Game Report - Wolves v. Blazers

[Papalrep]

m4gor--
Sam kept Gorgui on the floor instead of KAT because Gorgui is much much better PnR defender than KAT at this point. KAT is going to need more experience to get there. That is btw reason why Sam plays Dieng in 4th quarters over him against fast guards. Rubio sucks donkey balls in PnR defense so you have to play your best big PnR defender to have any chance.

My observations:
95-92 for POR: Rubio gets fouled very softly still cannot finish layup for AND1.
95-94 for POR: Rubio runs into the screen, gives Lillard all the time in the world to make wide open 3 pointer.
98-94 for POR: Rubio gives up backdoor for C.J. for easy 2. (btw. if kid does it in junior category, he gots earplug and is subbed)
100-94: Rubio cannot finish reverse layup for some reason. Do not ask me why he cannot bang that of glass.

That is like -10 points caused by our marvelous 15mil starting PG in 2 minutes span. Last 3 minutes our offense works like this. Rubio dribbles half court gives ball to Zach and goes to camp left corner, that is where he hurts the least as his defender cannot double anybody in 4v4.

Last layup by Lillard. Rubio forced Lillard to go right side and Gorgui should be there as a help defender. He went too far with Plumlee and could not get to the spot where he could challenge Lillard with his layup. Rubio still should be closer to Lillard and challenge him a bit. He just cannot as Lillard out runs him by 8-10 feet on 40 feet sprint.

Thanks for posting this. Posts like this, where I learn something, is why I read this board. Ricky F-ing up a reverse layup pissed me off to the point where I swore at him on the game thread, but I did not realize the extent of his futility. I assume he is still playing hurt (he's always hurt, right?)

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I don't have the same negative feeling about Sam substituting Tay in for KAT late in the 4th quarter. I don't think anyone had an issue with Sam putting Tay in the game when Portland went small by substituting Crabbe in for Davis...Tay is one of our top 3 defenders and we didn't need two centers in the game against a quick lineup. So the only issue is who comes out...Gorgui or KAT. I actually like them both defensively at times (and not so much at other times), but agree with Sam that G is the better PnR defender and that was important with the ball likely to be in Lillard's hands. Plus he already had two 20 year olds on the court so it made sense to leave the more experienced Dieng on the court. Sam might have still been thinking about KAT's blown play in the second quarter when KG forced his man to the baseline but KAT didn't provide the obvious help defense...you could hear KG "mentoring" KAT very loudly after the made layup! As it turned out, Gorgui blew his defensive assignment by over-committing on his man so he was unavailable to help on Lillard. But I still think Sam put out the correct defensive lineup.

Sam has so many young players that he needs to be mindful of how he uses them in key situations, and I think Wig/KAT/Zach would have been one too many inexperienced defenders on the court at a critical moment. You only have to look at KAT's post-game comment about his late-game missed three to understand the mindset of a rookie. He said "I was already thinking in my mind about celebrating, what I was going to do". How do you think Sam liked that comment? Towns has just put up a shot that could give us a 1-point lead, and he's thinking about what celebration move he is going to do! I think Sam would have preferred hearing KAT say he was focusing on going for the offensive rebound or getting back on defense, not on how he was going to celebrate.

I'm not too troubled by KAT's comment (although I did find it kind of amusing). He's still a kid, and cannot be expected to behave or talk like an NBA veteran yet...but his time will come. In three years I'm pretty sure his mindset will be different, and we won't hear comments like this. I'm merely pointing out the challenges Sam faces every night of having so many unseasoned players. Can you imagine KG making a comment like that after a game? Or Tay? Or even Gorgui? KAT is going to be a great talent in this league...he's already off to a great start. But he's going to make rookie mistakes from time to time, and that's why Sam is keeping his minutes under 30 per game (although not last night) and favoring Gorgui at crunch time. Meanwhile, being able to play with and watch from the bench true pros like KG and Prince is only going to accelerate KAT's development. In fact, I would be surprised if both of them didn't talk to KAT at practice today about his post-game comment. It's all good, and all part of the maturation process.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Disappointed to hear about the loss, but good to see Kat bounced back. Looking forward to Pek coming back, he'll help us nail more 3 pointers.

Bania? That's gold, Lloyd...GOLD!!!!!

[Monster]

I watched the game today. One last thing I will add is the Wolves lost down the stretch because they didn't score and execute on that end. In the first half the offense was really looking good the right plays were made the ball moved more. I don't feel like analyzing all the reasons why but they couldn't get the buckets they needed in the 2nd half. One thing that really sucks is how it feels like a 3 pointer is hardly an option for this team in that game and the positive I saw was Towns getting a couple looks out there. It felt like the pace was quicker for the wolves in the first half also.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Disappointed to hear about the loss, but good to see Kat bounced back. Looking forward to Pek coming back, he'll help us nail more 3 pointers.

