Game Report - Wolves v. Pacers

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I was also unfortunate enough to attend this game...although I was smart enough to leave with 5 minutes left. While I was very unhappy with the way we played, I tend to side with the calmer souls here who point out this is just one game. I don't know, maybe Doper is right...perhaps a few other players also had a touch of Butler's illness. I've never seen a team so inept in getting back on defense, and I'd like to think several guys are under the weather. I also have to point out that Indiana was absurdly hot...those nights are going to happen.

But we didn't look like a very good basketball team without Butler last night, and I'm worried that may reoccur...he has been such a terrific defensive coach on the floor, and it's clear Thibs is just not getting through to these guys on defense (I don't know if that is on him or on them...probably a combination).

It was too bad Wig put up such a clunker after such a terrific performance in OkC. Alan Horton suggested post-game that his missed free throws seemed to deflate his teammates. I will also point out that his rebound total last night was clearly inflated...2-3 times he was the recipient of a good bounce when 5-6 other players were fighting for the ball.

I get the criticism of KAT on the defensive side of the ball and on the boards, but he was awesome on offense last night. 28 points on only 17 shots, and lots of great footwork. Nobody else was impressive other than Belly and at times Bazz. Just a forgettable game in a dead arena.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Yes, they were hot. But it's funny how teams seem to always get hot on us. Good defensive teams do things to knock guys out of their rhythm.

As for KAT, he is beginning to be the Center version of James Harden. His offensive skill-set is breathtaking at times, but defensively he's becoming a role model of what not to do. His positioning and timing, especially in the paint, is just terrible - almost comedic at times. I can't believe they don't have someone working with him on this stuff. Like others said, his stats are meaningless if he is a turn-style on the other end. Harden could get away with a bit more guarding out on the perimeter....it's a LOT more problematic if it's your Center!

[TheFuture]

Yes, they were hot. But it's funny how teams seem to always get hot on us. Good defensive teams do things to knock guys out of their rhythm.

As for KAT, he is beginning to be the Center version of James Harden. His offensive skill-set is breathtaking at times, but defensively he's becoming a role model of what not to do. His positioning and timing, especially in the paint, is just terrible - almost comedic at times. I can't believe they don't have someone working with him on this stuff. Like others said, his stats are meaningless if he is a turn-style on the other end. Harden could get away with a bit more guarding out on the perimeter....it's a LOT more problematic if it's your Center!

I might need to use my toes to count how many times he is completely under the rim on defense. Not only can you not defend that way, but you also are not going to get the defensive rebound. Same thing happened @ OKC.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Cools right. We should be 0-4. What a let down after a big win. How does a Paul George-less pacers team drop 131 on us? What a joke. No team yet, just a collection of scorers.

[Lipoli390]

I was at the game last night. Had the fortune of sitting court side in Cambria's seats. I thought Kat was terrible, both side of the ball. He had the stretch in the 2nd/3rd quarter where he scored at will often going 3-1, he's yet to figure out how to make players better. During this stretch Kat felt the need to start jawing with Sabonis, one time chasing him down the court and tripping him, getting called for the foul and crying about it. Crawford, from the bench tried to wave Kat over to him to calm him down. Kat looked right at him and waved him off, and just ignored him,Crawford was noticeably annoyed. I thought that was interesting because I've seen a handful of times in huddles this year where Crawford is coaching Kat, which I think is great and needed.

He's such a selfish player to me, he's the most annoying player on the team in my eyes. He lacks any sort of leadership skills. Even worse is he pretends to be a leader. At least Wiggins doesn't present. Lip, you're at a lot of games, give me an example of Kat showing leadership skills, encouraging teammate, etc...

Also, Tyus played his worst game in awhile. He had about 3-4 opportunities when the ball was swung around the perimeter where he passed up wide open 3's instead passing to much less open teammates. It was bad, Belly did this a couple time also.

Duke -- I can't give you an example of KAT showing leadership. In my experience he never has. He's not a leader. He played terribly on the defensive end last night, which is unfortunately noting new for him. But I think the criticism of KAT's performance is overstated considering his 27 points. If Wiggins had scored 27 points we might have made it a game in spite of the defensive failings of both those guys and the rest of the team. There are others more deserving of being singled out. But the team as a whole was so horrible (except for Crawford) that I just can't get myself to single out any individual player for praise or blame. Last night this team looked like the team we saw repeatedly last season on their way to 31 wins. This group, minus Butler, needs to improve substantially in multiple areas. And at some point, maybe now, the head coach/President of basketball ops needs to be held accountable.

