9 Games in the Wilderness - Wolves at Mavs GDT

[thedoper]

How much has Gobert’s play dipped this year? Are teams scouting to crash the boards on him? The last few games have been brutal.

I don't know.

But we keep hearing how Gobert is "more active" when he gets touches. That isn't some random thing Grady or Jim Pete or whomever is making up on the fly.

They've heard that from others... with the team. Maybe Gobert himself. I pointed out how Gobert was ignored 40 seconds into the game. Is he just pouting his way through the season?

The pouting is not cool. There are a lot of qualities in his game I have grown to appreciate, his movement and positioning, his screens, even his insight into the game in interviews. But him having a delusional perspective on his post moves and a pouty disposition when he's overlooked on those opportunities really doesn't benefit anyone.

[Lipoli390]

How much has Gobert’s play dipped this year? Are teams scouting to crash the boards on him? The last few games have been brutal.

I don't know.

But we keep hearing how Gobert is "more active" when he gets touches. That isn't some random thing Grady or Jim Pete or whomever is making up on the fly.

They've heard that from others... with the team. Maybe Gobert himself. I pointed out how Gobert was ignored 40 seconds into the game. Is he just pouting his way through the season?

The pouting is not cool. There are a lot of qualities in his game I have grown to appreciate, his movement and positioning, his screens, even his insight into the game in interviews. But him having a delusional perspective on his post moves and a pouty disposition when he's overlooked on those opportunities really doesn't benefit anyone.

Maybe all the Wolves players around Rudy should be instructed to get him the ball whenever he wants it. Then let’s see what happens. Maybe his hands, shot-making and finishing turn out to be better than we’ve seen. Or maybe it will provide some instructional video footage for team meetings.

I’ll add that, while I don’t like Rudy’s pouting and don’t have a lot of confidence in him with the ball in his hands, I actually like that he’s working to get open and wants the ball. So I honestly think we should make a concerted effort as a team to get him the ball.

[FNG]

I don't know.

But we keep hearing how Gobert is "more active" when he gets touches. That isn't some random thing Grady or Jim Pete or whomever is making up on the fly.

They've heard that from others... with the team. Maybe Gobert himself. I pointed out how Gobert was ignored 40 seconds into the game. Is he just pouting his way through the season?

The pouting is not cool. There are a lot of qualities in his game I have grown to appreciate, his movement and positioning, his screens, even his insight into the game in interviews. But him having a delusional perspective on his post moves and a pouty disposition when he's overlooked on those opportunities really doesn't benefit anyone.

Maybe all the Wolves players around Rudy should be instructed to get him the ball whenever he wants it. Then let’s see what happens. Maybe his hands, shot-making and finishing turn out to be better than we’ve seen. Or maybe it will provide some instructional video footage for team meetings.

I’ll add that, while I don’t like Rudy’s pouting and don’t have a lot of confidence in him with the ball in his hands, I actually like that he’s working to get open and wants the ball. So I honestly think we should make a concerted effort as a team to get him the ball.

I'm not keeping track of this anymore, but the Wolves record when Rudy gets 7 or more shots compared to when he doesn't is decisive. Rudy's defense is still a big part of this team's identity, and it seems like he is more focused on D when he is getting touches on the offensive end. Seeing Rob put up a perfect lob to him for a dunk recently highlighted how easy it should be when Rudy is the biggest guy on the court. But bounce passes to him more than 6 feet from the basket is seldom going to end up well. I'm a big fan of Conley's, but I've even seen him recently delivering the ball in a disastrous place a couple times. Getting Rudy involved is important, but we all know it's easier said than done.

[FNG]

Anybody else feel a little better about the close win in Dallas after seeing their depleted team beat the Thunder by 6 last night on the back end of a back to back?

[Q-is-here]

Anybody else feel a little better about the close win in Dallas after seeing their depleted team beat the Thunder by 6 last night on the back end of a back to back?

We are truly in the dog days of the NBA season where really good teams put up the occasional dud. Cleveland, Boston, and OKC all lost their last game.

