I'll Jinx The Whole Damn Thing - Clippers at Wolves GDT

[FNG]

You don’t play this poorly at this point in the season and then suddenly turn it on for success in the playoffs. This team is lost and there’s no sign that this current group with this head coach will turn things around. The Wolves started slow last season as they learned to play together. They then hit their stride, playing really well at this time last season and carried their high level play into the playoffs. That’s not what we’re seeing this season. Instead, we’re seeing a team that’s as likely to end up in the lottery as it is the playoffs. This is a team in need of a shake up. We didn’t shake it up with any major personnel moves at the deadline and I think that was the right call. The first step going forward is to shake things up with a head coaching change. If that doesn’t cut it, then this team will have to have its personnel revamped and Ant is the only player who shouldn’t be subject to a trade. I’d still look to build around Ant, Jaden and Naz, but I could see trading Jaden or Naz for the right return.

We should have taken a step back this season for a retool, which is what I’ve been saying for a while. This was the season to start developing Dillingham, Clark, Shannon and Beringer with an eye towards the next two seasons. Ant’s still very young but his contract is our runway and we have to retool while there’s still enough runway left. I think we might have waited too long, which means the Wolves will have to do what McHale did when he acquired Spree and Cassell. It almost worked but was short-lived with KG departing soon thereafter. Usually those desperation moves for older vets fail miserably. TC might have one last shot to avoid that fate.

Not looking good. Our run last year didn't start until March 2nd, which coincided with Randle coming back from injury. We were 32-30 going into that 17-3 run to close the season out. Of course this year we're healthy minus TSJ, so we can only hope once we have Ayo familiar with the team and concepts that we can take off from there. I'm not sure how much they practice over the all star break, but it's going to be needed for the team to get their shit together fast. I don't believe ant is planning on playing in the All Star game with his injuries.

Good point, Rap. We were 11-3 in the month of March. So maybe we’ll turn things around in the same time frame this season. But my gut watching this team is that we won’t see this team get it together this time. There’s something missing that I didn’t see missing last season. This team, in spite of all the continuity, doesn’t have an identity. It doesn’t play with intensity. It’s offense rarely flows and its defense craters when Rudy’s not on the floor. We saw some of that last season but this season seems different. And at least last season there was the issue of players learning to play together. Obviously, that’s not the case this season. Our key players are statistically better than last season at this point on an individual basis, but the team isn’t. When you see a team like this that is so much less than the sum of its part you have a serious problem that probably won’t resolve on its own. I hope I’m wrong, but I think I’m right and I don’t think Ayo is enough to fix it. A new head coach, if he’s the right one, could make a difference but I don’t think TC has it in him to do that.

I was going to make the same point as Rap, Lip, in response to your comment that a team playing this poorly at this stage of the season can't do well in the playoffs. We won on 2/8 last season, but then proceeded to lose 6 out of 8 the rest of the month...capped off with a loss to woeful Utah. But them we finished strong, and made a strong run in the playoffs. Granted Ant was an entirely different defensive player a year ago...it was really sad to watch him in person today at Target Center. But this is not to say he can't do it again and realize we need him to be a 2-way player. He is our most talented player, but if your most talented offensive player is indifferent on the defensive end, you're going nowhere. Maybe he'll watch some film of Kawhi and see that a terrific offensive player is also allowed to play defense.

[thedoper]

How many duds on our home court can we deal with? We are not a serious team.

[kekgeek]

I will say I know some way Malone as our next coach. He ripped Rudy in National TV for his comments.

[rapsuperstar31]

Not looking good. Our run last year didn't start until March 2nd, which coincided with Randle coming back from injury. We were 32-30 going into that 17-3 run to close the season out. Of course this year we're healthy minus TSJ, so we can only hope once we have Ayo familiar with the team and concepts that we can take off from there. I'm not sure how much they practice over the all star break, but it's going to be needed for the team to get their shit together fast. I don't believe ant is planning on playing in the All Star game with his injuries.

Good point, Rap. We were 11-3 in the month of March. So maybe we’ll turn things around in the same time frame this season. But my gut watching this team is that we won’t see this team get it together this time. There’s something missing that I didn’t see missing last season. This team, in spite of all the continuity, doesn’t have an identity. It doesn’t play with intensity. It’s offense rarely flows and its defense craters when Rudy’s not on the floor. We saw some of that last season but this season seems different. And at least last season there was the issue of players learning to play together. Obviously, that’s not the case this season. Our key players are statistically better than last season at this point on an individual basis, but the team isn’t. When you see a team like this that is so much less than the sum of its part you have a serious problem that probably won’t resolve on its own. I hope I’m wrong, but I think I’m right and I don’t think Ayo is enough to fix it. A new head coach, if he’s the right one, could make a difference but I don’t think TC has it in him to do that.

