Minnesota Sports Forum

Fun fun win

kekgeek wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:08 pmFun fun win

It really was. Honestly I didn't see it coming but I really enjoyed it.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:07 pm

Leado01 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 10:59 pm Back to TSJ...he has very little value stuck in corner

Agreed. When everyone is healthy, he really doesn't have a role as Finch isn't going to play him over Naz and Ayo, our two main offensively-oriented bench pieces. We'll see what happens this offseason.

Shannon has two more years on a cheap contract. Ayo is going to get paid. Cheap contracts are good. He's a left handed dominant playing the right handed corner.

Fun game

Leado01 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:12 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:07 pm

Leado01 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 10:59 pm Back to TSJ...he has very little value stuck in corner

Agreed. When everyone is healthy, he really doesn't have a role as Finch isn't going to play him over Naz and Ayo, our two main offensively-oriented bench pieces. We'll see what happens this offseason.

Shannon has two more years on a cheap contract. Ayo is going to get paid. Cheap contracts are good. He's a left handed dominant playing the right handed corner.

Agreed, he will likely be kept. The issue is role. He needs the ball in his hands, as unlike NAW, who shape-shifted into a lower usage 3&D bench guard after getting traded here, TJ hasn't proven that he can be a positive without being the protagonist on offense.

I can see a scenario where he becomes our 6th/7th man next year if Ayo is promoted to the starting lineup and Naz is either traded or promoted as well. Then there is a clear path for him to provide offensive punch off the bench. That would be a real need.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:19 pm

Leado01 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:12 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:07 pm

Agreed. When everyone is healthy, he really doesn't have a role as Finch isn't going to play him over Naz and Ayo, our two main offensively-oriented bench pieces. We'll see what happens this offseason.

Shannon has two more years on a cheap contract. Ayo is going to get paid. Cheap contracts are good. He's a left handed dominant playing the right handed corner.

Agreed, he will likely be kept. The issue is role. He needs the ball in his hands, as unlike NAW, who shape-shifted into a lower usage 3&D bench guard after getting traded here, TJ hasn't proven that he can be a positive without being the protagonist on offense.

I can see a scenario where he becomes our 6th/7th man next year if Ayo is promoted to the starting lineup and Naz is either traded or promoted as well. Then there is a clear path for him to provide offensive punch off the bench. That would be a real need.

That would be a big bet on internal development and honestly I'm all for it

What a fun game and cool win.

First off, Durant and Thompson were incredible.

Jaden is the actual 2nd best player on the team, but consistently sacrifices his role for the team.

Still some rust with Ant but still encouraging besides some rough late game possessions

I think this game showed something that I wasn't sure was true, which is that without Rudy and Randle on the floor --- and with TJs rejuvenated health and confidence --- there is an abundance of scorers on this team. And that was without Naz playing. The problem is that: first not all of these players were healthy or on the team all year, second the lane in too clogged when Rudy is out there and with Randle they've mostly been relegated to spot up shooters.

The offense had so much punch this game against a really good defense because they played unselfish ball, penetrating and kicking out until the rest opportunity presented itself. That's so difficult to do with both Rudy and Randle out there. Obviously not everything from this game is sustainable and it's only one game but we definitely saw the shadows of what the future could look like

I will be interested to see how often Finch will abandon the status quo in the playoffs when the teams hits a wall. Will he throw in TJ, Joan, Mike or JC if Donte, Rudy, Julius or Naz play poorly? Mike would obviously get a nod but would Finch go to them before the team is down 3 games to 1? The best teams and coaches pull those levers to get ahead of the game before desperation sets in. That group of players has shown enough juice to be in consideration.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:19 pm

Leado01 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:12 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:07 pm

Agreed. When everyone is healthy, he really doesn't have a role as Finch isn't going to play him over Naz and Ayo, our two main offensively-oriented bench pieces. We'll see what happens this offseason.

Shannon has two more years on a cheap contract. Ayo is going to get paid. Cheap contracts are good. He's a left handed dominant playing the right handed corner.

Agreed, he will likely be kept. The issue is role. He needs the ball in his hands, as unlike NAW, who shape-shifted into a lower usage 3&D bench guard after getting traded here, TJ hasn't proven that he can be a positive without being the protagonist on offense.

I can see a scenario where he becomes our 6th/7th man next year if Ayo is promoted to the starting lineup and Naz is either traded or promoted as well. Then there is a clear path for him to provide offensive punch off the bench. That would be a real need.

This is the type of play I was hoping for all offseason. Him breaking into those random 20+ point bursts off the bench, maybe even starting at times if Ant is hurt maybe (I think he's the best Ant replacement for offense that we have and it's not close IF he can keep some semblance of this play going these last two games).

Also, What if he can be an avg defender though? What does he look like as a guy who can adequately defend and now is a major threat on offense that teams need to really defend well?

If he can defend OKish even then I think he's such a positive player when he has that offense going. Maybe he's the x factor we need to go on a playoff run? Our offense has been so bad since the All Star break we might need TJ to win games.

Phenom wrote: ↑Sat Apr 11, 2026 9:37 am I will be interested to see how often Finch will abandon the status quo in the playoffs when the teams hits a wall. Will he throw in TJ, Joan, Mike or JC if Donte, Rudy, Julius or Naz play poorly? Mike would obviously get a nod but would Finch go to them before the team is down 3 games to 1? The best teams and coaches pull those levers to get ahead of the game before desperation sets in. That group of players has shown enough juice to be in consideration.

Thats funny I just wrote the same thing, TJ might be the guy we need in the playoffs considering how bad our offense has been since the All Star break. I think you give the front 8 a chance, but be ready to pull the TJ trigger QUICK if the offense stagnates at all. If Naz, DDV, Ju or Ayo struggle flip that switch and give TJ a shot. Don't be afraid to play 9-10 guys. WHoever is playing best should get the most PT.