[Lipoli390]

Kawhi Leonard misses games yet the Spurs still find a way. Indiana played without Turner and they still found a way. The Wolves can't fold like a house of cards every time Butler misses a game, and his history suggests this is going to happen from time to time. They still have the appearance of a very fragile, immature team. How could this group, never having accomplished anything, be feeling their oats after the big win in OKC? This immaturity needs to end right now or it's going to be another in a long line of disappointments for the franchise. They should be embarrassed by the lack of effort and accountability last night. If I'm Glen Taylor I'm asking some pointed questions this morning.

Cool -- I agree with you completely!! I also agree that no one should be giving Thibs a free pass at this point. I really wish you were our President of Basketball Ops. Seriously. I'd love to have you there, sitting down with Thibs and asking those pointed questions -- or address the entire team and challenge them.

I don't have any answers and perhaps all will be well after last night's implosion. But I honestly never expected to see the kind of pathetic throw-back performance we saw last night. And it should NEVER happen again!

[Lipoli390]

Yes, they were hot. But it's funny how teams seem to always get hot on us. Good defensive teams do things to knock guys out of their rhythm.

As for KAT, he is beginning to be the Center version of James Harden. His offensive skill-set is breathtaking at times, but defensively he's becoming a role model of what not to do. His positioning and timing, especially in the paint, is just terrible - almost comedic at times. I can't believe they don't have someone working with him on this stuff. Like others said, his stats are meaningless if he is a turn-style on the other end. Harden could get away with a bit more guarding out on the perimeter....it's a LOT more problematic if it's your Center!

I agree with your take on KAT's defense. And the Harden comparison is a good one. But I don't agree that his poor defense renders his offensive production and rebounding entirely meaningless. It certainly takes away from his positives, but it doesn't entirely negate them. He gets this team a lot of possessions with his rebounding (they're not just the easy boards either) and consistently puts points on the board efficiently. He rarely follows a 20+ point game with a 4 point game. I'm far more worried about the other players who contribute nothing positive on either end of the court as we saw from almost the entire team (other than KAT) last night.

[Lipoli390]

Lip I'm curious about how Thibs was because every time they showed him down the stretch he seemed calm sorta like a normal person which is weird when his team was getting beat. Lol

Good observation, Monster. Strangely, Thibs has been unusually calm during games thus far this season. I know that Glen talking to him about his foul language. Maybe he's more comfortable now that he has the guys he wants in Butler, Gibson, Teague and Crawford. But I don't know how he could be comfortable with what he got from Gibson and Teague as well as the rest of the team last night. Maybe he's on some meds. :). I've gotten to the point where I don't care about his demeanor so long as the team does well.

[Monster]

Lip I'm curious about how Thibs was because every time they showed him down the stretch he seemed calm sorta like a normal person which is weird when his team was getting beat. Lol

Good observation, Monster. Strangely, Thibs has been unusually calm during games thus far this season. I know that Glen talking to him about his foul language. Maybe he's more comfortable now that he has the guys he wants in Butler, Gibson, Teague and Crawford. But I don't know how he could be comfortable with what he got from Gibson and Teague as well as the rest of the team last night. Maybe he's on some meds. :). I've gotten to the point where I don't care about his demeanor so long as the team does well.

Souhan and Jon K said on their last podcast that his on court demeanor could actually matter in how long he is given to turn this thing around by Glen, fans, media and even some of the other business folks in the organization. I think we know the factors why that would be. I'll be interested from time to time what your sense of his on court antics are during this season.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Lip I'm curious about how Thibs was because every time they showed him down the stretch he seemed calm sorta like a normal person which is weird when his team was getting beat. Lol

Good observation, Monster. Strangely, Thibs has been unusually calm during games thus far this season. I know that Glen talking to him about his foul language. Maybe he's more comfortable now that he has the guys he wants in Butler, Gibson, Teague and Crawford. But I don't know how he could be comfortable with what he got from Gibson and Teague as well as the rest of the team last night. Maybe he's on some meds. :). I've gotten to the point where I don't care about his demeanor so long as the team does well.

Souhan and Jon K said on their last podcast that his on court demeanor could actually matter in how long he is given to turn this thing around by Glen, fans, media and even some of the other business folks in the organization. I think we know the factors why that would be. I'll be interested from time to time what your sense of his on court antics are during this season.

Yep, I can attest to the fact that Thibs heard Glen loud and clear, and has adjusted his behavior accordingly. Now if he could just improve that defense...