Wolves/Bulls GDT

[Q-is-here]

Hard to believe Chicago has a losing record after watching that game. They played as if their life depended on it. Caruso and Dosunmu - one's a bulldog and the other is a greyhound. I know we missed a lot of 3's, but Chicago played a hell of a game defensively. This is one of those losses where the other team played really damn hard plus had a bunch of shooting luck.

[Coolbreeze44]

This is where they miss Kat

Yeah when we can't make a shot

They rely so much on Ant. It looks like Ant is wearing down. Just another elite offense weapon to give Ant a little bit of rest would be huge.

I don't know, you have guys like Durant and Derozan playing more minutes than him. If he's worn down now, what happens in the playoffs?

[kekgeek]

Yeah when we can't make a shot

They rely so much on Ant. It looks like Ant is wearing down. Just another elite offense weapon to give Ant a little bit of rest would be huge.

I don't know, you have guys like Durant and Derozan playing more minutes than him. If he's worn down now, what happens in the playoffs?

I think it’s a little different. Like Derozan we just mostly played straight up the whole game. While with Ant teams are shading/doubling at least 2 guys every single possession. Ant is also dealing with back spasms, a hurt knee and a dislocated finger.

He’ll probably knock himself out of it but he’s been asked to do a lot this last month with no other natural scorer on the team. I just think he looks really worn down these last 2 games

[Coolbreeze44]

They rely so much on Ant. It looks like Ant is wearing down. Just another elite offense weapon to give Ant a little bit of rest would be huge.

I don't know, you have guys like Durant and Derozan playing more minutes than him. If he's worn down now, what happens in the playoffs?

I think it’s a little different. Like Derozan we just mostly played straight up the whole game. While with Ant teams are shading/doubling at least 2 guys every single possession. Ant is also dealing with back spasms, a hurt knee and a dislocated finger.

He’ll probably knock himself out of it but he’s been asked to do a lot this last month with no other natural scorer on the team. I just think he looks really worn down these last 2 games

I agree, but my point is he has room to take his conditioning to another level in the offseason.

[Phenom]

DeRozan and KD have also been around the block a time or two and have a great understanding of how to pace themselves.

[Carlos Danger]

Well. That was some bullshit (pun intended "bulls" - see what I did there?).

At least I'm off the hook with GDTs. Next man up. I finished the year 4-1. Beat that!

[Q-is-here]

I'm coming around to Cool's POV that Ant isn't in peak physical condition (by NBA superstar standards).

I realize none of the stars these days are up to this standard, but just for laughs, I thought I'd throw this out there....In Michael Jordan's 3rd year (age 23), he played 82 games, averaged 40.0 MPG and 37.1 points per game. This was in an era where hand-checking was allowed. That. Is. Nuts.

Sorry, but these comparisons of Ant or anyone else for that matter to Jordan are just so off the mark unless it's only in the context of his athletic highlight plays. Jordan was on a totally different level and a cold-blooded killer.

[kekgeek]

I'm coming around to Cool's POV that Ant isn't in peak physical condition (by NBA superstar standards).

I realize none of the stars these days are up to this standard, but just for laughs, I thought I'd throw this out there....In Michael Jordan's 3rd year (age 23), he played 82 games, averaged 40.0 MPG and 37.1 points per game. This was in an era where hand-checking was allowed. That. Is. Nuts.

Sorry, but these comparisons of Ant or anyone else for that matter to Jordan are just so off the mark unless it's only in the context of his athletic highlight plays. Jordan was on a totally different level and a cold-blooded killer.

I want to make the point I actually agree with Cool that Ant is not in peak physical shape where he could be. I do want to say though he has been on the injury report with back spasms these last 3 games and I think we are really underestimating how hard that is to play though. I mean it caused the Rudy Kyle fight last year.

[Q-is-here]

I'm coming around to Cool's POV that Ant isn't in peak physical condition (by NBA superstar standards).

I realize none of the stars these days are up to this standard, but just for laughs, I thought I'd throw this out there....In Michael Jordan's 3rd year (age 23), he played 82 games, averaged 40.0 MPG and 37.1 points per game. This was in an era where hand-checking was allowed. That. Is. Nuts.

Sorry, but these comparisons of Ant or anyone else for that matter to Jordan are just so off the mark unless it's only in the context of his athletic highlight plays. Jordan was on a totally different level and a cold-blooded killer.

I want to make the point I actually agree with Cool that Ant is not in peak physical shape where he could be. I do want to say though he has been on the injury report with back spasms these last 3 games and I think we are really underestimating how hard that is to play though. I mean it caused the Rudy Kyle fight last year.

Understood Kek. And I don't think anyone here compares Ant to Jordan, but I've seen it elsewhere and it drives me nuts.

As for Ant's injuries, I wonder if the back spasms and past knee tendinopathy could have also been helped by better nutrition/fitness level? I agree that he's a warrior by today's NBA standards.

[Coolbreeze44]

Playing an 82 game NBA schedule is going to get you in really good condition, especially with the amount of minutes Ant plays. But my point is that he isn't fanatical about his body, at least not yet. I remember Larry Bird being several years into his career before he really dedicated himself to being in peak physical condition. Jordan, Lebron, Kobe are/were fanatical about their conditioning. Anyone whoever played for a Pat Riley team was forced to comply with extreme physical conditioning standards. I've heard that like most NBA players, Ant works hard on his game in the offseason. I just don't think he's raised his conditioning commitment level to match his immense physical gifts. And I think you can see it as the season grinds on.