Uh isn't there supposed to be a game thread?

[AbeVigodaLive]

Abe's Almost Real-Time DVR Review...

- I turned it off with the Wolves up 22 points. They were in "feed the ball to Towns for stats" mode.

- I mean, the Kings suck... AND they were on the final game of a 5-game road trip... AND they were down 22 with just a few minutes to go... the odds of them pulling it out... or even caring to put in the effort to win... are astronomical.

- What the hell happened?

- I guess I could read the thread to start finding out...



[Note: I did have a flicker of "there's no way they could lose this game" moment before shutting if off. I assume this is the type of game (amid this type of situation) that could swing some really big decisions for this club.

[AbeVigodaLive]

"We're not chasing wins. But at the same time, you don't put yourself in a situation where you lose a game like that. And that's on all of us." -- Gersson Rosas

Rosas joined @lakeshow73 and me postgame. Talked about the loss, and then Kobe.

Listen here:
https://t.co/4jkQKa31eS

I've been a Wolves fan since 1989. That comment from Rosas reeks of something that only an egghead with no concept of Wolves history or basketball in general would dare to say aloud.

Not chasing wins? It's been 30 f-ing years of different regimes "not chasing wins" save for a brief 7-year spell when the Wolves underwhelmed with a top 3 guy in the league.

Not chasing wins? Does he not realize that the Wolves are already the worst franchise in NBA history?

Not chasing wins? Does he not realize he has TWO #1 picks on the roster... both of whom were called out as soft losers who don't care about winning by the previous regime? If they're both earning $150ish Million for not chasing wins already... what makes Rosas think they'll suddenly change their mindset and priority overnight when the team finally has complementary talent?

Not chasing wins? Does Rosas not realize that there are people who pay A LOT of money to watch these games? A guy from Buffalo with his wife and two kids saved up for weeks or months to shell out $600 for the game last night. Only to be greeted by a dead arena watching a team sorta/kinda care about winning while two of the players made approximately $7k every minute they were on the court?

Not chasing wins? Does Rosas not realize that other smarter, historically better organizations mock organizations like the Timberwolves for re-re-re-re-re-rebuilding with this same "wins don't matter, let's tank" mentality?

Fuck this organization. It's not about one loss. Big deal. I've seen well over 1,000 of them. It's the "not chasing wins" stuff that I find incredibly insulting.

And I'd be insulted with myself if I watched any more Wolves basketball this season as a result.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

"We're not chasing wins. But at the same time, you don't put yourself in a situation where you lose a game like that. And that's on all of us." -- Gersson Rosas

Rosas joined @lakeshow73 and me postgame. Talked about the loss, and then Kobe.

Listen here:
https://t.co/4jkQKa31eS


From Dane Moore when he was on Henry lake last night

That's what I think happened after the 10-7 start, that Rosas talked to KAT or several players or the team about essentially tanking.

It's the only thing to me that made sense how the team did a complete 180 turn, went from good to that 11 game losing streak. I was going to post this thought earlier too, it's the only thing that makes sense to me on how they started fairly well then completely shifted.

I really think something from Rosas was said. Talking but player development, etc, over winning. The problem is, you are saying, I don't believe in you guys as players, that we need more talent to get better.

That's the problem with tanking in that you may even suffer player development during the tank. If you are not trying to win, how do you change the next season to "change the culture."

I'm more on the side that, we don't have enough talent to win a Championship. Does anyone else think we do? So then how do you acquire the talent to do so? By tanking?

Not by tanking, but by nailing your draft picks and finding guys you think you can develop into either a) stars, b) elite role players, or c) solid rotation players that don't hurt you.

Finding a. is the hardest of course. I guess you could say tanking increases your odds of finding a., but keep in mind we've had two #1 picks on the team together for 5 years now. All they have done together is lose. Only when a hard-ass bully with a competitive streak was on board did they win. But they didn't like each other and it all blew up.

Finding players that fit into b. or c. can be found anywhere in the draft or even undrafted free agents. Teams like Denver, Miami, and San Antonio prove this time and again. Yet we can probably count on one hand the number of draft picks we've had in 30 years that turned into elite role players. I may not even need to use all five fingers!

[WildWolf2813]

"We're not chasing wins. But at the same time, you don't put yourself in a situation where you lose a game like that. And that's on all of us." -- Gersson Rosas

Rosas joined @lakeshow73 and me postgame. Talked about the loss, and then Kobe.

