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Re: Slo-Mo is coming home!
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2026 7:29 pm
by KiwiMatt
Now we have two great options for clutch time inbound passes. Slo Mo or Jingles. Spoilt for choice! How will Finchie decide who to roll with.
Re: Slo-Mo is coming home!
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2026 8:05 pm
by Q-is-here
60WinTim was all over this weeks ago - and poof! - it happens.
If we have to rely on SloMo and Conley for key playoff minutes it's a failure of Tim Connelly and Chris Finch for not properly finding and developing the right supporting cast, as both guys are two years older and less effective than they were when they helped us lose the Dallas series in 2024.
But if they are supportive vets that fill in when needed to win a regular season game here and there, then that's the appropriate role for them.
Re: Slo-Mo is coming home!
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2026 8:13 pm
by SameOldNudityDrew
Well, I'm not sure how much he's got left in the tank, but at least we know he can pass, defend bigs, and take a punch.
Seriously though, this is at least some injury insurance. If one of our bigs went down, especially Rudy, that could really be it for us unfortunately. Beringer is exciting but too young to really trust a lot in the playoffs.
And SloMo does give us some vet experience, which we know Finch obviously likes. You can run offensive plays through him and trust he'll grab a steal or two and generally take care of the ball. In that sense, this might be kind of like a Conley upgrade more than anything. He may have tailed off like Mike (I'm not sure), but at least he's bigger than Mike, so that's something. He can't playmake like Julius because he's not going to initiate much off the dribble, but like Julius, this does give us the option of having a big distribute the ball. Honestly, it probably opens up another couple plays the offense can run with SloMo catching the ball around the free throw line with his back to the basket and then passing to cutters off screens. That's the kind of set, off-ball movement play that this team definitely needs to run more of, so hopefully this will light a fire under guys to actually run some more sets.
Re: Slo-Mo is coming home!
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2026 8:22 pm
by 60WinTim
SameOldNudityDrew wrote: ↑Thu Feb 26, 2026 8:13 pm
Well, I'm not sure how much he's got left in the tank, but at least we know he can pass, defend bigs, and take a punch.
Seriously though, this is at least some injury insurance. If one of our bigs went down, especially Rudy, that could really be it for us unfortunately. Beringer is exciting but too young to really trust a lot in the playoffs.
And SloMo does give us some vet experience, which we know Finch obviously likes. You can run offensive plays through him and trust he'll grab a steal or two and generally take care of the ball. In that sense, this might be kind of like a Conley upgrade more than anything. He may have tailed off like Mike (I'm not sure), but at least he's bigger than Mike, so that's something. He can't playmake like Julius because he's not going to initiate much off the dribble, but like Julius, this does give us the option of having a big distribute the ball. Honestly, it probably opens up another couple plays the offense can run with SloMo catching the ball around the free throw line with his back to the basket and then passing to cutters off screens. That's the kind of set, off-ball movement play that this team definitely needs to run more of, so hopefully this will light a fire under guys to actually run some more sets.
Yeah, the more I think about it, SloMo WILL be part of the rotation, with Shannon and/or Bones fighting for the .5 left in the rotation. While I like Bones and he works hard on defense, he is not very effective on the defensive end, at least by my eye test.
Re: Slo-Mo is coming home!
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2026 8:34 pm
by SameOldNudityDrew
60WinTim wrote: ↑Thu Feb 26, 2026 8:22 pm
SameOldNudityDrew wrote: ↑Thu Feb 26, 2026 8:13 pm
Well, I'm not sure how much he's got left in the tank, but at least we know he can pass, defend bigs, and take a punch.
Seriously though, this is at least some injury insurance. If one of our bigs went down, especially Rudy, that could really be it for us unfortunately. Beringer is exciting but too young to really trust a lot in the playoffs.
And SloMo does give us some vet experience, which we know Finch obviously likes. You can run offensive plays through him and trust he'll grab a steal or two and generally take care of the ball. In that sense, this might be kind of like a Conley upgrade more than anything. He may have tailed off like Mike (I'm not sure), but at least he's bigger than Mike, so that's something. He can't playmake like Julius because he's not going to initiate much off the dribble, but like Julius, this does give us the option of having a big distribute the ball. Honestly, it probably opens up another couple plays the offense can run with SloMo catching the ball around the free throw line with his back to the basket and then passing to cutters off screens. That's the kind of set, off-ball movement play that this team definitely needs to run more of, so hopefully this will light a fire under guys to actually run some more sets.
Yeah, the more I think about it, SloMo WILL be part of the rotation, with Shannon and/or Bones fighting for the .5 left in the rotation. While I like Bones and he works hard on defense, he is not very effective on the defensive end, at least by my eye test.
Maybe. I suspect Finch is going to go with an 8 man rotation again in the playoffs. Naz and Ayo have 6 and 7 locked down. And maybe that 8th role will depend on matchups and how well the rest of these guys can contribute the rest of the season. TJ vs. OKC or if we want to push the pace, Bones if we're getting pressed and need a ballhandler, SloMo if we need a big other than Rudy to defend. I suspect the rest of the year will kind of be like a mini-tryout for those three to see who can solidify Finch's trust. Mike and Beringer could theoretically play--Mike because Finch trusts him and Beringer because he really can protect the paint well--and obviously Finch trusts Mike more at this point. But I'd see those two as both less likely to get minutes going forward this season because of the SloMo signing. He's one of those weird guys who can give you a little of what both of those guys can bring.
Re: Slo-Mo is coming home!
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2026 8:34 pm
by Phenom
60WinTim Connelly willed this into existence
Re: Slo-Mo is coming home!
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2026 8:40 pm
by 60WinTim
Phenom wrote: ↑Thu Feb 26, 2026 8:34 pm
60WinTim Connelly willed this into existence
I'm telling you, it was just logical. Given SloMo's usage on other teams, his familiarity with the Wolves, his contract situation, the Wolves need for depth in both the frontcourt and for ball handling. There was almost no other outcome!
Re: Slo-Mo is coming home!
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2026 8:50 pm
by TAFKASP
AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 26, 2026 6:50 pm
There's no doubt that the rotation is stronger now than it was even just a few weeks ago. Question is if they can finally rise to being more than the sum of their parts
I'd be happy if they finally rose to equal to the sum of their parts. Other than early January they've been hot garbage!
Re: Slo-Mo is coming home!
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2026 8:54 pm
by AussieWolf3
TAFKASP wrote: ↑Thu Feb 26, 2026 8:50 pm
AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 26, 2026 6:50 pm
There's no doubt that the rotation is stronger now than it was even just a few weeks ago. Question is if they can finally rise to being more than the sum of their parts
I'd be happy if they finally rose to equal to the sum of their parts. Other than early January they've been hot garbage!
Can't say I disagree
Re: Slo-Mo is coming home!
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2026 9:59 pm
by Phenom
I love having Kyle back for the size, ball handling and also the defensive mentality. I'm really curious how the rotation settles in.