Kekgeek grades G31 vs lakers

[Monster]

What is this Kyle Anderson not being able to shoot problem? The Wolves are turning the ball over 20 times a game. That’s because Kyle Anderson can’t shoot? Are we forgetting that last year the wolves were around .500 with him STARTING games next to Gobert?


There are lots of good teams over the years that are at times careless with the ball. Still the Wolves absolutely need to clean this up. It’s a team effort guys are throwing stupid passes not paying attention. Towns is obviously one of the guys that needs to be better including those offensive fouls but it’s not just a Towns issue. This was another game the opponent took more FG and had more opportunities to score because of TOs. That’s a problem and I don’t think a shooter is going to fix stupid decision making. Also Anderson’s D doesn’t get enough credit.

As for the actual game the wolves had stretches where they played poorly. Still they ended up putting things together like good teams do. It’s kinda weird the level of confidence I have in this team and I think it’s actually justified. There was some less than stellar performances from this group but everyone did make some positive contributions to this win.

[Q-is-here]

What is this Kyle Anderson not being able to shoot problem? The Wolves are turning the ball over 20 times a game. That’s because Kyle Anderson can’t shoot? Are we forgetting that last year the wolves were around .500 with him STARTING games next to Gobert?


There are lots of good teams over the years that are at times careless with the ball. Still the Wolves absolutely need to clean this up. It’s a team effort guys are throwing stupid passes not paying attention. Towns is obviously one of the guys that needs to be better including those offensive fouls but it’s not just a Towns issue. This was another game the opponent took more FG and had more opportunities to score because of TOs. That’s a problem and I don’t think a shooter is going to fix stupid decision making. Also Anderson’s D doesn’t get enough credit.

As for the actual game the wolves had stretches where they played poorly. Still they ended up putting things together like good teams do. It’s kinda weird the level of confidence I have in this team and I think it’s actually justified. There was some less than stellar performances from this group but everyone did make some positive contributions to this win.

Monster, the reason Kyle Anderson gets brought up is because he could be a trade piece to bring in more of a pure point guard like Tyus Jones or Dennis Schroder. Go look at their Assist to Turnover ratio and compare it to Kyle's.

I think SloMo does a decent job running the offense, but he has never been a primary ball handler in his NBA career and now he is our de facto backup PG that is increasingly being left wide open for 3s. I think we could do better and it would help the entire 2nd unit offense run more smoothly. Plus we are in deep trouble if Conley goes down for an extended stretch.

I get that losing SloMo would hurt us defensively, but I believe we'd gain more offensively than we would lose defensively if we were able to make that kind of swap.

[FNG]

Monster, you are so right about turnovers being problem one with this team, and Finchie would totally agree. And I also agree that SloMo's defense is very valuable. But I think you are missing the impact SloMo being left unguarded has on Ant and KAT's turnovers. You're correct that we were okay last year with Kyle starting at PF, but defenses had to respect the fact that he might shoot beyond the arc...and he made 41% of them! This year he is not considered a threat, and his man is playing 10 feet off of him and available to double (or triple) team Ant, KAT and Naz on their otherwise effective drives to the basket...often resulting in a poke-away TO. Yes, sloppy passes (many by Ant, KAT and SloMo) are another aspect that needs to be cleaned up, but SloMo's man clogging the lane is also a huge factor in our slashers' too often losing the ball on the way to the basket.

I'm optimistic though. SloMo is an ugly but historically relatively effective 3-point shooter, and recently he has emphasized his understanding of the need for him to attract some defense. And it was heartening for me to see him putting up 100 3's pre-game last night (albeit unsuccessfully largely). As I said in another post, Kyle is a smart, talented pro, and he will figure this out...and our offense is really going to click when his defender has to respect him.

[kekgeek]

Monster, you are so right about turnovers being problem one with this team, and Finchie would totally agree. And I also agree that SloMo's defense is very valuable. But I think you are missing the impact SloMo being left unguarded has on Ant and KAT's turnovers. You're correct that we were okay last year with Kyle starting at PF, but defenses had to respect the fact that he might shoot beyond the arc...and he made 41% of them! This year he is not considered a threat, and his man is playing 10 feet off of him and available to double (or triple) team Ant, KAT and Naz on their otherwise effective drives to the basket...often resulting in a poke-away TO. Yes, sloppy passes (many by Ant, KAT and SloMo) are another aspect that needs to be cleaned up, but SloMo's man clogging the lane is also a huge factor in our slashers' too often losing the ball on the way to the basket.

I'm optimistic though. SloMo is an ugly but historically relatively effective 3-point shooter, and recently he has emphasized his understanding of the need for him to attract some defense. And it was heartening for me to see him putting up 100 3's pre-game last night (albeit unsuccessfully largely). As I said in another post, Kyle is a smart, talented pro, and he will figure this out...and our offense is really going to click when his defender has to respect him.

