FNG wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2023 8:16 am
I can't argue with the A's for the Big Three last night...Jaden, Bite Bite and Rudy. All were brilliant.
I would change TBJ and JMac's grades to an incomplete...just not enough minutes. Jim Pete, Michael Grady and much of this board are all clamoring to see JMac running the offense rather than NAW when Bite Bite is on the bench. What did he do to Finchie to piss him off so much?
I hate to point out anything negative on such a triumphant night, but Naz is reverting to what he has always been...a highly skilled scorer whose defense is so bad his minutes will always hurt us. Another team-worst -13 solidifies his team-worst -8.2 on/off for the season. Even more discouraging, his poor on/off continues his trend of getting a little worse every season: -6.5, -6,7, -7.6, and now -8.2...consistent and quite alarming. I can't quite put my finger on why his D is so bad...I don't think it's indifference, just like of skill and awareness. In any event, he'll continue to be a fan favorite (and a favorite of mine) because of his unique scoring ability, but we're going to continue to have to survive his negative minutes on the court.
To be fair to Naz On/Off is a pretty crappy way to show his value when the wolves starting lineup is really good.
Naz lineups are in the 69th percentile when it comes to net rating what is pretty darn good. Naz lineups are only bad when he is the only center (4th percentile). He’s just not a center and when asked to play center he struggles but this year he has had really nice success playing PF.
Yes Naz as a center is a sieve, he's only a little better then Garza IMO. It has always been bad and I think it always will be. He really needs Rudy in the game to help him out on that end.
I've never been as big of a fan of his because his defense has been so poor over the years, yes I love his offense and leap he took last year. Let's hope he can make a leap on D the rest of the season and in the future (we may have to trade him if we want to stay under the second tier, not the time to think about that too much, but I do think Garza could fill in decently if we choose to move Naz for a good backup PG for instance, maybe Miller too).
At this point the problem with Garza stepping in for Naz is that Naz can score basically on his own. He is a 6’9” 260lb with a wingspan like a C that is sort of a SG who also can score in the post. Put Naz guarding perimeter players and he is not terrible. Garza on a perimeter guy…you just hope for the best. Naz is in a way basically that guard people want on this roster to get buckets. The Wolves have a good problem with all their bigs. I get the idea of moving Naz but I’m not entirely sure moving him is going to end up improving the team. I LOVE Garza but the reality is at the NBA level he still isn't actually proven.
To be fair to Naz On/Off is a pretty crappy way to show his value when the wolves starting lineup is really good.
Naz lineups are in the 69th percentile when it comes to net rating what is pretty darn good. Naz lineups are only bad when he is the only center (4th percentile). He’s just not a center and when asked to play center he struggles but this year he has had really nice success playing PF.
Yes Naz as a center is a sieve, he's only a little better then Garza IMO. It has always been bad and I think it always will be. He really needs Rudy in the game to help him out on that end.
I've never been as big of a fan of his because his defense has been so poor over the years, yes I love his offense and leap he took last year. Let's hope he can make a leap on D the rest of the season and in the future (we may have to trade him if we want to stay under the second tier, not the time to think about that too much, but I do think Garza could fill in decently if we choose to move Naz for a good backup PG for instance, maybe Miller too).
At this point the problem with Garza stepping in for Naz is that Naz can score basically on his own. He is a 6’9” 260lb with a wingspan like a C that is sort of a SG who also can score in the post. Put Naz guarding perimeter players and he is not terrible. Garza on a perimeter guy…you just hope for the best. Naz is in a way basically that guard people want on this roster to get buckets. The Wolves have a good problem with all their bigs. I get the idea of moving Naz but I’m not entirely sure moving him is going to end up improving the team. I LOVE Garza but the reality is at the NBA level he still isn't actually proven.
You're probably right, if things don't turn out real good (Con. Finals or better) I think we may end up having to cut salary. Making a deep playoff run makes money (more Merch sold/sold out home games/etc). KAT may be the odd man out in the end. But then we need another big again (which could come back in trade) or roll with Garza/Miller/Minott/draft pick/FA/whatever/lol.
