The Ball Effect

[Lipoli390]

What are your guys thoughts on Balls minutes? Last year to obviously try and keep him healthy he ended up playing just 28 minutes a game. But he did play 72 games too.

I think that for the regular season, I'd take that. I'd shoot for that 28-30 most nights. Maybe going into the 34+ range in OT games.

I think the goal should be to keep him healthy for the playoffs. Same for Ant. I'd play Ant a few less minutes per game as well compared to previous years during the regular season. Playoffs, then up it back up.

Both players need to try and limit the overall wear and tear, which then also limits the risk for in game injuries a bit more too.

I was thinking the same thing, Wolvesfan. Melo stayed healthy at 28 minutes last season. I say don’t mess with a proven formula. I’d manage him a 28-32 minutes range. Having Ayo allows us to do that successfully in the regular season. Assuming we keep TSJ, Finchy has said he thinks Terrance can facilitate the offense as well.

[Wolvesfan21]

What are your guys thoughts on Balls minutes? Last year to obviously try and keep him healthy he ended up playing just 28 minutes a game. But he did play 72 games too.

I think that for the regular season, I'd take that. I'd shoot for that 28-30 most nights. Maybe going into the 34+ range in OT games.

I think the goal should be to keep him healthy for the playoffs. Same for Ant. I'd play Ant a few less minutes per game as well compared to previous years during the regular season. Playoffs, then up it back up.

Both players need to try and limit the overall wear and tear, which then also limits the risk for in game injuries a bit more too.

This is where Finch needs to play the 9-12 guys more than in the past, especially before the all-star break. The bench needs to be used at a much higher rate and then can taper off. Talk to Ant and tell him he gets 8 minutes per quarter and to go 100% on both ends of the floor. If he needs a rest, sub him out for 2 minutes. He needs to up his regular season intensity to get the entire team to play at a high level right away. Flicking the switch worked until it didn't.

100%. Play at a faster pace and more intense, but less minutes to counter it. We need to keep these guys fresher. Both now have injury history (what NBA player doesn't though but Melos ankles are pretty big and Ants knees are a thing too). But the thought of, less minutes, but higher intensity is the smartest path. Because Melo is best also in transition in pushing the pace too. So to be our best and be fresh, higher energy, more depth used, but less minutes for starters.

And the guys will still get their points too, if they are ever worried about that if they play a little faster (more possessions).

[Lipoli390]

What are your guys thoughts on Balls minutes? Last year to obviously try and keep him healthy he ended up playing just 28 minutes a game. But he did play 72 games too.

I think that for the regular season, I'd take that. I'd shoot for that 28-30 most nights. Maybe going into the 34+ range in OT games.

I think the goal should be to keep him healthy for the playoffs. Same for Ant. I'd play Ant a few less minutes per game as well compared to previous years during the regular season. Playoffs, then up it back up.

Both players need to try and limit the overall wear and tear, which then also limits the risk for in game injuries a bit more too.

This is where Finch needs to play the 9-12 guys more than in the past, especially before the all-star break. The bench needs to be used at a much higher rate and then can taper off. Talk to Ant and tell him he gets 8 minutes per quarter and to go 100% on both ends of the floor. If he needs a rest, sub him out for 2 minutes. He needs to up his regular season intensity to get the entire team to play at a high level right away. Flicking the switch worked until it didn't.

100%. Play at a faster pace and more intense, but less minutes to counter it. We need to keep these guys fresher. Both now have injury history (what NBA player doesn't though but Melos ankles are pretty big and Ants knees are a thing too). But the thought of, less minutes, but higher intensity is the smartest path. Because Melo is best also in transition in pushing the pace too. So to be our best and be fresh, higher energy, more depth used, but less minutes for starters.

And the guys will still get their points too, if they are ever worried about that if they play a little faster (more possessions).

Yes!

[Lipoli390]

https://www.google.com/search?q=Howls+a ... 3egOw,st:0

This is a great high-level breakdown of what LaMelo will bring to the Wolves offensively. This Howls and Growls guy is the best Wolves video analyst around.

[Wolvesfan21]

https://www.google.com/search?q=Howls+a ... 3egOw,st:0

This is a great high-level breakdown of what LaMelo will bring to the Wolves offensively. This Howls and Growls guy is the best Wolves video analyst around.

