Wolves v Heat GDT

[AbeVigodaLive]

Just a heads up Rudy wants the fans to stop booing

Anthony Edwards has a similar message:

"Yeah I love the crowd, man. Tell them, 'Hey y'all, if y'all listening to this, keep coming, showing us love, stop booing us. We're going to give you everything we got, man. We trying."

The should have a bit thicker skin. I pay my ticket price especially in this economy I can boo and cheer whoever I want. If you win and play well all that shit goes away. There's a reason why they're booing it's because everyone in the arena can tell the effort lacks sometimes.

I get Wolves fans' frustrations, but Rudy and Ant are right. Booing the home team should be reserved for lack of effort, not lack of performance. The things Wolves fans seem to be booing are things that happen during any game. Getting blown out the way they did against the Knicks? Boo the night away? Tonight? They won. Onto the next game.

I wasn't at last night's game, but I probably would have joined the chorus of boos in the first half if I'd been there. Rudy and Edwards should grow up. They should imagine what it would be like playing in New York or Philly. More importantly, they should look in the mirror and take stock of what they are doing and not doing. Truth is, the Wolves were down by 13 at the end of the first half against a severely depleted team playing their second game in two nights. I'd like to believe it was just missed shots, but it was far more than that. It was poor effort and bad overall poor play, including lack of ball movement, settling for threes early in the clock, multiple defensive lapses, getting beat down the court, getting repeatedly out-hustled to loose balls and getting out-muscled over and over again. Heck, the Wolves assistant interviewed after halftime roundly criticized the Wolves effort.

The whining from Rudy and Edwards about the crowd booing is pathetic. It's especially pathetic from the 30-year old Gobert who didn't have a field goal the entire night and whose team was outrebounded once again. You're a veteran big guy who the Wolves spent a fortune in player/draft capital to acquire, Rudy. Show some toughness and leadership! Instead he grabs lets go of the ball and grabs his head after a little slap. Heck, from his reaction, you'd think he had just been shot. And then he complains about the booing. I'd like to believe there is someone in the Wolves organization -- head coach, PBO -- who will tell both Rudy and Edwards to hold themselves accountable and stop whining about boos from paying customers who have a right to expect better effort and better play from this team. Rosas probably would have done that. But alas, I don't think we have anyone in this organization who will.

As a New Yorker, we boo everyone, and honestly, it's to our detriment. We behave like Philly fans now which is not good. As poorly as the Wolves played, they won, and even in NY and Philly, they're not booing you for that. If you get blown out or you display piss poor effort, they'll let you have it, but not in a win (and if it's about a particular player, they'll let the player hear it)

Again, they won the game. You can expect better play and more of what you wanted entering the season, but even good teams have nights where they win ugly. That's a part of an 82 game season. What would help the Wolves is a 15+ point win against a good team where it looks like everything's clicking. I think that will get you guys off their backs, but I'd rather see 50 of these ugly wins than these games where we look pleasing, but lose.

Long story short, you have to earn those boos in Philly and New York. If 2 of your best players are calling you out on this, specifically the two players who will be around for a while, take heed of it. It's not a surprise that the team started to get their act together a bit away from Target Center.

Timberwolves fans have a long and storied track record of being VERY patient and even coddling with most of the players.

It's kinda funny that they're being called out for having expectations FINALLY.

But that's pro sports for you.

[FNG]

I booed the Vikings on Sunday along with most of the crowd. And I left with 12 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Disaster.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

This fan base just doesn't know how to react to winning as well as the expectations and everything that comes with it. That's partially because the franchise has assembled some awful rosters/coaching over the last decade-plus, but the fact remains. We have fans that actually complain during and after wins because it wasn't how they imagined the game would play out. Or the team won in a way that wasn't aesthetically-pleasing to their eyes -- like they'd rather watch an entertaining and well-executed game end up in a loss.

We saw that bitching and complaining hit new highs in 2017, in my opinion, as Jimmy Butler was shouldering the team as a third-seed in the Western Conference. Who remembers the constant game-to-game remarks about the "barking ogre" who happened to be winning at a level Minnesota hadn't seen in over a decade? We saw dead home crowds last year that required player(s) calling fans out for the lack of energy at Target Center. We're now seeing it this season with the booing and teeth-clenching from fans as the team figures out what works for them and what doesn't.

It'd just be nice if everyone would relax and enjoy the wins as they come -- because they are coming. They're winning despite playing far from their best basketball. That should be exciting, not stressful and negative.

[AbeVigodaLive]

While I don't disagree that patience is in order...

... I'm not about to question any longtime Timberwolves fans actions on this issue.

Longtime fans have earned that right.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

IMO, fans should absolutely not boo. It sends a message that players can't trust their fanbase, so why should they play hard for us? It also ramps up the pressure for players to get defensive and potentially start looking for someone else to blame, which hurts team chemistry.

I get the feeling behind it, but it's just actively hurting your team in the short term and the long term if you boo them. You want players to stay loyal, especially in a non-desirable market like Minnesota? Maybe don't actively sabotage that relationship. If you think this won't weigh on player's minds when they're thinking about re-signing here, think again, especially when they tell you to stop it.

[D-Mac [enjin:19736340]]

Minnesota's starting unit -- D'Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert -- has a +17.6 net rating in the 82 minutes played together over their past five games -- 122.9 ORtg, 105.3 DRtg.

Among the five-man units that have played at least 50-minutes over their last five games, Minnesota's starters rank third in offensive rating, fifth in defensive rating, third in net rating, third in defensive rebounding percentage, and third in effective field goal percentage as well as true shooting percentage.

