Q12543 wrote:Lip, what you say is true about the impact of folks with Covid, HOWEVER, Abe posted in another thread other players that have had it and how long they have been out. KAT by far is being held out the longest. Judging by how he's looked on the sidelines these past couple of games and the fact he's been back practicing, I just don't believe he has long-lasting effects. Why can't they play him on a minutes restriction and see how things go?
I truly believe it's a soft tank strategy.
This is my opinion also, I take Covid very seriously, I was lucky enough to get fully vaccinated today. I just think it is interesting Kat has been practicing, he has sat i believe me then any other player due covid (I get the family history). Ryan says he is out of Covid protocols. He has traveled with the team. If he hadn't been practicing i could agree with Lip more.
I believe this keeps Saunders and Rosas job. If Kat and Dlo don't play together they have the excuse.
Also how stupid it is 40% chance at a top 3 pick is better then a 20% chance if the Wolves keep winning.
100% believe the Wolves are tanking. This is the same GM that said we don't care if we win last year
Cade Cunningham or bust. Unfortunately, I can't even count on this front office making the right decision even if they get lucky enough to have the top pick.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:Q, don't forget KAT also had the wrist ailment that clearly wasn't healed at the time he contracted Covid. Not sure if that could still be at play here. What do you think the goal of the soft tank strategy would be? I just can't see it.
The goal is they want more talent/trade assets and a 40% shot at it is better than nothing.
As I've said for years, I hate tanking and believe it breeds a losing culture. The Timberwolves themselves are the best proof against a tanking strategy, as where has it gotten them in the multiple times they've done it?
CoolBreeze44 wrote:Q, don't forget KAT also had the wrist ailment that clearly wasn't healed at the time he contracted Covid. Not sure if that could still be at play here. What do you think the goal of the soft tank strategy would be? I just can't see it.
The goal is they want more talent/trade assets and a 40% shot at it is better than nothing.
As I've said for years, I hate tanking and believe it breeds a losing culture. The Timberwolves themselves are the best proof against a tanking strategy, as where has it gotten them in the multiple times they've done it?
So what you're saying is you wouldn't do it, but believe that is what is happening. Maybe I'm naive, and you know I have little respect for Rosas, but I can't believe that anyone worth his salt would throw away a season for less than a 50% chance at a high draft pick. And then of course the chances of you actually hitting on that draft pick is about 30%. My statistics education tells me that's .4 x .3 = a 12% chance of a favorable outcome. Rosas would either have to be extremely secure in his position, or figure it's his only shot at success.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:Q, don't forget KAT also had the wrist ailment that clearly wasn't healed at the time he contracted Covid. Not sure if that could still be at play here. What do you think the goal of the soft tank strategy would be? I just can't see it.
The goal is they want more talent/trade assets and a 40% shot at it is better than nothing.
As I've said for years, I hate tanking and believe it breeds a losing culture. The Timberwolves themselves are the best proof against a tanking strategy, as where has it gotten them in the multiple times they've done it?
So what you're saying is you wouldn't do it, but believe that is what is happening. Maybe I'm naive, and you know I have little respect for Rosas, but I can't believe that anyone worth his salt would throw away a season for less than a 50% chance at a high draft pick. And then of course the chances of you actually hitting on that draft pick is about 30%. My statistics education tells me that's .4 x .3 = a 12% chance of a favorable outcome. Rosas would either have to be extremely secure in his position, or figure it's his only shot at success.
If Kat and Dlo are back and the Wolves are still losing games there would be a really high probability of Rosas and Saunders getting fired at the end of the year.
I legit believe Rosas is doing what he is doing to keep his job. No Kat, no firing this year. Also increases the probability of getting a top 3 pick with more losing. This guy is all about asset management and any way he can keep an asset he will try and do it.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:Q, don't forget KAT also had the wrist ailment that clearly wasn't healed at the time he contracted Covid. Not sure if that could still be at play here. What do you think the goal of the soft tank strategy would be? I just can't see it.