Yeah he's great. I've watched probably a 10-12 videos on Melo and the trade. It's interesting as a lot of the in depth "nerdy" guys love Melo (his flash really has substance to it). Some of the national big media talkers are not convinced, even saying the Hornets made a smart trade.

[Lipoli390]

https://www.google.com/search?q=Howls+a ... 3egOw,st:0

This is a great high-level breakdown of what LaMelo will bring to the Wolves offensively. This Howls and Growls guy is the best Wolves video analyst around.

Yeah he's great. I've watched probably a 10-12 videos on Melo and the trade. It's interesting as a lot of the in depth "nerdy" guys love Melo (his flash really has substance to it). Some of the national big media talkers are not convinced, even saying the Hornets made a smart trade.

Good observation, Wolvesfan. The level of stupidity or just lack of any intellectual integrity among modern big-media sports pundits is astounding and overbearing. I’ll put my trust in the nerdy analysts over the big media windbags any day of the week. But interestingly, even among the big media talkers, there are some including Stephen A Smith who likes the trade for Minnesota. Obviously, as a Wolves fan, I want this trade to work out well for the Wolves. But I also want to want to stick it to the media windbags. Of course, LaMelo’s ankles could end up keeping him off the court and then the naysayers will bloviate about right they were right even though everyone including TC knows about LaMelo’s ankles and the risk they pose to his availability. That puts risk in the deal, but what major deal doesn’t have risk? How many games has Giannis played in recent seasons? How old is he and how many miles does he have on his treadmill?

Ball has flaws in his game like all players, but the numbers tell us he’s an elite player who makes his teammates and team much better. And at age 24, there is clearly room for significant improvement. The Ball deal was not a roll of the dice. It was as calculated but bold move to get the Wolves over the hump to where they can become a legitimate championship contender now and going forward on a sustainable basis. It was a big swing, but not a wild swing. TC wasn’t swinging at every pitch. He was swinging at pitches he thought he could hit over the fence. LaMelo was a Ball (pun intended) that TC realized could make it into the stands in fair territory to win the game. I’m glad TC missed when he took a swing at Durant last year. That too me was an ill-advised swing. He took a great cut at Giannis and missed. Then with 2 strikes, he took a great cut at Ball and made solid contact. The ball is taking off. I think we are one decent PF and two healthy ankles away from seeing this ball clear the fence.

[Lipoli390]

I’ve mentioned that Melo’s early-career ankle issues resemble what Steph Curry went through in his early years. Here’s the Curry ankle story:

Stephen Curry suffered from chronic, severe right ankle problems early in his NBA career. His recurring injuries were so persistent that many analysts and fans feared they would prematurely derail his career before he ever became an MVP.
The early timeline of his ankle struggles outlines how he overcame the "injury-prone" label to become a franchise anchor:

Chronology of Early Injury Woes

* 2010–11 Season: In just his second year in the league, Curry sprained his right ankle multiple times. This prompted his first major reconstructive surgery in May 2011 to stabilize stretched-out ligaments.

* 2011–12 Season: The reconstruction proved unsuccessful. Curry suffered five separate ankle sprains in a lockout-shortened season, limiting him to just 26 out of 66 games. He underwent a second exploratory surgery in April 2012 to clear out extensive scar tissue and bone debris.

* The "Risky" Extension: Following his second surgery, the Golden State Warriors signed him to a four-year, $44 million contract extension. At the time, the deal was heavily criticized as a massive risk due to the instability of his ankles.

How He Saved His Career

The turning point came when the Warriors hired training specialist Keke Lyles in 2013. Lyles realized Curry’s ankles were collapsing because he was relying too heavily on them for sudden stops and directional changes. They completely rebuilt Curry's mechanics, teaching him to shift the load and rotational force to his hips and core.

Combined with high-top braces, this kinetic adjustment effectively solved his chronic issues, allowing him to play in 394 of 410 regular-season games over the next five years and win back-to-back MVP awards

[Lipoli390]

Nearly all Melo’s missed games were related to his ankle issues except for a broken wrist that impacted him one season. The broken wrist strikes me as a one-off. That means his availability or durability issues really relate solely to his ankles. Here’s what I found out about Melo’s ankle issues in relation to Curry’s:

There are striking similarities between Stephen Curry’s early-career ankle problems and LaMelo Ball’s struggles leading up to the 2025–26 season. Both dynamic, franchise-altering point guards faced immense skepticism early in their careers due to chronic lower-extremity fragility.

