Wolves 2022-23 Outlook

[Leado01]

It would have been cool if we could have added a player that allowed us to play the same brand of basketball, but we didn't, because we felt we needed to be able to play multiple styles.

We are learning. We've seen some improvements in the last 10 days. We will continue to improve

[AbeVigodaLive]

Anybody listen to the Mismatch on The Ringer?

Chris Vernon is a play-by-play guy for the Grizzlies. While he was a staunch opponent of the Gobert trade (he thinks Gobert is wildly overrated), he was a fan of last year's Timberwolves team.

He watched the team up close last week. And came away convinced this team just doesn't have it. But it's less about fit on the court... and much more about the lack of cohesion/chemistry/fun/camaraderie off it.

We can all opine about how bad the fit is or whether the team will turn things around or what's next... but through it all, I think it's safe to say that nobody (from the fans to especially the players) seem to be having any fun.

[WildWolf2813]

Anybody listen to the Mismatch on The Ringer?

Chris Vernon is a play-by-play guy for the Grizzlies. While he was a staunch opponent of the Gobert trade (he thinks Gobert is wildly overrated), he was a fan of last year's Timberwolves team.

He watched the team up close last week. And came away convinced this team just doesn't have it. But it's less about fit on the court... and much more about the lack of cohesion/chemistry/fun/camaraderie off it.

We can all opine about how bad the fit is or whether the team will turn things around or what's next... but through it all, I think it's safe to say that nobody (from the fans to especially the players) seem to be having any fun.

He was on the Bill Simmons pod as well.

He said the same things, but if Ant has this issues, they are issues that he wouldn't have taken advantage of whether the deal was made or not.

They miss Pat Bev and Vando, I get it. But the reason why Vando got moved is because Brandon Clarke destroyed him on the boards and damn near rendered him unplayable. That's why this team felt like they had to play bigger, because they were the smallest team in the league last year and ran into a road block.

Yes, I know Malik Beasley was close to Ant, and Beasley made almost 250 3's last year, but ultimately he didn't help us at all against Memphis. They did a piss poor job of replacing him, but were they gonna hang their hat on drafting a three point shooter?

If they don't make the trade, they'd have Walker Kessler as the third big. He's been solid so far, but he presents the same issues they have with Rudy in there as far as paint clogging. Speaking of paint clogging,

Ant for a supposed star goes to the FT line 4.1 times a game, which is sadly one of his most consistent stats. He hasn't shown much improvement at all in terms of drawing fouls, which was a problem for him in college. Ant is incapable of making up for bad shooting nights by going to the line. If Ant goes 6-17 but makes 7 FT's, it mitigates some of the bad shooting, but he has no plan B offensively for when he struggles.

We worried about how Rudy can get exposed in the playoffs, but how they played last year got exposed in the playoffs. I guess everyone just figured just run it back, but they'd be markedly behind everyone else talentwise. The other solution was to go full Rosas and just add another Beasley or two and let everyone launch threes, defense be damned. That doesn't work. They can't out-Warrior the Warriors.

We as fans worried about Towns' happiness and thought, "hey let's get him a buddy." Now we're struck with D-Lo forever. I don't wanna deal with this again with Ant if he's gonna be this miserable over not having Beasley, Vando and Pat Bev. If it's one thing this team is amazing at finding, it's really talented players who have mediocre players as good friends.

The Wolves supposedly have 3 of the top 25 players in the league. They failed to account for the fact that they have 3 of the 15 most hated players too.

[Lipoli390]

https://dunkingwithwolves.com/2022/11/17/minnesota-timberwolves-sorely-missing-former-players-impact/

Good article about the impact of losing Vanderbilt. I think it's pretty easy to list in order of importance the things that have resulted in the Wolves poor start this season:

1. Adjusting to Rudy Gobert. Let's not kid ourselves; this is the single biggest reason for the Wolves slow start. Bringing in Gobert substantially and necessarily changes the Wolves style of play on both ends of the floor. It requires players to do things differently, play different roles, and in KAT's case, play an entirely different position. I continue to question Gobert's fit on this team, but even if I'm right that the pieces will never fit well, this team will still get better as they gain experience playing with Rudy.

2. The loss of Vando and Beverley. As the article points out, the Wolves lost a lot simply by losing Vando. The loss is compounded by the loss of Beverley. Both of them added toughness along with high defensive intensity and energy.

3. KAT's preseason illness. The illness that put KAT in the hospital at the beginning of training camp denied him the benefit of training camp, caused significant weight loss and weakened his body, which is what an illness of that severity will do.

4. Ant coming to camp out of shape. Ant came to camp 10 pounds heavier and finally admitted that he put on much of that weight by indulging his bad eating habits back home. The fact that it took him multiple games before he even dunked was a telling testament to Ant's failure to properly care for and hone his body before the NBA season.

