Lakers/Wolves GDT

[Q-is-here]

Christian Wood is one of these guys that has great box score production, but never gets big minutes. I haven't watched him enough to really know, but I have to believe he must struggle defensively. He may be a bit of a Naz Reid type where he can get you some nice scoring off the bench, but is just too weak defensively to be a consistent starter.

[kekgeek]

My first in-person game of the season, and it's meaningful to me to hear that Lip called it a quiet crowd compared to other games he has been to. I found the crowd loud and engaged, but I'll defer to Lip as to comparison to other games.

This was an incredibly entertaining game for the fans, but I don't think either coach was happy post-game. Ham has to be disappointed with his squad's 29% 3-point shooting. And Finchie is at the end of his rope with our lack of ball movement and excessive turnovers. You aren't going to win many games against good teams when you have 19 TOs and only 24 assists (the Lakers were 10 and 23). I think only two things might prevent this team from winning a championship...injuries of course (like every team) and sloppiness with the ball. They simply have to clean this up soon.

But let me explain why I think this is a team more than ready to compete for a championship. The veteran leadership of Bite Bite, Rudy and SloMo at the end of games is a key reason we now lead the league winning close games...we're now 11-1. you need to have poise down the stretch and win the close ones to win a championship, and we are doing that.

I mentioned Ham can't be happy with the 3-point shooting, but let's give credit where credit is due. We close out on the perimeter better than any team I have ever watched. Many of us here played or play the game. Imagine how difficult it is to make a 3-pointer when you have players with the length of KAT, Jaden, NAW, SloMo and even Rudy charging at you as you launch your shot...your percentage is going to go down if you can't even see the rim as you shoot! And Rudy's presence in the paint gives our perimeter defenders (and I'll include defenders without length like Ant, Conley and TBJ) to sell out and disrupt the perimeter shooter. We have to really be difficult to play against.

I'm not going to disagree with the consensus here that Jaden's T was inexcusable, but I'm going to soften it a little. First, I saw no foul on the play (correct me if I'm wrong), and it has to be enormously frustrating to foul out on a play where you did everything right. Secondly, T's and temper were a huge issue for Jaden in college, and I assumed it was going to continue in the NBA. Fortunately it seems like NBA Jaden is a much more controlled person than college Jaden. Still, this was not a good time for a T.

Naz Reid has turned himself into an almost unstoppable offensive force...he's shooting 47.3% on threes in his last 10, and 52.2% overall. I've been a little concerned recently about Naz's reluctance to put the ball on the floor and utilize his extraordinary footwork to get to the hoop. But he was terrific tonight, and Dane Moore pointed out why. Naz is much more comfortable driving to the basket against bigger but slower defenders, and that's exactly what the Lakers are. What an unbelievable inside/outside scorer...definitely a 6th man of the year candidate.

While I'm reluctant to kick that dead horse also known as DLo, was the upgrade to Bite Bite ever more on display than tonight. DLo's defense was so abominable, the game literally changed the moment he entered the game...he earned his -19 in his 20 minutes. Contrast that with Conley and his timely shooting, 7 assists and only 1 turnover on a turnover-prone team. The biggest moment of the game for me was the play Finchie called out of a timeout to free up the Biter for an open corner three...did anyone here think he was going to miss it?

Fun night and a hard-earned win against a team that really wanted a win. Now on to see a retooled Knicks team on New Year's Day.

Good write up. Just letting you know Mcdaniels 100% fouled Lebron on the play he got a T. He shouldn’t of even been contesting that hard when Lebron drove because all you can’t do is give up an and 1.

Hopefully a learning moment but man was it bad last night

[FNG]

My first in-person game of the season, and it's meaningful to me to hear that Lip called it a quiet crowd compared to other games he has been to. I found the crowd loud and engaged, but I'll defer to Lip as to comparison to other games.

This was an incredibly entertaining game for the fans, but I don't think either coach was happy post-game. Ham has to be disappointed with his squad's 29% 3-point shooting. And Finchie is at the end of his rope with our lack of ball movement and excessive turnovers. You aren't going to win many games against good teams when you have 19 TOs and only 24 assists (the Lakers were 10 and 23). I think only two things might prevent this team from winning a championship...injuries of course (like every team) and sloppiness with the ball. They simply have to clean this up soon.