The historical parallels between the two guards fall into three distinct categories:

1. The Timeline of Recurring Sprains & Surgery

* The Sprain Cycle: Like Curry, who repeatedly rolled his right ankle between 2010 and 2012, Ball suffered a barrage of severe left and right ankle sprains that completely derailed consecutive seasons.

* Surgical Intervention: Curry required reconstructive surgery to clean out bone debris and loose ligaments before his breakout years. Ball followed an almost identical path, undergoing surgery for a fractured right ankle in March 2023, followed by an arthroscopic procedure on a right ankle impingement in March 2025 to clear out pain-inducing joint restrictions. [1, 2]

2. High-Stakes Financial Commitments

* Max Contract Risks: Both front offices chose to invest maximum dollars despite the medical red flags. In 2012, Golden State faced heavy criticism for giving Curry a four-year, $44 million extension while his ankles were unstable. Similarly, Charlotte handed Ball a five-year, $260 million maximum extension despite him being limited to just 58 total games over a two-year stretch.

3. The Shared Blueprint for Recovery

* Equipping Braces: For years, Ball preferred playing in low-top shoes without protection. Mirroring Curry’s forced transition to rigid, visible high-top ankle braces, Ball finally surrendered to an equipment change before his healthy 2025–26 campaign, wearing protective braces under head coach Charles Lee.

* Rebuilding Mechanics: Much like Curry working with specialist Keke Lyles to shift his kinetic burden away from his ankles and into his core and hips, Ball spent the offseason building total-body strength. Shifting the mechanical force away from his thin lower legs allowed him to survive a career-saving 72-game season.

Curry himself publicly recognized the mirror image of their struggles, explicitly noting that he went through the exact same three-year hurdle early in his career and advising Ball on how to turn the corner.

[Phenom]

Nearly Melo’s missed games were related to his ankle issues except for a broken wrist that impacted him one season. The broken wrist strikes me as a one-off. That means his availability or durability issues really relate solely to his ankles. Here’s what I found out about Melo’s ankle issues in relation to Curry’s:

There are striking similarities between Stephen Curry’s early-career ankle problems and LaMelo Ball’s struggles leading up to the 2025–26 season. Both dynamic, franchise-altering point guards faced immense skepticism early in their careers due to chronic lower-extremity fragility.

The historical parallels between the two guards fall into three distinct categories:

1. The Timeline of Recurring Sprains & Surgery

* The Sprain Cycle: Like Curry, who repeatedly rolled his right ankle between 2010 and 2012, Ball suffered a barrage of severe left and right ankle sprains that completely derailed consecutive seasons.

* Surgical Intervention: Curry required reconstructive surgery to clean out bone debris and loose ligaments before his breakout years. Ball followed an almost identical path, undergoing surgery for a fractured right ankle in March 2023, followed by an arthroscopic procedure on a right ankle impingement in March 2025 to clear out pain-inducing joint restrictions. [1, 2]

2. High-Stakes Financial Commitments

* Max Contract Risks: Both front offices chose to invest maximum dollars despite the medical red flags. In 2012, Golden State faced heavy criticism for giving Curry a four-year, $44 million extension while his ankles were unstable. Similarly, Charlotte handed Ball a five-year, $260 million maximum extension despite him being limited to just 58 total games over a two-year stretch.

3. The Shared Blueprint for Recovery

* Equipping Braces: For years, Ball preferred playing in low-top shoes without protection. Mirroring Curry’s forced transition to rigid, visible high-top ankle braces, Ball finally surrendered to an equipment change before his healthy 2025–26 campaign, wearing protective braces under head coach Charles Lee.

* Rebuilding Mechanics: Much like Curry working with specialist Keke Lyles to shift his kinetic burden away from his ankles and into his core and hips, Ball spent the offseason building total-body strength. Shifting the mechanical force away from his thin lower legs allowed him to survive a career-saving 72-game season.

Curry himself publicly recognized the mirror image of their struggles, explicitly noting that he went through the exact same three-year hurdle early in his career and advising Ball on how to turn the corner.

This is good information and very encouraging. Lets hope we get the best of LaMelo's career.

[AussieWolf3]

Just keeps getting better and better, thanks Lip!