Patience is being rewarded. Some of you might not recognize it (yet), but this team is showing signs of figuring out who they are and playing high-level basketball after a wonky, slow start to the season.

Update:

Minnesota's starting five has a +21.7 net rating in in the 96 minutes played together over their past six games -- 125.3 ORtg, 103.6 DRtg. They're also on a four-game winning streak.

The NBA is as talented as it's ever been, and winning is more difficult than it's ever been no matter the opponent. The fact that this team is beginning to string together wins, albeit ugly at times, while also significantly improving as a starting unit can't be overlooked or dismissed. Things are objectively looking better and better with each game.

Tonight it was Jaden McDaniels coming alive and making his mark, which they'll need from time to time. It was Minnesota struggling against zone defense and just finding a way to score enough points and get enough stops. They did that. Job well done. On to the next one.

I'm just stopping in to say that you're a complete moron, Dlo is terrible, the Rudy trade was an embarrassment and I'm glad we can squeak out wins against Gleague teams at home. Wow.

[Lipoli390]

This fan base just doesn't know how to react to winning as well as the expectations and everything that comes with it. That's partially because the franchise has assembled some awful rosters/coaching over the last decade-plus, but the fact remains. We have fans that actually complain during and after wins because it wasn't how they imagined the game would play out. Or the team won in a way that wasn't aesthetically-pleasing to their eyes -- like they'd rather watch an entertaining and well-executed game end up in a loss.

We saw that bitching and complaining hit new highs in 2017, in my opinion, as Jimmy Butler was shouldering the team as a third-seed in the Western Conference. Who remembers the constant game-to-game remarks about the "barking ogre" who happened to be winning at a level Minnesota hadn't seen in over a decade? We saw dead home crowds last year that required player(s) calling fans out for the lack of energy at Target Center. We're now seeing it this season with the booing and teeth-clenching from fans as the team figures out what works for them and what doesn't.

It'd just be nice if everyone would relax and enjoy the wins as they come -- because they are coming. They're winning despite playing far from their best basketball. That should be exciting, not stressful and negative.

Cam - Fans were booing in the first half when the Wolves were playing horribly AND LOSING to a far inferior team!! They weren't booing during the comeback or at the end when the Wolves won. Even the Wolves assistant coach called out the team for lack of effort in his interview at the start of the second half. So Wolves fans should not boo when their team isn't only losing, but also not giving an adequate effort in the eyes of the team's own coaching staff?? Come on now, that's ridiculous.

And then to hear Gobert whine about the booing and going on to say that fans should stay home if they're going to boo. Holy shit, how pathetic - especially coming from a guy paid almost $40 million a year who had no FG attempts. Those fans pay his humongous guaranteed salary. I've never been one to complain about how much players make, but Gobert's in no position to complain about booing from fans who pay his gigantic salary when the team's effort isn't fully there. And it's asinine for him to tell those booing fans, who make a tiny, tiny faction of what he makes to stay home. His message to fans -- pay me, cheer me, praise me, but don't you dare boo me -- poor, poor pitiful me.

Again, I wasn't there last night and I'm happy they won. But I don't see this team succeeding in a tough League when their supposedly top players, including the guy they mortgaged their future to acquire, whine about booing from the fans who pay their salaries, especially when the booing reflects what even the team's coaching staff considered an inadequate effort.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I don't necessarily disagree with that take, Lip, but I don't think booing the team right now makes anything better or even makes much sense given that they're actually winning games while still transitioning into the team they want to become, and likely still need the crowd's energy to feed off of. Remember that it's still very early. We're not even at the 20-game mark and they're showing tangible signs of getting better, believe it or not. I've illustrated that in other posts within this thread.

Also, every time they miss a shot, make a mistake and/or give up a run to the opposing team, they know it and feel it as much or more than we do as fans. It's their last names on their backs. They face the backlash for this experiment not working out or failing to meet expectations. Several of these players are in contract years on top of that. Now I'm not suggesting for fans to praise or applaud the team when they're playing poorly, but rather don't pour gas on the fire with boos, especially if they're not getting loud and cheering when the team is on a roll. Target Center does not have the reputation of being a tough place to play in for visitors for a reason. Our fans are noticeably quiet more often than not. So, again, why the booing? It solves nothing. It helps nothing.

[Lipoli390]

IMO, fans should absolutely not boo. It sends a message that players can't trust their fanbase, so why should they play hard for us? It also ramps up the pressure for players to get defensive and potentially start looking for someone else to blame, which hurts team chemistry.

I get the feeling behind it, but it's just actively hurting your team in the short term and the long term if you boo them. You want players to stay loyal, especially in a non-desirable market like Minnesota? Maybe don't actively sabotage that relationship. If you think this won't weigh on player's minds when they're thinking about re-signing here, think again, especially when they tell you to stop it.

Drew - If they're so sensitive that they can't take booing from fans when they're playing poorly and not giving an adequate effort, then i don't want them to stay here. Would Kobe, MJ, Magic or any great player whine about being bood when the team is playing poorly? Of course not. You're making $40 million a year to play a game most of us would gladly play for free, then you better suck it up and accept some booing when you play poorly rather than lashing out at the fans who pay your huge salary AND typically lose their voices cheering their asses off for you.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Loyalty in pro sports has been a staple for more than a century. It's literally what keeps pro sports moving via customers paying cash to see their favorite player or team.

But we've reach a new era where "loyalty" is entirely different.

The divide between guys who make hundreds of millions of dollars and the common man has never been wider. And it's showing in many, many ways. This issue with Gobert is just the tip of the iceberg.


Note: I'm with Lip and others on this issue. I've stolen a quote from a great tv show and used it in my own work career... and it seems fitting here...