Bania? That's gold, Lloyd...GOLD!!!!!

Thanks LST. It was time for a change, a twolves win means a dinner at Mendy's.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Gorgui is meh in guarding the P&R. It's been discussed here over and over, but he allows guards to ride him all the way to the rim. Doesn't keep them in front. Karl-Anthony's much better at that while staying in position to defend the roller. Some of you are regurgitating Jim Petersen's opinion. I like Petersen, but he's a Sam Mitchell fanboy. Use your own eyes.

[Monster]

Gorgui is meh in guarding the P&R. It's been discussed here over and over, but he allows guards to ride him all the way to the rim. Doesn't keep them in front. Karl-Anthony's much better at that while staying in position to defend the roller. Some of you are regurgitating Jim Petersen's opinion. I like Petersen, but he's a Sam Mitchell fanboy. Use your own eyes.

Dieng has been better defensively the last few games and Towns has had a couple mix ups at times which is perfectly normal for a guy that young. Trust me I am not really buying Dieng is the better at much of anything than Towns but it seems like Sam is pumping up Dieng some and let's be honest he needs more of that than Towns who already looks like he might be a HOFer. I think I get what Sam is doing rotation wise actually.

What I do want to start seeing is a culture of getting up some more 3 point shots. Hell Dieng and Towns space out there some more. I'm starting not to buy in that this team doesn't have the guys to make 3 pointers.

One last thing is it seems like a lot of guys really seem to be pulling for Martin to do well. I'd be interested to see what Lip may see at the games. There was one point of the game Martin got fouled went to the floor and guys jumped up off the bench to help him up. That was in the first half when he was really working hard on D and doing a pretty good job on both ends of the floor really.

[Yosimar]

I don't have the same negative feeling about Sam substituting Tay in for KAT late in the 4th quarter. I don't think anyone had an issue with Sam putting Tay in the game when Portland went small by substituting Crabbe in for Davis...Tay is one of our top 3 defenders and we didn't need two centers in the game against a quick lineup. So the only issue is who comes out...Gorgui or KAT. I actually like them both defensively at times (and not so much at other times), but agree with Sam that G is the better PnR defender and that was important with the ball likely to be in Lillard's hands. Plus he already had two 20 year olds on the court so it made sense to leave the more experienced Dieng on the court. Sam might have still been thinking about KAT's blown play in the second quarter when KG forced his man to the baseline but KAT didn't provide the obvious help defense...you could hear KG "mentoring" KAT very loudly after the made layup! As it turned out, Gorgui blew his defensive assignment by over-committing on his man so he was unavailable to help on Lillard. But I still think Sam put out the correct defensive lineup.

Sam has so many young players that he needs to be mindful of how he uses them in key situations, and I think Wig/KAT/Zach would have been one too many inexperienced defenders on the court at a critical moment. You only have to look at KAT's post-game comment about his late-game missed three to understand the mindset of a rookie. He said "I was already thinking in my mind about celebrating, what I was going to do". How do you think Sam liked that comment? Towns has just put up a shot that could give us a 1-point lead, and he's thinking about what celebration move he is going to do! I think Sam would have preferred hearing KAT say he was focusing on going for the offensive rebound or getting back on defense, not on how he was going to celebrate.

I'm not too troubled by KAT's comment (although I did find it kind of amusing). He's still a kid, and cannot be expected to behave or talk like an NBA veteran yet...but his time will come. In three years I'm pretty sure his mindset will be different, and we won't hear comments like this. I'm merely pointing out the challenges Sam faces every night of having so many unseasoned players. Can you imagine KG making a comment like that after a game? Or Tay? Or even Gorgui? KAT is going to be a great talent in this league...he's already off to a great start. But he's going to make rookie mistakes from time to time, and that's why Sam is keeping his minutes under 30 per game (although not last night) and favoring Gorgui at crunch time. Meanwhile, being able to play with and watch from the bench true pros like KG and Prince is only going to accelerate KAT's development. In fact, I would be surprised if both of them didn't talk to KAT at practice today about his post-game comment. It's all good, and all part of the maturation process.

I don't get what the big deal about that is or why Sam would have an issue with it than again maybe my expectations of him are probably too high, if anything it shows a young man who's extremely confident in his skills and knows/thinks every shot he takes will go in. That's the type of mentality you need in a winner.

You think MJ didn't believe every shot he took was gonna go in? Kobe?... Could he have worded that better? sure, but i have absolutely no issues with him saying that. Kid is confident and a winner, expect nothing less being said but him making it known he expects to make those type of shots.

