Wolves 2022-23 Outlook

[kekgeek]

I honestly think the biggest issue with this team right now is 3 pt shooting. They are missing open shot after open shot. Prince is knocking down his 3s and Dlo is hitting his 3s at a respectable rate but the rest of the team is way below expected value.

I mean Kat is shooting 31% from 3 for one of the best shooters in the NBA, Ant is shooting 25% for a guy who through his 1st 2 years well fiddle with all time 3 pt make records. Nowell shooting terribly. Mcdaniels, Forbes, Rivers, Anderson and Gobert (not expecting him to) have yet to hit a 3 this year.

9 of the wolves top 12 rotation guys have been pathetic behind the arc this year. 2 starters have yet to hit a 3 this year (gobert probably won't). Naz is 3rd on the team with a below average 33%.

Honestly believe a lot of the issues fix themselves when those shots start going in. Because missed 3s (and there have been a lot of them) lead to not setting your defense, leads to long rebounds, that lead to fast break opportunities.

Outside of Prince and Dlo the wolves can't shoot the ball worse this season and they are still 2-2.

Long season boys

3-point shooting has definitely been one of this team's problems thus far this season. The stats speak for themselves in that regard. But the team's head coach is the one telling us that the team has lacked effort, competitiveness and physicality. And Finchy's comments align with what I've seen. Jon K is a pretty astute observer and he commented that the Spurs were getting wide open looks on no more than 2 passes against what Jon described as the Wolves "slow-footed defense." The 3-point shooting will likely come around - at least for KAT -- and that will help. But if the Wolves don't fix the other problems that the head coach has identified then this will be a painful season for Wolves fans.

I understand what you are saying but even though it does not feel that way the wolves are 3 pts better per 100 possessions on defense this year compared to last according to cleaningtheglass.com

Wolves are 3 pts worse this year on offense and the net rating is almost identical to last year.

Once again it feels like the wolves suck ass but the team statistically so far is almost identical in terms is actual production (worse on offense and better on defense).

I do feel once the 3s start falling the wolves will fix a ton of their issues

[Q-is-here]

I honestly think the biggest issue with this team right now is 3 pt shooting. They are missing open shot after open shot. Prince is knocking down his 3s and Dlo is hitting his 3s at a respectable rate but the rest of the team is way below expected value.

I mean Kat is shooting 31% from 3 for one of the best shooters in the NBA, Ant is shooting 25% for a guy who through his 1st 2 years well fiddle with all time 3 pt make records. Nowell shooting terribly. Mcdaniels, Forbes, Rivers, Anderson and Gobert (not expecting him to) have yet to hit a 3 this year.

9 of the wolves top 12 rotation guys have been pathetic behind the arc this year. 2 starters have yet to hit a 3 this year (gobert probably won't). Naz is 3rd on the team with a below average 33%.

Honestly believe a lot of the issues fix themselves when those shots start going in. Because missed 3s (and there have been a lot of them) lead to not setting your defense, leads to long rebounds, that lead to fast break opportunities.

Outside of Prince and Dlo the wolves can't shoot the ball worse this season and they are still 2-2.

Long season boys

3-point shooting has definitely been one of this team's problems thus far this season. The stats speak for themselves in that regard. But the team's head coach is the one telling us that the team has lacked effort, competitiveness and physicality. And Finchy's comments align with what I've seen. Jon K is a pretty astute observer and he commented that the Spurs were getting wide open looks on no more than 2 passes against what Jon described as the Wolves "slow-footed defense." The 3-point shooting will likely come around - at least for KAT -- and that will help. But if the Wolves don't fix the other problems that the head coach has identified then this will be a painful season for Wolves fans.

I understand what you are saying but even though it does not feel that way the wolves are 3 pts better per 100 possessions on defense this year compared to last according to cleaningtheglass.com

Wolves are 3 pts worse this year on offense and the net rating is almost identical to last year.

Once again it feels like the wolves suck ass but the team statistically so far is almost identical in terms is actual production (worse on offense and better on defense).

I do feel once the 3s start falling the wolves will fix a ton of their issues

This is the same damn thing we saw last year. Remember how awful and discombobulated we were on offense to start last year? Prince, Beasley, JMac....these guys were ice cold. Then as the season wore on I believe we had a lengthy sub-set of games where we were the #1 offense. We ended the season as the 8th ranked offense. Right now we're 22nd. That can't possibly stay that way given our talent. It just frustrates me to no end that this seems to be a consistent theme with this franchise. Start seasons ice cold from beyond the arc!

[Leado01]

Clearly one of the reasons for the ice cold start from 3 is that we're not getting our knock down shooters good enough looks.

