All I want for Christmas -- Pacers at Wolves GDT

[60WinTim]

Still some time left, but this game does not have a good feel to it here in crunch time.

But here is my philosophy on this team. We have so many young players -- they just have to go through these tough times to gain the experience that will make them better players down the road. Now, we might have been helped out with more innovative coaching, but Sam has not been terrible. He is merely holding the reigns while this young team takes its lumps.

Next year is when the fun will begin. More experience and a new coaching staff should make this a much more competitive team. In the meantime, we need to sit back and watch the process these guys have to go through, and who knows, maybe we even go on some winning streaks over the course of the season.

[TAFKASP]

Well, they're now only 1 game from being 14th in the west and 2.5 from 8th. Seems unlikely they can tank well enough to catch the Lakers, much less the 6ers.

Thank God for KAT, can you imagine how this season would be without his veteran like impact?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I'm starting to wonder if the Wolves are already doing a stealth soft tank by playing all the youngsters at the end of the game. If tonight were a playoff game and Sam was doing everything to win, I doubt that Tayshaun Prince would be on the bench with the game on the line. Once again he was our best plus/minus guy, and the perimeter wasn't wide open when he was in the game. I get that we need to balance development with winning, but I would like a little more emphasis on winning. Zach played all his minutes at the 2, and was minus 20 for the game. Sam needed to have Tay and Wig at the wings down the stretch. That was an embarrassing exhibition of defense in the 4th quarter.

Let's see...Prince and KG play 33 minutes in the first three quarters, and the Pacers score only 66 points. Neither plays in the 4th quarter and the Pacers go off for 36! Again, I get that our young guys are learning by getting valuable 4th quarter experience, but it sure looks like soft tanking to me.

[Papalrep]

Sam is feeling secure if he is doing a soft tank. Maybe he's just a crappy coach. I wonder what the guys who just bought 20% of the team, with the understanding that they have the inside track to buy the rest when Glen is ready to sell think of Sam.

I also wonder what they think of the anemic crowds. Hope they are not thinking Seattle.

[Papalrep]

60WinTim---Wiggins has had a piss poor game. It might be time for another "will Wiggins realize his potential" thread...

Somebody post "Wiggins is a huge disappointment". I did that last year and he really took off.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Sam is feeling secure if he is doing a soft tank. Maybe he's just a crappy coach. I wonder what the guys who just bought 20% of the team, with the understanding that they have the inside track to buy the rest when Glen is ready to sell think of Sam.

I also wonder what they think of the anemic crowds. Hope they are not thinking Seattle.

One of Glen's conditions for selling is that the team stays in town...I'm not sure how he ensures that legally though.

I guess the evaluation of how Sam is doing depends on what our goals should be. I was pulling my hair out in the 4th quarter last night when he kept the vets on the bench because I want wins now...I'm tired of losing, and keep focusing on the ineptness of the teams just ahead of us in the standings. They can be caught if Sam elected to sacrifice development in favor of wins. But I also can sit back and take a longer view, and understand that playing in 4th quarters is going to be beneficial to our young guys down the line. As I said, if last night's game is meaningful, Prince is on the court instead of -20 Zach in the 4th...but I'm not going to conclude the decision to play Zach makes Sam a crappy coach. I think it just means he has a longer view than mine. His post-game was interesting though.

[60WinTim]

LST - Sam's rotations don't bother me. It's the apparent lack of an emphasis on 3-point shooting and the apparent lack of a defensive rebounding scheme that has me convinced Sam is a very mediocre NBA head coach.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

LST - Sam's rotations don't bother me. It's the apparent lack of an emphasis on 3-point shooting and the apparent lack of a defensive rebounding scheme that has me convinced Sam is a very mediocre NBA head coach.

Tim, they're taking more 3-pointers per game than last year. Does that mean Sam is a better coach than Flip? When I see guys like Wig, Bazz and Belly jack up unsuccessful after unsuccessful threes, I'm starting to change my view on this team taking more 3-pointers. I get that the 3-pointer is the blackjack of basketball...paying 3 to 2. But when you're only making 28% of them, that's the equivalent of a 42% 2-point shot, and those three guys are shooting well over 42% on 2's. You need to play to your strength, and while we have several guys who excel close to the basket or with 2-point jumpers, it's becoming clear that this roster just isn't built very well for a 3-point game.

I don't have a problem with Sam's rotations either, Tim...games like last night that are winnable with vets just frustrate me. We look so good in 1st quarters with KG and Tay on the court, but not very good when they are out. But I understood the greater goal...not to win games now, but to help these talented young guys develop. And as difficult as it is sometimes to watch them give away a game, it has to be much more frustrating for Sam. But I'm pretty sure he is doing what Glen and Milt want him to do, so we are going to have to continue to watch sloppy 4th quarter play like last night.

[TAFKASP]

You need to play to your strength, and while we have several guys who excel close to the basket or with 2-point jumpers, it's becoming clear that this roster just isn't built very well for a 3-point game.

Sounds familiar, I think I've read something like this here before!

[KiwiMatt]

The officiating was horribly against us in the 4th quarter yesterday, but the Pacers hit some clutch shots. That no call on the offensive foul committed by George Hill on Ricky Rubio was ridiculous. It's time the NBA caught up with the rest of world sport and start officiating the officials. Had we gotten that call I believe we would have won the game.

One thing I've noticed of late is that KAT is starting to get some 'superstar calls' going his way. Now if only they would give Wiggins the same respect.