Wolves Optimism - Present and Future

[shrink]

If Ant focuses on developing his playmaking this summer, every player on the team will be immediately better, not including their own internal growth. With his driving and three-point shooting already elite, good playmaking would turn Ant into a Top 5 player.

It's both skill and mentality. He still throws a lot of passes that just aren't that accurate, so I agree he could work on that. The mentality part I'm skeptical about. He's admitted that he loves to score and hates double teams. We have seen him look off open guys on multiple occasions because he has such supreme confidence that he's the better option (which I would agree with if the guy he looked off wasn't open for an easy layup or dunk!).

I worry about his mentality more than his skill.

I’m with you on this. Someone needs to convince him that if he becomes a better playmaker, defenses won’t sag off his teammates and he’d face less double-teams.

[Lipoli390]

If Ant focuses on developing his playmaking this summer, every player on the team will be immediately better, not including their own internal growth. With his driving and three-point shooting already elite, good playmaking would turn Ant into a Top 5 player.

It's both skill and mentality. He still throws a lot of passes that just aren't that accurate, so I agree he could work on that. The mentality part I'm skeptical about. He's admitted that he loves to score and hates double teams. We have seen him look off open guys on multiple occasions because he has such supreme confidence that he's the better option (which I would agree with if the guy he looked off wasn't open for an easy layup or dunk!).

I worry about his mentality more than his skill.

I’m with you on this. Someone needs to convince him that if he becomes a better playmaker, defenses won’t sag off his teammates and he’d face less double-teams.

Ant had 11 assists against Utah. So it looks like someone might have already gotten through to Ant on this point. Apparently, Ant spoke with MJ recently to ask him how to deal with all the double and triple teams he’s seeing. Maybe MJ’s answer was “pass the dam ball!” .

[BloopOracle]

I for one am very uncomfortable, we need to go back to an eight-man rotation ASAP

[FNG]

It's both skill and mentality. He still throws a lot of passes that just aren't that accurate, so I agree he could work on that. The mentality part I'm skeptical about. He's admitted that he loves to score and hates double teams. We have seen him look off open guys on multiple occasions because he has such supreme confidence that he's the better option (which I would agree with if the guy he looked off wasn't open for an easy layup or dunk!).

I worry about his mentality more than his skill.

I’m with you on this. Someone needs to convince him that if he becomes a better playmaker, defenses won’t sag off his teammates and he’d face less double-teams.

Ant had 11 assists against Utah. So it looks like someone might have already gotten through to Ant on this point. Apparently, Ant spoke with MJ recently to ask him how to deal with all the double and triple teams he’s seeing. Maybe MJ’s answer was “pass the dam ball!” .

I was going to post the same thing, Lip, but you beat me to it! I've been one of Ant's biggest detractors here, but I have seen a remarkable turnaround in his playmaking skills since his infamous "nothing I can do" comment. Ant has a tendency to say dumb things in the moment, but then pull his comment back 24 hours later. A recent example is his 180 on his post atlanta game comments 24 hours later. I see it as a sign of maturity. I am 100% more bullish on Ant's ceiling than I was in the days after the Celtics game.

[60WinTim]

From Jonny K:

Anthony Edwards in January:
30.3 ppg
.457 FG/.439 3s
5.8r, 5.8a
First player in Wolves history to average 30, 5.5, 5.5 in a calendar month

[Q-is-here]

I’m with you on this. Someone needs to convince him that if he becomes a better playmaker, defenses won’t sag off his teammates and he’d face less double-teams.

Ant had 11 assists against Utah. So it looks like someone might have already gotten through to Ant on this point. Apparently, Ant spoke with MJ recently to ask him how to deal with all the double and triple teams he’s seeing. Maybe MJ’s answer was “pass the dam ball!” .

I was going to post the same thing, Lip, but you beat me to it! I've been one of Ant's biggest detractors here, but I have seen a remarkable turnaround in his playmaking skills since his infamous "nothing I can do" comment. Ant has a tendency to say dumb things in the moment, but then pull his comment back 24 hours later. A recent example is his 180 on his post atlanta game comments 24 hours later. I see it as a sign of maturity. I am 100% more bullish on Ant's ceiling than I was in the days after the Celtics game.

He also seems a little more willing to hit Rudy with passes and Rudy seems to be making better decisions when he gets the ball on the short roll. He's even made some moves and shots that don't normally end well for him.

Back when we were complaining about Ant and whether Finch was holding him accountable, I had no doubt that he was being shown all of this stuff in film sessions. Finch tends to have a long-leash when it comes to in-game accountability with his vets (including Ant) and a short one with his young guys. But that doesn't mean his vets aren't being held to account behind the scenes. That's probably the right approach in the delicate world of NBA ego management.

[shrink]

It's both skill and mentality. He still throws a lot of passes that just aren't that accurate, so I agree he could work on that. The mentality part I'm skeptical about. He's admitted that he loves to score and hates double teams. We have seen him look off open guys on multiple occasions because he has such supreme confidence that he's the better option (which I would agree with if the guy he looked off wasn't open for an easy layup or dunk!).

I worry about his mentality more than his skill.

I’m with you on this. Someone needs to convince him that if he becomes a better playmaker, defenses won’t sag off his teammates and he’d face less double-teams.

Ant had 11 assists against Utah. So it looks like someone might have already gotten through to Ant on this point. Apparently, Ant spoke with MJ recently to ask him how to deal with all the double and triple teams he’s seeing. Maybe MJ’s answer was “pass the dam ball!” .

Love it! I hope he isn’t thinking “well they don’t need me to carry us against Utah so I’ll pass more to get Finchie off my back!” I love Ant, but I’ll believe he’s changed when he makes clutch passes in crunch time.