Minnesota Sports Forum

Think I'd rather have LeVert than Heild. I know that's an unpopular opinion. I just think LeVert's going to be much better at getting his own shot consistently and he's better defensively from what I've seen. The one real worry with him is injuries, but you hope that's all behind him now.

Hield is going to be a good spot up shooter at the next level. The jump shooting percentage jump is no outlier this year. He made significant mechanical changes coming into this season and he's shooting great with no sign of reverting back to his old mechanics. But I do question what he can do off the dribble and how good defensively he can be. Murray is also a really good spot up shooter who is an undersized two. There are some good shooters in this draft, but I'm not sure how much more they're going to contribute at the next level and they all leave something to be desired in their athletic profiles which makes it tough to determine who would be good 3&D candidates.

I think the guy to target who's dropping outside the top 5 in most mocks is Skal. He can block shots and hit jumpers. I think he'd be a nice bench piece who could develop into a starter if he puts the work in. I think his game fits next to what Towns is going to become very nicely.

Been saying this as well, but I think it's starting to gain traction... https://twitter.com/wallyball/status/698638525214887936

For discussion purposes only, does anyone think we could get away with running three wing players with Rubio and Towns? It's like small ball, but we'd still have a center on the floor. Normally when teams go small, they just slide everyone down a spot; for example when GS goes small they slide Green to center, Iguodala/Barnes to PF, Thompson to SF, etc.

What I'm proposing would be a PG, SG, SF, SF, C format I guess. Rubio-LaVine-Ingram-Wiggins-Towns. It'd be tough rebounding-wise, but that'd be really, really tough to defend, in theory.

Camden0916 wrote:For discussion purposes only, does anyone think we could get away with running three wing players with Rubio and Towns? It's like small ball, but we'd still have a center on the floor. Normally when teams go small, they just slide everyone down a spot; for example when GS goes small they slide Green to center, Iguodala/Barnes to PF, Thompson to SF, etc.

What I'm proposing would be a PG, SG, SF, SF, C format I guess. Rubio-LaVine-Ingram-Wiggins-Towns. It'd be tough rebounding-wise, but that'd be really, really tough to defend, in theory.

It could work in a couple years, but Ingram is rail thin and Wiggins will probably never be strong enough to be able to play 4. You gotta be at least 225 to have any prayer of defending most 4's.

Camden wrote:

bleedspeed177 wrote:Jamal Murray Update:

Murray has been on fire, scoring 35 points against Florida and another 24 points against Georgia and shooting a crazy 14-for-20 from beyond the arc in those two games.

Scouts have been looking to see more point guard skills than he has shown, but his high basketball IQ and ability to score from anywhere on the floor should make him a lock for the top 10.

Yeah, I liked him a lot pre-season. Would be a nice consolation prize if we fell out of the top-five.

I saw him play for Team Canada while I watching AB. I wasn't that impressed then. I can think of 7 better options, but if we fall outside the top 7, I'd consider him along with Poetl, Rabb, Ellenson, etc.

Anyone have thoughts on who is a better prospect between Kay Felder and Tyler Ulis? Both 5"9 point guards who can score, pass and steal. One major difference is Felder is from tiny Oakland and Ulis is from Kentucky. Both are expected to be picked in the late second round.

Thanks Bleed on the info on Bender. He seems like this year's Mudiay. Highly ranked but not a lot of game footage to evaluate him. Right now, I think I'd take him around 7th--after the more sure things are all gone. But I think like Porzingis and Mudiay it will come down to how he looks in workouts.

Camden wrote:For discussion purposes only, does anyone think we could get away with running three wing players with Rubio and Towns? It's like small ball, but we'd still have a center on the floor. Normally when teams go small, they just slide everyone down a spot; for example when GS goes small they slide Green to center, Iguodala/Barnes to PF, Thompson to SF, etc.

What I'm proposing would be a PG, SG, SF, SF, C format I guess. Rubio-LaVine-Ingram-Wiggins-Towns. It'd be tough rebounding-wise, but that'd be really, really tough to defend, in theory.

Ah, yes. Our own version of Golden State's "lineup of death". That is probably the most lethal lineup in the history of the game. This season they have played 123 minutes together and outscore their opponents by 50 points per 100 possessions. Yes, 50. That is absolutely ridiculous. Just for comparison, their normal starting unit outscores opponents by 10 points per 100 possessions, which is still really good.

As for the Wolves, I feel like we have seen this a couple of times with Bazz playing the 4, but it's been very rare. As Khans said, we're just too damn skinny to get away with it. Klay, Iggy, and Barnes are all built very well and thicker than LaVine, Wiggins, and Ingram.

Do we think LaVine, Wiggins and Ingram are incapable of adding weight and strength? I mean, these guys are 20, 20 and 18. I'm not talking about what we can do with them in 2016-17.