I was going to make the same point as Rap, Lip, in response to your comment that a team playing this poorly at this stage of the season can't do well in the playoffs. We won on 2/8 last season, but then proceeded to lose 6 out of 8 the rest of the month...capped off with a loss to woeful Utah. But them we finished strong, and made a strong run in the playoffs. Granted Ant was an entirely different defensive player a year ago...it was really sad to watch him in person today at Target Center. But this is not to say he can't do it again and realize we need him to be a 2-way player. He is our most talented player, but if your most talented offensive player is indifferent on the defensive end, you're going nowhere. Maybe he'll watch some film of Kawhi and see that a terrific offensive player is also allowed to play defense.

In persons does Ant look hobbled at all? Several times they showed him on tv, he was holding his hip, leg, back. I know he's made comments that he probably isn't playing in the all star game, because of all of his nagging injuries.

[FNG]

Good point, Rap. We were 11-3 in the month of March. So maybe we’ll turn things around in the same time frame this season. But my gut watching this team is that we won’t see this team get it together this time. There’s something missing that I didn’t see missing last season. This team, in spite of all the continuity, doesn’t have an identity. It doesn’t play with intensity. It’s offense rarely flows and its defense craters when Rudy’s not on the floor. We saw some of that last season but this season seems different. And at least last season there was the issue of players learning to play together. Obviously, that’s not the case this season. Our key players are statistically better than last season at this point on an individual basis, but the team isn’t. When you see a team like this that is so much less than the sum of its part you have a serious problem that probably won’t resolve on its own. I hope I’m wrong, but I think I’m right and I don’t think Ayo is enough to fix it. A new head coach, if he’s the right one, could make a difference but I don’t think TC has it in him to do that.

I was going to make the same point as Rap, Lip, in response to your comment that a team playing this poorly at this stage of the season can't do well in the playoffs. We won on 2/8 last season, but then proceeded to lose 6 out of 8 the rest of the month...capped off with a loss to woeful Utah. But them we finished strong, and made a strong run in the playoffs. Granted Ant was an entirely different defensive player a year ago...it was really sad to watch him in person today at Target Center. But this is not to say he can't do it again and realize we need him to be a 2-way player. He is our most talented player, but if your most talented offensive player is indifferent on the defensive end, you're going nowhere. Maybe he'll watch some film of Kawhi and see that a terrific offensive player is also allowed to play defense.

In persons does Ant look hobbled at all? Several times they showed him on tv, he was holding his hip, leg, back. I know he's made comments that he probably isn't playing in the all star game, because of all of his nagging injuries.

Not really, Rap. I mean, did he look hobbled when he threw down that dunk? (That was fun, wasn’t it). It looks more like complacency to me than injury.

[Wolvesfan21]

Looks like we might as all plan to wake up when the playoffs start cause that seems to by the Timberwolves plan....

You don’t play this poorly at this point in the season and then suddenly turn it on for success in the playoffs. This team is lost and there’s no sign that this current group with this head coach will turn things around. The Wolves started slow last season as they learned to play together. They then hit their stride, playing really well at this time last season and carried their high level play into the playoffs. That’s not what we’re seeing this season. Instead, we’re seeing a team that’s as likely to end up in the lottery as it is the playoffs. This is a team in need of a shake up. We didn’t shake it up with any major personnel moves at the deadline and I think that was the right call. The first step going forward is to shake things up with a head coaching change. If that doesn’t cut it, then this team will have to have its personnel revamped and Ant is the only player who shouldn’t be subject to a trade. I’d still look to build around Ant, Jaden and Naz, but I could see trading Jaden or Naz for the right return.

We should have taken a step back this season for a retool, which is what I’ve been saying for a while. This was the season to start developing Dillingham, Clark, Shannon and Beringer with an eye towards the next two seasons. Ant’s still very young but his contract is our runway and we have to retool while there’s still enough runway left. I think we might have waited too long, which means the Wolves will have to do what McHale did when he acquired Spree and Cassell. It almost worked but was short-lived with KG departing soon thereafter. Usually those desperation moves for older vets fail miserably. TC might have one last shot to avoid that fate.