Meanwhile, the supposedly has-no-bench Nuggets just keep gaining momentum as the season progresses and OF COURSE we play them next. Can we get a freakin' break? Every game is on the road or against some really good team at home!

Jokic is one of the top 3 or 4 players to ever play the game of basketball, I'm convinced of it. The only reason he isn't the greatest is that he hasn't won more titles. He's the Wilt Chamberlain of the modern era - just mind blowing numbers: 30 PPG, 14.4 RPG, 10.1 APG, 56% FG, 48% 3pt%, On/Off net rating of +22.1, meaning his team is 22.1 points per 100 possessions better when he's on the floor versus off of it.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Anybody else feel a little better about the close win in Dallas after seeing their depleted team beat the Thunder by 6 last night on the back end of a back to back?

We are truly in the dog days of the NBA season where really good teams put up the occasional dud. Cleveland, Boston, and OKC all lost their last game.

Meanwhile, the supposedly has-no-bench Nuggets just keep gaining momentum as the season progresses and OF COURSE we play them next. Can we get a freakin' break? Every game is on the road or against some really good team at home!

Jokic is one of the top 3 or 4 players to ever play the game of basketball, I'm convinced of it. The only reason he isn't the greatest is that he hasn't won more titles. He's the Wilt Chamberlain of the modern era - just mind blowing numbers: 30 PPG, 14.4 RPG, 10.1 APG, 56% FG, 48% 3pt%, On/Off net rating of +22.1, meaning his team is 22.1 points per 100 possessions better when he's on the floor versus off of it.

Jokic last night:

35 points (63% fg)
22 rebounds
17 assists
1 TO

I don't know how to describe games like that. Legendary?

[60WinTim]

Anybody else feel a little better about the close win in Dallas after seeing their depleted team beat the Thunder by 6 last night on the back end of a back to back?

We are truly in the dog days of the NBA season where really good teams put up the occasional dud. Cleveland, Boston, and OKC all lost their last game.

Meanwhile, the supposedly has-no-bench Nuggets just keep gaining momentum as the season progresses and OF COURSE we play them next. Can we get a freakin' break? Every game is on the road or against some really good team at home!

Jokic is one of the top 3 or 4 players to ever play the game of basketball, I'm convinced of it. The only reason he isn't the greatest is that he hasn't won more titles. He's the Wilt Chamberlain of the modern era - just mind blowing numbers: 30 PPG, 14.4 RPG, 10.1 APG, 56% FG, 48% 3pt%, On/Off net rating of +22.1, meaning his team is 22.1 points per 100 possessions better when he's on the floor versus off of it.

Jokic last night:

35 points (63% fg)
22 rebounds
17 assists
1 TO

I don't know how to describe games like that. Legendary?

Yeah, now that Jokic and the Nuggets are rolling, it will be a great test and very telling with how the Wolves match up tomorrow.

[Wolvesfan21]

The pouting is not cool. There are a lot of qualities in his game I have grown to appreciate, his movement and positioning, his screens, even his insight into the game in interviews. But him having a delusional perspective on his post moves and a pouty disposition when he's overlooked on those opportunities really doesn't benefit anyone.

Maybe all the Wolves players around Rudy should be instructed to get him the ball whenever he wants it. Then let’s see what happens. Maybe his hands, shot-making and finishing turn out to be better than we’ve seen. Or maybe it will provide some instructional video footage for team meetings.

I’ll add that, while I don’t like Rudy’s pouting and don’t have a lot of confidence in him with the ball in his hands, I actually like that he’s working to get open and wants the ball. So I honestly think we should make a concerted effort as a team to get him the ball.

I'm not keeping track of this anymore, but the Wolves record when Rudy gets 7 or more shots compared to when he doesn't is decisive. Rudy's defense is still a big part of this team's identity, and it seems like he is more focused on D when he is getting touches on the offensive end. Seeing Rob put up a perfect lob to him for a dunk recently highlighted how easy it should be when Rudy is the biggest guy on the court. But bounce passes to him more than 6 feet from the basket is seldom going to end up well. I'm a big fan of Conley's, but I've even seen him recently delivering the ball in a disastrous place a couple times. Getting Rudy involved is important, but we all know it's easier said than done.

