Game Report - Wolves v Pistons

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

The other thing is that Detroit's offense generated a lot of corner 3's, which is the shortest distance from beyond the arc. Our offense seems to rely on 3's "above the break", which are all longer 3's. Perhaps we'd be a better 3-point shooting team if we tried to create more corner 3 looks.

I'm so exasperated with the shooting issue....why is it so effing hard for this franchise to defend the 3 and make 3s!?

Well, first of all you won't make threes if you don't take them. Taking 15 fewer threes than Detroit last night was more telling than our 27% shooting from behind the arc. And even our lower percentage isn't a mystery. As you pointed out, we take more difficult threes than most teams. We take more lower percentage threes from further out and fewer uncontested threes. Both result at least in part from the lack of ball movement. The Wolves offense tends to be confined to one side of the court while most other teams swing the ball from one side to the other repeatedly and quickly. So we'll often have a lonely guy standing in one corner or another behind the arc who never touches the ball and never even sees the ball on his side of the court.

Lip you've hit it in the head. We haven't been coached right for 3 years in regards to what you're talking about. Rose has been fun to watch for more frustrating then fun for me, because this style of play is so limiting to his other teammates on the floor with him and ultimately the team as a whole. He took 30 shots, 22 of them were possessions without a pass would be my guess. 85% of Wolves possessions are 0-2 passes I bet and the pass a rarely to get a teammates a wide open look. I'm hoping they lose every game this year.

As for that offensive foul on Kat, I thought it was 100% an offensive foul, he extents that elbow a lot, he did so even more on that possession. His emotional immaturity was in full display last night. Also, we've become the clippers in term of complaining about calls. Tibs favorite phrase during the game "C'mon man", he must say that 100 times. How about try coaching instead of yelling at the refs all game, every call, every possession, it's little league!

Probably the most annoying part of the game last night for me. And have you all noticed that the camera man now almost always cuts to a Thibs' closeup after almost every referee call? And it's embarrassing when they show his grimaced face and WTF palms to the sky complaining about a call that even a third grader could see is correct. Sure, all NBA coaches complain about calls, but I think Thibs loses creditability with the refs when he complains about EVERY call...be more selective in working the refs! And yes, the Wolves have become a Clipper-like whining team...I'm not going to blame this entirely on Thibs, but I do think his constant complaining makes him a poor role model for young NBA players.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Taj Gibson has become pretty annoying with the whining.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Taj Gibson has become pretty annoying with the whining.

I noticed that a lot last night...surprised me a little because I find him one of the classier guys in the NBA. Maybe it's just because I like him, but often I agree with him when he complains about a call...Thibs and KAT, not so much. It's a relief to have some guys who almost never whine, or don't bother me too much when they do...I would put all all of our guards in that category (Rose, Teague, Tyus, Wig and Josh). Also RoCo isn't too bad. Saric whines, but somehow it doesn't piss me off when he does. As I write this, i realize that my problem is mostly with KAT and Thibs, but they are both world class whiners.

[Monster]

Taj Gibson has become pretty annoying with the whining.

I noticed that a lot last night...surprised me a little because I find him one of the classier guys in the NBA. Maybe it's just because I like him, but often I agree with him when he complains about a call...Thibs and KAT, not so much. It's a relief to have some guys who almost never whine, or don't bother me too much when they do...I would put all all of our guards in that category (Rose, Teague, Tyus, Wig and Josh). Also RoCo isn't too bad. Saric whines, but somehow it doesn't piss me off when he does. As I write this, i realize that my problem is mostly with KAT and Thibs, but they are both world class whiners.

First of all I agree the complaining about refs is one of the worst things about the NBA.

Thibs is Thibs but I've also seen the camera go to him a few times this year and he is chatting or listening to the ref and saying alright or ok.

Taj I think still hasn't figured out all the new rules. Last night there was at least 3 calls against him that were obvious fouls when the showed the replay.

Saric is a guy that when he says something it probably actually has merit or he isn't showing up a ref he is just kind of exclaiming with his face like he didn't think so but it's more in a I don't agree But I'm not going at you type of thing. That used to be more what Taj did but yeah he has gotten out of control. That one game last month where he had the big eyes over the top experessions was pretty funny.

