2019 NBA Playoffs Thread

[Monster]

Look at how many 2nd round and undrafted guys are playing in these Finals in just the first half. Those types of guys can be found and developed and the Wolves need to be a team that has some of these guys even if they aren't starters. We should have something besides hometown and fatalistic feelings about guys that fit this description that come through this organization. We should have some legit hope a guy like Cam Reynolds or KBD or whoever could actually be worthwhile.

[Monster]

Toronto was a good defensive team, but having a guy like gasol anchor that defense has made them great.

Like they said in the broadcast Toronto added Green Kawhi and Gasol...that's some good defensive additions. Getting Danny Green in that deal continues to be underrated.

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

Let me start by saying.....Kawhi is a top 3 player in the entire world.

That being said, he has handles similar to Wiggins. He is just not a good dribbler, but he has found ways to get into guys and get to line. Wiggins seemingly had this skill when he entered NBA. I remember him getting to the line much more frequently. I am not comparing the two at all, but it should give us hope that Wiggins could still be serviceable without improving his handles. That's something...

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Look at how many 2nd round and undrafted guys are playing in these Finals in just the first half. Those types of guys can be found and developed and the Wolves need to be a team that has some of these guys even if they aren't starters. We should have something besides hometown and fatalistic feelings about guys that fit this description that come through this organization. We should have some legit hope a guy like Cam Reynolds or KBD or whoever could actually be worthwhile.

And that starts at the top and trickles down to the gleague. Hence, why im such a fan of masai. He completely revamped that organization. I'm hoping rosas does something similar. Develop now, then try to go all in when the time is right.

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Let me start by saying.....Kawhi is a top 3 player in the entire world.

That being said, he has handles similar to Wiggins. He is just not a good dribbler, but he has found ways to get into guys and get to line. Wiggins seemingly had this skill when he entered NBA. I remember him getting to the line much more frequently. I am not comparing the two at all, but it should give us hope that Wiggins could still be serviceable without improving his handles. That's something...

Well roles changed. At the start, that's what flip wanted him to be to help stay mentally involved in the game. Then his role became more of a floor spacer, but I don't think he every really learned how to play off ball (and still doesnt). We still see flashes of point wiggs, but we wasted a couple of years of not nurturing that out more.

[Lipoli390]

Let me start by saying.....Kawhi is a top 3 player in the entire world.

That being said, he has handles similar to Wiggins. He is just not a good dribbler, but he has found ways to get into guys and get to line. Wiggins seemingly had this skill when he entered NBA. I remember him getting to the line much more frequently. I am not comparing the two at all, but it should give us hope that Wiggins could still be serviceable without improving his handles. That's something...

No, Kawhi's is a much better ball handler than Wiggins. If nothing else, Kawhi has very strong hands and holds on to the ball -- the opposite of Wiggins in that regard. And while Kawhi is not a great ball-handler, he's much more sure-handed with the ball than Wiggins. Kawhi can maneuver with the ball back and fort, side to side in then fact of intense defense like he's faced throughout the playoffs. You'll never see Wiggins do that. I still have hope that Wiggins can improve his shooting and that the Wolves coaching staff can make better use of him in the offense. I also have some hope that he'll continue to improve his defense. But he's not going to significantly improve his hands or his ball-handling.

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Let me start by saying.....Kawhi is a top 3 player in the entire world.

That being said, he has handles similar to Wiggins. He is just not a good dribbler, but he has found ways to get into guys and get to line. Wiggins seemingly had this skill when he entered NBA. I remember him getting to the line much more frequently. I am not comparing the two at all, but it should give us hope that Wiggins could still be serviceable without improving his handles. That's something...

No, Kawhi's is a much better ball handler than Wiggins. If nothing else, Kawhi has very strong hands and holds on to the ball -- the opposite of Wiggins in that regard. And while Kawhi is not a great ball-handler, he's much more sure-handed with the ball than Wiggins. Kawhi can maneuver with the ball back and fort, side to side in then fact of intense defense like he's faced throughout the playoffs. You'll never see Wiggins do that. I still have hope that Wiggins can improve his shooting and that the Wolves coaching staff can make better use of him in the offense. I also have some hope that he'll continue to improve his defense. But he's not going to significantly improve his hands or his ball-handling.

I think he can improve his ball handling, but only if he can improve his hands. For big hands, he has no grip whatsoever.