What FNG said. Kyle still has been great defensively and is arguable our best wing defender against bigger wings. However if you watch the game last night teams are not guarding him and it’s making it difficult to score for others. He made 3s last year at a great rate this year he is one of the worst shooters in the nba. Also you mention turnovers Kyle is one of the worst when it comes to that. He has the 4th highest turnover rate for players who have played 400 minutes in the NBA. Turning the ball over in 16.8% of his possessions what is really bad.


I really like Kyle and don’t think they will trade Kyle but his lack of shot has become an issue

[Q-is-here]

Monster, you are so right about turnovers being problem one with this team, and Finchie would totally agree. And I also agree that SloMo's defense is very valuable. But I think you are missing the impact SloMo being left unguarded has on Ant and KAT's turnovers. You're correct that we were okay last year with Kyle starting at PF, but defenses had to respect the fact that he might shoot beyond the arc...and he made 41% of them! This year he is not considered a threat, and his man is playing 10 feet off of him and available to double (or triple) team Ant, KAT and Naz on their otherwise effective drives to the basket...often resulting in a poke-away TO. Yes, sloppy passes (many by Ant, KAT and SloMo) are another aspect that needs to be cleaned up, but SloMo's man clogging the lane is also a huge factor in our slashers' too often losing the ball on the way to the basket.

I'm optimistic though. SloMo is an ugly but historically relatively effective 3-point shooter, and recently he has emphasized his understanding of the need for him to attract some defense. And it was heartening for me to see him putting up 100 3's pre-game last night (albeit unsuccessfully largely). As I said in another post, Kyle is a smart, talented pro, and he will figure this out...and our offense is really going to click when his defender has to respect him.

What FNG said. Kyle still has been great defensively and is arguable our best wing defender against bigger wings. However if you watch the game last night teams are not guarding him and it’s making it difficult to score for others. He made 3s last year at a great rate this year he is one of the worst shooters in the nba. Also you mention turnovers Kyle is one of the worst when it comes to that. He has the 4th highest turnover rate for players who have played 400 minutes in the NBA. Turning the ball over in 16.8% of his possessions what is really bad.


I really like Kyle and don’t think they will trade Kyle but his lack of shot has become an issue

It's not just his lack of a shot, but like you said, he isn't a pure PG. He is a good secondary ball handler and play maker, but he shouldn't be the fulcrum around which everything revolves in the half court when he's out there. Unfortunately, neither Milton or NAW can be that guy either. This is why we need a facsimile of Conley off the bench. I feel like Jordan McLaughlin could be that guy, but obviously Finch is hesitant to make him a regular part of the rotation. Tyus Jones would be so nice to have!

[Monster]

Monster, you are so right about turnovers being problem one with this team, and Finchie would totally agree. And I also agree that SloMo's defense is very valuable. But I think you are missing the impact SloMo being left unguarded has on Ant and KAT's turnovers. You're correct that we were okay last year with Kyle starting at PF, but defenses had to respect the fact that he might shoot beyond the arc...and he made 41% of them! This year he is not considered a threat, and his man is playing 10 feet off of him and available to double (or triple) team Ant, KAT and Naz on their otherwise effective drives to the basket...often resulting in a poke-away TO. Yes, sloppy passes (many by Ant, KAT and SloMo) are another aspect that needs to be cleaned up, but SloMo's man clogging the lane is also a huge factor in our slashers' too often losing the ball on the way to the basket.

I'm optimistic though. SloMo is an ugly but historically relatively effective 3-point shooter, and recently he has emphasized his understanding of the need for him to attract some defense. And it was heartening for me to see him putting up 100 3's pre-game last night (albeit unsuccessfully largely). As I said in another post, Kyle is a smart, talented pro, and he will figure this out...and our offense is really going to click when his defender has to respect him.

What FNG said. Kyle still has been great defensively and is arguable our best wing defender against bigger wings. However if you watch the game last night teams are not guarding him and it’s making it difficult to score for others. He made 3s last year at a great rate this year he is one of the worst shooters in the nba. Also you mention turnovers Kyle is one of the worst when it comes to that. He has the 4th highest turnover rate for players who have played 400 minutes in the NBA. Turning the ball over in 16.8% of his possessions what is really bad.


I really like Kyle and don’t think they will trade Kyle but his lack of shot has become an issue

It's not just his lack of a shot, but like you said, he isn't a pure PG. He is a good secondary ball handler and play maker, but he shouldn't be the fulcrum around which everything revolves in the half court when he's out there. Unfortunately, neither Milton or NAW can be that guy either. This is why we need a facsimile of Conley off the bench. I feel like Jordan McLaughlin could be that guy, but obviously Finch is hesitant to make him a regular part of the rotation. Tyus Jones would be so nice to have!