This goes back to motion and ball movement which have been inconsistent.

It will get worked out

[AbeVigodaLive]

I honestly think the biggest issue with this team right now is 3 pt shooting. They are missing open shot after open shot. Prince is knocking down his 3s and Dlo is hitting his 3s at a respectable rate but the rest of the team is way below expected value.

I mean Kat is shooting 31% from 3 for one of the best shooters in the NBA, Ant is shooting 25% for a guy who through his 1st 2 years well fiddle with all time 3 pt make records. Nowell shooting terribly. Mcdaniels, Forbes, Rivers, Anderson and Gobert (not expecting him to) have yet to hit a 3 this year.

9 of the wolves top 12 rotation guys have been pathetic behind the arc this year. 2 starters have yet to hit a 3 this year (gobert probably won't). Naz is 3rd on the team with a below average 33%.

Honestly believe a lot of the issues fix themselves when those shots start going in. Because missed 3s (and there have been a lot of them) lead to not setting your defense, leads to long rebounds, that lead to fast break opportunities.

Outside of Prince and Dlo the wolves can't shoot the ball worse this season and they are still 2-2.

Long season boys

3-point shooting has definitely been one of this team's problems thus far this season. The stats speak for themselves in that regard. But the team's head coach is the one telling us that the team has lacked effort, competitiveness and physicality. And Finchy's comments align with what I've seen. Jon K is a pretty astute observer and he commented that the Spurs were getting wide open looks on no more than 2 passes against what Jon described as the Wolves "slow-footed defense." The 3-point shooting will likely come around - at least for KAT -- and that will help. But if the Wolves don't fix the other problems that the head coach has identified then this will be a painful season for Wolves fans.

I understand what you are saying but even though it does not feel that way the wolves are 3 pts better per 100 possessions on defense this year compared to last according to cleaningtheglass.com

Wolves are 3 pts worse this year on offense and the net rating is almost identical to last year.

Once again it feels like the wolves suck ass but the team statistically so far is almost identical in terms is actual production (worse on offense and better on defense).

I do feel once the 3s start falling the wolves will fix a ton of their issues

To be fair... the Wolves have only played what will almost undoubtedly be three of the worst teams in the league at the end of the year. And one of the wins was without that team's best player... and second best player in the second half.

The Wolves have looked woefully inept sans the 1st half of Game #1 and the bench in the 4th quarter of the second OKC game.

Yes. It's early. But the early slate of creampuffs was supposed to put the team into contention. Looks like it might be able to be used to keep them afloat until things get sorted out.

[FNG]

I rather doubt that anyone is content with a 4-3 record so far this season against teams expected to be lottery teams (despite some early season success for Utah and the Spurs, I don't see either team making the playoffs). We have been favored by double digits or close to double digits in every game this year, so nobody can argue we are not significantly underperforming.

If I were to put a positive spin on the current state of the Wolves, I would point out these records:

Nets: 1-6
Heat: 2-5
Sixers: 3-4
Bulls: 3-4
Clippers: 2-4
Warriors: 3-4
Mavericks 3-3

These are 7 teams that most expect to finish high in the standings, and they are starting the season slowly.

But after last night's debacle (that was a terrible loss to an inferior team missing 5 rotation players), this positive spin isn't making me feel any better. I still love our interior defense and note that we have several players (KAT, DLo, Ant, Nowell) able to create their own shot and be big-time scorers...that's the strength of this team. But as I mentioned in the GDT, our horrible ball movement and perimeter defense is going to add up to a .500 season if Finchie isn't able to right the ship. Our style of play needs to change at both ends of the court.

[Lipoli390]

I rather doubt that anyone is content with a 4-3 record so far this season against teams expected to be lottery teams (despite some early season success for Utah and the Spurs, I don't see either team making the playoffs). We have been favored by double digits or close to double digits in every game this year, so nobody can argue we are not significantly underperforming.

If I were to put a positive spin on the current state of the Wolves, I would point out these records:

Nets: 1-6
Heat: 2-5
Sixers: 3-4
Bulls: 3-4
Clippers: 2-4
Warriors: 3-4
Mavericks 3-3

These are 7 teams that most expect to finish high in the standings, and they are starting the season slowly.

But after last night's debacle (that was a terrible loss to an inferior team missing 5 rotation players), this positive spin isn't making me feel any better. I still love our interior defense and note that we have several players (KAT, DLo, Ant, Nowell) able to create their own shot and be big-time scorers...that's the strength of this team. But as I mentioned in the GDT, our horrible ball movement and perimeter defense is going to add up to a .500 season if Finchie isn't able to right the ship. Our style of play needs to change at both ends of the court.

