TV Time!

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Heh, just watched the replay of the game. Same old, same old.

- I've been trying to have an open mind about Mitchell, but what an effing idiot to declare publicly that Zach is your starting SG before a single pre-season game is played and then within just two weeks not only yank him from that opportunity, but play him at a position that he has no clue how to play! D-U-M-B!!!!!

- The second dumbest thing he's done is started Prince. Mmmmm, let's see, I have four #4/#5 options out there and Andrew Wiggins, who is still growing into his game. Gee, I wonder if we'll have a hard time scoring?

- If you want Andrew to play the 2, fine, but then you have to start Shabazz or Bjelica at the 3 to give us some more offensive punch (I'd go with Shabazz). Hell, I might have even started Rudez over Prince simply because he can space the floor. Prince is like the last guy I'd think of to start.

- Towns is getting pushed around out there by bigger/older players and also getting the typical rookie hazing by the officials. It's going to be rough going for the first few months, but I like his spirit.

- KG really can't do much offensively anymore. All the more reason you have got to have some weapons in that starting lineup. With KG and Rubio out there, the other three guys need to be a threat to score, and Towns should be no more than the 3rd option, so that leaves Wiggins and (LaVine, Martin, or Bazz). It's not rocket science.

- Martin kind of killed us in this game.

Once again, we got killed in opponent eFG% and couldn't hit a 3 to save our life. Same old, same old....

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

One other thing....Middelton. Jeebus that kid is the king of tough mid-range shots. I actually thought Wiggins guarded him pretty well, but the dude just made everything.

[Lipoli390]

Heh, just watched the replay of the game. Same old, same old.

- I've been trying to have an open mind about Mitchell, but what an effing idiot to declare publicly that Zach is your starting SG before a single pre-season game is played and then within just two weeks not only yank him from that opportunity, but play him at a position that he has no clue how to play! D-U-M-B!!!!!

- The second dumbest thing he's done is started Prince. Mmmmm, let's see, I have four #4/#5 options out there and Andrew Wiggins, who is still growing into his game. Gee, I wonder if we'll have a hard time scoring?

- If you want Andrew to play the 2, fine, but then you have to start Shabazz or Bjelica at the 3 to give us some more offensive punch (I'd go with Shabazz). Hell, I might have even started Rudez over Prince simply because he can space the floor. Prince is like the last guy I'd think of to start.

- Towns is getting pushed around out there by bigger/older players and also getting the typical rookie hazing by the officials. It's going to be rough going for the first few months, but I like his spirit.

- KG really can't do much offensively anymore. All the more reason you have got to have some weapons in that starting lineup. With KG and Rubio out there, the other three guys need to be a threat to score, and Towns should be no more than the 3rd option, so that leaves Wiggins and (LaVine, Martin, or Bazz). It's not rocket science.

- Martin kind of killed us in this game.

Once again, we got killed in opponent eFG% and couldn't hit a 3 to save our life. Same old, same old....

Excellent post, Q. I like Sam, but he's not the brightest bulb. Can't imagine anyone wanting Martin to start after watching him play tonight.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Doomsday! Doomsday! Everybody panic!!

[WildWolf2813]

If Gorgui Dieng isn't here to play defense why is he here at all?

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Doomsday! Doomsday! Everybody panic!!

If our main 5 man unit was playing these games close and our young guys were just losing these games I wouldn't be on the doomsday bandwagon. The problem has been the starting 5 gets in a hole early, our bench fights back into the game and then the starting 5 loses the lead again at the beginning of the 3rd and doesn't have the firepower to come back in the 4th either. Just look at the box score tonight. Lost Q1 20-28, won Q2 30-24, lost Q3 17-35 and won Q4 21-19. I harped on the offense not making a basket when Zach came in the game during the 3rd, but he didn't come in until 3:44 left in the quarter (they scored 14 of their 35 during that stretch to close the quarter putting the other 21 on the starters). Our starting 5 can't hang and that's a big problem because they need to be able to hang for the almost 60+% of the game they play for us to win games. The bench is promising, but the starters are not stopping anyone and they aren't keeping up offensively either. We've been outscored 180-128 in the first quarter this pre-season and only led in 1 game after the quarter. That's not a formula for success in this league.

[Mstermisty [enjin:6864008]]

Yeah, Prince starting...I don't get it. Lavine backing up point guard...I don't get it.

Based on past, present, and future, the starting lineup I'd like to see is:

Towns (has to learn on the job)
Gorgs (lets face it, he's better than KG at this point)
Shabazz (unlike Lavine he's proven he can play, and he and Wiggins played well together in the past)
Wiggins
Rubio (Jones/Miller backups...NOT Lavine!)

[KiwiMatt]

Yeah, Prince starting...I don't get it. Lavine backing up point guard...I don't get it.

Based on past, present, and future, the starting lineup I'd like to see is:

Towns (has to learn on the job)
Gorgs (lets face it, he's better than KG at this point)
Shabazz (unlike Lavine he's proven he can play, and he and Wiggins played well together in the past)
Wiggins
Rubio (Jones/Miller backups...NOT Lavine!)

I agree. If anyone deserves a start it's Bazz. Him and Wiggins were a nice starting pair last season when they played together. I'd still start KG but yank him out for Dieng or Bjelica at the 7 minute mark and play him no more than 18 mins a night.

Starting Prince makes no sense. And it looks like Mitchel has no idea with LaVine. Lets hope this coaching staff doesn't ruin his development!

[60WinTim]

Yeah, my patience with Sam is running thin. The only slack I can cut him is he just played 2 games without a practice in between, so whatever they worked on for the Memphis game makes sense to run for last nights game as well.

But I better dang-well-tootin see something different in this last preseason game!

I wonder if they will make their roster cuts before Friday?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

OK, here are some positive thoughts:

- The effort is there. It certainly seems like guys are working hard.

- Every team we have played was a .500+ last year and are looking to be better this season. OKC, Memphis, Toronto, Chicago, Milwaukee.....these are damn good teams.

- As LST has said, Towns, Bjelly, and Jones all have showed some nice skills for rookies.

- It appears that Mitchell is more willing to let the 3-ball fly than Flip ever was.

- Everyone is healthy!!!!


I'm sticking with my 26-win prediction. Does that now make me an optimist?