Looking at Rob in his college highlights I thought him and Rudy would gel well on the lob dunk. Rob is so quick and with such a great handle and he has touch to throw the lob. No one else on the Wolves are near his level of skill in that area. I'd like to see Rudy consistently paired with Rob on the court. It also helps on the defensive side too. I think it's a great combo.

[Lipoli390]

The pouting is not cool. There are a lot of qualities in his game I have grown to appreciate, his movement and positioning, his screens, even his insight into the game in interviews. But him having a delusional perspective on his post moves and a pouty disposition when he's overlooked on those opportunities really doesn't benefit anyone.

Maybe all the Wolves players around Rudy should be instructed to get him the ball whenever he wants it. Then let’s see what happens. Maybe his hands, shot-making and finishing turn out to be better than we’ve seen. Or maybe it will provide some instructional video footage for team meetings.

I’ll add that, while I don’t like Rudy’s pouting and don’t have a lot of confidence in him with the ball in his hands, I actually like that he’s working to get open and wants the ball. So I honestly think we should make a concerted effort as a team to get him the ball.

I'm not keeping track of this anymore, but the Wolves record when Rudy gets 7 or more shots compared to when he doesn't is decisive. Rudy's defense is still a big part of this team's identity, and it seems like he is more focused on D when he is getting touches on the offensive end. Seeing Rob put up a perfect lob to him for a dunk recently highlighted how easy it should be when Rudy is the biggest guy on the court. But bounce passes to him more than 6 feet from the basket is seldom going to end up well. I'm a big fan of Conley's, but I've even seen him recently delivering the ball in a disastrous place a couple times. Getting Rudy involved is important, but we all know it's easier said than done.

You’ve identified the problem. To be effectively, players have to deliver the ball to Rudy almost perfectly and only in certain ways. That’s why we often see Edwards and others decline to get him the ball when it looks to us like he’s wide open in position to score. It’s easy for us to say they should have given him the ball. But when you’re on the court in an NBA game that moves at a speed of warp 10 you have to make and execute decisions in a nanosecond. As your brain processes the situation, your muscle memory contains multiple fumbles, travels and missed bunnies by Rudy. Meanwhile, your muscle memory, developed over many years of playing basketball since childhood, tells you to make a certain kind of pass but your brain then has to adjust to something different because it’s Rudy. That’s not easy and it explains a lot. Nevertheless, I’d like to see guys force the ball to Rudy more than their muscle memory tells them to.

[FNG]

We are truly in the dog days of the NBA season where really good teams put up the occasional dud. Cleveland, Boston, and OKC all lost their last game.

Meanwhile, the supposedly has-no-bench Nuggets just keep gaining momentum as the season progresses and OF COURSE we play them next. Can we get a freakin' break? Every game is on the road or against some really good team at home!

Jokic is one of the top 3 or 4 players to ever play the game of basketball, I'm convinced of it. The only reason he isn't the greatest is that he hasn't won more titles. He's the Wilt Chamberlain of the modern era - just mind blowing numbers: 30 PPG, 14.4 RPG, 10.1 APG, 56% FG, 48% 3pt%, On/Off net rating of +22.1, meaning his team is 22.1 points per 100 possessions better when he's on the floor versus off of it.

Jokic last night:

35 points (63% fg)
22 rebounds
17 assists
1 TO

I don't know how to describe games like that. Legendary?

Yeah, now that Jokic and the Nuggets are rolling, it will be a great test and very telling with how the Wolves match up tomorrow.

Yeah, I suspect Denver might even be a slight favorite tomorrow. I think Finchie would love to put Ju on Jokic and let Rudy freelance, but with Russ now in the starting lineup instead of Gordon, there's really nobody else for Rudy to guard other than Jokic.