I actually think Towns has toned it down the last few weeks as far as complaining. I mean he is still complaining but it's toned down and he hasn't had as many of those players where he is down at the other end of the court after he flailed to the floor or complaining while the Wolves give up a bucket on the other end.

Wiggins does ask for calls and he talks to the refs after the play. I know part of his personality isn't demonstrative but even though he does flail trying to get a call at times that's not one of the things that is annoying about him which is one redeeming quality about him. Lol

[Duke13]

Taj has been that way for awhile. He came across the lane and close lined Drummond, was rightfully call for a foul and cried like a year old.

[Duke13]

RoCo spent half the night on the ground flopping for calls. Thought I was watching might ducks.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Taj has been that way for awhile. He came across the lane and close lined Drummond, was rightfully call for a foul and cried like a year old.

Yep. I used to give Gibson the benefit of the doubt. Not anymore. There was another play where it looked like it went off his hand and was called that way. He whined and whined and whined.

It's not an anomaly. A LOT of the calls against Gibson are legit.

----------

As for Thibs theatrics... I touched on this earlier. After the Drummond three pointer, he went apeshit. Why? Was he mad at KAT for not closing out? Just frustrated that he made a lucky shot?

There was another time when he looked painfully anguished and upset when KAT stepped out of bounds on the sideline. Ok. But it's not like they were playing sloppy all night. They only had 7 TOs.

Show some composure.

Meanwhile... when Derrick Rose went 5 seconds not knowing where his guy was... until Reggie Jackson walked to his spot. Set up. Measured his shot... then made his shot before Rose turned around... Thibs did... nothing. No theatrics. Just a timeout.

As I mentioned, isn't not guarding your guy about the most egregious thing you can do on a basketball court. I coach 6th grade hoops... and that's basically the ONE thing I get on the kids for. Turnovers. Missed shots. Et al are no big deal. But every single player, regardless of skill or age, can be the very best at finding the man they're covering on the basketball court.

Rant over.


[Note: Maybe Thibs isn't really showing KAT and other guys up when he freaks out. Maybe they actually deserve it. In any event... it's a really bad look.]

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Taj has been that way for awhile. He came across the lane and close lined Drummond, was rightfully call for a foul and cried like a year old.

Yep. I used to give Gibson the benefit of the doubt. Not anymore. There was another play where it looked like it went off his hand and was called that way. He whined and whined and whined.

It's not an anomaly. A LOT of the calls against Gibson are legit.

----------

As for Thibs theatrics... I touched on this earlier. After the Drummond three pointer, he went apeshit. Why? Was he mad at KAT for not closing out? Just frustrated that he made a lucky shot?

There was another time when he looked painfully anguished and upset when KAT stepped out of bounds on the sideline. Ok. But it's not like they were playing sloppy all night. They only had 7 TOs.

Show some composure.

Meanwhile... when Derrick Rose went 5 seconds not knowing where his guy was... until Reggie Jackson walked to his spot. Set up. Measured his shot... then made his shot before Rose turned around... Thibs did... nothing. No theatrics. Just a timeout.

As I mentioned, isn't not guarding your guy about the most egregious thing you can do on a basketball court. I coach 6th grade hoops... and that's basically the ONE thing I get on the kids for. Turnovers. Missed shots. Et al are no big deal. But every single player, regardless of skill or age, can be the very best at finding the man they're covering on the basketball court.

Rant over.


[Note: Maybe Thibs isn't really showing KAT and other guys up when he freaks out. Maybe they actually deserve it. In any event... it's a really bad look.]

I didn't think Thibs was angry at KAT for stepping out of bounds, I think he was mad at the refs for calling it. It seems to me that Thibs sees the court through Wolves-colored glasses, and just can't acknowledge that any call against him can be valid. Sure, he'll roll his eyes a little when a player makes a bonehead play (he should have on the Rose debacle Abe cites, but didn't), but he reserves his vitriol for referee calls that hurt the wolves...even when it's obvious that the call is correct. It's embarrassing, and ineffective.

