Wolves vs Wiz GDT

[D-Mac [enjin:19736340]]

Obviously there is roster construction issues no doubt. Not denying that at all. We are 5 games into the season and have lost 3 by 20+ all in a row. Also don't tell me we are missing Towns. Lakers were missing Davis, Clippers were missing Leonard and tonight the winless wizards without Westbrook on a back to back beat our ass.

Wolves still have a guy who was a former all star who another team paid the max for, a guy who a good organization in the nuggets wanted back in Beasley for 10+ million, Rubio got paid 17 million by another team and has started for a decade. Wolves also have 2 top 10 picks from the last 2 years including the #1 overall pick. Don't tell me this team doesn't have talent.

Right or wrong this team doesn't play hard for Ryan. Why is Dlo having his worst start of his career since his rookie year. Why is Ricky having his worst start to his career.

Firing Ryan doesn't save the Wolves and all of a sudden they win games but his lack of creativity and stubbornness to not play another way is so stupid. Don't tell me it's rosas not letting him play a certain way. Ryan is killing his NBA HC career and he is stupid to not try playing any bigs together

Sorry, but Yeah I think it's rosas not letting him play a certain way. Ryan may say it's his system too, but obviously that's just the company line. Wouldn't be surprised if that's actually the source of some apathy with the players too. Culver gets told he's the starting 4 because our bonehead pobo signed a worthless 4 who can't start and then released another who could have helped. Btw, if now isn't the time to use that extra roster spot, then when is?? (Assuming we're trying to win) I mean we're starting culver and Beasley as our forwards along with an undrafted 2nd year center and our max star guard who chases butterflies on defense like a 5 year old playing soccer... what do you expect to happen? I think guys are being put in difficult spots because our decision makers are terrible. Ryan is definitely in over his head, but I bet he thinks this system is just as much of a joke as we do.

[TheFuture]

Only in Minnesota would a franchise be run by two people hired with minimal experience. Rosas and Ryan.

[Wolvesfan21]

The interior defense was atrocious. Naz is good for an undrafted FA but he's not starter material. Then Ed Davis looks like he's 6-7 and 215 standing next to Lopez and their other centers. No size, completely overpowered in the second half.

[worldK]

There are only 3 players I want to be here long term. They are towns, edwards and jmac. Rosas traded half the team
at the deadline last season. I hope he does the same this season.

[Lipoli390]

There are only 3 players I want to be here long term. They are towns, edwards and jmac. Rosas traded half the team
at the deadline last season. I hope he does the same this season.

I listed 8 players on our current roster as the only Wolves players I want to see on the court the rest of the season. But for the long term beyond this season my list whittles down pretty much to the three guys you mentioned. But I would probably add Beasley and Okogie to that list. They both have a lot of dog/fight in them and you can't have too many players like that on your roster. Okogie, in particular, has become not just a good defender, but an elite one. His really good free-throw shooting and 38% three-point shooting in college tells me he'll eventually become a decent NBA three-point shooter - good enough to be our version of Marcus Smart.

[Monster]

Just finished watching the game.

Russell was frustrating to watch in this one at times.

That Beasley contract is looking pretty good.

Naz Reid is a legit NBA player. Maybe he isn't a starter but he is a legit rotation player. Same with McLaughlin. It's really great we got these guys.

Layman has a nice game it was good to see.

Edwards settled too much but he also had a couple of those where he was given the ball late in the clock.

Vanderbilt was a mixed bag. At this point it might be worth seeing what his energy might look like earlier in the game.

Ed Davis can still play. IMO Center isn't the problem on this roster with Towns out.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

My issue with McLaughlin is that it looks like he works hard on defense, but he still has problems staying in front of his guy. That seems to be a theme with all our guards except Culver (or is he a PF now!?).

I'm interested in seeing what Hagans does in the G-League, as he has some defensive chops and I think Rubio eventually gets traded between the trade deadline and next offseason. That means the 2nd PG spot will open up again and I'd like to see J-Mac, Hagans, and the Argentinian kid compete for it.

Speaking of Hagans, he fulfills the #1 Commandment of Wolves picks/signings: Thou Shalt Not be Good at Both Defense and Outside Shooting. One can be good in either category or mediocre in both. But one can NEVER be good at both - simply not allowed.

