The Streak Starts Tonight - Wolves at Jazz GDT

[AbeVigodaLive]

Well that was a tough loss.

The Wolves played with their food... then went on a run. Then played some more. Then, went on a run. Everything was set up for a random NBA game between one good team and one bad team.

Then, Utah got super hot at the same time MN got cold. And tightened up.

The Wolves feel like a 6th seed in the loaded west.



[Note: Weird game. I think it was a bit of a fluke actually.]

[KiwiMatt]

If the first 2 minutes of the 4th quarter wasn’t blatantly obvious that Mike Conley is completely unplayable at the moment to this coaching staff then I don’t know what to say.

[Lipoli390]

If the first 2 minutes of the 4th quarter wasn’t blatantly obvious that Mike Conley is completely unplayable at the moment to this coaching staff then I don’t know what to say.

I didn’t watch the game but the box score backs up your assessment as so the vast majority of games I’ve watched. Finch has certain players he loves and Conley is at the top of that list with Randle a close second.

[KiwiMatt]

If the first 2 minutes of the 4th quarter wasn’t blatantly obvious that Mike Conley is completely unplayable at the moment to this coaching staff then I don’t know what to say.

I didn’t watch the game but the box score backs up your assessment as so the vast majority of games I’ve watched. Finch has certain players he loves and Conley is at the top of that list with Randle a close second.

He was embarrassing on both ends of the court. I encourage you to watch the first 2 minutes of the 4th quarter and you will see what I am talking about.

This is on Finch. Why on earth would you give Conley 16 minutes against a fast, young and energetic Utah team. Meanwhile Bones Hyland only gets 4 minutes, and trust me I’m not a huge fan of Bones but minutes should have been reversed. Or play Dillingham for gods sake, there’s no way he plays worse than Conley even with his lack of development. I can only think it was because of Conleys Utah connection. Because match up wise it made no sense.

But that’s got me thinking. Is Conleys contract, Finch’s determination to play him, and TCs ‘back room no trade clause’ going to cost us this season? I am starting to think so. Yes he is taking on the Udonis Haslem role with this team, but Haslem wasn’t being paid 10 mil and season and averaging 18mpg.

It’s is untenable and something has to give.

[KiwiMatt]

Ant and Randle should both be embarrassed by their performances tonight.

Once again they came out flat and lifeless against an inferior opponent.

Ant especially after being outplayed by Keyonte George…..

[Lipoli390]

If the first 2 minutes of the 4th quarter wasn’t blatantly obvious that Mike Conley is completely unplayable at the moment to this coaching staff then I don’t know what to say.

I didn’t watch the game but the box score backs up your assessment as so the vast majority of games I’ve watched. Finch has certain players he loves and Conley is at the top of that list with Randle a close second.

He was embarrassing on both ends of the court. I encourage you to watch the first 2 minutes of the 4th quarter and you will see what I am talking about.

This is on Finch. Why on earth would you give Conley 16 minutes against a fast, young and energetic Utah team. Meanwhile Bones Hyland only gets 4 minutes, and trust me I’m not a huge fan of Bones but minutes should have been reversed. Or play Dillingham for gods sake, there’s no way he plays worse than Conley even with his lack of development. I can only think it was because of Conleys Utah connection. Because match up wise it made no sense.

But that’s got me thinking. Is Conleys contract, Finch’s determination to play him, and TCs ‘back room no trade clause’ going to cost us this season? I am starting to think so. Yes he is taking on the Udonis Haslem role with this team, but Haslem wasn’t being paid 10 mil and season and averaging 18mpg.

It’s is untenable and something has to give.

I’ll watch the recording and pay particular attention to those 2 minutes. But I’m already in complete agreement with you about Conley. I’m growing increasingly weary of Finch’s coaching. His stubborn attachment to Conley is the worst of it. He turns a blind eye to what all of us see in Conley; yet he sees every single mistake and failing of Rob and cuts Rob absolutely no slack. Apparently, Finch wants to convert Rob into a floor general/passing PG even though TC and the entire world knew Rob was a shooting/scoring PG when we traded up to get him. That conversion effort and lack of any slack or consistent playing time has robbed Rob’s confidence and impeded his development.

Rob may turn out to be a dud, but 11 minutes of sporadic minutes per game tells us nothing. We know Conley doesn’t have it anymore. Bones isn’t great but he sure looks better than Conley. Play Bones and Rob. And shop Conley. I just hope that handshake no-trade agreement is fiction. Even if it’s real, it’s not enforceable.

[KiwiMatt]

We are now 7th in the West. What a blown opportunity these last three games have been.

