Mike’s Team Dinner - Wolves at Thunder GDT

[rapsuperstar31]

Jaden scores 8 quick points to start the game and then is largely left out of the offense. Instead we get treated to another clutch performance by Julius going 2-13. It seems running it back looks just like last year, go figure.

Jaden was in his head tonight. Gets the tech slamming the ball into the crowd, multiple times he missed shots he usually makes and than made dumb frustration foul right away to put OKC on the free throw line.

[AussieWolf3]

In 13 minutes of play, Mike Conley had 2 points on 1-4 shooting and 2 assists. He was a minus 17. Meanwhile, in 12 minutes, Rob Dillingham had 6 points and was a plus 3. Shannon was terrific with 18 points 2 rebounds and zero turnovers in 17 minutes. Mike Conley’s 13 minutes should have been Rob’s and Shannon’s. Would that have changed he outcome of the game? Maybe. But even if not, at least the it would have given more development time to Rob and Shannon while also giving thge organization more opportunity to evaluate them before pulling the trigger on any trades. I didn’t expect us to win tonight, but I’ve pretty much lost my patience with Finch.

Again, I wasn't able to watch just follow the play by play and piece things together via folks comments- how frustrating is it tho that even in this game, against the best of the best, what were really left chewing on is how their chance at victory was taken away by not their opponent, but themselves..... Just no idea what this team really is

[Coolbreeze44]

Jaden scores 8 quick points to start the game and then is largely left out of the offense. Instead we get treated to another clutch performance by Julius going 2-13. It seems running it back looks just like last year, go figure.

Jaden was in his head tonight. Gets the tech slamming the ball into the crowd, multiple times he missed shots he usually makes and than made dumb frustration foul right away to put OKC on the free throw line.

He missed 3 shots all night

[Coolbreeze44]

In 13 minutes of play, Mike Conley had 2 points on 1-4 shooting and 2 assists. He was a minus 17. Meanwhile, in 12 minutes, Rob Dillingham had 6 points and was a plus 3. Shannon was terrific with 18 points 2 rebounds and zero turnovers in 17 minutes. Mike Conley’s 13 minutes should have been Rob’s and Shannon’s. Would that have changed he outcome of the game? Maybe. But even if not, at least the it would have given more development time to Rob and Shannon while also giving thge organization more opportunity to evaluate them before pulling the trigger on any trades. I didn’t expect us to win tonight, but I’ve pretty much lost my patience with Finch.

Again, I wasn't able to watch just follow the play by play and piece things together via folks comments- how frustrating is it tho that even in this game, against the best of the best, what were really left chewing on is how their chance at victory was taken away by not their opponent, but themselves..... Just no idea what this team really is

Aussie, it's a team without a point guard.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Abe's Turkey-of-a-Road Trip DVR Review:

- Wolves are moving the ball well early. This has happened multiple times this year. It tends to get stickier as the game goes on.

- Free throws are hard suddenly.

- For the 2nd straight game (2nd straight quarter)... the opponent got a WIDE OPEN three pointer off a Wolves free throw attempt. It's either Edwards' guy and he's not matching up quickly enough, or he's not getting help from teammates... or it's just atrocious basketball. Can't happen.

- If the Wolves played this defense vs. Phoenix or Sac... they could have taken tonight off. It's been awesome. They would NOT have lost vs. those teams with this defense. AND EFFORT.

- Gobert is engaged and a factor defensively and on the glass early in this one.

- Dillingham might not have legit NBA chops. But I think we'll find out sooner if he just goes balls-to-the-wall at all times. I think he's been a bit of a JJ McCarthy out there this season and overthinking things. I think he has more value right now as just an aggressive energy guy off the bench. Some nights he might have it... some he won't. The Wolves can adjust his minutes accordingly... but at least he'd know his role.

- Shannon looks like the guy we were all hoping he'd be.

- Wolves creeping around, keeping it close. Hey, they're the Sac Kings in this game.

- When did the NBA start allowing two hands to be used to move players on picks? Hartenstein is doing it every time he screens. Just flop, Wolves. LEARN TO FLOP!!!! PLEASE!!!!! (Yes, it's atrocious basketball, but this it's obviously what the NBA wants. It's been rewarding floppers for nearly two decades now.)

- Not exactly related... but too bad the Wolves didn't have more than 2 challenges in this one. Or... more than 5.

- The inbounds passes. Not... ummm... not good. Randle is in a rut. He was in such a zone for the first dozen or so games. Right now, he's pressing and struggling.

