Wolves fan commiserate here!
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https://forum.midwestvolleyball.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=32022
If the team had pulled off the comeback against Denver he'd already have a decent case.
The national perception of Ant has always been higher than not just the board's, but even all the advanced stats we post on here, which means the board is probably closer to reality than the pundits and generic basketball fan. Charismatic scorers that make a lot of highlight-reel plays have always been highly rated (and often overrated) by NBA pundits and generic basketball fans that aren't sickos like us!AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 30, 2025 11:13 amIf the team had pulled off the comeback against Denver he'd already have a decent case.
Either way the national perception of Ant is much higher than the board's, so like he has for the last two years he'll get MVP votes again this year. If Webby and Jokic fall out eligibility he probably climbs into the top 5 by default.
Right now, he's projected to miss at least 15 games. The Nuggets next 15 are extremely soft but it's going to be the Jamal Murray show and teams will no doubt be loading up on him. The Wolves need to take advantage and pass them in the standings.
Yeah, I would argue there aren't many (any?) players in the MVP race who rank 7th on their team in net rating...or even 3rd in WS/48 for that matter! But the national perception of Ant will always be higher than reality because he is an exciting player with an endearing personality. He may already be the face of the league...if number of times he appears in commercials is an indicator, he's clearly the face of the NBA! My daughter went to the British advertising awards film at the Walker a couple weeks ago and commented on all the British ads with Ant in them that we don't even see on our networks.Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Dec 30, 2025 11:49 amThe national perception of Ant has always been higher than not just the board's, but even all the advanced stats we post on here, which means the board is probably closer to reality than the pundits and generic basketball fan. Charismatic scorers that make a lot of highlight-reel plays have always been highly rated (and often overrated) by NBA pundits and generic basketball fans that aren't sickos like us!AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 30, 2025 11:13 amIf the team had pulled off the comeback against Denver he'd already have a decent case.
Either way the national perception of Ant is much higher than the board's, so like he has for the last two years he'll get MVP votes again this year. If Webby and Jokic fall out eligibility he probably climbs into the top 5 by default.
The one thing that I definitely have an appreciation of, notwithstanding Abe and FNG's urging that Ant change his ways, is that Ant doesn't play the foul-baiting game. I think he's brought in a few more national fans that are sick and tired of the grifting from some of the stars and appreciate that Ant gets fouled while usually in a natural shot motion.
Ant was a +28 yesterday, partly because Rudy stayed out a good chunk of the third quarter. The minutes Ant plays with Randle, Reid, and either Shannon or Rob absolutely tanks his on off numbers because it's a layup line without Rudy on the court. That layup line is a result mostly of Naz and Randle inability to defend the paint.FNG wrote: ↑Tue Dec 30, 2025 1:30 pmYeah, I would argue there aren't many (any?) players in the MVP race who rank 7th on their team in net rating...or even 3rd in WS/48 for that matter! But the national perception of Ant will always be higher than reality because he is an exciting player with an endearing personality. He may already be the face of the league...if number of times he appears in commercials is an indicator, he's clearly the face of the NBA! My daughter went to the British advertising awards film at the Walker a couple weeks ago and commented on all the British ads with Ant in them that we don't even see on our networks.Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Dec 30, 2025 11:49 amThe national perception of Ant has always been higher than not just the board's, but even all the advanced stats we post on here, which means the board is probably closer to reality than the pundits and generic basketball fan. Charismatic scorers that make a lot of highlight-reel plays have always been highly rated (and often overrated) by NBA pundits and generic basketball fans that aren't sickos like us!AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 30, 2025 11:13 am
If the team had pulled off the comeback against Denver he'd already have a decent case.
Either way the national perception of Ant is much higher than the board's, so like he has for the last two years he'll get MVP votes again this year. If Webby and Jokic fall out eligibility he probably climbs into the top 5 by default.
The one thing that I definitely have an appreciation of, notwithstanding Abe and FNG's urging that Ant change his ways, is that Ant doesn't play the foul-baiting game. I think he's brought in a few more national fans that are sick and tired of the grifting from some of the stars and appreciate that Ant gets fouled while usually in a natural shot motion.
As for your second paragraph, Q, I'll ask this: do you think Ant doesn't foul-bait because of some lofty ethical standard, or because he just doesn't know how? I think you know what my answer would be!
