Inside Information

[Coolbreeze44]

Thanks for taking the time to put this thread together Lip. Like you said, nothing earth shattering but some good insights nonetheless. One thing I totally do NOT believe is that Zach is going to be held out until December. I just don't see it unless they decide to be overly cautious. And Tim, you really don't think Wiggins is effective? Yet you think the Wolves are going to win 60 games every year? Makes sense i guess.

[Lipoli390]

Cool -- The way it was put to me is that they're "not expecting Zach back before December." I don't think they'll hold him back if he's ready. I think they just don't want to set up expectations that can't be met or that push Zach to come back too soon.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

I listened to Zgoda's podcast and read this thread and I am getting a tad more nervous about the offseason. The biggest things that concerns me is the desire to trade the pick (which I think would probably be a big mistake, especially if one of the elite forwards are available when we pick). I felt some relief when during the end of the season presser, Thibs mentioned matching up player windows, so I was hoping this meant we wouldn't sacrifice the future to win now. I just hope Boston gets Butler.

I am not thrilled to hear that Thibs puts getting a shooter as our biggest need as I think its much easier to find good 3 point shooters than good defenders, and three point shooting is something that can be improved organically easier than defense can, so I wish the first priority is to help our defense (though I absolutely hope we add players that can both shoot and defend well).

[bleedspeed]

I am trying to think who we target in FA to improve 3pt shooting. I think it is the most important skill for most teams coming off the bench. It is a lot easier to play defense when the other team is taking the ball out of the basket every time. I don't really see how we imporve 3pt shooting on the starting lineup without moving Ricky or Dieng heading to the bench.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

I am trying to think who we target in FA to improve 3pt shooting. I think it is the most important skill for most teams coming off the bench. It is a lot easier to play defense when the other team is taking the ball out of the basket every time. I don't really see how we imporve 3pt shooting on the starting lineup without moving Ricky or Dieng heading to the bench.

Ibaka, Gay, Gallinari, James Johnson, PJ Tucker, Patterson, Reddick, Muscala, Ilyasova, Patty Mills and Luke Babbit are potential FA targets that can help with 3 point shooting.

[Monster]

I listened to Zgoda's podcast and read this thread and I am getting a tad more nervous about the offseason. The biggest things that concerns me is the desire to trade the pick (which I think would probably be a big mistake, especially if one of the elite forwards are available when we pick). I felt some relief when during the end of the season presser, Thibs mentioned matching up player windows, so I was hoping this meant we wouldn't sacrifice the future to win now. I just hope Boston gets Butler.

I am not thrilled to hear that Thibs puts getting a shooter as our biggest need as I think its much easier to find good 3 point shooters than good defenders, and three point shooting is something that can be improved organically easier than defense can, so I wish the first priority is to help our defense (though I absolutely hope we add players that can both shoot and defend well).

Zgoda has a podcast?

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

I listened to Zgoda's podcast and read this thread and I am getting a tad more nervous about the offseason. The biggest things that concerns me is the desire to trade the pick (which I think would probably be a big mistake, especially if one of the elite forwards are available when we pick). I felt some relief when during the end of the season presser, Thibs mentioned matching up player windows, so I was hoping this meant we wouldn't sacrifice the future to win now. I just hope Boston gets Butler.

I am not thrilled to hear that Thibs puts getting a shooter as our biggest need as I think its much easier to find good 3 point shooters than good defenders, and three point shooting is something that can be improved organically easier than defense can, so I wish the first priority is to help our defense (though I absolutely hope we add players that can both shoot and defend well).

Zgoda has a podcast?

Actually, he was the main guest on one of the Dunker podcasts. I think there was a link to it on Twitter.

[Monster]

I listened to Zgoda's podcast and read this thread and I am getting a tad more nervous about the offseason. The biggest things that concerns me is the desire to trade the pick (which I think would probably be a big mistake, especially if one of the elite forwards are available when we pick). I felt some relief when during the end of the season presser, Thibs mentioned matching up player windows, so I was hoping this meant we wouldn't sacrifice the future to win now. I just hope Boston gets Butler.

I am not thrilled to hear that Thibs puts getting a shooter as our biggest need as I think its much easier to find good 3 point shooters than good defenders, and three point shooting is something that can be improved organically easier than defense can, so I wish the first priority is to help our defense (though I absolutely hope we add players that can both shoot and defend well).

Zgoda has a podcast?

Actually, he was the main guest on one of the Dunker podcasts. I think there was a link to it on Twitter.

Ah ok. I stopped following Zgoda on twitter a few months ago when I cut back. I personally haven't missed following him.

[KiwiMatt]

Thibs is exactly right although I feel a defensive wing is more important that 3pt shooting.

I've mentioned this in other threads but I think Thibs makes a play for James Johnson. Seems like a Thibs guy - hard nosed defender.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I listened to Zgoda's podcast and read this thread and I am getting a tad more nervous about the offseason. The biggest things that concerns me is the desire to trade the pick (which I think would probably be a big mistake, especially if one of the elite forwards are available when we pick). I felt some relief when during the end of the season presser, Thibs mentioned matching up player windows, so I was hoping this meant we wouldn't sacrifice the future to win now. I just hope Boston gets Butler.

I am not thrilled to hear that Thibs puts getting a shooter as our biggest need as I think its much easier to find good 3 point shooters than good defenders, and three point shooting is something that can be improved organically easier than defense can, so I wish the first priority is to help our defense (though I absolutely hope we add players that can both shoot and defend well).

I disagree that shooting is easier to improve organically than defense. It's not a big percentage of players that actually improve significantly as shooters. We have a young team that still does not know how to play defense as a unit. They are still mostly playing as individuals and aren't good with rotations and still get lost. I think we can easily organically improve defensively if we learn how to play team defense and continuity with the core should help us getting better every year defensively moving forward under Thibs. Sure bringing in defensive minded players might help speed that process along but then we will lack scoring options when the playoffs roll around and we have only 3 guys that can score the ball. The bottom line is Towns, Wiggins and Lavine all need to improve defensively or we aren't going anywhere and they will also need shooting around them to help keep the other teams scrambling defensively. A good defensive scheme that can be executed can cover for not having 5 great defenders on the court as long as everyone does their part. There's really no way to get around lack of shooting offensively.