- Another late-game collapse. BUT... if the Wolves play with that effort, they're a 50+ win team. Even with their flaws.

- SGA is too good. OKC is too good. I don't bet, but earlier today I was thinking of betting on OKC to win at least 73 games. I'm even more convinced of it. I think one of their greatest skills/strengths is... knowing the rulebook so damn well. SGA creating contact and selling it. Defensively, pushing the boundaries just enough. And the verticality defending near the rim. They are right on the edge of fouling. (Let's be honest... if these same players were on the Wizards or Jazz... they'd have 30 fouls in the 1st quarter.)

OKC just knows how NBA officials call games. I would bet they actually coach a lot of these things... and even have a coach on staff with that role. It's maddening. But also sorta impressive. Kinda.

[KiwiMatt]

Late game execution killed us AGAIN. Give it to Ant and hope he makes a contested 3 is pretty much the gameplan in the final 2 mins of close games.

It’s downright stupid, easy to defend and low percentage basketball. This is on Finch, and to a lesser extent Ant. Draw up some plays to get OTHERS involved for gods sake.

BTW Julius is staring to hurt this team more than help it again. He was bad tonight and made no real effort getting back defensively.

[Lipoli390]

Abe's Turkey-of-a-Road Trip DVR Review:

- Wolves are moving the ball well early. This has happened multiple times this year. It tends to get stickier as the game goes on.

- Free throws are hard suddenly.

- For the 2nd straight game (2nd straight quarter)... the opponent got a WIDE OPEN three pointer off a Wolves free throw attempt. It's either Edwards' guy and he's not matching up quickly enough, or he's not getting help from teammates... or it's just atrocious basketball. Can't happen.

- If the Wolves played this defense vs. Phoenix or Sac... they could have taken tonight off. It's been awesome. They would NOT have lost vs. those teams with this defense. AND EFFORT.

- Gobert is engaged and a factor defensively and on the glass early in this one.

- Dillingham might not have legit NBA chops. But I think we'll find out sooner if he just goes balls-to-the-wall at all times. I think he's been a bit of a JJ McCarthy out there this season and overthinking things. I think he has more value right now as just an aggressive energy guy off the bench. Some nights he might have it... some he won't. The Wolves can adjust his minutes accordingly... but at least he'd know his role.

- Shannon looks like the guy we were all hoping he'd be.

- Wolves creeping around, keeping it close. Hey, they're the Sac Kings in this game.

- When did the NBA start allowing two hands to be used to move players on picks? Hartenstein is doing it every time he screens. Just flop, Wolves. LEARN TO FLOP!!!! PLEASE!!!!! (Yes, it's atrocious basketball, but this it's obviously what the NBA wants. It's been rewarding floppers for nearly two decades now.)

- Not exactly related... but too bad the Wolves didn't have more than 2 challenges in this one. Or... more than 5.

- The inbounds passes. Not... ummm... not good. Randle is in a rut. He was in such a zone for the first dozen or so games. Right now, he's pressing and struggling.

- Another late-game collapse. BUT... if the Wolves play with that effort, they're a 50+ win team. Even with their flaws.

- SGA is too good. OKC is too good. I don't bet, but earlier today I was thinking of betting on OKC to win at least 73 games. I'm even more convinced of it. I think one of their greatest skills/strengths is... knowing the rulebook so damn well. SGA creating contact and selling it. Defensively, pushing the boundaries just enough. And the verticality defending near the rim. They are right on the edge of fouling. (Let's be honest... if these same players were on the Wizards or Jazz... they'd have 30 fouls in the 1st quarter.)

OKC just knows how NBA officials call games. I would bet they actually coach a lot of these things... and even have a coach on staff with that role. It's maddening. But also sorta impressive. Kinda.

Great observations, Abe. I think you’re spot on with your observation about the team’s defensive effort. If last night’s effort had been there against the Kings and Suns the Wolves would have won those two games. I’ll add that we might have won last night’s game if Conley’s minutes had been allocated in some combination to Rob and Shannon. So I don’t think we’re a PG away from moving into the top tier in the West; it’s about more consistent all-out effort and better coaching.

[AussieWolf3]

Abe's Turkey-of-a-Road Trip DVR Review:

- Wolves are moving the ball well early. This has happened multiple times this year. It tends to get stickier as the game goes on.

- Free throws are hard suddenly.

