GDT: Wolves vs. Jazz

[FNG]

Ryan is undefeated and surely better than the Knicks coach.

Ha, don't know about that. But I will say he was better than Snyder tonight, and better than Casey in the opener. The Wolves are 2-0, and so is our coaching staff.

[TheFuture]

Late Night DVR Review:

- Just win. 2 - 0. Yep.
- A win... AND the team avoided a major catastrophic injury to its best player in a season with no draft pick? YEP.

- Anthony Edwards looked really good. I dig that he didn't settle for three pointers (3 out of 12 attempts seems like a good ratio). Most of all, remember that play in preseason when he got his shot blocked and then seconds later backed off going 1-on-1 vs. that same Memphis player on a fast break? It's now forgotten. He attacked Rudy Gobert of all people multiple times. THAT is what this team needs. I dug it.

- Culver won't go 3 - 3 all that often on three pointers. But he's playing with confidence. He looks much much better. All you can ask is for the young guys to improve incrementally. Culver got better as his rookie year went on... and it seems to be continuing.

- Thought Towns played pretty well on defense. I thought Russell played terribly on defense. It's not individual defense... it's things like pointing for somebody else to guard the shooter even though he's the closest one to him... or jabbing at Mitchell on a three pointer while running back to his guy... both moves leave the most dangerous player (the guy with the ball!!!!) wide open.

- Russell takes a lot of very very tough shots. Russell makes some very very tough shots.

- On one play... Juancho Hernangomez was standing out of bounds on the baseline "guarding" his guy. As the Utah guy (Clarkson) drove the lane... instead of stepping up... he floated to the corner to guard... somebody? Clarkson was fouled by the rookie for a three point play. And even Edwards seem to turn to ask "WHAT THE F@#$?!?!" Still no points for either Layman or Hernangomez this season.

- Beasley, Okogie and Culver play with a different kind of energy. A good energy. And I'm digging the engagement of the bench. I hope that continues even as guys drop in and out of the rotation.

- Very good win on a tough road trip. I expect Towns to be out a game or two... hopefully not any more.

- Surprisingly, the Wolves only took 29 three pointers. It seemed that the biggest difference from last season is that the team didn't shoot them by design... as much as by what was there. Obviously, they want to shoot a lot of three pointers... but there's no reason to force them just to hit a pregame designated number.

_______________

Officiating Rant of the Day:

- It's a shame how today's game is called. We see player after player stop short 30 feet from the hoop and get foul calls. Then, we see Towns attack the rim... get knocked down... or Beasley attack the rim... get knockded down... with no foul calls. We can talk all we want about the new style of NBA basketball and the reliance on the three pointer... but if the pain is off limits for fouls late in a game... why risk the injury?

I was not able to watch. You gave me the play by play I needed.

[Lipoli390]

Donovan Mitchell on last night's game: "We weren't read for their pressure, and that showed in the first half."

Did you ever think you'd hear an opposing player say that about the Timberwolves this season? I think we're seeing the Vanterpool effect. After the Detroit game, KAT said that before the game Vanterpool challenged the players to "grow up." I've noticed a lot of interaction between players and Vanterpool on the bench. I'm glad we have him.

[FNG]

Donovan Mitchell on last night's game: "We weren't read for their pressure, and that showed in the first half."

Did you ever think you'd hear an opposing player say that about the Timberwolves this season? I think we're seeing the Vanterpool effect. After the Detroit game, KAT said that before the game Vanterpool challenged the players to "grow up." I've noticed a lot of interaction between players and Vanterpool on the bench. I'm glad we have him.

Excellent point. Too early to conclude this defense is anything other than fool's gold, but it sure looks different, and the coaching staff has to be given a lot of credit. Man is it fun to see the pressure we are putting on the other team!

[kekgeek]

Donovan Mitchell on last night's game: "We weren't read for their pressure, and that showed in the first half."

Did you ever think you'd hear an opposing player say that about the Timberwolves this season? I think we're seeing the Vanterpool effect. After the Detroit game, KAT said that before the game Vanterpool challenged the players to "grow up." I've noticed a lot of interaction between players and Vanterpool on the bench. I'm glad we have him.

Whenever the Wolves lose Vanderpool it will be a huge loss to the organization. He has also taken Edwards under his wing.

[thedoper]

Donovan Mitchell on last night's game: "We weren't read for their pressure, and that showed in the first half."

Did you ever think you'd hear an opposing player say that about the Timberwolves this season? I think we're seeing the Vanterpool effect. After the Detroit game, KAT said that before the game Vanterpool challenged the players to "grow up." I've noticed a lot of interaction between players and Vanterpool on the bench. I'm glad we have him.

Every year they talk about playing with pace, this year theyre finally doing it while making shots. Hope it keeps up.

[DNatagal]

Watching Culver pick up the Jazz ballhandler from 80 feet away and not give stupid fouls brought a tear to eye. Playing up in their chest, forcing them to either pass or make a play worked for most of the game. Culver and Edwards are the 2 most important non-max players on the roster at this point. KAT, Culver, Edwards are untouchable for any trade IMHO. Okogie is our new Brewer and will hopefully always have a place on the Wolves. Could we just trade the junk for ANY PF, and I truly mean any PF. Belly might be gotten cheap enough. He is making $7,150,000. Wouldn't that look a lot better than Juancho?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Agree, Vanderpool is the power behind the throne, so to speak. But it's also good that we have some real scrappers out there in Beasley, Rubio, Okogie, and Culver. Those guys are just relentless. Now we need a 6"9' version of that. Mmmm, Jarred Vanderbilt perhaps!?

And if Vandy doesn't work out, I am interested in seeing how McDaniels evolves between now and the start of next season. I'm hoping he can be a factor by then. He brings a similar edge as Beasley.

[Lipoli390]

Agree, Vanderpool is the power behind the throne, so to speak. But it's also good that we have some real scrappers out there in Beasley, Rubio, Okogie, and Culver. Those guys are just relentless. Now we need a 6"9' version of that. Mmmm, Jarred Vanderbilt perhaps!?

And if Vandy doesn't work out, I am interested in seeing how McDaniels evolves between now and the start of next season. I'm hoping he can be a factor by then. He brings a similar edge as Beasley.

I agree with you on those four. In the end, it's more about players than coaches and we finally have a critical mass of players who are tough-minded competitors in the four guys you mentioned.

I was wondering when we'd hear from you again on Vanderbilt. :) Honestly, I agree with you. We could have really used his help on the boards last night. Considering the fact that we're getting absolutely nothing from Layman or Juancho, I have to believe that giving their minutes to Vanderbilt would have been a positive. I don't think McDaniels is ready yet, but like you I'm intrigued by what he can develop into by the start of next season.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

The key with Vanderbilt is to have him play the Okogie role at PF - basically don't run any offense through him, minimize his touches, and beg him to slow down and make good decisions. But on defense, tell him to go balls-out and get boards. I still think he can be useful, but obviously he didn't show enough in pre-season to jump into the rotation yet.