Two years ago we did it. Got trounced if I remember right to end the season against Phoenix. We were in it for the 1 or 2 seed but laid an egg to finish 3rd. The Suns dominated us in the regular season and no one wanted that matchup, yet we amped it up and crushed them in the playoffs.

That's exactly who this team has been the last two years. Lays far too many eggs in the regular season yet shows up when it counts (minus the WCF's of course!).

Now the argument is that will regular season bad habits can carry over into the playoffs. Do we think we can turn it on again with a switch or are we playing with fire?

I actually think this team is playing way below it's talent/capability. I actually think we turn it around and finish the regular season relatively strong.

[Coolbreeze44]

A combined total of 7 shots today for DDV and Jaden. That's not enough and Finch said as much. Ju and especially Ant have to get these guys involved. The lack of cohesion is screaming through the television.

[Lipoli390]

A combined total of 7 shots today for DDV and Jaden. That's not enough and Finch said as much. Ju and especially Ant have to get these guys involved. The lack of cohesion is screaming through the television.

Absolutely right, Cool. Of course, there’s also this team’s problem on the defensive end.

[Lipoli390]

Looks like we might as all plan to wake up when the playoffs start cause that seems to by the Timberwolves plan....

You don’t play this poorly at this point in the season and then suddenly turn it on for success in the playoffs. This team is lost and there’s no sign that this current group with this head coach will turn things around. The Wolves started slow last season as they learned to play together. They then hit their stride, playing really well at this time last season and carried their high level play into the playoffs. That’s not what we’re seeing this season. Instead, we’re seeing a team that’s as likely to end up in the lottery as it is the playoffs. This is a team in need of a shake up. We didn’t shake it up with any major personnel moves at the deadline and I think that was the right call. The first step going forward is to shake things up with a head coaching change. If that doesn’t cut it, then this team will have to have its personnel revamped and Ant is the only player who shouldn’t be subject to a trade. I’d still look to build around Ant, Jaden and Naz, but I could see trading Jaden or Naz for the right return.

We should have taken a step back this season for a retool, which is what I’ve been saying for a while. This was the season to start developing Dillingham, Clark, Shannon and Beringer with an eye towards the next two seasons. Ant’s still very young but his contract is our runway and we have to retool while there’s still enough runway left. I think we might have waited too long, which means the Wolves will have to do what McHale did when he acquired Spree and Cassell. It almost worked but was short-lived with KG departing soon thereafter. Usually those desperation moves for older vets fail miserably. TC might have one last shot to avoid that fate.

Two years ago we did it. Got trounced if I remember right to end the season against Phoenix. We were in it for the 1 or 2 seed but laid an egg to finish 3rd. The Suns dominated us in the regular season and no one wanted that matchup, yet we amped it up and crushed them in the playoffs.

That's exactly who this team has been the last two years. Lays far too many eggs in the regular season yet shows up when it counts (minus the WCF's of course!).

Now the argument is that will regular season bad habits can carry over into the playoffs. Do we think we can turn it on again with a switch or are we playing with fire?

I actually think this team is playing way below it's talent/capability. I actually think we turn it around and finish the regular season relatively strong.

I get the history of the last two seasons. But this season feels different. We are absolutely playing way below our talent level in my view. I’ve referred to this team as playing at a level less than the sum of hits parts. I just get the sense this team isn’t going to suddenly turn it on the way we have the past two seasons. Note that two seasons ago, the team got on trade when KAT came back from his season-long injury. Last season, we got on track when Randle returned with a new approach to his game that blended better with his teammates and demonstrated consistent effort. What’s the catalyst this season? Ayo? We’ll find out but I don’t see this team turning things around without replacing Finch with the right head coach who can get through to these guys.

[FNG]

A combined total of 7 shots today for DDV and Jaden. That's not enough and Finch said as much. Ju and especially Ant have to get these guys involved. The lack of cohesion is screaming through the television.

Cool, I agree...but I will also say Donte and Jaden weren't getting shots for totally different reasons yesterday. Donte was working his butt off and making things happen...he just wasn't given many shot opportunities and missed the ones he got. But there was something off with Jaden. I'm used to see him moving on offense, but yesterday he was listless. He has a tendency to sulk on the court, and I think his inability to stop Kawhi got to him...Finchy saw it and actually turned to Ju for a while to try to stop Kawhi. I don't know if Jaden was hurt or sick, but he was not engaged in the game at all. Case in point: there's no way a guy that tall should only have 2 rebounds in 28 minutes.