Pels at Wolves GDT

[Jester1534]

Bad defense check

Collective team that can’t shoot check

Bitching a refs every 5 second check

I’m missing anything

[thedoper]

Towns is playing really bad on both ends

[kekgeek]

Will Mcdaniels get a rebound. Will he be shut out for the 4th time in the last 6 games

[kekgeek]

Jmac a solid 0-3 from 3

[kekgeek]

Jmac 0-4 from 3

[kekgeek]

Naz is so bad on defense

[Jester1534]

Will Mcdaniels get a rebound. Will he be shut out for the 4th time in the last 6 games

I don’t even know how it’s possible to only have 17 rebounds as a team through 3 quarters

[Lipoli390]

What’s the point of having a big team when you’re your opponent out-rebounds your team by 13? How can a 6’10 SF have zero rebounds in 33 minutes? Ant is producing offensively and KAT is providing some scoring, but no one else is productive offensively. This Wolves team is fundamentally flawed. I hinted at the offensive shortcomings of this team along with lack of mobility/athleticism when the Wolves were winning their way to the top of the Western Conference standings. Those flaws are catching up with us.

If this team continues its current free-fall, then I could envision some big moves at the February deadline. Once it’s clear that this team is not a true championship contender this season, it would be untenable to go into next season as a second-apron team. The Wolves could play things out for the entire season on the chance that they catch fire and make a championship run in the playoffs. Then they could make salary-clearing deals in the summer if things don’t pan out. But it might be better to take advantage of the dynamics of the February deadline.

Maybe this team will get on track in spite of its flaws. Maybe there’s a more minor deal they can made by the February deadline to elevate this team, but I don’t see it. Ultimately, the Wolves will have to move Rudy or KAT, if by February, this team does not look like a team with a very good chance at winning a championship this season. Right now, the Wolves look like anything but such a team. We’ll see if things change in the next 30 days.

[Coolbreeze44]

That starting lineup for the Pels is pretty much unrivaled other than Boston. With health they are really scary.

[Lipoli390]

That starting lineup for the Pels is pretty much unrivaled other than Boston. With health they are really scary.

That’s a good point, Cool. As I mentioned in another post, the Pelicans are a team to fear if Zion stays healthy.

The Wolves need to beat them on our home court if we’re going to be taken seriously as a championship contender. Losing by 10 at home is even more problematic. We limited out turnovers tonight. We were shamefully out-rebounded. And once again we showed a telling lack of offensive firepower. KAT needs to score more. That’s his main value. Ant gave us 35. In a game like this one, KAT has to give us 30, not 20. And we need other productive scorers and we don’t appear to have them outside of Naz and even Naz hasn’t been consistent enough.

The Wolves remain in first place and we shouldn’t panic. But there is definitely cause to worry about this Wolves team. I’ve had doubts from the beginning about whether the Wolves early season success was sustainable. This recent stretch has furthered those doubts. Time will tell.