I agree that Ant had a terrific game last night, cypress, but I'm trying to follow your logic. It seems like your first sentence should say "despite" Rudy missing much of the 3rd quarter instead of "because". Or am I being obtuse in missing the point (wouldn't be the first time!)?rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 30, 2025 1:47 pmAnt was a +28 yesterday, partly because Rudy stayed out a good chunk of the third quarter. The minutes Ant plays with Randle, Reid, and either Shannon or Rob absolutely tanks his on off numbers because it's a layup line without Rudy on the court. That layup line is a result mostly of Naz and Randle inability to defend the paint.FNG wrote: ↑Tue Dec 30, 2025 1:30 pmYeah, I would argue there aren't many (any?) players in the MVP race who rank 7th on their team in net rating...or even 3rd in WS/48 for that matter! But the national perception of Ant will always be higher than reality because he is an exciting player with an endearing personality. He may already be the face of the league...if number of times he appears in commercials is an indicator, he's clearly the face of the NBA! My daughter went to the British advertising awards film at the Walker a couple weeks ago and commented on all the British ads with Ant in them that we don't even see on our networks.Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Dec 30, 2025 11:49 am
The national perception of Ant has always been higher than not just the board's, but even all the advanced stats we post on here, which means the board is probably closer to reality than the pundits and generic basketball fan. Charismatic scorers that make a lot of highlight-reel plays have always been highly rated (and often overrated) by NBA pundits and generic basketball fans that aren't sickos like us!
The one thing that I definitely have an appreciation of, notwithstanding Abe and FNG's urging that Ant change his ways, is that Ant doesn't play the foul-baiting game. I think he's brought in a few more national fans that are sick and tired of the grifting from some of the stars and appreciate that Ant gets fouled while usually in a natural shot motion.
As for your second paragraph, Q, I'll ask this: do you think Ant doesn't foul-bait because of some lofty ethical standard, or because he just doesn't know how? I think you know what my answer would be!
Ant largely plays all of the non Rudy minutes- the drop off of Randle and Naz's defense doesn't offset the offensive tick up you get from them. Therefore Ant's on/off numbers tank.FNG wrote: ↑Tue Dec 30, 2025 1:54 pmI agree that Ant had a terrific game last night, cypress, but I'm trying to follow your logic. It seems like your first sentence should say "despite" Rudy missing much of the 3rd quarter instead of "because". Or am I being obtuse in missing the point (wouldn't be the first time!)?rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 30, 2025 1:47 pmAnt was a +28 yesterday, partly because Rudy stayed out a good chunk of the third quarter. The minutes Ant plays with Randle, Reid, and either Shannon or Rob absolutely tanks his on off numbers because it's a layup line without Rudy on the court. That layup line is a result mostly of Naz and Randle inability to defend the paint.FNG wrote: ↑Tue Dec 30, 2025 1:30 pm
Yeah, I would argue there aren't many (any?) players in the MVP race who rank 7th on their team in net rating...or even 3rd in WS/48 for that matter! But the national perception of Ant will always be higher than reality because he is an exciting player with an endearing personality. He may already be the face of the league...if number of times he appears in commercials is an indicator, he's clearly the face of the NBA! My daughter went to the British advertising awards film at the Walker a couple weeks ago and commented on all the British ads with Ant in them that we don't even see on our networks.
As for your second paragraph, Q, I'll ask this: do you think Ant doesn't foul-bait because of some lofty ethical standard, or because he just doesn't know how? I think you know what my answer would be!
Obtuse. "staying out" meant "staying out on the court". And it is a valid point that the rotations have ANT playing in weaker lineups, thus affecting his on/off numbers. I think we are making a mountain out of a mole hill...FNG wrote: ↑Tue Dec 30, 2025 1:54 pmI agree that Ant had a terrific game last night, cypress, but I'm trying to follow your logic. It seems like your first sentence should say "despite" Rudy missing much of the 3rd quarter instead of "because". Or am I being obtuse in missing the point (wouldn't be the first time!)?rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 30, 2025 1:47 pmAnt was a +28 yesterday, partly because Rudy stayed out a good chunk of the third quarter. The minutes Ant plays with Randle, Reid, and either Shannon or Rob absolutely tanks his on off numbers because it's a layup line without Rudy on the court. That layup line is a result mostly of Naz and Randle inability to defend the paint.FNG wrote: ↑Tue Dec 30, 2025 1:30 pm
Yeah, I would argue there aren't many (any?) players in the MVP race who rank 7th on their team in net rating...or even 3rd in WS/48 for that matter! But the national perception of Ant will always be higher than reality because he is an exciting player with an endearing personality. He may already be the face of the league...if number of times he appears in commercials is an indicator, he's clearly the face of the NBA! My daughter went to the British advertising awards film at the Walker a couple weeks ago and commented on all the British ads with Ant in them that we don't even see on our networks.
As for your second paragraph, Q, I'll ask this: do you think Ant doesn't foul-bait because of some lofty ethical standard, or because he just doesn't know how? I think you know what my answer would be!