The goal is they want more talent/trade assets and a 40% shot at it is better than nothing.
As I've said for years, I hate tanking and believe it breeds a losing culture. The Timberwolves themselves are the best proof against a tanking strategy, as where has it gotten them in the multiple times they've done it?
So what you're saying is you wouldn't do it, but believe that is what is happening. Maybe I'm naive, and you know I have little respect for Rosas, but I can't believe that anyone worth his salt would throw away a season for less than a 50% chance at a high draft pick. And then of course the chances of you actually hitting on that draft pick is about 30%. My statistics education tells me that's .4 x .3 = a 12% chance of a favorable outcome. Rosas would either have to be extremely secure in his position, or figure it's his only shot at success.
As noted, it's less about the pick and more about job preservation.
"We need more time to see DLO and KAT together. This season is an unfortunate wash. Blah blah."
Q12543 wrote:Lip, what you say is true about the impact of folks with Covid, HOWEVER, Abe posted in another thread other players that have had it and how long they have been out. KAT by far is being held out the longest. Judging by how he's looked on the sidelines these past couple of games and the fact he's been back practicing, I just don't believe he has long-lasting effects. Why can't they play him on a minutes restriction and see how things go?
I truly believe it's a soft tank strategy.
You think it's intended to ensure they end up with one of the worst three records to have the best, but still unlikely, chance of keeping their pick? I don't buy it. That would mean Rosas doesn't believe the roster he's assembled, with KAT and DLO, et al, can finish in the top 10 and qualify for the play-in tournament. It would be tantamount to acknowledging to Glen that he's failed. As for KAT's health, we have no way of knowing whether he's physically ready to play without seeing and understanding the CAT scans of his lungs and heart that I'm sure they've done.
Camden wrote:Cade Cunningham or bust. Unfortunately, I can't even count on this front office making the right decision even if they get lucky enough to have the top pick.
Cam, once again you've hit the nail on the head. I just don't trust this front office to make good picks at the top of the draft or savvy decisions when it comes to trades or free agency. I'm totally with you on Cade Cunningham. I was watching video of him the other day. He's a franchise talent.
I think they are absolutely tanking. Robson and Dane Moore have implied repeatedly that management is fine with losing and both have suggested a soft tank in their joint podcasts. We are still regularly playing at least 10 players without any of our roster in the top 20 for minutes. When asked if that was a load management issue Ryan said it kind of was but it was also part of their pace strategy. The fact is that no team with our shitty roster construction should be going 10+ deep every game. Its a total tank because its our last chance for a draft asset. Its insane and doesnt make sense, which is precisely why the Wolves are doing it.
Q12543 wrote:Lip, what you say is true about the impact of folks with Covid, HOWEVER, Abe posted in another thread other players that have had it and how long they have been out. KAT by far is being held out the longest. Judging by how he's looked on the sidelines these past couple of games and the fact he's been back practicing, I just don't believe he has long-lasting effects. Why can't they play him on a minutes restriction and see how things go?
I truly believe it's a soft tank strategy.
You think it's intended to ensure they end up with one of the worst three records to have the best, but still unlikely, chance of keeping their pick? I don't buy it. That would mean Rosas doesn't believe the roster he's assembled, with KAT and DLO, et al, can finish in the top 10 and qualify for the play-in tournament. It would be tantamount to acknowledging to Glen that he's failed. As for KAT's health, we have no way of knowing whether he's physically ready to play without seeing and understanding the CAT scans of his lungs and heart that I'm sure they've done.
Lip, I'm with you on this one. There are only 30 people in the world who run personnel for an NBA franchise. Even the worst of the worst have done a lot of things right to get to where they are. They've achieved a high level of success along the way I don't believe they're programmed to be so stupid as to waste a year of everyone in the organizations' career for a small chance at a 19 year old kid. If that's what Rosas is about, he's twice as bad as we thought.
