Minnesota Sports Forum

thedoper wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:My overall take on the game at a high level was that it reflected a mis-match between the professed style Rosas and Saunders want to play and the characteristics of the rotation players expected to play that style. Rosas continues to stress that the team will play a fast, open court style. Yet, he went out of his way to acquire DLO as his second star and as we all know, DLO doesn't play that style.

DLO is not a full-court run-and-gun player. He's a rather slow methodical half-court player. Even in the half-court, he's not particularly quick to elite at getting to the rim or breaking down defenses. Actually, that's where JMac excels and it's a reason why the Wolves had their best games after the trade deadline last season when JMac played major minutes and had a big role in the offense.

Similarly, KAT is also more of a half-court player. If Rosas wanted a big to play a full-court running game, then Wiseman, who runs the court like a Gazelle, would have been the right pick in this year's draft.

So Rosas has decided to build this team around two players who don't excel at the offensive style he wants the team to play. Even worse, neither of those two players is good defensively. Hard to see how this ends well. But it's early and hope springs eternal, right? :)

This is it, we're a supposedly offensive team, but we have a bogged down antiquated approach on the offensive end. Our primary action seems to always breakdown and then the hero ball becomes the 2nd option. I think our biggest deficiency right now is an inexperienced POBO and Coach trying to create a novel system without the history of success. If we wanted to ditch defense we should have just gone after D'antoni when he became available. Whatever Ryan has been trying to do since he took over doesnt look like its working. It really just looks like players doing whatever they want and for the most part neglecting ball movement completely.

If only we had a PG on our roster who loved to push the pace and move the ball so that we could let D-Lo thrive at SG...

Yeah, Rubio only played 12 minutes, all in the first half.

I am happy to treat this as a work in progress on multiple fronts, and enjoy the improvement we make over the course of the season.

60WinTim wrote:Yeah, Rubio only played 12 minutes, all in the first half.

I am happy to treat this as a work in progress on multiple fronts, and enjoy the improvement we make over the course of the season.

Yeah, I was totally OK with this. I thought the team played solid defense after that first quarter. I do worry about the DLO-Beasley starting backcourt defensively, but we are only 33% through the pre-season. Once we are 100% through the pre-season we can be 100% sure of everything about this roster!

I want Beasley to come off the bench. That just makes the most sense to me. Have him be the sixth man that replaces Rubio early in the first quarter and stays on the court when Rubio is brought back in for Russell.

Rubio, Russell, Okogie, Layman, and Towns might be the most balanced five-man unit the Wolves can put on the floor.

Camden wrote:I want Beasley to come off the bench. That just makes the most sense to me. Have him be the sixth man that replaces Rubio early in the first quarter and stays on the court when Rubio is brought back in for Russell.

Rubio, Russell, Okogie, Layman, and Towns might be the most balanced five-man unit the Wolves can put on the floor.

I agree on the balance point you make. But in NBA terms for playoff level teams, that is a weak starting lineup.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:

Camden wrote:I want Beasley to come off the bench. That just makes the most sense to me. Have him be the sixth man that replaces Rubio early in the first quarter and stays on the court when Rubio is brought back in for Russell.

Rubio, Russell, Okogie, Layman, and Towns might be the most balanced five-man unit the Wolves can put on the floor.

I agree on the balance point you make. But in NBA terms for playoff level teams, that is a weak starting lineup.

Agreed completely.

I agree with Camden that Beasley has to come off the bench, although I might differ with his choices for the 3 and 4. It sounds like Layman had a nice game last night, and there are aspects of his game that I like. But I think we are in big trouble this season if he is our best PF. 6-8", 207 and a short wingspan of only 6-9" might cut it if Jake were an exceptional athlete, but he's really only average at best athletically. I foresee serious problems on the boards and defensively if Jake is getting a lot of minutes at PF. His career average of 5 rebounds per 36 is far too substandard. We don't have any great other options, but I hope someone emerges as a better option than Sunshine.

Despite his very poor debut last night, I'm still holding out hope that the #1 pick in the draft proves to be our best option at SF. If Edwards just isn't ready, I would be looking to Culver as our starting 3. I like watching Okogie, but I'm afraid we know who is is- someone who can provide defensive energy off the bench, but not well-rounded enough to be an NBA starter.

But more important to me than who starts at the 3 and 4 is our starting (and perhaps finishing) backcourt. I take Ryan at his word that we shouldn't take too much out of last night's starting lineup, and I also wouldn't be surprised if he has already had a conversation with Ricky and told him that he will be the starting PG. Ryan is going to want to see what some of the new players (and even a 4-year veteran like Russell) can bring, so I expect to see a lot of preseason minutes for some who won't see the court much in the regular season. Ricky though doesn't have anything to prove to Ryan.

Edit: perhaps I misinterpreted Camden in suggesting his 5 were his choice for starting 5. He actually said those 5 might make up the most balanced lineup.

Layman seems like the kind of "does no harm and might even help a bit" player that fits really nice on an elite team. You've got a couple superstars and one or two elite role players and need a final starter to fill in your 5-man lineup? Jake's your man!

I do appreciate him the more I watch him, but we need more out of that position than a nice glue guy. Aaron Gordon becomes more appealing by the day!

I am REALLY rooting for one of the Culver/Okogie/Nowell trio to really pop this year because I kind of think Beasley is what he is and Edwards is a couple years away from....who knows?

FNG wrote:I agree with Camden that Beasley has to come off the bench, although I might differ with his choices for the 3 and 4. It sounds like Layman had a nice game last night, and there are aspects of his game that I like. But I think we are in big trouble this season if he is our best PF. 6-8", 207 and a short wingspan of only 6-9" might cut it if Jake were an exceptional athlete, but he's really only average at best athletically. I foresee serious problems on the boards and defensively if Jake is getting a lot of minutes at PF. His career average of 5 rebounds per 36 is far too substandard. We don't have any great other options, but I hope someone emerges as a better option than Sunshine.

Despite his very poor debut last night, I'm still holding out hope that the #1 pick in the draft proves to be our best option at SF. If Edwards just isn't ready, I would be looking to Culver as our starting 3. I like watching Okogie, but I'm afraid we know who is is- someone who can provide defensive energy off the bench, but not well-rounded enough to be an NBA starter.

But more important to me than who starts at the 3 and 4 is our starting (and perhaps finishing) backcourt. I take Ryan at his word that we shouldn't take too much out of last night's starting lineup, and I also wouldn't be surprised if he has already had a conversation with Ricky and told him that he will be the starting PG. Ryan is going to want to see what some of the new players (and even a 4-year veteran like Russell) can bring, so I expect to see a lot of preseason minutes for some who won't see the court much in the regular season. Ricky though doesn't have anything to prove to Ryan.

Edit: perhaps I misinterpreted Camden in suggesting his 5 were his choice for starting 5. He actually said those 5 might make up the most balanced lineup.

Actually Layman is a very good athlete.

Q12543 wrote:Layman seems like the kind of "does no harm and might even help a bit" player that fits really nice on an elite team. You've got a couple superstars and one or two elite role players and need a final starter to fill in your 5-man lineup? Jake's your man!

I do appreciate him the more I watch him, but we need more out of that position than a nice glue guy. Aaron Gordon becomes more appealing by the day!

I am REALLY rooting for one of the Culver/Okogie/Nowell trio to really pop this year because I kind of think Beasley is what he is and Edwards is a couple years away from....who knows?

Of that threesome you mention, I think Nowell will end up having the best career. Hope he gets a shot to play meaningful minutes this year.