5. DLO's continuing inconsistency. Of all the main factors contributing to the Wolves struggles, this is the only hold-over from last season. DLO is good enough to carry the team for stretches. But the problem is that you never know what DLO you'll get. If his shot is falling, he's a offensive force to be reckoned with. If it's not falling, then the rest of his game seems to faulted too and he becomes a liability.

The good news is that we can reasonably expect three of these these five things can be fixed. The team will invariably adjust to Rudy even if I'm right that the fit will never be optimal. KAT will definitely get his strength, legs and timing back after missing training camp and getting hospitalized. In fact, we're already seeing him start to get back his usual high level of play while also adding some nice passing to his game. Finally, after getting called out by KAT for his diet I would expect Ant to start taking diet serious. Moreover, just playing these games and practicing will trim fat off his frame and force him into basketball shape.

The bad news is that we can't expect DLO to be what he's never been before with the exception of his first season in Brooklyn. More bad news is that we're not getting Vando or Beverley back and we don't have anyone on the roster to provide what those two provided. However, we have SLO MO who doesn't provide what those two gave us, but who does provide some special qualities no one on last season's roster had.

So it's still a work in progress. There are some fixable things that still need fixing. And there are signs that those things are getting fixed. Time will tell whether this team can overcome what they lost in the Gobert deal and make the pieces fit well around Gobert.

[FNG]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1593069258749399041

So much to see in this clip, and it doesn't reflect well on a couple of our Wolves.

1) Rudy posts up near the basket and is available for an easy dunk.

2) Instead of getting him the ball, DLo jacks up a missed three from 5 feet beyond the arc.

3) Rudy glares at him and gestures as they get back on defense.

4) Rudy loafs on defense while The Pointer points...meanwhile the Wolves give up an easy bucket (after KAT gets beat off the dribble).

5) But...the next two times down the court, KAT finds Rudy in the paint for easy buckets.

So much to digest here. On the negative side, DLo's lack of recognition and ill-advised 3-point shot tells me that DLo is not what we need on this team. But Rudy's public pouting and lazy defense on the subsequent defensive possession is immature and embarrassing. But then on the positive side: KAT understands what is going on, and finds a way to get the ball to Rudy on the next two possessions for buckets.

Interesting sequence that tells us a lot about where the Wolves are right now.

[Q-is-here]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1593069258749399041

So much to see in this clip, and it doesn't reflect well on a couple of our Wolves.

1) Rudy posts up near the basket and is available for an easy dunk.

2) Instead of getting him the ball, DLo jacks up a missed three from 5 feet beyond the arc.

3) Rudy glares at him and gestures as they get back on defense.

4) Rudy loafs on defense while The Pointer points...meanwhile the Wolves give up an easy bucket (after KAT gets beat off the dribble).

5) But...the next two times down the court, KAT finds Rudy in the paint for easy buckets.

So much to digest here. On the negative side, DLo's lack of recognition and ill-advised 3-point shot tells me that DLo is not what we need on this team. But Rudy's public pouting and lazy defense on the subsequent defensive possession is immature and embarrassing. But then on the positive side: KAT understands what is going on, and finds a way to get the ball to Rudy on the next two possessions for buckets.

Interesting sequence that tells us a lot about where the Wolves are right now.

Guard play, guard play, guard play....it's all about DLO, Ant, and Nowell getting their shit together and figuring out a way to a) start making some shots, b) moving the ball, and c) figuring out how to play with Rudy when any of them are on the floor with him.

KAT and Gobert have largely have stayed true to form (weaknesses included). I don't really blame either for our slow start. The guards have to adjust and play better to make this work.

[FNG]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1593069258749399041

So much to see in this clip, and it doesn't reflect well on a couple of our Wolves.

1) Rudy posts up near the basket and is available for an easy dunk.

2) Instead of getting him the ball, DLo jacks up a missed three from 5 feet beyond the arc.

3) Rudy glares at him and gestures as they get back on defense.

4) Rudy loafs on defense while The Pointer points...meanwhile the Wolves give up an easy bucket (after KAT gets beat off the dribble).

5) But...the next two times down the court, KAT finds Rudy in the paint for easy buckets.

So much to digest here. On the negative side, DLo's lack of recognition and ill-advised 3-point shot tells me that DLo is not what we need on this team. But Rudy's public pouting and lazy defense on the subsequent defensive possession is immature and embarrassing. But then on the positive side: KAT understands what is going on, and finds a way to get the ball to Rudy on the next two possessions for buckets.

Interesting sequence that tells us a lot about where the Wolves are right now.

Guard play, guard play, guard play....it's all about DLO, Ant, and Nowell getting their shit together and figuring out a way to a) start making some shots, b) moving the ball, and c) figuring out how to play with Rudy when any of them are on the floor with him.

KAT and Gobert have largely have stayed true to form (weaknesses included). I don't really blame either for our slow start. The guards have to adjust and play better to make this work.

