Edwards vs Ball GDT

[FNG]

KAT: "I immediately was triggered by it. It just brought up so many things I've been through ... I said 'Ryan should we play this?'"

Yikes...I guess I don't know about the Covid situation in Charlotte. Whatever it was, it sounds like it was horrible for KAT. Props to him for playing through it and actually having a nice game.

[Coolbreeze44]

Malik Beasley made it clear in his postgame comments that he wants to play more

"I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life. I feel like I need to be used more... I know that I can play more"

Beasley played 37 minutes tonight but that was only his 7th time this season of 35+

This team is still searching for an identity. I notice frustration, particularly in Beasley when he doesn't get a shot for a while. Beasley, Edwards, DLO and Nowell are all shot hunters. It's a main reason KAT doesn't get enough looks. Sounds to me like roles are not clearly defined, and winning isn't forefront in the players minds. It's just a mess.

[kekgeek]

KAT: "I immediately was triggered by it. It just brought up so many things I've been through ... I said 'Ryan should we play this?'"

Yikes...I guess I don't know about the Covid situation in Charlotte. Whatever it was, it sounds like it was horrible for KAT. Props to him for playing through it and actually having a nice game.

Pj washington was a late scratch because of Covid protocols

[worldK]

Is Dlo more important then Kat we now have a better winning % when Kat is out compared to when Dlo is out (I'm kidding on the conclusion)

There is some truth to what you say though. It's less about DLO and more about how KAT can only do so much to help the team as an offensive big. He can't bring the ball up. He can't be the ball handler in pick and roll. The post up game is mostly dead these days. Etc.

If embiid and Jokic didn't win at a high level i would agree a little more

Embid is a legit 2-way big, KAT is not. Embid can physically dominate people. Jokic is a better passer than KAT and, just as importantly, a better screen setter. His screening and their ability to run DHO and curls off of him are things the Wolves just can't do. I hate to say it, but those two are just plain better.

Again, not ripping KAT. He's a legit star and by far our best player. But he can't take over a game.

I disagree with this. Both the Sixers and Nuggets run their offense through Embiid and Jokic, respectively. I have yet to see the Wolves do such a thing with Towns consistently and it's not because of his ability, but rather the coach's own ideology. I've mentioned it in the past, but can you imagine if Rick Adelman was coaching this team? You'd see a much more dominant version of Towns. We actually got to see how he used Kevin Love and I don't think it's a stretch to say that Towns is the superior player and talent between the two. Towns would get way more touches at the elbow and in the post, he'd be running off screens for three-point attempts, he might even be handling the ball in some pick-and-roll action. He'd also have more cutters to pass to. It seems like this team rarely has anything happening away from the ball because they're all spotting up for three. For all the talk about building around the guy they never actually have given him the keys to the castle on offense.

Karl Anthony Towns would be perfect in adelman's corner offense. Too bad we are making him a stretch 5 to space the floor for rubio and okogie. The current system does not maximize the franchise player's skill. That is why Towns can't impact the game in w/l more than he should. He is being used as a role player who put up big numbers in "the system" while "the system" with the dribble handoffs actions and drive and kicks to offensively challenged shooters is the number 1 priority.

We just saw ant drive and draw defenders and pass out to the strong side to the open rubio, who swing it to the corner to the open okogie for the open and missed corner 3. Towns was never in position to get a pass because he is stationed on the weakside. A lot of the plays our system produced end up like these.

[TheFuture]

Malik Beasley made it clear in his postgame comments that he wants to play more

"I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life. I feel like I need to be used more... I know that I can play more"

Beasley played 37 minutes tonight but that was only his 7th time this season of 35+

This team is still searching for an identity. I notice frustration, particularly in Beasley when he doesn't get a shot for a while. Beasley, Edwards, DLO and Nowell are all shot hunters. It's a main reason KAT doesn't get enough looks. Sounds to me like roles are not clearly defined, and winning isn't forefront in the players minds. It's just a mess.

It is on the coach. I do not think there is much debate anymore.

Get an actual one.

[Lipoli390]

WorldK, Future and Cool -- You guys hit the nail on the head in your last posts.

[AbeVigodaLive]

NBA rims seem a lot softer than they used to be

I shot at Target Center 20+ years ago. I was shocked at how difficult it was. You were in trouble if the ball hit any part of the rim. They were incredibly unforgiving.

I actually gained respect for NBA players that day. Maybe they loosened them since? Or these guys just getting better... some of the balls that bounce around and still go in amaze me because in my head I'm thinking those rims are as tight as they were back in the day.

[FNG]

Just finished watching the replay...many thanks to Future for providing the budget-friendly link to replays.

I thought it was a terrific game, although yet another loss. A couple observations:

1) Edwards did not look like a rookie tonight to me at all...21-6-3 on efficient shooting. His D is still a work in process, and we struggle when he and Beas are out there together as the wings, but I see some defensive promise in this kid too. He looks confident in his offense, and except for one ill-advised contested three late in the game, I thought his shot-selection was excellent. I love his ability to get into the lane and either use his size/strength to score or to kick out to the open man. Excellent vision, and he's starting to realize that, unlike at Georgia, there are a couple guys who will actually make the shot if he gives them an open look. He's a future 25 point 5 assist guy in my opinion. LaMelo was terrific too, but after watching them both, my rookie rankings are Ant-Bell-Wiseman (haven't seen enough of Haliburton yet).

