2 Games Left In The Wilderness - Bulls at Wolves GDT

[Lipoli390]

Sometimes you just have to let your star carry you and that’s what Ant did tonight. But let’s not ignore the tremendous contribution of Naz with 22 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks. And Rudy’s 15 rebounds were huge. This is what we’ll see more and more with Naz as our starting PF next to Rudy. I honestly don’t care if Randle comes back. I do look forward to getting DDV back.

[Q-is-here]

Sometimes you just have to let your star carry you and that’s what Ant did tonight. But let’s not ignore the tremendous contribution of Naz with 22 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks. And Rudy’s 15 rebounds were huge. This is what we’ll see more and more with Naz as our starting PF next to Rudy. I honestly don’t care if Randle comes back. I do look forward to getting DDV back.

Yeah, I don't think the starting lineup skips a beat with Naz instead of Randle and in a lot of ways it might be better since Reid really spaces the floor. The problem is our lack of depth with Randle out. As Tim said earlier in the game thread, Garza has been exposed big-time and we can't rely on him to be our first big off the bench. That leaves us with Miller or....there literally are no other options!

[FNG]

Yep Asian official is definitely blind. That’s three blatant fouls right in front of him he’s missed.

His reffing days are numbered...clearly a DEI hire .

Painful to watch us struggle to beat an undermanned Bulls team, but Ant's scoring sealed this one...17 out of 18 free throws! Ant was terrific, but let's not overlook some other performances. Mike had 9 assists and no turnovers, and was a team-best +21 despite shooting poorly. Rudy had 9 offensive rebounds. Three guys that need to make their 3's (Jaden, Naz and NAW) made 10 out of 22. And Clark continued to show his defense can earn him minutes. We need to get DiVo on Ju back, but I'll take a 19-point win while they're gone.

Now we get a very good Rockets team, but we're getting them at a very good time. They've lost 4 in a row including two losses to Brooklyn, and they don't start anyone over 6'7" other than Sengun with Jabari out. Plus Van Vleet is out, and Adams and Eason may not play. Houston is slightly favored, but this is one we can win.

[Q-is-here]

Hey Tim, you're wilderness days will be over by tonight's game since the trade deadline is 3:00PM! So this was your last game thread in the wilderness!

[60WinTim]

Hey Tim, you're wilderness days will be over by tonight's game since the trade deadline is 3:00PM! So this was your last game thread in the wilderness!

Yeah, that's true. But I decided to include the day-of-trade-deadline game in my Wilderness journey since any transaction made would have an adverse effect on the game (although, that was before Ju was injured).

So, I'll come out of the Wilderness after tonight and evaluate where we are at. A 6-2 record heading into tonight is not bad at all and has the Wolves on the precipice of the 6th seed. And they need it because we are bearing down on a 6-game losing streak surrounding the all-star game...

[FNG]

One thing we noticed in the game last night...how much better our "last shot of the quarter" offense looks when Mike initiates the play. Contrast the outcome of the second and third end of quarters. In the second quarter, Mike got a defensive rebound with 20 seconds and brought the ball up court...Ant moved around screens with less than 10 seconds left, and Mike found him for a wide open three that Ant drained to give us the lead at the half. But at the end of the 3rd quarter, we went back to the same end of quarter play where Ant dribbles around until the final 10 seconds, Rudy sets a screen, and Ant needs to make a quick decision. It resulted in a steal by Giddey. I don't know if Finchie is calling for the Ant iso option that seems to end most quarters when we have last shot, but I think Ant has a much better chance of getting a clean look if he lets someone else handle the ball and find him.

[DNatagal]

One thing we noticed in the game last night...how much better our "last shot of the quarter" offense looks when Mike initiates the play. Contrast the outcome of the second and third end of quarters. In the second quarter, Mike got a defensive rebound with 20 seconds and brought the ball up court...Ant moved around screens with less than 10 seconds left, and Mike found him for a wide open three that Ant drained to give us the lead at the half. But at the end of the 3rd quarter, we went back to the same end of quarter play where Ant dribbles around until the final 10 seconds, Rudy sets a screen, and Ant needs to make a quick decision. It resulted in a steal by Giddey. I don't know if Finchie is calling for the Ant iso option that seems to end most quarters when we have last shot, but I think Ant has a much better chance of getting a clean look if he lets someone else handle the ball and find him.

Excellent point. Conley should be telling Ant to do this more often. Ant needs that Curry feel for the game. When to lay in the weeds for a dagger 3 and when to demand the ball. At least Ant isn't standing still in the corner a much a when Randle was playing.