Lipoli390]

Lip mentioned good health, which is a challenge for every NBA team. So it probably goes without saying, but keeping our key guys relatively healthy is the number one challenge in my opinion. Sacramento last year finished 3rd in the Western Conference due mostly to the fact that their top 8 rotation players all played in 70 or more games each. Nearly every team in the West is pretty damn good on paper if you assume their top 8 guys stay healthy. We need the injury gods to smile upon us this year.

So assuming our season isn't derailed by injuries, then I definitely agree with the other three challenges that Sundog listed.

- I have questions about the bench too, but I think they can mostly hold serve if our starters don't get too banged up. I think it probably has a better balance of offense and defense with NAW replacing Nowell and Reid becoming more of a bench scorer. I am a bit worried about the lack of gunslingers that can hit the 3 in high volume.

- Gobert definitely needs to live in the dunker spot more and lurk just outside of the lane, not IN the lane. That being said, I still think you need to feed the big man to keep him engaged. Run a few early pick and rolls with him and Conley, but then as the game progresses, he needs to know how to stay out of people's way while still making himself available for easy buckets.

- McDaniels might have a little window to create some offense with that second unit if KAT and/or Ant are sitting. Otherwise, he's going to play off the actions generated by others.

If the players have to feed Rudy to keep him engaged, then we should move on from Rudy. Maybe Rudy will start hitting corner threes.

[Q-is-here]

Lip mentioned good health, which is a challenge for every NBA team. So it probably goes without saying, but keeping our key guys relatively healthy is the number one challenge in my opinion. Sacramento last year finished 3rd in the Western Conference due mostly to the fact that their top 8 rotation players all played in 70 or more games each. Nearly every team in the West is pretty damn good on paper if you assume their top 8 guys stay healthy. We need the injury gods to smile upon us this year.

So assuming our season isn't derailed by injuries, then I definitely agree with the other three challenges that Sundog listed.

- I have questions about the bench too, but I think they can mostly hold serve if our starters don't get too banged up. I think it probably has a better balance of offense and defense with NAW replacing Nowell and Reid becoming more of a bench scorer. I am a bit worried about the lack of gunslingers that can hit the 3 in high volume.

- Gobert definitely needs to live in the dunker spot more and lurk just outside of the lane, not IN the lane. That being said, I still think you need to feed the big man to keep him engaged. Run a few early pick and rolls with him and Conley, but then as the game progresses, he needs to know how to stay out of people's way while still making himself available for easy buckets.

- McDaniels might have a little window to create some offense with that second unit if KAT and/or Ant are sitting. Otherwise, he's going to play off the actions generated by others.

If the players have to feed Rudy to keep him engaged, then we should move on from Rudy. Maybe Rudy will start hitting corner threes.

It's not unusual to try to a big like Rudy some early touches and it wouldn't be the first time a more perimeter-oriented team tried to get their big involved early. The problem is when he posts up 8 feet from the hoop in the middle of the lane and calls for the ball in the 4th quarter. That we can't have.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Rewatching some of those summer league highlights, it was tough not to think the biggest challenge out there will be fixing Miller's funky-ass shot!

He will probably barely play, but man, that shot is f'ugly. He practically kicks his feet together in the air like a damn leprechaun and then his left foot moves forward as his body moves back. I almost thought he was going to fall just from the weird momentum of his own shot. And in general, his lower body and his upper body seem like they are controlled by two different brains. Dude clearly has skill, and is fun to watch because of his motor and weird body movement, but I worry about that shot (and how often he might get called for traveling because his upper and lower body are doing two different things at the same time).

[Q-is-here]

Rewatching some of those summer league highlights, it was tough not to think the biggest challenge out there will be fixing Miller's funky-ass shot!

He will probably barely play, but man, that shot is f'ugly. He practically kicks his feet together in the air like a damn leprechaun and then his left foot moves forward as his body moves back. I almost thought he was going to fall just from the weird momentum of his own shot. And in general, his lower body and his upper body seem like they are controlled by two different brains. Dude clearly has skill, and is fun to watch because of his motor and weird body movement, but I worry about that shot (and how often he might get called for traveling because his upper and lower body are doing two different things at the same time).

Yeah, I walked away from summer league feeling pretty shitty about our 3rd string guys, including Miller.

[60WinTim]

But dang, look how tall Miller is -- there is something there that the Wolves have an opportunity to refine this season.