[Wolvesfan21]

I didn’t watch the game but the box score backs up your assessment as so the vast majority of games I’ve watched. Finch has certain players he loves and Conley is at the top of that list with Randle a close second.

He was embarrassing on both ends of the court. I encourage you to watch the first 2 minutes of the 4th quarter and you will see what I am talking about.

This is on Finch. Why on earth would you give Conley 16 minutes against a fast, young and energetic Utah team. Meanwhile Bones Hyland only gets 4 minutes, and trust me I’m not a huge fan of Bones but minutes should have been reversed. Or play Dillingham for gods sake, there’s no way he plays worse than Conley even with his lack of development. I can only think it was because of Conleys Utah connection. Because match up wise it made no sense.

But that’s got me thinking. Is Conleys contract, Finch’s determination to play him, and TCs ‘back room no trade clause’ going to cost us this season? I am starting to think so. Yes he is taking on the Udonis Haslem role with this team, but Haslem wasn’t being paid 10 mil and season and averaging 18mpg.

It’s is untenable and something has to give.

I’ll watch the recording and pay particular attention to those 2 minutes. But I’m already in complete agreement with you about Conley. I’m growing increasingly weary of Finch’s coaching. His stubborn attachment to Conley is the worst of it. He turns a blind eye to what all of us see in Conley; yet he sees every single mistake and failing of Rob and cuts Rob absolutely no slack. Apparently, Finch wants to convert Rob into a floor general/passing PG even though TC and the entire world knew Rob was a shooting/scoring PG when we traded up to get him. That conversion effort and lack of any slack or consistent playing time has robbed Rob’s confidence and impeded his development.

Rob may turn out to be a dud, but 11 minutes of sporadic minutes per game tells us nothing. We know Conley doesn’t have it anymore. Bones isn’t great but he sure looks better than Conley. Play Bones and Rob. And shop Conley. I just hope that handshake no-trade agreement is fiction. Even if it’s real, it’s not enforceable.

The thing is, with how badly Conley is playing can he blame TC for trading him even with a "no trade clause" wink wink deal?

I honestly think he'd understand and he should because he is playing just crap for the most part (he still plays OK defense I guess, relatively to Bones.) Now he doesn't exactly have much trade value either other then expiring salary filler, but hey. We could use it to be honest.

You know Mike, we had that no trade clause wink wink deal, but you're playing like fat smelly anus so that deal is null in void.

[FNG]

Again, there were two reasons we lost this game...terrible 3-point shooting ( I wonder if any other team has missed 43 treys in one game!), and repeatedly getting beat on cuts to the basket. Conley appears to be the board whipping boy tonight, and he is responsible for the first reason missing both of his open threes. But my whipping boys are Ant, Ju and Naz, who not only missed too many open threes, but also lost their man on back cuts over and over. It was pretty clear to me why Finchy played Conley 16 minutes...he was frustrated with the dumb defense and needed someone out there to coach...it didn't work.

On the other hand, hats off to the Jazz coaching staff and their less talented players. They detected a weakness in the Wolves' defense and ran the same plays over and over. We were just too stupid to adjust to it.

[Q-is-here]

Again, there were two reasons we lost this game...terrible 3-point shooting ( I wonder if any other team has missed 43 treys in one game!), and repeatedly getting beat on cuts to the basket. Conley appears to be the board whipping boy tonight, and he is responsible for the first reason missing both of his open threes. But my whipping boys are Ant, Ju and Naz, who not only missed too many open threes, but also lost their man on back cuts over and over. It was pretty clear to me why Finchy played Conley 16 minutes...he was frustrated with the dumb defense and needed someone out there to coach...it didn't work.

On the other hand, hats off to the Jazz coaching staff and their less talented players. They detected a weakness in the Wolves' defense and ran the same plays over and over. We were just too stupid to adjust to it.

I actually thought Ant was pretty engaged on both ends of the court in the first half and helped set the tone with that early lead we built up in Q1. He had those really nice hit-ahead passes. His defense (and clutch shooting) waned in the 4th quarter which is usually the opposite of what happens with him.

Julius and Naz....Ugh!!!! I don't want to get ahead of our skis here since it's still early, but the best thing that could happen heading into this offseason (assuming we get bounced from the playoffs) is the development of Joan Beringer into someone that can be Rudy's exclusive backup and heir apparent. That will free up Connelly to deal one or both of his PFs that we all have a love/hate relationship with.

You might ask, how could we deal both???? Well, the best PF on the team just might be Jaden McDaniels! Rudy/Jaden/Joan with some upgraded wings and guards along with Ant may be the path to our second window. But alas, we'll save the roster re-tooling speculation for the offseason.