GDT: Wolves B Team vs the Thunder's A Team

[Monster]

Payne with a heat check air ball after hitting a few shots.

Jordon Hill has had a couple nice plays. He hasn't been too impressive in the action I have seen in preseason.

[Coolbreeze44]

I thought it was actually Dunn's best game yet despite his minus 19 in 27 minutes. He's still forcing too many shots (only making about 22% of his shots this preseason), but at least he protected the basketball well tonight. The offense just flows so much better when Jones is at the point, and he was a plus 3 in his 20 minutes. I wish Thibs would pair Jones and Dunn together, but he doesn't seem inclined too.

LST you keep saying this but neither is a 2-guard. And your Dwayne Wade-Dunn comparisons don't make any sense. What makes you think this would be a good idea?

[Monster]

I thought it was actually Dunn's best game yet despite his minus 19 in 27 minutes. He's still forcing too many shots (only making about 22% of his shots this preseason), but at least he protected the basketball well tonight. The offense just flows so much better when Jones is at the point, and he was a plus 3 in his 20 minutes. I wish Thibs would pair Jones and Dunn together, but he doesn't seem inclined too.

LST you keep saying this but neither is a 2-guard. And your Dwayne Wade-Dunn comparisons don't make any sense. What makes you think this would be a good idea?

Tyus and Dunn makes some sense because at least Tyus can shoot and he is actually a PG that might be able to get him a couple easy looks around the basket or something. The real question is how many times is a Dunn Tyus backcourt going to be good enough for any type of stretch? Idk At this point I'm not exactly impressed with where Dunn is right now offensively. I think he will be worthwhile long term but he hasn't exactly been anything better than a mixed bag overall.

Man if this was Dunn's best game of the preseason...not good. Yeah he had only 1 turnover but I think it was on one of his assists he nearly lost the ball hustled to recover it and then found and open perimeter shooter. Right now he doesn't really do much in the way of initiating or creating offense for others off the dribble. He had a really nice entry pass to someone for a bucket there was some positives but I've been underwhelmed overall.

[Coolbreeze44]

I thought it was actually Dunn's best game yet despite his minus 19 in 27 minutes. He's still forcing too many shots (only making about 22% of his shots this preseason), but at least he protected the basketball well tonight. The offense just flows so much better when Jones is at the point, and he was a plus 3 in his 20 minutes. I wish Thibs would pair Jones and Dunn together, but he doesn't seem inclined too.

LST you keep saying this but neither is a 2-guard. And your Dwayne Wade-Dunn comparisons don't make any sense. What makes you think this would be a good idea?

Tyus and Dunn makes some sense because at least Tyus can shoot and he is actually a PG that might be able to get him a couple easy looks around the basket or something. The real question is how many times is a Dunn Tyus backcourt going to be good enough for any type of stretch? Idk At this point I'm not exactly impressed with where Dunn is right now offensively. I think he will be worthwhile long term but he hasn't exactly been anything better than a mixed bag overall.

Man if this was Dunn's best game of the preseason...not good. Yeah he had only 1 turnover but I think it was on one of his assists he nearly lost the ball hustled to recover it and then found and open perimeter shooter. Right now he doesn't really do much in the way of initiating or creating offense for others off the dribble. He had a really nice entry pass to someone for a bucket there was some positives but I've been underwhelmed overall.

So you want to take Dunn off the ball? What is he supposed to give us there?

[Monster]

A couple final thoughts after watching the entire game.

Tyus is a baller. Dude can play and he is 20 years old.

Murry isn't going to stick with this roster but I like him. He is really versitile able to play 1-3. If he was just better at something he probably would be on an NBA roster or be one of those guys on speed dial d-league call up when a team needs someone.

Lucas was really rolling. He kinda reminds me of JJ Barea only more calm and not as physically gifted. He is a guy that can play as a PG but I think he is more of a combo guard not a pure PG. it seems like he is going to stick around.

Payne was still Payne but he was the slowed down a bit and hitting some shots Payne that is actually somewhat useful. I'll assume he goes back to bad Payne next game.

Belly had a nice first half and started off well in the 2nd half. I looked at his stats they look pretty blah. He was better than his stat line showed at least the first half of the game.

That's all I got.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

I want to see Tyus and Dunn play together on the second unit.

[Coolbreeze44]

I want to see Tyus and Dunn play together on the second unit.

Again why? What do you expect to happen? Who plays off the ball?

[Monster]

I thought it was actually Dunn's best game yet despite his minus 19 in 27 minutes. He's still forcing too many shots (only making about 22% of his shots this preseason), but at least he protected the basketball well tonight. The offense just flows so much better when Jones is at the point, and he was a plus 3 in his 20 minutes. I wish Thibs would pair Jones and Dunn together, but he doesn't seem inclined too.

LST you keep saying this but neither is a 2-guard. And your Dwayne Wade-Dunn comparisons don't make any sense. What makes you think this would be a good idea?

