Minnesota Sports Forum

Duke13 wrote:I don't think we need to sign guys specifically for defense. I hear people saying we need more rim protection but we are the only team in the league to start two centers. What else can we do?? By this boards omission we have a top level defensive PG, Butler is a great two way player. Bottom line is our defensive improvement is dependent on Wig and Kat showing effort which will equal improvement. Kat was a matador defending the PnR, same with G. I think the team is better off starting Belly, assuming he is healthy. I think they should look to deal both Gorgi and Rubio to free up salary and see what they can get back that fits the team better. They are both bad fits with this core. Dunc'd on talked openly about the need for us to find a better PG. JVC said our point guard play was below average last year.

60WinTim wrote:Tolliver is a Creighton alum, same school as Patton. Just sayin'

monsterpile wrote:One interesting thing the Wolves will have going for them that Jim Peterson pointed out today is the Wolves ability to get to the FT line. This is how the Wolves players ranked last year in top FTs made.

Butler 3rd
Wiggins 19th
Towns 28th
Rubio 41st

Wiggins actually got the line more the previous year and Towns could move up in that category.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:One interesting thing the Wolves will have going for them that Jim Peterson pointed out today is the Wolves ability to get to the FT line. This is how the Wolves players ranked last year in top FTs made.

Butler 3rd
Wiggins 19th
Towns 28th
Rubio 41st

Wiggins actually got the line more the previous year and Towns could move up in that category.

Holy Hannah. I didn't realize Butler lived at the line like that. That's big.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:And all three of those guys shot better from behind the arc than both Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Maybe our 3 point shooting woes aren't as bad as we make them out to be. It makes some sense that Westbrook's percentage would be what it is, but it seems like Harden hardly ever misses when we play him.

lipoli390 wrote:

Duke13 wrote:I don't think we need to sign guys specifically for defense. I hear people saying we need more rim protection but we are the only team in the league to start two centers. What else can we do?? By this boards omission we have a top level defensive PG, Butler is a great two way player. Bottom line is our defensive improvement is dependent on Wig and Kat showing effort which will equal improvement. Kat was a matador defending the PnR, same with G. I think the team is better off starting Belly, assuming he is healthy. I think they should look to deal both Gorgi and Rubio to free up salary and see what they can get back that fits the team better. They are both bad fits with this core. Dunc'd on talked openly about the need for us to find a better PG. JVC said our point guard play was below average last year.

Doper -- I agree that the key to defensive improvement beyond the addition of Butler will be the defensive develpment of KAT and Wiggins. We can't spend money on additional players to cover up the defensive failings of two of our three core guys. If we end up going down that path, this thing isn't going to work and we'll be in yet another rebuilding process in a couple years. So KAT and Wiggins have to step up and improve substantially on the defensive side of the ball. They clearly have the physical size and talent to succeed; it's a matter of attitude and understanding. Butler will take some of the defensive pressure off those two guys, but hopefully he'll press them to improve.