The return of Hernangomez vs the Mavs

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Anthony Edwards: 27.0 MPG, .477 TS%
Ricky Rubio: 24.2 MPG, .455 TS%
Josh Okogie: 21.5 MPG, .442 TS%

2020-21 League Average: .569 TS%

I don't care if these guys are playing All-NBA level defense -- and for the record, they're not. But you cannot be playing that many minutes and be an absolute liability at putting the ball in the hoop. No wonder this team is an atrocious 6-19. I'm not even sure it would matter if Karl-Anthony Towns had played in every game to this point. You have three players in the rotation -- each of them starting multiple games -- playing a significant amount of minutes nightly that can't find the bottom of the net. What an absolute embarrassment. If you were searching for the number one reason why the Wolves suck, this it probably it.

[Phenom]

Anthony Edwards: 27.0 MPG, .477 TS%
Ricky Rubio: 24.2 MPG, .455 TS%
Josh Okogie: 21.5 MPG, .442 TS%

2020-21 League Average: .569 TS%

I don't care if these guys are playing All-NBA level defense -- and for the record, they're not. But you cannot be playing that many minutes and be an absolute liability at putting the ball in the hoop. No wonder this team is an atrocious 6-19. I'm not even sure it would matter if Karl-Anthony Towns had played in every game to this point. You have three players in the rotation -- each of them starting multiple games -- playing a significant amount of minutes nightly that can't find the bottom of the net. What an absolute embarrassment. If you were searching for the number one reason why the Wolves suck, this it probably it.

I've become disenchanted with the way these patricular guys and some others are being utilized. I also don't think it would matter much if KAT and/or DLO for that matter had played every game. The whole system is jaded and uninspiring.

[Coolbreeze44]

Anthony Edwards: 27.0 MPG, .477 TS%
Ricky Rubio: 24.2 MPG, .455 TS%
Josh Okogie: 21.5 MPG, .442 TS%

2020-21 League Average: .569 TS%

I don't care if these guys are playing All-NBA level defense -- and for the record, they're not. But you cannot be playing that many minutes and be an absolute liability at putting the ball in the hoop. No wonder this team is an atrocious 6-19. I'm not even sure it would matter if Karl-Anthony Towns had played in every game to this point. You have three players in the rotation -- each of them starting multiple games -- playing a significant amount of minutes nightly that can't find the bottom of the net. What an absolute embarrassment. If you were searching for the number one reason why the Wolves suck, this it probably it.

Cam, serious question. You know what you're talking about most of the time. Time and again you identify good talking points. The question is why you never write a critical word about DLO. He's had some REALLY bad games and moments this year, yet they never provoke a response from you. We certainly hear about it every time he does something positive. Why so inconsistent?

[FNG]

Anthony Edwards: 27.0 MPG, .477 TS%
Ricky Rubio: 24.2 MPG, .455 TS%
Josh Okogie: 21.5 MPG, .442 TS%

2020-21 League Average: .569 TS%

I don't care if these guys are playing All-NBA level defense -- and for the record, they're not. But you cannot be playing that many minutes and be an absolute liability at putting the ball in the hoop. No wonder this team is an atrocious 6-19. I'm not even sure it would matter if Karl-Anthony Towns had played in every game to this point. You have three players in the rotation -- each of them starting multiple games -- playing a significant amount of minutes nightly that can't find the bottom of the net. What an absolute embarrassment. If you were searching for the number one reason why the Wolves suck, this it probably it.

Those are terrible numbers for sure, and I agree that it's tough to win with three rotation guys shooting so poorly. But unfortunately our shooting problem runs much deeper than those three. Of our 8 highest paid players, only Towns is shooting well above the league average at .596% (Beasley is at almost exactly the league average at .573%). Fortunately our two lowest paid players, Reid and Nowell, have TS% of .617 and .588, or our overall TS% would be even more tragic. This team needs a healthy KAT on the court, but that isn't enough. We also need our highest-compensated players to shoot at least the league average for us to be competitive.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Anthony Edwards: 27.0 MPG, .477 TS%
Ricky Rubio: 24.2 MPG, .455 TS%
Josh Okogie: 21.5 MPG, .442 TS%

2020-21 League Average: .569 TS%

I don't care if these guys are playing All-NBA level defense -- and for the record, they're not. But you cannot be playing that many minutes and be an absolute liability at putting the ball in the hoop. No wonder this team is an atrocious 6-19. I'm not even sure it would matter if Karl-Anthony Towns had played in every game to this point. You have three players in the rotation -- each of them starting multiple games -- playing a significant amount of minutes nightly that can't find the bottom of the net. What an absolute embarrassment. If you were searching for the number one reason why the Wolves suck, this it probably it.