But let me explain why I think this is a team more than ready to compete for a championship. The veteran leadership of Bite Bite, Rudy and SloMo at the end of games is a key reason we now lead the league winning close games...we're now 11-1. you need to have poise down the stretch and win the close ones to win a championship, and we are doing that.

I mentioned Ham can't be happy with the 3-point shooting, but let's give credit where credit is due. We close out on the perimeter better than any team I have ever watched. Many of us here played or play the game. Imagine how difficult it is to make a 3-pointer when you have players with the length of KAT, Jaden, NAW, SloMo and even Rudy charging at you as you launch your shot...your percentage is going to go down if you can't even see the rim as you shoot! And Rudy's presence in the paint gives our perimeter defenders (and I'll include defenders without length like Ant, Conley and TBJ) to sell out and disrupt the perimeter shooter. We have to really be difficult to play against.

I'm not going to disagree with the consensus here that Jaden's T was inexcusable, but I'm going to soften it a little. First, I saw no foul on the play (correct me if I'm wrong), and it has to be enormously frustrating to foul out on a play where you did everything right. Secondly, T's and temper were a huge issue for Jaden in college, and I assumed it was going to continue in the NBA. Fortunately it seems like NBA Jaden is a much more controlled person than college Jaden. Still, this was not a good time for a T.

Naz Reid has turned himself into an almost unstoppable offensive force...he's shooting 47.3% on threes in his last 10, and 52.2% overall. I've been a little concerned recently about Naz's reluctance to put the ball on the floor and utilize his extraordinary footwork to get to the hoop. But he was terrific tonight, and Dane Moore pointed out why. Naz is much more comfortable driving to the basket against bigger but slower defenders, and that's exactly what the Lakers are. What an unbelievable inside/outside scorer...definitely a 6th man of the year candidate.

While I'm reluctant to kick that dead horse also known as DLo, was the upgrade to Bite Bite ever more on display than tonight. DLo's defense was so abominable, the game literally changed the moment he entered the game...he earned his -19 in his 20 minutes. Contrast that with Conley and his timely shooting, 7 assists and only 1 turnover on a turnover-prone team. The biggest moment of the game for me was the play Finchie called out of a timeout to free up the Biter for an open corner three...did anyone here think he was going to miss it?

Fun night and a hard-earned win against a team that really wanted a win. Now on to see a retooled Knicks team on New Year's Day.

Good write up. Just letting you know Mcdaniels 100% fouled Lebron on the play he got a T. He shouldn’t of even been contesting that hard when Lebron drove because all you can’t do is give up an and 1.

Hopefully a learning moment but man was it bad last night

I thought the same thing when I watched it live, kek...and I was furious about whatever Jaden said to earn the technical (have you ever seen a referee's head snap around so fast after Jaden said something to him???). But I went home and watched the final few minutes of the Wolves broadcast just to see what I missed. Jim Pete pointed out that Jaden did everything right on the defensive play...showed the ref his hands so he wouldn't be whistled for being handsy, and went straight up. It seemed to be that all contact was initiated by LeBron. But news flash...the GOAT is going to get the call when he's going up against a youngster with a reputation for fouling.

I personally would have been really pissed off to get my 6th foul on that call. But to your point, let's hope Jaden learns from this...it was exactly the wrong time to mouth off to the ref.

[Q-is-here]

FNG, At the last second, Jaden brought one of his arms down and that's what made contact with LeBron. It was technically a foul because he didn't stay perfectly vertical. It's so hard for players to not bend one or both arms, but they have to stay perfectly straight up. But I also think the refs could have let it go since it was so minor. But by the rule book, it was a foul.

[davemang]

With 30 seconds left and it being a 3 score game, you have to soften up if they’re going to bully it in for a 2 pt shot. You’re playing the foul game at that point, mistake for Jaden to put himself in that tight of spot against someone who is probably going to draw a whistle on anything marginal. Ok, you made a mistake, ref inconsistent, whatever, at least it’s still a 2 score game even with a make at the line. Cut your losses, you’re out of the game, the ref doesn’t give a crap and hears the same stuff every game, all you can do is make another mistake. Ugh.