[Lipoli390]

Look at how many 2nd round and undrafted guys are playing in these Finals in just the first half. Those types of guys can be found and developed and the Wolves need to be a team that has some of these guys even if they aren't starters. We should have something besides hometown and fatalistic feelings about guys that fit this description that come through this organization. We should have some legit hope a guy like Cam Reynolds or KBD or whoever could actually be worthwhile.

I was thinking the same thing, Monster. Fred VanVleet is a short (5'11) PG from a mid-major program who went undrafted. Toronto signed him as an undrafted free agent. Toronto's leading scorer in tonight's game, Siakam, was the 27th pick in the draft. Both players have been key to Toronto's success in the playoffs.

Player development, of course, starts with getting the right players who have both the potential and the characteristics needed to reach that potential. Siakam was the 27th pick. Klay Thompson was the 11th pick in the 2011 draft. Wouldn't it be great if the Wolves could have similar success with their 11th pick this June? Kawhi Leonard was the 15th pick in that draft. Kyle Lowry was the 24th pick. Draymond Green was the 35th pick in 2012. Danny Green was the 46th pick in 2009.

I think the Wolves actually got it right with our two picks last summer. So if the Wolves are serious about player development, they should focus on Okogie and KBD. Both are very talented and young. And both showed flashes of really high level potential last season. I'll evaluate this new regime on player development based largely on the play and success of these two players.

Assuming you have the right young players, player development depends on part on good teaching by the coaching staff in practice. But it hinges even more on allocating adequate, consistent playing time and allowing young players to play through bad stretches and make mistakes. Ultimately, player development requires patience and an approach that instills confidence.

[Lipoli390]

A couple more thoughts on getting the right players as the foundation for player development. Consider Siakam. He dropped all the way to 27 in the draft. Yet, as a sophomore, he averaged 20 points and 11.6 rebounds per game in 34 minutes. How do you get overlooked by 26 NBA teams with those stats. Was it because he played for New Mexico State? And how did the Raptors end up signing VanVleet? They Raptors organization should get a lot of credit. I'm sure they were hearing all the negatives -- only 5'11, was already old as as college senior, played for a mid-major team. But obviously someone in the Raptors' organization saw something in him that caused them to sign him as a FA. And then they had the patience to keep him and develop him.

[Monster]

Let me start by saying.....Kawhi is a top 3 player in the entire world.

That being said, he has handles similar to Wiggins. He is just not a good dribbler, but he has found ways to get into guys and get to line. Wiggins seemingly had this skill when he entered NBA. I remember him getting to the line much more frequently. I am not comparing the two at all, but it should give us hope that Wiggins could still be serviceable without improving his handles. That's something...

No, Kawhi's is a much better ball handler than Wiggins. If nothing else, Kawhi has very strong hands and holds on to the ball -- the opposite of Wiggins in that regard. And while Kawhi is not a great ball-handler, he's much more sure-handed with the ball than Wiggins. Kawhi can maneuver with the ball back and fort, side to side in then fact of intense defense like he's faced throughout the playoffs. You'll never see Wiggins do that. I still have hope that Wiggins can improve his shooting and that the Wolves coaching staff can make better use of him in the offense. I also have some hope that he'll continue to improve his defense. But he's not going to significantly improve his hands or his ball-handling.

I think he can improve his ball handling, but only if he can improve his hands. For big hands, he has no grip whatsoever.

I'm glad I wasn't the only one thinking about Wiggins while watching Kawhi. I think this sums up what makes Kawhi work.

https://twitter.com/sam_vecenie/status/1134303049910968320?s=21

"We don't talk enough about how Kawhi Leonard is just stronger than everybody. That (and pristine footwork) is why he gets anywhere he wants on the floor. You just can't knock him off balance. You can't knock him off line once he starts to drive in a straight line. He's a monster."

To me Wiggins has more quickness and explosiveness to get past guys if he can actually do everything to utilize his physical gifts. I'm probably stupid and crazy but I think there is something there still as an offensive player. There is talent there. Will it be realized? Idk but I feel like he isn't just some crappy player that can't be something legitimately worthwhile...maybe not worth his salary but earning a lot of it. You can't tell me a team like the Raptors or OKC or the Spurs wouldn't get more out of him than we have seen the last couple years.