Realistic changes - what would you do if you were Ryan?

[Coolbreeze44]

We have try to win so I would start my best players, realizing they have to fit the shitty system. DLO and Rubio at guard, Edwards and Layman at forward, and Naz at the 5. The rotation would include Beasley, Culver, JMac, Vando, and McDaniels. Actually typing this makes me realize how screwed we are for the next couple years. If I was Glen I'd fire Rosas today, bring in Shane Battier and let him hire the next coach. Then completely rebuild the team with no one on the roster untouchable That's how bad Rosas has messed this up.

[KiwiMatt]

Dlo
Beasley
Culver
Edwards
Reid

Start Edwards at PF. He has more bulk to hold his own compared to the other wings we've started at the 4. Offensively he can stretch the floor and attack the hoop. Play a poor man Zions game. Worth a try?

Start Culver at SF and have him as my secondary ball handler next to Dlo. Tell him to focus on playmaking and rebounding.

Have Vanderbilt play atleast 20mpg to give us much needed rebounding and defense off the bench. McDaniels plays the remaining minutes at PF. Give Nowell some burn as well at the expense of Layman. Juancho needs to get in shape and earn minutes. From what i've seen he's slower and less engaged then he was last season.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

This team has very little chemistry right now, as evidenced by the lack of ball movement and weak effort on defense from most guys. Winning is the best cure for chemistry problems, but in the meantime, Saunders needs to find some kind of way to get the guys to trust each other and like playing with each other. It's not totally unexpected that we're 2-3, especially without KAT. So the sky's not necessarily falling. But yeah, this looks more like a collection of players than a team right now.

Practically speaking, I'm not on board with Edwards starting yet. If he can string together some good defensive games, especially against some bigger opponents, let's talk. If he can get his efficiency up a bit, make decisions a bit faster, and work a bit harder to drive and kick at times, then yes, I'm totally on board. In the meantime, let's keep featuring him off the bench. In an ideal world someday, Beasley should be a 6th man scoring punch off the bench and Edwards a starter, but we're not there right now. If Edwards were a 4, then absolutely, since that's such a huge hole for us. But let's keep the pressure of guys like Beasley, Culver, and Edwards by holding them all accountable in terms of playing time. Beasley has played ok so far, and although he's a bit of a defensive liability because of his size, I've liked his effort on that end so far this year. If Edwards is going to take his spot, make him earn it. In the meantime, let Beasley be motivated by the thought of a #1 draft pick coming off the bench who could at some point take his spot.

I think Rubio and DLO together makes some sense. It's not ideal, but this is the roster we've got, so I've been glad to see Ryan use that even though it would be great to see Rubio play more with Edwards too.

And sure, Vanderbilt is worth at least a bit more of a look at the 4. Sadly, he's just not big enough to play the 5, which is why we're having to rely on skinny Ed Davis minutes right now.

All in all, I'm not sure there are many good options here, sadly. Just gotta play better.

Also, as I've said repeatedly since the big trade last year, I think KAT and especially DLO are fundamental problems as cornerstone players. Both are weak defenders (especially DLO), they're both finesse guys with no physicality at all, and there's no real leadership character in either of them. Ryan can't trade them, but sadly, that's what probably needs to happen.

[AbeVigodaLive]

For a franchise with a long storied history (especially recently) of rewarding players prematurely and not holding anybody accountable... I'd pump the brakes on Edwards starting too.

I don't know if he's doing the little important things yet. But it's to be expected that he is not. He's a rookie in a pandemic. Use those little things as the carrot for playing time... not bucket getting.

As Q says... the Wolves need "do shit" guys. Winning teams have more "do shit" guys than bucket getters who don't offer much else. Here's hoping the Wolves try to cultivate a guy who can do it all, knows how to play and is held accountable for that.

[Coolbreeze44]

This team has very little chemistry right now, as evidenced by the lack of ball movement and weak effort on defense from most guys. Winning is the best cure for chemistry problems, but in the meantime, Saunders needs to find some kind of way to get the guys to trust each other and like playing with each other. It's not totally unexpected that we're 2-3, especially without KAT. So the sky's not necessarily falling. But yeah, this looks more like a collection of players than a team right now.

