FNG wrote: ↑Fri Jan 30, 2026 11:42 am
I love Timberwolves fans...they're passionate and smart. But I don't understand the boos every time SGA touches the ball. He's an elite player and seems like a really good guy. Really stupid to boo him.
Fans have every right to boo him and I love it. I agree that he's an elite player and low-key great leader/good guy. But he taints it with the foul baiting, flopping, crumpling to the floor, push offs, and shoving his arms into defenders. No one on any level of basketball plays like this....except in the NBA. You don't see it in AAU, High School, NCAA, Euroleague. Hell, I don't even see it in the G-League. The foul grifting is exclusive to the NBA and it taints the player and the product.
So I think the fans are booing the NBA and refs for letting him (and others in the past like Harden, Trae, and Embiid) get away with it as much as they are booing SGA himself. (which by the way, I don't think he did it as much last night because it was officiated more like a playoff game and Jaden is getting to know his tricks).
We definitely have different booing strategies, Q. i like booing, but I save it for the real a-holes in the league...and there are a few of those! I don't get booing someone just because they are very good at doing something...even if it's something we don't like. Plus, it seems like SGA and NAW were raised really well...they both seem like outstanding guys. So yeah, it bugged me last night when the fans booed him every time he touched the ball...especially on a night when he only had 5 free throw attempts!
I'm with Q on this one. It's more of a testament to officiating as much as SGA.
And it adds to the rivalry. So keep it coming Wolves fans...
Fans have every right to boo him and I love it. I agree that he's an elite player and low-key great leader/good guy. But he taints it with the foul baiting, flopping, crumpling to the floor, push offs, and shoving his arms into defenders. No one on any level of basketball plays like this....except in the NBA. You don't see it in AAU, High School, NCAA, Euroleague. Hell, I don't even see it in the G-League. The foul grifting is exclusive to the NBA and it taints the player and the product.
So I think the fans are booing the NBA and refs for letting him (and others in the past like Harden, Trae, and Embiid) get away with it as much as they are booing SGA himself. (which by the way, I don't think he did it as much last night because it was officiated more like a playoff game and Jaden is getting to know his tricks).
We definitely have different booing strategies, Q. i like booing, but I save it for the real a-holes in the league...and there are a few of those! I don't get booing someone just because they are very good at doing something...even if it's something we don't like. Plus, it seems like SGA and NAW were raised really well...they both seem like outstanding guys. So yeah, it bugged me last night when the fans booed him every time he touched the ball...especially on a night when he only had 5 free throw attempts!
I'm with Q on this one. It's more of a testament to officiating as much as SGA.
And it adds to the rivalry. So keep it coming Wolves fans...
Right, I think a lot of the vitriol directed at SGA is actually directed at the refs, and more broadly, the NBA itself which ultimately makes the rules and helps determine how they are enforced. SGA is simply the instrument through which the vitriol runs through since he's already so damn good....AND he grifts for fouls all the time!? There is almost a sense of unfairness there.
BTW, fans boo their own team at times when it's clear they are exhibiting poor effort. We've even seen the Wolves get booed from time to time. That doesn't mean they hate each player individually.
Speaking of foul drawing and a far more ethical player despite his flaws, Anthony Edwards made a breath-taking drive to the hoop last night that somewhat explains why he doesn't get to the line at a higher rate than some people think he should.
He has the ball up top on the right wing, gets a screen, splits the double team with a tight handle, makes a bee-line for the hoop where one defender awaits whereupon he Euro-steps right past him for an uncontested layup while a second defender arrived too late. No one even touched him and I'm not sure they could if they tried.
His footwork and ability to use either hand works against him when it comes to FTAs because he can simply maneuver his way around guys. Then you have a guy like Jaylen Clark who can't do any of that but just sort of goes right into defenders on straight-line drives and gets the call at a surprisingly high rate.
Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri Jan 30, 2026 3:30 pm
Speaking of foul drawing and a far more ethical player despite his flaws, Anthony Edwards made a breath-taking drive to the hoop last night that somewhat explains why he doesn't get to the line at a higher rate than some people think he should.
He has the ball up top on the right wing, gets a screen, splits the double team with a tight handle, makes a bee-line for the hoop where one defender awaits whereupon he Euro-steps right past him for an uncontested layup while a second defender arrived too late. No one even touched him and I'm not sure they could if they tried.
His footwork and ability to use either hand works against him when it comes to FTAs because he can simply maneuver his way around guys. Then you have a guy like Jaylen Clark who can't do any of that but just sort of goes right into defenders on straight-line drives and gets the call at a surprisingly high rate.
Great points Q. Ant may need to learn how to get those calls as he slows down in his later years, or when he is hurt. He plays at a much slower rate with the toe and the sprains and twists of his knee and ankles. His skill set is growing and will allow him to play as long as he wants.
The level of effort he outlayed on defense last night shows what he can do as a complete player. The big problem seems to be mental with Ant. He needs the big stage or an enemy to bring out his best. I would guess most of us has watched the Last Dance and learned how much Jordan hated to lose. If Ant could work on that like he worked on his 3 pointer, post ups, and mid-range, he would be unstoppable.
As soon as you said a breathtaking play by Ant I knew exactly which play you were talking about Q. That was something very special. It's absolutely insane how talented this kid is.