Reading this thread has convinced me that Taj needs to be categorized with KAT and Thibs...his complaints were absurd last night.

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Taj has been that way for awhile. He came across the lane and close lined Drummond, was rightfully call for a foul and cried like a year old.

Yep. I used to give Gibson the benefit of the doubt. Not anymore. There was another play where it looked like it went off his hand and was called that way. He whined and whined and whined.

It's not an anomaly. A LOT of the calls against Gibson are legit.

----------

As for Thibs theatrics... I touched on this earlier. After the Drummond three pointer, he went apeshit. Why? Was he mad at KAT for not closing out? Just frustrated that he made a lucky shot?

There was another time when he looked painfully anguished and upset when KAT stepped out of bounds on the sideline. Ok. But it's not like they were playing sloppy all night. They only had 7 TOs.

Show some composure.

Meanwhile... when Derrick Rose went 5 seconds not knowing where his guy was... until Reggie Jackson walked to his spot. Set up. Measured his shot... then made his shot before Rose turned around... Thibs did... nothing. No theatrics. Just a timeout.

As I mentioned, isn't not guarding your guy about the most egregious thing you can do on a basketball court. I coach 6th grade hoops... and that's basically the ONE thing I get on the kids for. Turnovers. Missed shots. Et al are no big deal. But every single player, regardless of skill or age, can be the very best at finding the man they're covering on the basketball court.

Rant over.


[Note: Maybe Thibs isn't really showing KAT and other guys up when he freaks out. Maybe they actually deserve it. In any event... it's a really bad look.]

I didn't think Thibs was angry at KAT for stepping out of bounds, I think he was mad at the refs for calling it. It seems to me that Thibs sees the court through Wolves-colored glasses, and just can't acknowledge that any call against him can be valid. Sure, he'll roll his eyes a little when a player makes a bonehead play (he should have on the Rose debacle Abe cites, but didn't), but he reserves his vitriol for referee calls that hurt the wolves...even when it's obvious that the call is correct. It's embarrassing, and ineffective.

Reading this thread has convinced me that Taj needs to be categorized with KAT and Thibs...his complaints were absurd last night.

I think he was yelling at kat.

Thibs likes to yell at kat and wiggs when they return to the bench while rose, taj, etc are bulletproof from criticisms. I thinks thats thibs idea of double standard teaching. Lip has mentioned the yelling at wiggs/kat from watching live and britt has made some comments as well.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Disappointing loss, but I have to admit I enjoyed watching it. We're not going to win many games though where our 2 max players go 12-32, and our DPOY candidate looks more like Rose on defense. Wig had terrible shot selection, KAT clearly didn't want to be anywhere near Drummond on the offensive side but just hung around outside the arc, and Roco just doesn't look the same on defense since he hurt his knee (although he doesn't look hurt).


Still, there was much I enjoyed, and most of it was from the second team. I'm not surprised Okogie was +9 in his 31 minutes...he seems to do something noteworthy on every defensive possession, and has a surprising impact on offense even when he goes 0-4. I think he is really going to be good. Saric is so much better than I thought when we traded for him (and I loved the trade!). Is he our only player who knows how to get himself open for the corner 3? I love Tyus Jones...he hustles so much on defense and is so disruptive, and the ball moves beautifully when he is running the point. Not surprised he was +7 despite shooting 0-3. These three players just know how to play winning basketball, and all three need to get regular minutes.


And I'm sorry, but Derrick Rose is really fun to watch. I agree that he over-dribbled last night again, but at least his over-dribbling often turns into points (unlike Teague). And while his defense is sub-par, I concurred with Jim Pete's compliments of his hard work on defense last night.


When Drummond hit that desperation three, I knew it just wasn't our night. And we need RoCo to return to defensive form. But I'm not too disappointed in last night...I still think this is a playoff team.

LST, lots of positive comments from you in our losses. Holiday spirit?

Ha, maybe a little!. But despite the disappointing loss, I enjoyed much of the game. The addition of Okogie, Saric and RoCo makes this team much more watchable, and frankly they're more watchable when Teague isn't playing.

Agree on Teague. He's good but not a good fit for this team.