Practically speaking, I'm not on board with Edwards starting yet. If he can string together some good defensive games, especially against some bigger opponents, let's talk. If he can get his efficiency up a bit, make decisions a bit faster, and work a bit harder to drive and kick at times, then yes, I'm totally on board. In the meantime, let's keep featuring him off the bench. In an ideal world someday, Beasley should be a 6th man scoring punch off the bench and Edwards a starter, but we're not there right now. If Edwards were a 4, then absolutely, since that's such a huge hole for us. But let's keep the pressure of guys like Beasley, Culver, and Edwards by holding them all accountable in terms of playing time. Beasley has played ok so far, and although he's a bit of a defensive liability because of his size, I've liked his effort on that end so far this year. If Edwards is going to take his spot, make him earn it. In the meantime, let Beasley be motivated by the thought of a #1 draft pick coming off the bench who could at some point take his spot.

I think Rubio and DLO together makes some sense. It's not ideal, but this is the roster we've got, so I've been glad to see Ryan use that even though it would be great to see Rubio play more with Edwards too.

And sure, Vanderbilt is worth at least a bit more of a look at the 4. Sadly, he's just not big enough to play the 5, which is why we're having to rely on skinny Ed Davis minutes right now.

All in all, I'm not sure there are many good options here, sadly. Just gotta play better.

Also, as I've said repeatedly since the big trade last year, I think KAT and especially DLO are fundamental problems as cornerstone players. Both are weak defenders (especially DLO), they're both finesse guys with no physicality at all, and there's no real leadership character in either of them. Ryan can't trade them, but sadly, that's what probably needs to happen.

Yes, nothing grows or can sustain itself from a shaky foundation. And the lack of leadership only compounds the problem. DLO is DLO, and KAT has admitted he's not the same person he once was. Basketball is just a job at this point and it's pretty clear he would rather be doing the job somewhere else. We have a young head coach with little experience or cred. It's a terrible situation for the young guys to be in. As I said the day of the DLO trade, it's just going to be a disaster.

[FNG]

Dlo
Beasley
Culver
Edwards
Reid

Start Edwards at PF. He has more bulk to hold his own compared to the other wings we've started at the 4. Offensively he can stretch the floor and attack the hoop. Play a poor man Zions game. Worth a try?

Start Culver at SF and have him as my secondary ball handler next to Dlo. Tell him to focus on playmaking and rebounding.

Have Vanderbilt play atleast 20mpg to give us much needed rebounding and defense off the bench. McDaniels plays the remaining minutes at PF. Give Nowell some burn as well at the expense of Layman. Juancho needs to get in shape and earn minutes. From what i've seen he's slower and less engaged then he was last season.

Kiwi, you're one of the few advocates here for D-Lo playing PG rather than SG. Give us your reasons why you prefer him at the point?

[D-Mac [enjin:19736340]]

Put yourself in Ryan's shoes and be realistic. That means you can't send DLO to the G-League (or even the end of our bench) never to be heard from again - not happening!

What would you do differently in terms of lineup combos and play calling changes, starting Sunday?

Again, this has to be within the general contours of "the system", which means you can't have Ed Davis, Naz Reid, and Jarred Vanderbilt be our starting front line!

Now if someone wants to start another thread that has Rosas getting fired and you are now the new POBO, fine. But I want this to deal within the realities that exist today and tomorrow. No roster trades; no roster changes. You have a game on Sunday to prepare for.

Good question. I would put Vanderbilt in as the starting 4 at this point. That's the big thing I would do. I would show that effort gets rewarded and Vanderbilt has earned it over the last couple games. I'd keep Beasley dlo and Rubio on the perimeter and tell dlo to focus on ball movement and penetration... if he isn't doing that I'd give him a quick hook every time. I'd encourage Edwards to drive more without messing with his head too much. I'd give mcdaniels a little more run at the 3/4 also just to see what he can do. I'd tell layman to keep picking his spots to drive also. My message every game would be no free minutes for anyone... you earn it or you sit. We have the depth, so let's use it to motivate.

Lol I see that my answer was exactly the same as Abe's (and maybe others - didn't read through yet)... guess we know what he should do :)

[Lipoli390]

Ryan's in a nearly impossible situation. So if I were Ryan, I'd play the guys Rosas gave me and intended to as the core of this team. The point is this. If I'm in Ryan's shoes, I know my fate is tied to Rosas and I go up or down with him - likely down. That's the reality, in which case I'd start DLO, Beasley, Culver, Juancho and Naz with Ricky, Edwards, JMac, Davis and Vanderbilt coming off the bench. Rosas pride $7M per year for Juancho with the idea that he'd be our PF. Well, I'd give Rosas what he wanted. The only thing I'd do differently from what Ryan has been doing it to give more minutes to Vanderbilt,

If I'm hired by Glen to replace Ryan and told to do whatever I want with the pieces we have without regard to what Rosas might want, here's who I would play:

Starters:

1. JMac
2. Beasley
3. Culver
4. Davis
5. Naz

Bench:

6. Ricky or DLO
7. Edwards
8. Nowell
9. Vanderbilt

I know it's not realistic, but that's what I would do.

