rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 31, 2026 10:35 am
I think the best part of the game, was TJ finishing a layup with his right hand! I mean the best thing was Bones game, and Ball bouncing back, but still great to see TJ using the offhand.
I missed the game, but I love hearing this...he said he worked all summer trying to develop his right hand. Jon K said he ran back on defense after the layup waving his right hand to the crowd!
It was a wide open layup though. Once he got past the first line of defense it was easy-peasy. You have to start somewhere though....
The real challenge is when he HAS to use his right hand due to the angle of a defender meeting him at the rim. We've seen him unsuccessfully try to sneak it under the defender's outstretched arms using his left hand, but he tends to rush it and it usually comes up short. He has such a strong, big body that he should easily be able to shield his shot from a defender at the rim while using his right hand. I'm skeptical he's developed the comfort and touch to do this.
This is where Ant is soooo good - totally comfortable finishing with either hand in traffic and while under duress.
Again, I didn't see the game, but many are talking about how the Clips were leaving Rudy open in the middle of the paint, basically daring the Wolves to pass it to him. I think that was a bad strategy by them. Perhaps they were noticing all the fumbling Rudy did around the basket the previous game, but Rudy's hands are completely different if he is rebounding or facilitating rather than being near the basket trying to score. He not only almost always catches the ball cleanly, but them usually makes the right pass to the open man. I assume that is how he got most or all of his assists last night, and that most of them were 3-pointers. Is that correct? Also, this is another skill Joan can learn from Rudy...how to make the right pass when he catches the ball in the paint.
Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri Oct 30, 2026 2:49 pm
Thanks for starting the game thread Tim. A few random musings:
- The Cody Williams honeymoon appears to be over. First Finch has prioritized Clark at the end of the rotation over him and second the front office decided not to pick up his option.
- Last year when Ant was out the Wolves still had Randle to run things through in the halfcourt offense. Dane and Britt pointed this out on Dane's podcast. He was a guy with experience being a #1 option for multiple years on the Knicks and he was the clear #2 option for the Wolves, so it wasn't a hard adjustment for the Wolves since they could keep leaning on Randle and he was used to drawing a lot of defensive attention. Who is that guy this time around? Ball would be the most obvious candidate, as guys like Jaden, Ayo, and Kuminga have never had extensive experience as #1 options with sustained high usage.
- It will be interesting to see how Rudy bounces back from two very rough outings offensively. Will they try to get him touches early to build his confidence (and stroke what's probably a hurt ego)? Or does he cough up the ball again and start losing the confidence of LaMelo, who in turns starts freezing him out. DLO, Ant, and Randle all froze out Rudy to varying degrees over the years. Mike Conley and SloMo have really been the only two guys that were able AND willing to get Rudy the ball. Jaden might be a close 3rd.
Q I don't see any reason why Williams was gonna be in the conversation to be ahead of Clark in the rotation unless maybe there was an injury to a bigger frontcourt player or even Jaden. Clark has proven to be a better player, is a young veteran on the team etc. It would have been a surprise if Williams option was picked up. Williams is sitting there hopefully ready when there is an opportunity.
60WinTim wrote: ↑Fri Oct 30, 2026 7:36 pm
“Feeling it in his Bones!” That’s so damn obvious a comment on Bones, but that’s the first time I’ve heard it for him.
I thought Horton said that or something very similar for Bones last year?
This team is better constructed than any other Wolves team in the past 20 years. They have a ton of guard/wings that can fill a ton of different roles and all fit into Finch's plan. Plus they can be really fun to watch! This game never felt like the Wolves were playing with their food, it felt more like the inevitable finish we got. Go Wolves!
