Minnesota Sports Forum

I like Dieng as the starter too. What we lack in girth and rebounds I think we make up for in blocks, steals, good shooting/passing bigs

So, the Wolves are above average at PG. SG. SF. PF. C.

But 22 - 46. Damn. Sam Mitchell really is terrible and probably the worst coach in the NBA this side of B. Scott.



[Note: Your choice to determine the level of sarcasm/truth in the above post. Even I'm not sure...]

TheSP wrote:

bleedspeed177 wrote:I have never been a big Dieng fan, but he is part of the solution here. He is one of the 5 guys we shouldn't move, but him and to a lesser extent Rubio seem like the guys that could change before this team to reach its potential.

The thing with Dieng is he would be a great first big off the bench so he could change in that way. I don't see Rubio playing second fiddle IMO, so it's either starter or trade with him.

I agree with that. I don't see a better PG coming out of this draft or being signed in FA this offseason. I think Rubio is here to stay.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:So, the Wolves are above average at PG. SG. SF. PF. C.

But 22 - 46. Damn. Sam Mitchell really is terrible and probably the worst coach in the NBA this side of B. Scott.



[Note: Your choice to determine the level of sarcasm/truth in the above post. Even I'm not sure...]

Offensively, the current version of our starting 5 - Rubio, LaVine, Wiggins, Dieng, and KAT - is unquestionably above average and perhaps even great. It's hard to say great until it's sustained over a longer period of time, but we have been damn good offensively for well over a month now. It's a great place to start from. Fast-paced, ball movement, multiple weapons inside and out. Like you said, it's fun to see.

Defensively.....Below average still. But if one has an optimistic streak in him, he would say that three out of the five starters are NBA sophomores and freshman, so of course they will be behind the curve defensively and they will get better with time. How much better is the key and I think coaching has a huge part to play in this aspect of the game.

The bench sucks - period.

Q12543 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:So, the Wolves are above average at PG. SG. SF. PF. C.

But 22 - 46. Damn. Sam Mitchell really is terrible and probably the worst coach in the NBA this side of B. Scott.



[Note: Your choice to determine the level of sarcasm/truth in the above post. Even I'm not sure...]

Offensively, the current version of our starting 5 - Rubio, LaVine, Wiggins, Dieng, and KAT - is unquestionably above average and perhaps even great. It's hard to say great until it's sustained over a longer period of time, but we have been damn good offensively for well over a month now. It's a great place to start from. Fast-paced, ball movement, multiple weapons inside and out. Like you said, it's fun to see.

Defensively.....Below average still. But if one has an optimistic streak in him, he would say that three out of the five starters are NBA sophomores and freshman, so of course they will be behind the curve defensively and they will get better with time. How much better is the key and I think coaching has a huge part to play in this aspect of the game.

The bench sucks - period.

I concur. This has been a high powered offense since they went with the current starting 5. All of those guys have the physical tools to be average to good defenders. A new coach might be able to take what we have and create a passable defense. That's why I'm very hesitant when posters keep bringing up possible trades of any of our current starting 5. I personally want to give these guys more time and a new coach before breaking it up. I'm not saying this 5 will ever be a shut down defense. But they don't have to be if they can be a top 10 offense.

I think it's also safe to say that each of Wiggins, LaVine, and Towns are likely to put on another 10lbs of muscle in the offseason that should help with positioning, rebounding, and durability. These guys are so young their bodies aren't even close to done maturing. Look at Kawhi Leonard from his rookie season to today. The dude is a chiseled freak now. That's the goal with these guys, but they have to do it gradually over the years in order for it to be healthy, not overload their bodies, or wreck their games.

GymRat wrote:I think it's also safe to say that each of Wiggins, LaVine, and Towns are likely to put on another 10lbs of muscle in the offseason that should help with positioning, rebounding, and durability. These guys are so young their bodies aren't even close to done maturing. Look at Kawhi Leonard from his rookie season to today. The dude is a chiseled freak now. That's the goal with these guys, but they have to do it gradually over the years in order for it to be healthy, not overload their bodies, or wreck their games.

Fair enough. But the extra strength doesn't automatically lead to more rebounds.

Even in your example, Leonard averaged 7.7 reb per 36 minutes. He's at 7.4 reb per 36 minutes right now. 7.6 for his career.

KAT and GD just look really tired to me.

I think that if Pek, KG, and NB come back, or are replaced with quality players, so they can get proper rest, you'll see the rebounding improve next season.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

GymRat wrote:I think it's also safe to say that each of Wiggins, LaVine, and Towns are likely to put on another 10lbs of muscle in the offseason that should help with positioning, rebounding, and durability. These guys are so young their bodies aren't even close to done maturing. Look at Kawhi Leonard from his rookie season to today. The dude is a chiseled freak now. That's the goal with these guys, but they have to do it gradually over the years in order for it to be healthy, not overload their bodies, or wreck their games.

Fair enough. But the extra strength doesn't automatically lead to more rebounds.

Even in your example, Leonard averaged 7.7 reb per 36 minutes. He's at 7.4 reb per 36 minutes right now. 7.6 for his career.

That's also very true, and generally speaking I would tend to agree they won't be better rebounders because of additional size, but it may indirectly help rebounding situations for others. It could also be that teams like the Spurs have such strong defensive principles it puts their players in position to rebound better?

I just finished watching the Grizz whoop the crap out of the Wolves with some whatever dude most NBA a fans don't even know exist. Rebounding At this point is a big problem.

Problems:

Towns is a 20 year old that isn't strong enough yet and his base is a bit of a concern. He is the only above average rebounding big that's played since KG stopped logging minutes. Towns probably isn't the problem but right now it's still an issue

I love Dieng but he gets pushed around also. His rebounding numbers are good but not amazing. That's not a knock on him just being realistic.

Wiggins is part of the problem. I think a lot of the time he puts forth effort but he isn't a skilled rebounder. It's a talent and he doesn't have it right now.

Other perimeter players poor defense and or rebounding hurt the team as well. If you are out of position on defense you give up rebounds.

The bench bigs are pretty bad at rebounding. Maybe Greg smith is alright but it's hard to say when he is a 10 day guy playing with an ingrown toenail.

Regardless it feels like the Wolves should be able to be better on the boards obviously they are getting killed on that lately.

Solutions:

Sign a decent FA backup C like Plumlee or other guys that have been mentioned on the FA thread.

Bring over Dubs this offseason he may not be a great or maybe even good rebounder but he has enough size and is strong he may be able to help take up space and push people around probably not to the extent Pek did but he could possible help.

Draft a player like Poeltl which would give the team a big player on both ends of the floor

Find a true strong rotation level player at least SF. Moe Harkless is a name a few of us have been intruiged by. Adding a guy like Harrison Barnes or even Batum would help as well. Watching Ingram today makes me think his length would help even if he is a skinny guy.

General getting stronger and young players learning how to make plays on that end. It feels like Lavine has stepped up his nose for the ball plays this year and keeps improving. Let's hope that continues a bit more and Wiggins And Towns get stronger etc.

Right now it feels like rebounding is a worse problem than 3 point shooting. It's bizarre.