2) Beasley is an elite scorer and the real deal. His ability to find an open spot outside the arc combined with his quick release and nice form ensures he will be a prolific 3-point shooter for a long time in this league. I've given up on him ever being even an average defender (that's why he needs to be a sixth man), but I think he has the potential to become a better facilitator. The Hornet announcers breathed a sigh of relief in the final minute when Beas ignored a red-hot wide-open KAT at the top of the key and instead bricked a contested three. But overall, I'm glad we re-signed him. He's a scorer.

3) WTF was up with Nowell's shot tonight? 1-6 with some of the worst NBA misses I have ever seen! Still, he gives me a feeling of confidence when he is on the court...you can see why he was the Pac-10 player of the year his final year. He always looks in control to me, and his defense is a joy to watch after watching Beas. I'm not surprised he was a respectable -3 tonight despite horrendous shooting...he brings a lot to the floor, and needs to continue to get 20 MPG.

4) I'm reluctant to take a shot at DLO because I do think he is a terrific scorer and we miss his shooting when he is out. But it was a joy to watch two real PG's run the offense tonight. Ricky and J-Mac had 16 assists and only 4 TOs, and the ball moved well the entire game. It's unfortunate we're not a good shooting team, because it looked to me like Ricky should have had 13-14 assists tonight and J-Mac maybe 10. I'd love to see a stat that totaled the number of times a PG gets the ball to a scorer in a position where they should score, because I think these two guys could lead the league. They were fun to watch tonight.

5) I know I'm preaching to the choir and piling on, but in what world does JO deserve to start at PF and get 22 minutes at any position? Honestly, what does Ryan see in this guy that most of his here don't. I think we win tonight, and perhaps easily, if JO's minutes went to Mcdaniels and Vando. I guess I kind of understand why Ryan is trying to bring these two young guys around slowly, but JO brings zero offense and only average defense in my opinion, and McDaniels shows a feel for the game way beyond his experience level...easy for me to see why he was the 7th ranked player in the country coming out of HS. For god's sake, Ryan...start him and give him 30 minutes, and let us enjoy Vando's raw energy off the bench the other 18. The Josh experience has to end.

6) KAT's shooting touch on 3-pointers is absurdly good. Shame on the Hornet's announcers for acting like they didn't know he brings this every night. Most of us probably can't relate to what he was feeling about the Covid situation last night (his post-game comments must have reflected concerns for his teammates, because he has the antibodies after his recent bout), but kudos for him for a nice game despite his concerns.

I was glad to be able to watch a game for the first time in a couple weeks. Another loss, but quite entertaining I thought. There's a lot to like with KAT and some of the young emerging talent on this club.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Malik Beasley made it clear in his postgame comments that he wants to play more

"I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life. I feel like I need to be used more... I know that I can play more"

Beasley played 37 minutes tonight but that was only his 7th time this season of 35+

This team is still searching for an identity. I notice frustration, particularly in Beasley when he doesn't get a shot for a while. Beasley, Edwards, DLO and Nowell are all shot hunters. It's a main reason KAT doesn't get enough looks. Sounds to me like roles are not clearly defined, and winning isn't forefront in the players minds. It's just a mess.

The basketball played from about the 4:30 - 2:30 mark was terrible, no-good, losing basketball.

Beasley hadn't shot for awhile... forces an early long jumper.
Edwards hadn't shot for awhile... forces an early long jumper.
The pathetic, embarrassing 3-on-1 between Rubio and Okogie.
Beasley forces another early long jumper.

Do you notice a name missing?

Of course you do. Towns has been back for two games... and we've seen him ignored during the most important stretch of losing basketball in both games. That stretch last night... and for the dreadful 3rd quarter in the previous game.

He's the most efficient big in basketball. He's so easily the team's best and most talented player... that it's embarrassing when this happens. At least let him touch the basketball.

Towns has issues. Legit, serious basketball issues. He might never be able to lead a team anywhere. That being said... he has every right to demand out of this situation at this point (relative to other stars who asked out). Kevin Love was just as justified. Kevin Garnett would have been justified.

This is such a shit organization.

Minnesota is now 6 - 20... a full 3 games in the loss column ahead of the 2nd worst team.


--------------

Orlando is winning more than Minnesota right now. And these were its starters last night...

Vucevic
Dwayne Bacon
Gary Clark
Michael Carter-Williams
James Ennis

- Gordon, Fournier, Fultz, Anthony, Mason, Aminu were all out. The Magic are playing their 4th string PG... and still winning games. OKC is winning games without a PG. The Wolves have $45M invested in two veteran PGs... and have the worst record in basketball.

[FNG]

Yep, I gotta agree Abe...KAT is our most efficient scorer, and he needs more than 18 shots per game (although last night was one more than his career average of 17).

That portion of the game to talk about was dreadful, I will agree. But as a rebuttal, I would offer that KAT's post-game comments about wondering whether the game should be cancelled or not makes me wonder if he showed up ready to play. He seemed lethargic at the start of the game, and despite not getting him the ball, the offense was clicking against a pretty good defensive team (Zeller is not a pushover, by any means)...59 first half points. As the game progressed, it seemed to me that KAT got more engaged as he perhaps left his Covid fears behind, and we got the ball into his hands more and more. We need more of that. He needs to touch the ball more frequently early in the shot clock.

At the end of the day though, we're 6-20. We're not losing regularly by 20 or more like we were when KAT was out, but still a loss is a loss. My positive feeling about last night's game is probably more due to the fact that it was the first game I had seen in close to a month and I saw some things I liked from our young guys. But I get the pessimism from you guys who have been watching a lot more blowout losses than I have.