[D-Mac [enjin:19736340]]

Good topic, q. I'm going to assume you mean what can Ryan do with KAT and Okogie unavailable.

1) Rosas has not given him any attractive options at PF, but he needs to start one next to Naz. If Vanderbilt hasn't shown the coaching staff that he deserves anything other than garbage minutes (and I hope that's not true), then my choice next to Naz would be Juancho. He's been terrible so far this season and likely showed up out of shape, but he showed some signs remindful of last season last night. He also appears to have some chemistry with his countryman Rubio. Let's not forget that he started 14 games next to Naz last year, and averaged 16/9 per 36 on efficient shooting...and that was without a true PG with him most of the time. Juancho is slow, but he is a decent rebounder and above average 3-point shooter. Don't play Culver at PF anymore.

2) Play Rubio 35 minutes at PG with the other 13 going to J-Mac. D-Lo starts at SG and should never be on the court without a PG next to him.

3) Make Edwards and D-Lo accountable. I liked the short leash ryan had around his max player's neck last night, although it admittedly didn't help much. But if D-Lo "hero balls" possessions or is lazy on defense, Ryan needs to yank him out like he did twice last night. Similarly Ant needs to learn he is no longer the man, and that Ryan will bench him if he doesn't attack the basket or if he forces threes. Ryan is a player's coach, but he showed me last night he isn't going to tolerate lack of effort or hero ball.

4) Start Edwards at SF, but be ready for benching teaching moments. You aren't going to kill this kid's confidence, and he needs to earn his regular minutes. Recognize that Culver is not a PF, but can be quite effective off the bench at either wing position. I also want Beasley coming off the bench. If Ryan has D-Lo on the short leash I'm asking for, Malik will get plenty of minutes. The way they're playing right now, Beasley deserves as many minutes at the 2 as D-Lo.

5) Recognize we aren't going to win many games with KAT out. If we're down 20 at half time, a miracle win is not going to happen. In those situations, Ryan needs to play whoever is hustling the most. Even McDaniels or Vando. If you're not going to win, at least get some development minutes in.

Love all of this, but I'd change one thing... I'd tell Edwards that he is absolutely the man with towns out and I'm good with 20+ shots a night as along as a good portion are from drives and most of the 3's are off of ball movement. Totally totally agree on having Rubio or Jmac on the floor at all times!

[TheFuture]

1. Start edwards. Play him with your starters and get him as much time with Towns and dlo. Il swap beasley with him. Beas is a gamer but his best role will always be a 6th man /energy guy. Play him at his ideal role.

2. Play jmac. That guy can play and deserves to play. He is the best slasher of our 3 pgs and can shoot decently and play pesky and
hard nosed defense.

3. Enough with the stupid 4 guard lineup. Culver is not a pf. Layman is tall and can jump but he cant defend pf and il bet on wiggins over him when it comes to getting a contested rebound. Juancho is doing method
acting where he is acting the part of a basketball player like he was in that film he was shooting in the sumemer. He has no business seeing the court. Q's guy vanderbilt might be our only hope for a pf that can defend other pf and grab a rebound. Might as well start him ober layman and dont play juancho. Resign Hollis-Jefferson as soon as possible. He is twice more playable at pf than the rest of the options.

I dont think we can do much with the roster rosas assembled. It is sonpoorly constructed
where we have a giant hole at the 4 spot that we will always be at a disadvantage from the get go.

Saunders is fucked. He doesn't have the tools to do well, is not actually ready for the job, and his employer expects him to do great to not make himself look terrible for relinquishing a top asset (that draft pick). He is stuck, and this will carry with him to the point that he will only ever get a assistant job forever at best.

Lots of successful head coaches flopped in their first stint.

So besides telling us how awful Saunders is (which may be true), it's not realistic for him to resign in the next day. So tell us what you would do in terms of the lineup/gameplan on Sunday?

He should start with walking up to Rosas and demanding another big. Someone like RHJ. Besides that:

Rubio
Dlo
Edwards
Vanderbilt
Reid

That is disgusting to even type or read.

Jmac
Beasley
Culver
Layman
Davis

Pray for a top 3 pick.