[Monster]

My issue with McLaughlin is that it looks like he works hard on defense, but he still has problems staying in front of his guy. That seems to be a theme with all our guards except Culver (or is he a PF now!?).

I'm interested in seeing what Hagans does in the G-League, as he has some defensive chops and I think Rubio eventually gets traded between the trade deadline and next offseason. That means the 2nd PG spot will open up again and I'd like to see J-Mac, Hagans, and the Argentinian kid compete for it.

Speaking of Hagans, he fulfills the #1 Commandment of Wolves picks/signings: Thou Shalt Not be Good at Both Defense and Outside Shooting. One can be good in either category or mediocre in both. But one can NEVER be good at both - simply not allowed.

I disagree with your take on McLaughlin's D. Even if he gets beat he often somehow gets back in with a good contest. He did the same thing in summer league. He is very solid on both ends IMO.

I absolutely agree with you Rubio gets traded unless this thing somehow gets turned around. I think what will surprise people is that we get some solid value back in the deal.

[Lipoli390]

My issue with McLaughlin is that it looks like he works hard on defense, but he still has problems staying in front of his guy. That seems to be a theme with all our guards except Culver (or is he a PF now!?).

I'm interested in seeing what Hagans does in the G-League, as he has some defensive chops and I think Rubio eventually gets traded between the trade deadline and next offseason. That means the 2nd PG spot will open up again and I'd like to see J-Mac, Hagans, and the Argentinian kid compete for it.

Speaking of Hagans, he fulfills the #1 Commandment of Wolves picks/signings: Thou Shalt Not be Good at Both Defense and Outside Shooting. One can be good in either category or mediocre in both. But one can NEVER be good at both - simply not allowed.

Lol. We should give Rosas credit for staying true to that Commandment. :)

Are you thinking that Ricky will be traded AFTER this season's trade deadline? If so, do you think it will happen next off-season or sometime in the middle of next season? Do you think Rosas will trade him or are you anticipating another PBO in place who would do it? And finally, do you see Ricky being package with other assets for a star? Just curious about your overall thinking on this. I love Ricky but I don't think he moves the needle enough to justify having him in an over-crowded backcourt at $17M per year.

[Lipoli390]

Just finished watching the game.

Russell was frustrating to watch in this one at times.

That Beasley contract is looking pretty good.

Naz Reid is a legit NBA player. Maybe he isn't a starter but he is a legit rotation player. Same with McLaughlin. It's really great we got these guys.

Layman has a nice game it was good to see.

Edwards settled too much but he also had a couple of those where he was given the ball late in the clock.

Vanderbilt was a mixed bag. At this point it might be worth seeing what his energy might look like earlier in the game.

Ed Davis can still play. IMO Center isn't the problem on this roster with Towns out.

Good observations, Monster. I'm glad to see your comment on Ed Davis. The same thought occurred to me as I was watching him. I was worried based on what I recall from him last season, but he definitely looked like he has gas left in his tank. I also agree with your take on Layman. He's simply being asked to do to much and, like others on this roster, he's being forced to guard much bigger players.

An important point to remember about Layman is that, while pretty tall, he has short arms. His standing reach is only 8'6 (identical to Okogie's) and his wingspan is 6'9.25, which is significantly less than Okogie's 7'0 span and slightly less than Culver's 6'9.5. I know we're supposedly in the era of positionless basketball, but I see Layman as a SF who, on a good team, should be 9th or 10th in the rotation unless/until he shows himself to be significantly better 3-point shooter than he's been so far in his career.

I agree with you on Naz and JMac as well, although I can see either or both eventually developing into a starter. Naz would look much better as our starting C or PF if he had a really good big along side him who could help defensively and on the boards. If VanVleet can't become not just a starter, but a really good one, then JMac can become at least a decent starter. I recommend you go back, if possible, and watch the post-trade deadline games against Miami and the Clippers. JMac was a key to both wins (perhaps the most important key) with his play all game and especially down the stretch. His quickness, ball-handling, instincts and toughness are really high level. And the guy just knows how to play.