- For the 2nd straight game (2nd straight quarter)... the opponent got a WIDE OPEN three pointer off a Wolves free throw attempt. It's either Edwards' guy and he's not matching up quickly enough, or he's not getting help from teammates... or it's just atrocious basketball. Can't happen.

- If the Wolves played this defense vs. Phoenix or Sac... they could have taken tonight off. It's been awesome. They would NOT have lost vs. those teams with this defense. AND EFFORT.

- Gobert is engaged and a factor defensively and on the glass early in this one.

- Dillingham might not have legit NBA chops. But I think we'll find out sooner if he just goes balls-to-the-wall at all times. I think he's been a bit of a JJ McCarthy out there this season and overthinking things. I think he has more value right now as just an aggressive energy guy off the bench. Some nights he might have it... some he won't. The Wolves can adjust his minutes accordingly... but at least he'd know his role.

- Shannon looks like the guy we were all hoping he'd be.

- Wolves creeping around, keeping it close. Hey, they're the Sac Kings in this game.

- When did the NBA start allowing two hands to be used to move players on picks? Hartenstein is doing it every time he screens. Just flop, Wolves. LEARN TO FLOP!!!! PLEASE!!!!! (Yes, it's atrocious basketball, but this it's obviously what the NBA wants. It's been rewarding floppers for nearly two decades now.)

- Not exactly related... but too bad the Wolves didn't have more than 2 challenges in this one. Or... more than 5.

- The inbounds passes. Not... ummm... not good. Randle is in a rut. He was in such a zone for the first dozen or so games. Right now, he's pressing and struggling.

- Another late-game collapse. BUT... if the Wolves play with that effort, they're a 50+ win team. Even with their flaws.

- SGA is too good. OKC is too good. I don't bet, but earlier today I was thinking of betting on OKC to win at least 73 games. I'm even more convinced of it. I think one of their greatest skills/strengths is... knowing the rulebook so damn well. SGA creating contact and selling it. Defensively, pushing the boundaries just enough. And the verticality defending near the rim. They are right on the edge of fouling. (Let's be honest... if these same players were on the Wizards or Jazz... they'd have 30 fouls in the 1st quarter.)

OKC just knows how NBA officials call games. I would bet they actually coach a lot of these things... and even have a coach on staff with that role. It's maddening. But also sorta impressive. Kinda.

Great observations, Abe. I think you’re spot on with your observation about the team’s defensive effort. If last night’s effort had been there against the Kings and Suns the Wolves would have won those two games. I’ll add that we might have won last night’s game if Conley’s minutes had been allocated in some combination to Rob and Shannon. So I don’t think we’re a PG away from moving into the top tier in the West; it’s about more consistent all-out effort and better coaching.

I'm curious, how much of Mike's minutes were spent actually playing PG? I just ask because of how often he is asked to play off ball and stand in a corner- a lot of his minutes are as a glorified spot up shooter.

Finch can't keep trying to play it both ways, either Rob gets the minutes and you accept the bumps and bruises or Conley gets the minutes and he needs to spend as much of that time with Rudy and as the actual point guard.

[FNG]

I always enjoy Abe's stream of consciousness summaries. I found it interesting when he mentioned SGA and the Thunder really knowing the NBA rule book, because during the game I was thinking the opposite about Ant...I'm not sure he has a good grasp of the rule book. He clearly doesn't know how to flop...something many of the top 10 players have learned. He doesn't seem to understand what a foul is in the NBA...it seems like he believes a foul happens every time he drives to the basket! And it also seems like he doesn't understand the challenge rule. Every game we seem to see him waving his arm at the bench asking for a review when even the most casual fan knows they are out of challenges. Ant: million dollar talent, 10 cent head.

[AussieWolf3]

I always enjoy Abe's stream of consciousness summaries. I found it interesting when he mentioned SGA and the Thunder really knowing the NBA rule book, because during the game I was thinking the opposite about Ant...I'm not sure he has a good grasp of the rule book. He clearly doesn't know how to flop...something many of the top 10 players have learned. He doesn't seem to understand what a foul is in the NBA...it seems like he believes a foul happens every time he drives to the basket! And it also seems like he doesn't understand the challenge rule. Every game we seem to see him waving his arm at the bench asking for a review when even the most casual fan knows they are out of challenges. Ant: million dollar talent, 10 cent head.

I can't remember a time that I've witnessed so many fans have this much distain for a franchise altering player who had already accomplished as much as Ant. I think y'all need to zoom out every once in a while