Listen here:
https://t.co/4jkQKa31eS


From Dane Moore when he was on Henry lake last night

That's what I think happened after the 10-7 start, that Rosas talked to KAT or several players or the team about essentially tanking.

It's the only thing to me that made sense how the team did a complete 180 turn, went from good to that 11 game losing streak. I was going to post this thought earlier too, it's the only thing that makes sense to me on how they started fairly well then completely shifted.

I really think something from Rosas was said. Talking but player development, etc, over winning. The problem is, you are saying, I don't believe in you guys as players, that we need more talent to get better.

That's the problem with tanking in that you may even suffer player development during the tank. If you are not trying to win, how do you change the next season to "change the culture."

I'm more on the side that, we don't have enough talent to win a Championship. Does anyone else think we do? So then how do you acquire the talent to do so? By tanking?

Then Rosas is a fool. Don't ask a team full of losers to be losers. It's what they know best. It's what they knew how to do before he ever stepped foot in the building. This team is so bad, you don't have to ask them to tank. It's second nature. It's like riding a bike.


If Rosas wants to acquire the talent to contend one day, hit on your picks and develop guys correctly. Rosas came from a program that didn't tank and never considered it an option. If that's gonna be his mission statement here, why is he here then? You can get anyone to oversee a tank job. Right now he's a credible Kahn.

[TAFKASP]

Do you ever wonder if Washington Generals players look at the Wolves and laugh?

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Rosas is in for a rude awakening when he goes to find the switch to flip for this organization only to realize it doesn't exist. Where are the leaders on this team? If Towns wants to be the man so bad why is he such a trash leader? Losing full composure and showing no toughness or resilience. We're just back to round two of handing the young stars the reigns only to have them do nothing to steer the cart properly so we are left needing to make extreme changes in the offseason to bring in people who know what the fuck they are doing. Only this time there is no excuse for Towns or Wiggins to not have this team playing better. They are in their primes on max deals, not on rookie deals with Zach and Thibs evaluating what we have. It's a joke at this point. It isn't this hard to win basketball games and these guys play and act like it's rocket science.

[kekgeek]

Rosas is in for a rude awakening when he goes to find the switch to flip for this organization only to realize it doesn't exist. Where are the leaders on this team? If Towns wants to be the man so bad why is he such a trash leader? Losing full composure and showing no toughness or resilience. We're just back to round two of handing the young stars the reigns only to have them do nothing to steer the cart properly so we are left needing to make extreme changes in the offseason to bring in people who know what the fuck they are doing. Only this time there is no excuse for Towns or Wiggins to not have this team playing better. They are in their primes on max deals, not on rookie deals with Zach and Thibs evaluating what we have. It's a joke at this point. It isn't this hard to win basketball games and these guys play and act like it's rocket science.

Agree with pretty much all of this. Also I think Wiggins for the most has played pretty darn hard this year. But why should he try when his own GM says "we aren't chasing wins"

Abe says this a lot but why should our guys change what they are doing when what they did got them the max and now the GM says we don't care about winning

[Wolvesfan21]

If these guys were legit superstars they would win anyways (relatively) despite the GM or coach. So I guess we can take solace in knowing that. Good Coaching and being a good GM can make a difference, but it's not that drastic either. Players themselves are accountable for the most production.

Let's just sit KAT and Wiggins some more and watch the Iowa guys play, at least maybe we could find a diamond in the rough.

[AbeVigodaLive]

If these guys were legit superstars they would win anyways (relatively) despite the GM or coach. So I guess we can take solace in knowing that. Good Coaching and being a good GM can make a difference, but it's not that drastic either. Players themselves are accountable for the most production.

Let's just sit KAT and Wiggins some more and watch the Iowa guys play, at least maybe we could find a diamond in the rough.

Considering even the diamonds in the rough will have to play with Towns and Wiggins eventually... maybe sit guys like Napier and Okogie instead?

[D-Mac [enjin:19736340]]

Check the box score to see the wolves gave up 47 points in the last 11 minutes of the game. 33 in the last six minutes of regulation and 14 in overtime.

These guys are good!

If Ryan Saunders had any pride he'd resign

Ryan said its hindsight 20/20 pulling your starters up 7 with 1:39 to go

Reading this late... not sure why people keep saying up by 7 with 139 left. They made 2 free throws to bring it from 14 to 12 with 139 left. Not arguing anything, but 12 is a little closer to acceptable