Tyus and Dunn makes some sense because at least Tyus can shoot and he is actually a PG that might be able to get him a couple easy looks around the basket or something. The real question is how many times is a Dunn Tyus backcourt going to be good enough for any type of stretch? Idk At this point I'm not exactly impressed with where Dunn is right now offensively. I think he will be worthwhile long term but he hasn't exactly been anything better than a mixed bag overall.

Man if this was Dunn's best game of the preseason...not good. Yeah he had only 1 turnover but I think it was on one of his assists he nearly lost the ball hustled to recover it and then found and open perimeter shooter. Right now he doesn't really do much in the way of initiating or creating offense for others off the dribble. He had a really nice entry pass to someone for a bucket there was some positives but I've been underwhelmed overall.

So you want to take Dunn off the ball? What is he supposed to give us there?

I'm not really advocating for it all that much but I'll explain further. I would hope he might make some basket cuts or something. At this point from what I have seen he isn't exactly giving the team great results with the ball. I think the general theoretical idea is Tyus seems to have the skill set to be a combo guard (might be able to hit and open jumper) but also has a great feel so he might make something easy for Dunn. Again I do think that makes some sense but is that combo going to be good enough even against whatever bench lineups the Wolves will be facing? Idk there are only so many minutes at the guard spots I can't see Dunn and Tyus play together any significant minutes assuming everyone is healthy. I get the idea of it but I don't see it happening much in the regular season with everyone healthy knock on wood. Also as underwhelmed as Inhave been with Dunn I'd probably rather see him play minutes at the PG spot with the right players around him. It think he can be effective doing that. He isn't ready to elevate a bunch of scrubs he needs at least one starter out there with him which is likely going to happen.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I thought it was actually Dunn's best game yet despite his minus 19 in 27 minutes. He's still forcing too many shots (only making about 22% of his shots this preseason), but at least he protected the basketball well tonight. The offense just flows so much better when Jones is at the point, and he was a plus 3 in his 20 minutes. I wish Thibs would pair Jones and Dunn together, but he doesn't seem inclined too.

LST you keep saying this but neither is a 2-guard. And your Dwayne Wade-Dunn comparisons don't make any sense. What makes you think this would be a good idea?

Cool, there's a lot I like about Dunn as a basketball player, but based on what I saw of him in college and so far with the Wolves, he doesn't seem like a natural point guard to me. And meanwhile we have a 20-year-old PG in Tyus Jones who is a natural at that position, has always been a winner, and seems to get better every time he gets on the court. Tonight was the first opportunity we have had to see them alternating at PG, and I think everyone saw who the superior PG is...the offense flows so much better with him at the point. And the plus/minus wasn't even close. But Dunn is a terrific athlete and a gritty competitor, so I want him in his best role...and right now that looks like SG to me. I know you don't like the Wade comparison, but I see so many similarities...similar size, able to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket, but only average at best outside shooters.

The biggest flaw in my argument is defense. Tyus is bigger this year and looked fine on D tonight, but his defensive ceiling is not very high, and I suspect that is why Thibs has Dunn ahead of him at PG. A few more nights like tonight may change his mind though. Having a competent PG backing up Ricky is a key to our success this season. It would be great if Dunn turns out to be that guy, but he has a long way to go.

[Coolbreeze44]

I thought it was actually Dunn's best game yet despite his minus 19 in 27 minutes. He's still forcing too many shots (only making about 22% of his shots this preseason), but at least he protected the basketball well tonight. The offense just flows so much better when Jones is at the point, and he was a plus 3 in his 20 minutes. I wish Thibs would pair Jones and Dunn together, but he doesn't seem inclined too.

LST you keep saying this but neither is a 2-guard. And your Dwayne Wade-Dunn comparisons don't make any sense. What makes you think this would be a good idea?

Cool, there's a lot I like about Dunn as a basketball player, but based on what I saw of him in college and so far with the Wolves, he doesn't seem like a natural point guard to me. And meanwhile we have a 20-year-old PG in Tyus Jones who is a natural at that position, has always been a winner, and seems to get better every time he gets on the court. Tonight was the first opportunity we have had to see them alternating at PG, and I think everyone saw who the superior PG is...the offense flows so much better with him at the point. And the plus/minus wasn't even close. But Dunn is a terrific athlete and a gritty competitor, so I want him in his best role...and right now that looks like SG to me. I know you don't like the Wade comparison, but I see so many similarities...similar size, able to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket, but only average at best outside shooters.

The biggest flaw in my argument is defense. Tyus is bigger this year and looked fine on D tonight, but his defensive ceiling is not very high, and I suspect that is why Thibs has Dunn ahead of him at PG. A few more nights like tonight may change his mind though. Having a competent PG backing up Ricky is a key to our success this season. It would be great if Dunn turns out to be that guy, but he has a long way to go.

The problem is one is a near 50% career shooter and the other can't throw it in the garage from his driveway. That is the biggest flaw in your argument.

Look I get it, people want to find a way to get Tyus on the floor. I do too. I would be more than happy to see him get the backup PG minutes. But that plan changed when we drafted Dunn. But until Dunn can at least keep defense's honest with his shot, you can't play him at the 2 and hope to be a net plus player with that 2nd group.