Apathy reigns - Spurs at Wolves GDT

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Don't understand the complaints about officiating. Probably shouldn't "cry wolf" in a game like this. Save it for another time. A legit time.

If we're complaining about it (before the game even starts) vs. a team that just waxed the Wolves by 25... while shooting about half the number of free throws... how are people going to handle a close loss in the playoffs vs. a star-studded team?

The Spurs destroyed the Wolves. They toyed with the Wolves. And the officials had nothing to do with it.


[Note: I just saw a Vine of a play from last night. The Spurs took 7 dribbles (nobody more than 2) and made 8 passes that led to a three point play at the rim. Several Wolves looked absolutely lost/clueless on the play. LaVine looked like he was on roller skates for the first time in his life. Chalk it up to a reality check/learning experience for a young team.]

The we can't argue about it because they took half as many FT's is garbage in this case. The Spurs are tied for last in the league in FT attempts per game. Why? Because their drives are intended to open up passes while most everybody else's drives are intended to score at the rim or draw a foul. The Spurs just don't foul hunt at all. They look to pass. Meanwhile we're top 5 in the league in FT attempts per game because our guys are trying to draw fouls and they weren't calling them a lot last night. You have to get some ball or be straight up for a foul to not be called and they did/were neither a lot early in the game. Our guys were getting hit on the arms every time and it was barely getting called. They took half as many FT's because that's what they do. It's not like we doubled up a team that normally gets to the line a ton.

We were still gonna lose regardless, but a team like that is gonna blow us out if we don't get the calls we should because of their reputation versus our young guys.

[TAFKASP]

The we can't argue about it because they took half as many FT's is garbage in this case. The Spurs are tied for last in the league in FT attempts per game. Why? Because their drives are intended to open up passes while most everybody else's drives are intended to score at the rim or draw a foul. The Spurs just don't foul hunt at all. They look to pass. Meanwhile we're top 5 in the league in FT attempts per game because our guys are trying to draw fouls and they weren't calling them a lot last night. You have to get some ball or be straight up for a foul to not be called and they did/were neither a lot early in the game. Our guys were getting hit on the arms every time and it was barely getting called. They took half as many FT's because that's what they do. It's not like we doubled up a team that normally gets to the line a ton.

We were still gonna lose regardless, but a team like that is gonna blow us out if we don't get the calls we should because of their reputation versus our young guys.

The above post makes the point I tried to make, but obviously couldn't!

Reputation reffing blows, it didn't change the outcome of this game by any means and I understand that. My issue is that a foul is a foul, be it against the 6ers or the Spurs, but they don't get called that way. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy, they are known to be a great defending team so they get the benefit of the doubt, the benefit of the doubt only increases their reputation for being a great defending team.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Fun game last night at Target Center. Biggest crowd I've seen other than the Laker game, and they got to see a well-played game. And they got to see the best team in the league. Yes, the Warriors may be 27-1, but I see the Spurs beating them in a series...and what a series it is going to be. GS is a better offensive team, but not by much...and the Spurs are not as dependent on one player as the Warriors are. And the Spurs may be the best defensive team I have ever seen. They are so tough inside, I think the only way to score on them is on threes and the dreaded mid-range game...and the Wolves stink beyond the arc, and were only average mid-range last night. A couple observations...

Last night was a great example why Tay starts over Bazz. I like Bazz's effort and scoring ability so much that I want to convince myself that he is improving as a defender. But he was horrible, and I'm moving toward the conclusion that his defensive ceiling is still far below average...he's just not getting it. Tay and Wig totally took the Spurs' best player Kawhi Leonard out of his offensive game. He looked frustrated, and had only 7 points when Sam foolishly tried Bazz on him. Before you could say "Bazz sucks on defense", Kawhi had 19 points. Good defense stops good offense. If Sam starts Bazz, Leonard controls Bazz defensively and goes off offensively...better to have Tay and Kawhi frustrate each other and match Bazz up with a bench player. Bazz has a role here, but it's on Sam to put him in a position where he isn't exploited like he was last night.

We got to watch the best coach in the NBA last night, and despite my man crush on the Wolves' coach, I'm not talking about Sam. There were several classic Pop moments last night, but my favorite was one minute into the second half. The Wolves had just run off 6 points to close the gap to 8 when Pop called for a timeout. He never looked at his starters as they came off the court, but instead signaled for 5 new guys to replace them. The starters sulked to the bench with their tails between their legs, and the reserves ran off 7 straight points...it was never close again. Pop has never been shy about yanking a player when he did something he didn't like, and I like that. Some posters worry that Sam is hurting the confidence of his young players by keeping them on a short leash, but I think it's how they learn. Pop does it with his veterans like last night, and he does it with his rookies...just ask Parker and Ginobili. they have had a love/hate relationship with Pop from Day 1, but he is responsible for making them what they are today. If a player's performance is effected by a coach criticizing him, I don't think he belongs in the NBA.

The Wolves have only been out of 3 games all season, and unfortunately 2 of them have come in a row. Still, I don't feel bad about last night's loss. We played well, the Spurs are just much better. If anyone can post the vine that Abe talks about above (the 8 passes leading to a layup by West), please do so. Crowds ooh and aah about dunks, but I have never seen an opposing crowd so appreciative of an opponents' passing...it was truly amazing. The Wolves actually played their defense well on that possession, but the Spurs were just better than us.

I hope to watch the Spurs game next week, but I see no chance of us winning...they're too good.