Dieng or Prince, or hell even KG wouldn't have been asked that question because none of them would've probably had the balls to shoot that much less believe they were going to make it.

[Lipoli390]

I don't have the same negative feeling about Sam substituting Tay in for KAT late in the 4th quarter. I don't think anyone had an issue with Sam putting Tay in the game when Portland went small by substituting Crabbe in for Davis...Tay is one of our top 3 defenders and we didn't need two centers in the game against a quick lineup. So the only issue is who comes out...Gorgui or KAT. I actually like them both defensively at times (and not so much at other times), but agree with Sam that G is the better PnR defender and that was important with the ball likely to be in Lillard's hands. Plus he already had two 20 year olds on the court so it made sense to leave the more experienced Dieng on the court. Sam might have still been thinking about KAT's blown play in the second quarter when KG forced his man to the baseline but KAT didn't provide the obvious help defense...you could hear KG "mentoring" KAT very loudly after the made layup! As it turned out, Gorgui blew his defensive assignment by over-committing on his man so he was unavailable to help on Lillard. But I still think Sam put out the correct defensive lineup.

Sam has so many young players that he needs to be mindful of how he uses them in key situations, and I think Wig/KAT/Zach would have been one too many inexperienced defenders on the court at a critical moment. You only have to look at KAT's post-game comment about his late-game missed three to understand the mindset of a rookie. He said "I was already thinking in my mind about celebrating, what I was going to do". How do you think Sam liked that comment? Towns has just put up a shot that could give us a 1-point lead, and he's thinking about what celebration move he is going to do! I think Sam would have preferred hearing KAT say he was focusing on going for the offensive rebound or getting back on defense, not on how he was going to celebrate.

I'm not too troubled by KAT's comment (although I did find it kind of amusing). He's still a kid, and cannot be expected to behave or talk like an NBA veteran yet...but his time will come. In three years I'm pretty sure his mindset will be different, and we won't hear comments like this. I'm merely pointing out the challenges Sam faces every night of having so many unseasoned players. Can you imagine KG making a comment like that after a game? Or Tay? Or even Gorgui? KAT is going to be a great talent in this league...he's already off to a great start. But he's going to make rookie mistakes from time to time, and that's why Sam is keeping his minutes under 30 per game (although not last night) and favoring Gorgui at crunch time. Meanwhile, being able to play with and watch from the bench true pros like KG and Prince is only going to accelerate KAT's development. In fact, I would be surprised if both of them didn't talk to KAT at practice today about his post-game comment. It's all good, and all part of the maturation process.

I don't get what the big deal about that is or why Sam would have an issue with it than again maybe my expectations of him are probably too high, if anything it shows a young man who's extremely confident in his skills and knows/thinks every shot he takes will go in. That's the type of mentality you need in a winner.

You think MJ didn't believe every shot he took was gonna go in? Kobe?... Could he have worded that better? sure, but i have absolutely no issues with him saying that. Kid is confident and a winner, expect nothing less being said but him making it known he expects to make those type of shots.

Dieng or Prince, or hell even KG wouldn't have been asked that question because none of them would've probably had the balls to shoot that much less believe they were going to make it.

Well said, Yosimar!! I'm glad KAT still
Has that confidence and swagger. It's a confidence league - especially when it comes to shooting. I suspect that Sam does not foster confidence.

[Lipoli390]

Gorgui is meh in guarding the P&R. It's been discussed here over and over, but he allows guards to ride him all the way to the rim. Doesn't keep them in front. Karl-Anthony's much better at that while staying in position to defend the roller. Some of you are regurgitating Jim Petersen's opinion. I like Petersen, but he's a Sam Mitchell fanboy. Use your own eyes.

Dieng has been better defensively the last few games and Towns has had a couple mix ups at times which is perfectly normal for a guy that young. Trust me I am not really buying Dieng is the better at much of anything than Towns but it seems like Sam is pumping up Dieng some and let's be honest he needs more of that than Towns who already looks like he might be a HOFer. I think I get what Sam is doing rotation wise actually.

What I do want to start seeing is a culture of getting up some more 3 point shots. Hell Dieng and Towns space out there some more. I'm starting not to buy in that this team doesn't have the guys to make 3 pointers.

One last thing is it seems like a lot of guys really seem to be pulling for Martin to do well. I'd be interested to see what Lip may see at the games. There was one point of the game Martin got fouled went to the floor and guys jumped up off the bench to help him up. That was in the first half when he was really working hard on D and doing a pretty good job on both ends of the floor really.

Monster - You're right about the guys pulling for Martin. But what you see live is that they're all pulling for each other. I really like the talent and chemistry among the the players. We have a better team than our record. More experience and a better coach next season are what we need.