Got the win, but it’s hard to feel like we’re the top team in the west. Think that goes to okc right now (Denver is a little out of sorts outside jokic, but they’ll probably end up tops by the end of the season

[Lipoli390]

With 30 seconds left and it being a 3 score game, you have to soften up if they’re going to bully it in for a 2 pt shot. You’re playing the foul game at that point, mistake for Jaden to put himself in that tight of spot against someone who is probably going to draw a whistle on anything marginal. Ok, you made a mistake, ref inconsistent, whatever, at least it’s still a 2 score game even with a make at the line. Cut your losses, you’re out of the game, the ref doesn’t give a crap and hears the same stuff every game, all you can do is make another mistake. Ugh.

Got the win, but it’s hard to feel like we’re the top team in the west. Think that goes to okc right now (Denver is a little out of sorts outside jokic, but they’ll probably end up tops by the end of the season

That’s the way I see it, Dave. I see OKC and the Nuggets eventually passing the Wolves in the standings, assuming all three teams remain relatively healthy. Then I see the Wolves battling it out with the Clippers for 4th and 5th place. If Zion can stay on the court, the Pelicans could make a push and make it a three-way battle for 4th, 5th and 6th with the Clippers and Wolves. I don’t see the Kings or Mavs having the talent to compete with the Wolves for position in the standings absent some long-term injury to Ant, KAT, Rudy or Conley. I think the Wolves have already shown they can overcome the loss of Jaden, but I don’t think they can hold up without one of the other four for a long stretch. I suppose the Suns could get it together and get in the mix for a top 4 finish, but they’re pretty dysfunctional right now.

[FNG]

With 30 seconds left and it being a 3 score game, you have to soften up if they’re going to bully it in for a 2 pt shot. You’re playing the foul game at that point, mistake for Jaden to put himself in that tight of spot against someone who is probably going to draw a whistle on anything marginal. Ok, you made a mistake, ref inconsistent, whatever, at least it’s still a 2 score game even with a make at the line. Cut your losses, you’re out of the game, the ref doesn’t give a crap and hears the same stuff every game, all you can do is make another mistake. Ugh.

Got the win, but it’s hard to feel like we’re the top team in the west. Think that goes to okc right now (Denver is a little out of sorts outside jokic, but they’ll probably end up tops by the end of the season

That’s the way I see it, Dave. I see OKC and the Nuggets eventually passing the Wolves in the standings, assuming all three teams remain relatively healthy. Then I see the Wolves battling it out with the Clippers for 4th and 5th place. If Zion can stay on the court, the Pelicans could make a push and make it a three-way battle for 4th, 5th and 6th with the Clippers and Wolves. I don’t see the Kings or Mavs having the talent to compete with the Wolves for position in the standings absent some long-term injury to Ant, KAT, Rudy or Conley. I think the Wolves have already shown they can overcome the loss of Jaden, but I don’t think they can hold up without one of the other four for a long stretch. I suppose the Suns could get it together and get in the mix for a top 4 finish, but they’re pretty dysfunctional right now.

I really like OkC also, but I see them a level behind the Wolves right now. Why? Lack of veteran leadership. The Wolves have veterans who have "been there"...Conley, Anderson, Gobert, heck even Towns at 28. Compare that to the Thunder who have nobody in their starting lineup over the age of 24! Why is this important? Because poise at the end of games is vitally important for a championship team. Just look at the respective records of the Thunder and the Wolves in games decided by five or fewer points: the Wolves are 6-1 and the Thunder are 3-4. The playoffs are a grind and you need steady leadership in close games, and the Wolves have it.

OkC is having a terrific season and has a young roster that could dominate the West for years if they can keep their stars. But a lot of their success this season is because of unusually fortunate health...their top 7 rotation players have missed a total of 6 games this season! The Wolves have also been blessed with great health, but in comparison their top 7 have missed a total of 14 games. OkC has also had a very favorable early season home-heavy schedule, while the Wolves remaining schedule is the 4th easiest in the Association. The Wolves are currently 2 games ahead of the Thunder despite a very difficult early season schedule. I think they will finish at least 5 games ahead of the Thunder.