[TAFKASP]

If anyone can post the vine that Abe talks about above (the 8 passes leading to a layup by West), please do so.

The play is just after the 1 minute mark of the video!

[youtube]hCn2uoampIs[/youtube]

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

That's the one, SP...thanks! Isn't that extraordinary? And the Wolves had a pretty good defensive unit on the floor and worked hard on that possession...they just got beat. I generally don't like to see the Wolves lose, but last night was fun from start to finish.

[Phenom]

That foul on Belly is legit, but that's my point, Wig drew more contact than that an a couple hard drives to the hoop and nothing. While I love watching basketball played like the Spurs play it, but nothing much angers me as much as Superstar calls, and by extension, calls for the great teams.

Don't misunderstand, I'm not suggesting this game ends any other way than a loss, a well deserved loss, but that crap pisses me off.

Just hard to go with that when the ft difference is 21 to 6

It's 21 to 6 because the Wolves go offense (if you can call it that) all exists inside the 3 point line while the Spurs largely just toss the ball from player to player to player until they get an open shot. They seem to be the one jump shooting team in the league that never seems to have a bad game shooting.

I've only really been focused on Wig, and he's really been going hard to the hoop, I just can't believe that all those attempts were clean blocks.

They probably aren't all completely clean, but that's how it goes. He's gotten his fair share of calls tonight. He needs to figure out how to hang on to the damn ball first and foremost.

And maybe grab a rebound or 2 over 30 minutes

I'd like to see Wig take an extra dribble on his drives sometimes. He usually is taking off farther than he needs to and it led to a few blocks tonight. When he takes off a foot or two farther out his trajectory becomes more horizontal and he loses power that he could use to throw down. Plus I think its becoming predictable for defenses. Zach is good at using an extra dribble to better his angle and get under/around the defender.

Zach is a much better ballhandler than Wiggins. Wiggins gets stripped a lot driving to the hole. He has a shaky handle and he knows it. As a smart player, he recognizes his weakness in that area and he limits his dribbling as a result. If he significantly improves his handle his game will take yet another leap forward and he's already a 20 point per game scorer.

I think its more habitual than anything else. By the time Wig reaches the point where he needs to finish his move, his handle has already done the heavy lifting b getting him to that point. He should be plenty capable to put one more down especially if he were to use a head or shoulder fake. I do not anticipate him working on something like this however with his propensity to create contact, which I wouldn't complain about.

[TAFKASP]

That's the one, SP...thanks! Isn't that extraordinary? And the Wolves had a pretty good defensive unit on the floor and worked hard on that possession...they just got beat. I generally don't like to see the Wolves lose, but last night was fun from start to finish.

The Spurs are an absolute joy to watch play any team but your own! :thumb:

Edit: Every high school and college coach... and Sam, should begin and end every single offensive film session with that play!

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

That's the one, SP...thanks! Isn't that extraordinary? And the Wolves had a pretty good defensive unit on the floor and worked hard on that possession...they just got beat. I generally don't like to see the Wolves lose, but last night was fun from start to finish.

Yep, 2nd favorite team. Amazing how they keep it going every year. I wonder if we'll ever get there in my lifetime.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Don't understand the complaints about officiating. Probably shouldn't "cry wolf" in a game like this. Save it for another time. A legit time.

If we're complaining about it (before the game even starts) vs. a team that just waxed the Wolves by 25... while shooting about half the number of free throws... how are people going to handle a close loss in the playoffs vs. a star-studded team?

The Spurs destroyed the Wolves. They toyed with the Wolves. And the officials had nothing to do with it.


[Note: I just saw a Vine of a play from last night. The Spurs took 7 dribbles (nobody more than 2) and made 8 passes that led to a three point play at the rim. Several Wolves looked absolutely lost/clueless on the play. LaVine looked like he was on roller skates for the first time in his life. Chalk it up to a reality check/learning experience for a young team.]

The we can't argue about it because they took half as many FT's is garbage in this case. The Spurs are tied for last in the league in FT attempts per game. Why? Because their drives are intended to open up passes while most everybody else's drives are intended to score at the rim or draw a foul. The Spurs just don't foul hunt at all. They look to pass. Meanwhile we're top 5 in the league in FT attempts per game because our guys are trying to draw fouls and they weren't calling them a lot last night. You have to get some ball or be straight up for a foul to not be called and they did/were neither a lot early in the game. Our guys were getting hit on the arms every time and it was barely getting called. They took half as many FT's because that's what they do. It's not like we doubled up a team that normally gets to the line a ton.

We were still gonna lose regardless, but a team like that is gonna blow us out if we don't get the calls we should because of their reputation versus our young guys.

My post was A LOT less about the specific number of free throws... and A LOT more about whining about officiating in a game where the other team absolutely destroyed the Wolves in every facet and toyed with them.

Officiating had nothing to do with that blowout.

[TAFKASP]

My post was A LOT less about the specific number of free throws... and A LOT more about whining about officiating in a game where the other team absolutely destroyed the Wolves in every facet and toyed with them.

Officiating had nothing to do with that blowout.

As one of those complaining, maybe the only, I think I made clear a number of times that the outcome was never in doubt nor changed. Are you suggesting that teams like the Spurs aren't getting the benefit of the doubt, a lot? It's the same with rookies vs. veterans, the rules aren't different, but the game is called different. It's been this way for so long that I guess many of you accept it, but it frustrates me, in case you didn't notice!!