We'll said, FNG. The question is whether this team can change it's style effectively with the current personnel. I'll come back against to McHale sage observation that it's not about the five best players, but rather the five players who play best together. I just don't like the mix we have. If we're in mid-December and this team is still around .500, then Connelly will have to make personnel moves. However, I don't know that he'll have many, if any, meaningful options.

[Porckchop]

This team is a work in progress. I hope they are playing their best basketball in March. All the teams that we expected to be ahead of us are struggling as well . They all have the same core players from last year. Our Pups are dealing with more personnel changes and offense / defensive philosophy than any other team. The best player is being asked to play a new position. Did we really think this team was gonna fire on all cylinders right out the gate?

[Tactical unit]

I don't understand the it's early...long season.....comparison to other teams....WAKE UP MAN!

This team lacks effort, plays hero ball, is sloppy passing the ball, has emotional control issues, is calling out a young star, and the best teams in the NBA will put Gobert in screen action and abuse it. In addition to putting KAT in screen action and crush this effortless, poor defensive team.

Keep drinking the half full glass of piss, meanwhile I'll call it like I see it.

Wolves = Talent with effort and emotional flaws that are highly exposable.

Please watch the link below.......sums it all up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2R2sH2ScBM

[Lipoli390]

https://theathletic.com/3754048/2022/11/02/timberwolves-start-five-numbers/

This is a good article. It points out, with statistical support, that the problem with the Wolves goes beyond poor three-point shooting. It's turnovers, lack of ball movement and slow close-outs on the perimeter among other things. As I'm re-watching "The Last Dance" I'm reminded of the need for the right blend of players and the critical need for players who do what Dennis Rodman did for the Bulls. Beverley and Vando togetehr provided a lot of what Rodman provided - great disruptive, hustle defense, rebounding, chasing down loose balls, etc. The Wolves don't have anyone on the roster to fill that Rodman-type role. Meanwhile, with Gobert, KAT and Russell, 3/5 of the Wolves starting lineup is pretty slow-footed.

Time might fix what plagues the Wolves right now, but I'm not sure. This team lacks grit, but also lacks speed and quickness in its starting lineup. The fact that Finch says he wants to get Naz more minutes tells me there's an issue with the Gobert/KAT experiment. Most of all, this team lacks an identity. I don't think the Wolves problems are solvable without personnel changes. I don't know exactly what changes should be or what's feasible. Short of personnel changes, if it were up to me, my starting lineup against the Bucks on Friday would be JMac, Edwards, Prince, KAT and Rudy. Starting JMac and Prince instead of DLO and McDaniels would likely improve ball movement while also reducing fouls and turnovers. Maybe the Wolves can trade DLO and/or Nowell for a player who could help fill the void left by the departure of Beverley and Vando. Maybe we're closing in on the time to trade McDaniels.

[Q-is-here]

https://theathletic.com/3754048/2022/11/02/timberwolves-start-five-numbers/

This is a good article. It points out, with statistical support, that the problem with the Wolves goes beyond poor three-point shooting. It's turnovers, lack of ball movement and slow close-outs on the perimeter among other things. As I'm re-watching "The Last Dance" I'm reminded of the need for the right blend of players and the critical need for players who do what Dennis Rodman did for the Bulls. Beverley and Vando togetehr provided a lot of what Rodman provided - great disruptive, hustle defense, rebounding, chasing down loose balls, etc. The Wolves don't have anyone on the roster to fill that Rodman-type role. Meanwhile, with Gobert, KAT and Russell, 3/5 of the Wolves starting lineup is pretty slow-footed.

Time might fix what plagues the Wolves right now, but I'm not sure. This team lacks grit, but also lacks speed and quickness in its starting lineup. The fact that Finch says he wants to get Naz more minutes tells me there's an issue with the Gobert/KAT experiment. Most of all, this team lacks an identity. I don't think the Wolves problems are solvable without personnel changes. I don't know exactly what changes should be or what's feasible. Short of personnel changes, if it were up to me, my starting lineup against the Bucks on Friday would be JMac, Edwards, Prince, KAT and Rudy. Starting JMac and Prince instead of DLO and McDaniels would likely improve ball movement while also reducing fouls and turnovers. Maybe the Wolves can trade DLO and/or Nowell for a player who could help fill the void left by the departure of Beverley and Vando. Maybe we're closing in on the time to trade McDaniels.

While in the end you may be right Lip, it is 100% unrealistic to expect these kinds of rash changes this early in the season. Finch will make tweaks using guys off the bench and then deciding if he leaves them in longer for a struggling starter. But I don't foresee any trades or big starting lineup shakeups in the near future.