Again Kyle Anderson was simply not guarded on the perimeter last year either.

Q Kyle Andersen was absolutely the primary PG some significant time last year. He is a PG. he is more of a PG than lots of backup PGs.

I’d love to see a chart of the Wolves turnovers. I remember lots of guys airmailing passes to the 3rd row where guys were on the 3 point line, the terrible transition passes, the Rudy Gobert doing too much TO’s. Let’s say the paint is packed then it’s dumb to be driving into the teeth of the defense to do so. I’ve watched pretty much every game this year. The Wolves turnovers aren’t because of Kyle anderson (ok yes there have been times especially early in the season he has been terrible turning the ball over himself) it’s significantly more of a problem of poor decision making etc.


Here is a reality about Kyle Anderson. He is a starting level player that comes off the bench or spots starts. He is very valuable and adding him is one of the best moves Connelly has made.Anderson be improved on? Yes possibly but I do not think he is a problem on this roster. The problem is the Wolves haven’t either priorities adding real PG help or the players they added or thought they could lean on to help have not panned out. Anderson has helped more in that regard than hurt. McLaughlin being hurt has been a problem and he has his own flaws. The Wolves thought guys like Nowell and Shake could help as guys with the ball in their hands. That was a big fail for both guys. None of Connelly’s young big guards he has added to the roster via draft or 2 way seem to he ready to help either. Actually NAW has been a success but he isn’t the answer. He helps because of his defense and doesn’t do much to hurt you. He is an upgrade over Austin Rivers and plays some of those minutes Nowell was playing last season.

I think Finch and his coaching staff need to figure out what to do. I would guess some of these TOs are because of the freedom Finch gives guys. I get he isn’t gonna just rein in guys because the Wolves in general do a nice job of moving the ball but they simply need to get better in that area.

[Q-is-here]

What FNG said. Kyle still has been great defensively and is arguable our best wing defender against bigger wings. However if you watch the game last night teams are not guarding him and it’s making it difficult to score for others. He made 3s last year at a great rate this year he is one of the worst shooters in the nba. Also you mention turnovers Kyle is one of the worst when it comes to that. He has the 4th highest turnover rate for players who have played 400 minutes in the NBA. Turning the ball over in 16.8% of his possessions what is really bad.


I really like Kyle and don’t think they will trade Kyle but his lack of shot has become an issue

It's not just his lack of a shot, but like you said, he isn't a pure PG. He is a good secondary ball handler and play maker, but he shouldn't be the fulcrum around which everything revolves in the half court when he's out there. Unfortunately, neither Milton or NAW can be that guy either. This is why we need a facsimile of Conley off the bench. I feel like Jordan McLaughlin could be that guy, but obviously Finch is hesitant to make him a regular part of the rotation. Tyus Jones would be so nice to have!

Again Kyle Anderson was simply not guarded on the perimeter last year either.

Q Kyle Andersen was absolutely the primary PG some significant time last year. He is a PG. he is more of a PG than lots of backup PGs.

I’d love to see a chart of the Wolves turnovers. I remember lots of guys airmailing passes to the 3rd row where guys were on the 3 point line, the terrible transition passes, the Rudy Gobert doing too much TO’s. Let’s say the paint is packed then it’s dumb to be driving into the teeth of the defense to do so. I’ve watched pretty much every game this year. The Wolves turnovers aren’t because of Kyle anderson (ok yes there have been times especially early in the season he has been terrible turning the ball over himself) it’s significantly more of a problem of poor decision making etc.


Here is a reality about Kyle Anderson. He is a starting level player that comes off the bench or spots starts. He is very valuable and adding him is one of the best moves Connelly has made.Anderson be improved on? Yes possibly but I do not think he is a problem on this roster. The problem is the Wolves haven’t either priorities adding real PG help or the players they added or thought they could lean on to help have not panned out. Anderson has helped more in that regard than hurt. McLaughlin being hurt has been a problem and he has his own flaws. The Wolves thought guys like Nowell and Shake could help as guys with the ball in their hands. That was a big fail for both guys. None of Connelly’s young big guards he has added to the roster via draft or 2 way seem to he ready to help either. Actually NAW has been a success but he isn’t the answer. He helps because of his defense and doesn’t do much to hurt you. He is an upgrade over Austin Rivers and plays some of those minutes Nowell was playing last season.

I think Finch and his coaching staff need to figure out what to do. I would guess some of these TOs are because of the freedom Finch gives guys. I get he isn’t gonna just rein in guys because the Wolves in general do a nice job of moving the ball but they simply need to get better in that area.

Monster, no one is pointing the finger exclusively at Kyle and saying he is the sole reason for the turnovers. But the reality is there are point guards out there that are better at running an offense than Kyle is and he is an expiring contract that is tradeable. And one HUGE difference between Kyle last year and Kyle this year is that he actually took and made his 3-pointers last season.