The Ascent Begins - Wolves at Pistons GDT

[60WinTim]

Devils advocate here with a different take on Ant's quote about doubleteams.

What if he wasn't saying HE cannot solo double teams, but that the other 4 players just stand around and watch him get doubled??? In the Pistons game he did pass out of doubles and NOBODY made a shot. Yet he still scored 53 on the night. Randle, Conley, McDaniels, et al just stand there.

This all goes back to coaching.

ANT clearly played a much different game than he has for quite some time -- making quick decisions. Maybe the other players need a game or two to adjust...

[AbeVigodaLive]

Just saw a play in the Boston v. OKC game that stood out.

- Boston pushed the pace. Got it to Pritchard in the middle of the court.
- He attacked the defense in the lane. Not to score... but to pass the ball to the guy in the corner.
- The guy could have shot, but a defender was closing out.
- Sam Hauser was trailing the play and received the ball in stride for an uncontested three just above the break.

It was so choregraphed. And really good basketball (circa 2025).

Every Celtics in the play knew where to be and what to expect. The entire sequence took about 6 seconds.

It's something the Wolves have not executed with any sort of consistency this season... either because of poor fits or skill sets on the court.

[60WinTim]

Just saw a play in the Boston v. OKC game that stood out.

- Boston pushed the pace. Got it to Pritchard in the middle of the court.
- He attacked the defense in the lane. Not to score... but to pass the ball to the guy in the corner.
- The guy could have shot, but a defender was closing out.
- Sam Hauser was trailing the play and received the ball in stride for an uncontested three just above the break.

It was so choregraphed. And really good basketball (circa 2025).

Every Celtics in the play knew where to be and what to expect. The entire sequence took about 6 seconds.

It's something the Wolves have not executed with any sort of consistency this season... either because of poor fits or skill sets on the court.

Or whatever this offense we are running is called... It sure seems like other teams are able to generate "good" shots more often than our Wolves. Players might not be executing Finchie's offense the way he wants it executed. Is he going to be stubborn and wait for the players to "get it"? Or will he re-tool his offense to fit his players?

[FNG]

I missed last night's game because I was still on my 24-hour drive back to Tucson...don't think I'll watch the replay, although it would be fun to see Ant light it up. But I also see a problem there. Let's review the last three days:

1) The Wolves lose a close one to the world champs with almost everyone except Ant having a good game.
2) Post game, Ant responds with a grumpy answer to Jace's comment about the beautiful basketball in the 3rd quarter when Ant had 5 assists (plus a few hockey assists). Says he doesn't want to play that style of basketball, because he's a scorer not a passer. Says there's "nothing he can do" when he's doubled, as almost every superstar spits out his coffee reading that absurdity. The national media ruthlessly rips Ant for his stupid comments.
3) Ant comes out and proves he's a scorer and not a passer by scoring 53 points with only 2 assists and 6 turnovers.
4) Result: in a mirror opposite from the Celtics game, every other Wolves player other than Ant sucks, and we lose by double digits to a middling East conference team missing it's second best player on the second night of a BTB.
5)Hmm...any conclusions, anyone?

Many interesting comments in this thread, and I'm reluctant to weigh in after a game I didn't watch. I will say I'm intrigued by what Cool is saying though.

5) Yeah. You need to watch the Pistons game.

Ha, nope...not going to watch that one. While it would be fun to watch Ant put up 53 points (albeit not as fun knowing we're going to lose by 14), my sports viewing today is limited to 3 hours of football tonight. Plus, it would be too painful for me to watch a game in which we have 17 turnovers and only 20 assists...I find games like that unwatchable, even with one of our guys scoring 53.

[FNG]

Devils advocate here with a different take on Ant's quote about doubleteams.

What if he wasn't saying HE cannot solo double teams, but that the other 4 players just stand around and watch him get doubled??? In the Pistons game he did pass out of doubles and NOBODY made a shot. Yet he still scored 53 on the night. Randle, Conley, McDaniels, et al just stand there.

This all goes back to coaching.

ANT clearly played a much different game than he has for quite some time -- making quick decisions. Maybe the other players need a game or two to adjust...

Tim, your wink emoji implies that your comment is tongue in cheek, but I think you may be partially correct. With the Ju plus scrubs lineup (which I have dubbed DAMN Julius), everyone moves without the ball continually, because experience tells them they have a good chance of getting paid if they can get open. But after watching Ant dribbling at the top of the key for much of the shot clock much of the season, what incentive is there for anyone to do anything but stand around? Again, I didn't see the game, but I'm reading here that Ant played differently in this game and made quick decisions. Maybe if he continues to play that way, his teammates will be encouraged to work harder on offense with an expectation they might get a pass. Hope springs eternal, I guess...

[Coolbreeze44]

He's not savvy enough to get his own while making others around him better. Not likely to get much better either, he doesn't have the mentality. He can go get you a basket or a stop though. Take the bad with the good.

[Q-is-here]

Assists per Game in last year's playoffs of select players:

Anthony Edwards - 6.5
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - 6.4
Jayson Tatum - 6.3
Mike Conley - 5.7
Jamal Murray - 5.6
Donovan Mitchell - 4.7
Jaylen Brown - 3.3

[DNatagal]

Maybe the offense should get the ball to Ant in better situations than alone at the top of the circle with everyone standing watching?

[Lipoli390]

Devils advocate here with a different take on Ant's quote about doubleteams.

What if he wasn't saying HE cannot solo double teams, but that the other 4 players just stand around and watch him get doubled??? In the Pistons game he did pass out of doubles and NOBODY made a shot. Yet he still scored 53 on the night. Randle, Conley, McDaniels, et al just stand there.

This all goes back to coaching.

Not sure it goes back to coaching. Ant did pass out of double teams last night in addition to scoring 53 highly efficient points. As you noted, Ant’s teammates missed shots on those passes. When your teammates go 6-25 from behind the arc and only one other player scores in double figures, that’s not on Ant or the coaching staff; it’s on those other players. When your starting $40 million vet center gets only 6 points and 6 rebounds against a third year center, that’s not on Ant or the coaching staff. The personnel we have is inadequate and that goes back to our front office.

I’ll just remind everyone that Ant was the best player on this team last season when we won 56 games and went to the Western Conference Finals. Did Ant falter in the West Finals? Yes, but so did just about everyone else on the team. Bottom line is that this team’s terrific success getting to the West Finals was attributable to Ant more than anyone else on the team. The only thing that’s changed in Ant’s game since last season is his improved three-point shooting. He should be commended for that. Otherwise, the fact that he’s not attacking the rim and drawing fouls nearly as well as he did last season is likely attributable to the different team now assembled around him, although I’ll also hold Ant partially responsible.

I don’t believe Ant can’t player on a championship contender because, in fact, he was the best player on last season’s Wolves team, which WAS a championship contender. However, if Ant truly is really only a #2 on a championship contender then this organization had better find a #1 because that would make Ant the best #2 in the League.

[kekgeek]

Tough loss