Minnesota Sports Forum

Nice win on what Abe aptly described as a "schedule loss". May be we can at least get to that level of late last year where we were totally unpredictable game to game, but we generally won half the time?

- Dunn is our 3rd string PG right now. With Rubio out, he only starts because it's easier for him to work with the established other 4 guys on offense whereas the second unit needs more of a true floor general. But let's be clear - Tyus Jones is currently our #2 PG. He had another very nice game tonight.

- Wiggins and LaVine were downright nasty. If Wiggins can keep up his outside shot, he becomes an elite scorer. He even made a couple of difficult bank shots from awkward distances. Not easy. He was also much better at finding the open man off dribble penetration.

- This team has almost an embarrassment of riches offensively. You'd have to sabotage the offense as a coach for these guys not to get to 90 practically in their sleep.

- Unfortunately, the defense still let us down a bit tonight. Orlando is one of the worst offensive teams in the league, yet they still hung 107 points on us and crept a little too close for comfort once or twice after we at one point had a 30 point lead.

It's a good win, but we have both the LA teams coming up and both are playing quite well. Our defense has got to kick it up to another level if we're going to beat either team.

Kiwi, I agree with you about having Wig bring the ball up the court. He was great tonight, love the way he passed tonight. But him bringing the ball up perpetuates ISO ball which kills our ball movement and offense as a whole. Wig was phenomenal tonight!

Just finished watching the game...much needed win and an offensive explosion.

Q, I'm interested in your observation that Tyus is clearly the #2 PG now. I agree that he is miles ahead of Dunn offensively, but his inability to keep Payton in front of him was a big factor in Orlando shredding our defense. In contrast, Dunn was very effective defending Payton in the first quarter when we held them to only 17 points. It's frustrating, because put them together and you have a very good PG. If Tyus is now #2, do you see him backing up Ricky when he comes back?

longstrangetrip wrote:Just finished watching the game...much needed win and an offensive explosion.

Q, I'm interested in your observation that Tyus is clearly the #2 PG now. I agree that he is miles ahead of Dunn offensively, but his inability to keep Payton in front of him was a big factor in Orlando shredding our defense. In contrast, Dunn was very effective defending Payton in the first quarter when we held them to only 17 points. It's frustrating, because put them together and you have a very good PG. If Tyus is now #2, do you see him backing up Ricky when he comes back?

This is a hard one because I think Dunn is a terrible offensive point gaurd. Is there anything he is average at offensively at the NBA level, idk. I could argue he is our best perimeter defender. Could we play small ball with both of them maybe but I like when Dunn guards the point gaurd and he can't do that if tyus is out there

Well Jesus H Currist on a popsicle stick, we won one. 2-5 sounds a lot better than 1-6, that's for sure. Finally a replay I can watch.

Mstermisty wrote:Well Jesus H Currist on a popsicle stick, we won one. 2-5 sounds a lot better than 1-6, that's for sure. Finally a replay I can watch.

I hope you got a chance to watch the replay Mstermisty. It was a tour de force offensively, with very few turnovers, good ball movement, and some great shot making by Wiggins and LaVine.

longstrangetrip wrote:Just finished watching the game...much needed win and an offensive explosion.

Q, I'm interested in your observation that Tyus is clearly the #2 PG now. I agree that he is miles ahead of Dunn offensively, but his inability to keep Payton in front of him was a big factor in Orlando shredding our defense. In contrast, Dunn was very effective defending Payton in the first quarter when we held them to only 17 points. It's frustrating, because put them together and you have a very good PG. If Tyus is now #2, do you see him backing up Ricky when he comes back?

Right, Tyus is a big liability defensively, although he is pretty good as a ball thief. I just think Thibs trusts him more to organize the offense and make smart decisions. Plus he's a better shooter than Dunn.

I don't know what happens when Ricky gets back. It's too early to throw in the towel on the tantalizing upside Dunn presents with his physical profile and tenacity, so I suspect he goes back to being Ricky's main backup. But Tyus is definitely pushing him for minutes, and that's a good thing.

One thing I hope isn't lost in last night's game is another terrific performance by Gorgui. His stat line was excellent, and he just seems to keep getting better...money mid-range shooter, excellent passer, and developing shot blocker. Jim Peterson commented on how quickly (and appropriately) the ball moves when G touches it rather than KAT...he almost plays a point forward role in Thibs' offense. Sometimes he prefers to go one on one, and his ball fakes and finesse with the basketball often lead to a positive result. But his passing is even more effective...quick passes around the perimeter leading to an open three or precise interior passing. I'm really impressed with this guy, and delighted Thaydon locked him up for 4 years.

Q12543 wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:Just finished watching the game...much needed win and an offensive explosion.

Q, I'm interested in your observation that Tyus is clearly the #2 PG now. I agree that he is miles ahead of Dunn offensively, but his inability to keep Payton in front of him was a big factor in Orlando shredding our defense. In contrast, Dunn was very effective defending Payton in the first quarter when we held them to only 17 points. It's frustrating, because put them together and you have a very good PG. If Tyus is now #2, do you see him backing up Ricky when he comes back?

Right, Tyus is a big liability defensively, although he is pretty good as a ball thief. I just think Thibs trusts him more to organize the offense and make smart decisions. Plus he's a better shooter than Dunn.

I don't know what happens when Ricky gets back. It's too early to throw in the towel on the tantalizing upside Dunn presents with his physical profile and tenacity, so I suspect he goes back to being Ricky's main backup. But Tyus is definitely pushing him for minutes, and that's a good thing.

That's how I see it too, Q. Tyus' smarts and quick hands make up somewhat for his slow feet on defense, but a quick PG is always going to beat him and put pressure on our interior defenders. But it is interesting to me that Thibs played Tyus 31 minutes last night and Dunn only 17. I much prefer Tyus on offense, but I might have thought Thibs would favor the better defensive option once we built the big lead. Well, no complaints because it worked.

I'm delighted that the Wolves now lead the league in 3-point percentage at 41.4 % (although that combined with our 2-5 record highlights how we're still not getting it on defense), but I'm not too surprised. The Wolves ranked second in 3-point percentage last season after the all-star break, and should be expected to keep improving. I never bought into the off-season rhetoric that we needed more 3-point shooting (that's why I see Rush as only insurance against injuries)...this team can shoot.