Minnesota Sports Forum

Tim I agree with you on Rush's dissapointing start largely being on the teams inability to find open shooters or create those open looks for teammates.

Has anyone noticed when Kat actually does kick the ball out to an open perimeter player it's almost alway Rubio?! Which makes sense on some level because teams are gonna leave Rubio. I've seen Kat have Lavine in his view wide open for a 3 and decide to take an ill advised shot, actually I see it 2-3 times a game. I find it extremely odd to be honest. Anyone else notice this?

Duke13 wrote:Tim I agree with you on Rush's dissapointing start largely being on the teams inability to find open shooters or create those open looks for teammates.

Has anyone noticed when Kat actually does kick the ball out to an open perimeter player it's almost alway Rubio?! Which makes sense on some level because teams are gonna leave Rubio. I've seen Kat have Lavine in his view wide open for a 3 and decide to take an ill advised shot, actually I see it 2-3 times a game. I find it extremely odd to be honest. Anyone else notice this?

He did it either last night or against Toronto via step-back jumper from three. I got heated after that. Make the easy play, especially when it's the right play. Immaturity on full blast.

Exactly, and more importantly I really think it impacts the moral of the players. If they started making these right plays on a more consistent basis I think it would go a long way.

Another thing I'd like to see just once, please just one time!! When our favorite hustle player Shabazz gets one of his offensive rebounds, to gather himself and kick it out to an open shooter instead of showing the ball to the defender and throwing up for a terrible put back attempt, most times it gets blocked, just kick it out and make the right play. Or at the very least give a pump fake and show a resemblance or NBA quality footwork and get an easy put back. I think I'm asking too much with this one.

Duke13 wrote:Exactly, and more importantly I really think it impacts the moral of the players. If they started making these right plays on a more consistent basis I think it would go a long way.

Another thing I'd like to see just once, please just one time!! When our favorite hustle player Shabazz gets one of his offensive rebounds, to gather himself and kick it out to an open shooter instead of showing the ball to the defender and throwing up for a terrible put back attempt, most times it gets blocked, just kick it out and make the right play. Or at the very least give a pump fake and show a resemblance or NBA quality footwork and get an easy put back. I think I'm asking too much with this one.

Bazz has passed out a lot more this year than he has in the past. Towns espcially and Dieng sometimes should be passing out in those situations a bunch also but instead they take on 3 or what seems like more defenders.

Well, Bazz is awful, so...

I agree there have been times Bazz has passed a bit more this year, but that's not saying much. I won't say they are passes that create many opportunities for teammates tho. I'm mainly surprised when he touches the ball and doesn't immediate throw up a shot. Yes Gorgi and KAT needed to do that as well. Easiest way to get an open stand still 3 is a lockout off a offensive board, doesn't happen much on this team.

Camden wrote:Well, Bazz is awful, so...

All I will say and then move along is a Bazz guy I feel a bit bad for Bazz. I think he has done a lot of the stuff every fan has asked of him this year. He is moving the ball better, playing better defensively (he was bad in the Pistons game though), not just jacking up his shot every chance he gets and...it hasn't really made him better overall. Its fair to wonder if he can play as a supporting role player as opposed to being a guy that's sort of a high usage guy when he is out there. I know many people have concluded that long ago and they are looking right at this point. Like I said I feel for Bazz a bit because he works hard seems to have a good attitude and seems to be putting forth the effort to play a more team game and...its not working out for him. Its really tough to imagine him being a useful player here (maybe anywhere) if he can't hit 3's. He is just another guy on this team that hasn't been good enough this year. I fully recognize that. I just wish some things had gone a bit better since he seems to be doing more of the good things. oh well.

Duke13 wrote:Exactly, and more importantly I really think it impacts the moral of the players. If they started making these right plays on a more consistent basis I think it would go a long way.

Another thing I'd like to see just once, please just one time!! When our favorite hustle player Shabazz gets one of his offensive rebounds, to gather himself and kick it out to an open shooter instead of showing the ball to the defender and throwing up for a terrible put back attempt, most times it gets blocked, just kick it out and make the right play. Or at the very least give a pump fake and show a resemblance or NBA quality footwork and get an easy put back. I think I'm asking too much with this one.

My son and I comment on this every game. Bazz, Dieng, and Towns will get a good offensive rebound and then they will almost always try to force up a shot. Worse are the ones where they try to rebound and tip in the ball in the same motion.

Look I get it. Bigs and Shabazz only see the ball when a guard/wing deigns to share it with them. So rebounds are the one time where you have some control over when you get the ball. And when you get it, you want to score.

But those are just really terrible shots most of the time. We'd be much better served as a team kicking the ball out and rotating to a weak side shooter, or re-posting and letting the rebounder try to score vs. one defender.

Wile E Coyote wrote:
My son and I comment on this every game. Bazz, Dieng, and Towns will get a good offensive rebound and then they will almost always try to force up a shot. Worse are the ones where they try to rebound and tip in the ball in the same motion.

Look I get it. Bigs and Shabazz only see the ball when a guard/wing deigns to share it with them. So rebounds are the one time where you have some control over when you get the ball. And when you get it, you want to score.

But those are just really terrible shots most of the time. We'd be much better served as a team kicking the ball out and rotating to a weak side shooter, or re-posting and letting the rebounder try to score vs. one defender.

I agree that this has been really frustrating to see. Even more frustrating was to watch same in game at New York. It seemed that every time Kyle O'Quinn got offensive rebound, he just easily established good position under our basket and scored every single time. Then every time Towns got offensive rebound he forced a bad off balanced shot that had no change going in. Quite often his shot attempts were even blocked. We could really use a big guy that has enough strength to keep his position under the basket and score from those offensive rebounds. With Towns it is either put back dunk or if he isn't able to dunk it directly from offensive board, it turns to horrible off balanced shot attempt.

How good with a healthy Pekovic look on this team?