TV Time!

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

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

Offense?

http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/preseason/team/Minnesota-Timberwolves/17/stats/2016/Advanced_Stats/All/points/All/desc/1/Preseason

I know six games is a small sample size, but his offensive performance in the African games was even better. He has the highest PER on the team through preseason (25.8) and a terrific TS% of .66. We saw him add new aspects to his offensive game last season, and he clearly has added some new moves this off-season. He is very clever one-on-one with the ball in his hands, and can create his own shot better than anyone other than Martin. Muhammad and maybe Wiggins. And he's adding a 3-point shot that will stretch the defense and allow guys like Wiggins and Muhammad to operate inside.

Sure, trade Gorgui if he gets us someone better. Trade ANYONE if they get us someone better. But until I see that deal, I'm scratching my head as to why we want to dump our best PER guy who seems to be getting better every year.

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

I wouldn't say that. He was way worse last year then he was 2 years ago

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I wouldn't say that. He was way worse last year then he was 2 years ago

I'm trying to understand the basis of that conclusion, alex, because to me both the eye test and the stats say he was better last year than in his rookie year. The only stat I can find that decreased last year was his rebounding rate, and I agree that he didn't seem to rebound as well last year as the previous year. But every other meaningful stat improved. His PER went up from 16.5 to 17.2, his TS% went up from 53% to 57%, his assist % increased from 7.2% to 10.5 %, and his win shares more than doubled from 2.2 to 4.9. And those numbers have taken even a bigger jump in the early going this season. The stats seem to indicate a very clear improvement.

Same thing with the eye test. While many of us liked him as a rookie, his offensive game was very raw. Last year he added a Dirk Nowitzki drop-back bank shot that was very effective, and also showed an ability to put the ball on the floor and pass the basketball that was not present the previous year.

I'm scratching my head as to how this adds up to "he was way worse last year than he was 2 years ago".

[Monster]

The line up is in:

Jerry Zgoda ?@JerryZgoda 7m7 minutes ago
Wolves sticking with same lineup -- Rubio, Wiggins, Prince, KG, KAT -- tonight vs. Bucks, I believe

Puzzling. I can't think of a single good reason for this that aligns with any of the varying objectives of the team. Development? Nope. To take offensive pressure off Wiggins? Nope. To space the floor? Not really. Because he's our best wing defender? No again.

I'm just as puzzled as you. Sam's either a genius or a fool.

Personally I don't have a problem with starting Prince at SF which give a solid vet to get things started and puts Wiggins at SG which gives you a mismatch. What I don't agree with is Zach at PG. I see what they are trying to do with him getting him going and ideally it's temporary but I don't think it is gonna work. I'm only through the 1st quarter of this game so far and he just doesn't look good. Plus I think his defense is worse against PGs than SGs even backups PGs.

[Monster]

Well, end of Q1. Ten points for Wiggins (most of which came at the foul line). And not much else from anyone.

The Wolves got a lot of good looks offensively in the first quarter. The shots didn't go down but they got pretty good looks. The critism on offense for me was turnovers.

[bleedspeed]

Interesting take. I am in the corner it is a development year. Zach needs to play SG and Jones can be the backup PG.

Why start Prince? Over LaVine, Martin, Shabazz, and Bjelica. I don't see it.

It seems we are worried to much about positions and not enough about putting best players on the floor.

If Pek comes back he will be just what the doctor ordered for this team. He will be that rock that changes this team from being pushed around to a team that does more of the pushing. All of our bigs will benefit from it.

[Coolbreeze44]

Oh boy. Can't think of any other way to do this, so I'm just going to ramble with random thoughts:

1) The way Mitchell has treated Zach so far is criminal. He's gone from the best player in camp to someone who looks like he has no place on the team. It's great when you destroy the confidence of a 20 year old kid.

2) Prince in the starting lineup. Are you fucking kidding me?

3) We have good talent on this team, no reason to look as bad as we have so far. Who wouldn't want Wiggins, Towns, KG, Bjelica, Dieng, Rubio, Shabazz, and even Zach on their team? it can't be that hard to put a respectable NBA team together out of that group.

4) I'm a huge advocate for playing defense. Defense is less about scheme and talent. It's more about compete and "want to" Even if you aren't a great individual defender, anyone can be a good team defender. Time to wake up and start playing team defense. Our defensive effort is a joke.

5) Speaking of jokes, have you heard the one about the Wolves coaching staff? They wouldn't be in the upper echelon of high school coaching staffs. Mitchell is a flat out abomination. Adelman would be an average high school coach, which is what he was in Portland just a few years ago. Lowe's like the con man who always somehow lands on his feet. There is at least hope for Saunders, but around these clowns he has no chance.

6) I'm very close to not investing any more time into this woeful franchise. What's the point? We still suck, maybe even more than last year with this circus running the team.

7) Since Zach has been ruined in the span of about 2 weeks. Why don't we try starting Ricky, Wiggins, Bazz, KG, and Towns. That might keep us in games for a while. Or maybe we just let Sam do his thing and hope Glen gets tired of it and pulls the plug before too long. I'd take anybody to coach this team about now. JVG, Mark Jackson, give me anybody but what we have right now.

[Carlos Danger]

Losing Flip is the killer. He was pretty good about explaining things and calming the fan base. "Hey - these are young guys, you have to be patient". Instead we are getting "I told LaVine he's my starting shooting guard until he has a couple bad games - then he's 3rd string PG". The vision seems lost and knee jerk reactions are already happening. Friggin announce your starters and stick with the plan. Adjust as necessary. But not week to week. Give it time. These are young guys. You have to be patient. (We miss you Flip!).

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

I wouldn't say that. He was way worse last year then he was 2 years ago

I'm trying to understand the basis of that conclusion, alex, because to me both the eye test and the stats say he was better last year than in his rookie year. The only stat I can find that decreased last year was his rebounding rate, and I agree that he didn't seem to rebound as well last year as the previous year. But every other meaningful stat improved. His PER went up from 16.5 to 17.2, his TS% went up from 53% to 57%, his assist % increased from 7.2% to 10.5 %, and his win shares more than doubled from 2.2 to 4.9. And those numbers have taken even a bigger jump in the early going this season. The stats seem to indicate a very clear improvement.

Same thing with the eye test. While many of us liked him as a rookie, his offensive game was very raw. Last year he added a Dirk Nowitzki drop-back bank shot that was very effective, and also showed an ability to put the ball on the floor and pass the basketball that was not present the previous year.

I'm scratching my head as to how this adds up to "he was way worse last year than he was 2 years ago".

Their field goal % at the rim and overall were historically bad. That's with Dieng playing big minutes at center as your rim protector pretty much the whole season.

[60WinTim]

I don't know how or why Sam was given the boot in Toronto, but if he continues managing players in the regular season like has in the preseason, I'll have a pretty good idea why. Jerking players around is a quick way to lose their respect, and start down a path where the game is no longer fun for anyone. Including fans.