Cam, serious question. You know what you're talking about most of the time. Time and again you identify good talking points. The question is why you never write a critical word about DLO. He's had some REALLY bad games and moments this year, yet they never provoke a response from you. We certainly hear about it every time he does something positive. Why so inconsistent?

Thanks, Cool. There's a compliment in there somewhere from you and that means something to me.

And to answer your question, I'd respectfully say that I have been critical of D'Angelo Russell when I feel like it's necessary or required given the flow of discussion. If we're being honest, though, there's already an overwhelming amount of criticism of -- and unfair jabs thrown at -- him as a player on this board to where there's no need for me to pile on or echo what's already been said at that time. The guy gets cut down in just about every thread with or without me making an appearance.

My stance is that D-Lo has not been his best version of himself and that he has not played the caliber of basketball that he's played the previous two seasons. With that said, I think he's generally been more okay or decent than bad. Less than what we need him to be, but better than what the general consensus seems to be here. And that's while acknowledging he's had a handful of downright unacceptable games.

Most importantly, I'm firm in my belief that Minnesota has much bigger issues to handle first before we even get to D-Lo -- some of which were mentioned in the original comment and additional problems stem from the two most important managerial positions.

[Coolbreeze44]

Anthony Edwards: 27.0 MPG, .477 TS%
Ricky Rubio: 24.2 MPG, .455 TS%
Josh Okogie: 21.5 MPG, .442 TS%

2020-21 League Average: .569 TS%

I don't care if these guys are playing All-NBA level defense -- and for the record, they're not. But you cannot be playing that many minutes and be an absolute liability at putting the ball in the hoop. No wonder this team is an atrocious 6-19. I'm not even sure it would matter if Karl-Anthony Towns had played in every game to this point. You have three players in the rotation -- each of them starting multiple games -- playing a significant amount of minutes nightly that can't find the bottom of the net. What an absolute embarrassment. If you were searching for the number one reason why the Wolves suck, this it probably it.

Cam, serious question. You know what you're talking about most of the time. Time and again you identify good talking points. The question is why you never write a critical word about DLO. He's had some REALLY bad games and moments this year, yet they never provoke a response from you. We certainly hear about it every time he does something positive. Why so inconsistent?

Thanks, Cool. There's a compliment in there somewhere from you and that means something to me.

And to answer your question, I'd respectfully say that I have been critical of D'Angelo Russell when I feel like it's necessary or required given the flow of discussion. If we're being honest, though, there's already an overwhelming amount of criticism of -- and unfair jabs thrown at -- him as a player on this board to where there's no need for me to pile on or echo what's already been said at that time. The guy gets cut down in just about every thread with or without me making an appearance.

My stance is that D-Lo has not been his best version of himself and that he has not played the caliber of basketball that he's played the previous two seasons. With that said, I think he's generally been more okay or decent than bad. Less than what we need him to be, but better than what the general consensus seems to be here. And that's while acknowledging he's had a handful of downright unacceptable games.

Most importantly, I'm firm in my belief that Minnesota has much bigger issues to handle first before we even get to D-Lo -- some of which were mentioned in the original comment and additional problems stem from the two most important managerial positions.

Thanks for answering honestly. I get what you're saying. I'm guilty of piling on. Sometimes my dislike for the player flavors my comments. You're a good dude, I hope you give objective opinions on all players going forward.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Cam now knows how Cool probably felt like during the Wiggins years.

I think the degree to which a player gets ripped into is directly correlated to two factors: a) how much perceived effort is given on the court, and b) the perceived gap between their performance and salary.

Those two things, rightly or wrongly, are why Wiggins and now DLO are often in the cross-hairs of fans. Both were given contracts that don't match the value or perceived leadership that is expected.