Very clear that is the issue, Q. On the positive side, it's encouraging that KAT seems to be embracing playing with Rudy. His PPG are down almost 3 points, but his assists are up...and his on-court demeanor is much improved. Now if we could just get our backcourt (other than JMac) to understand that Rudy is a potent, efficient scorer if you just get him the ball when he is close to the basket...

[kekgeek]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1593069258749399041

So much to see in this clip, and it doesn't reflect well on a couple of our Wolves.

1) Rudy posts up near the basket and is available for an easy dunk.

2) Instead of getting him the ball, DLo jacks up a missed three from 5 feet beyond the arc.

3) Rudy glares at him and gestures as they get back on defense.

4) Rudy loafs on defense while The Pointer points...meanwhile the Wolves give up an easy bucket (after KAT gets beat off the dribble).

5) But...the next two times down the court, KAT finds Rudy in the paint for easy buckets.

So much to digest here. On the negative side, DLo's lack of recognition and ill-advised 3-point shot tells me that DLo is not what we need on this team. But Rudy's public pouting and lazy defense on the subsequent defensive possession is immature and embarrassing. But then on the positive side: KAT understands what is going on, and finds a way to get the ball to Rudy on the next two possessions for buckets.

Interesting sequence that tells us a lot about where the Wolves are right now.

Guard play, guard play, guard play....it's all about DLO, Ant, and Nowell getting their shit together and figuring out a way to a) start making some shots, b) moving the ball, and c) figuring out how to play with Rudy when any of them are on the floor with him.

KAT and Gobert have largely have stayed true to form (weaknesses included). I don't really blame either for our slow start. The guards have to adjust and play better to make this work.

Very clear that is the issue, Q. On the positive side, it's encouraging that KAT seems to be embracing playing with Rudy. His PPG are down almost 3 points, but his assists are up...and his on-court demeanor is much improved. Now if we could just get our backcourt (other than JMac) to understand that Rudy is a potent, efficient scorer if you just get him the ball when he is close to the basket...

It was reported by multiple people that Dlo called the same play 4 straight times to make sure Rudy got the ball after Ant and Dlo missed him (the 1st 2 were those Rudy dunks).

[Q-is-here]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1593069258749399041

So much to see in this clip, and it doesn't reflect well on a couple of our Wolves.

1) Rudy posts up near the basket and is available for an easy dunk.

2) Instead of getting him the ball, DLo jacks up a missed three from 5 feet beyond the arc.

3) Rudy glares at him and gestures as they get back on defense.

4) Rudy loafs on defense while The Pointer points...meanwhile the Wolves give up an easy bucket (after KAT gets beat off the dribble).

5) But...the next two times down the court, KAT finds Rudy in the paint for easy buckets.

So much to digest here. On the negative side, DLo's lack of recognition and ill-advised 3-point shot tells me that DLo is not what we need on this team. But Rudy's public pouting and lazy defense on the subsequent defensive possession is immature and embarrassing. But then on the positive side: KAT understands what is going on, and finds a way to get the ball to Rudy on the next two possessions for buckets.

Interesting sequence that tells us a lot about where the Wolves are right now.

Guard play, guard play, guard play....it's all about DLO, Ant, and Nowell getting their shit together and figuring out a way to a) start making some shots, b) moving the ball, and c) figuring out how to play with Rudy when any of them are on the floor with him.

KAT and Gobert have largely have stayed true to form (weaknesses included). I don't really blame either for our slow start. The guards have to adjust and play better to make this work.

Very clear that is the issue, Q. On the positive side, it's encouraging that KAT seems to be embracing playing with Rudy. His PPG are down almost 3 points, but his assists are up...and his on-court demeanor is much improved. Now if we could just get our backcourt (other than JMac) to understand that Rudy is a potent, efficient scorer if you just get him the ball when he is close to the basket...

I retract a little bit of what I said....Rudy should adjust a bit too, especially when playing with Ant. He's the closest facsimile to Donovan Mitchell we've got and he isn't a good pocket passer. That means he needs to set big screens for Ant and then may be do more of a slow roll to the basket trailing Ant versus trying to run in parallel with his drive like he would with DLO. May be that would open up more space for Ant while Gobert is still there to clean up a miss??

[thedoper]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1593069258749399041

So much to see in this clip, and it doesn't reflect well on a couple of our Wolves.

1) Rudy posts up near the basket and is available for an easy dunk.

2) Instead of getting him the ball, DLo jacks up a missed three from 5 feet beyond the arc.

3) Rudy glares at him and gestures as they get back on defense.

4) Rudy loafs on defense while The Pointer points...meanwhile the Wolves give up an easy bucket (after KAT gets beat off the dribble).

5) But...the next two times down the court, KAT finds Rudy in the paint for easy buckets.

So much to digest here. On the negative side, DLo's lack of recognition and ill-advised 3-point shot tells me that DLo is not what we need on this team. But Rudy's public pouting and lazy defense on the subsequent defensive possession is immature and embarrassing. But then on the positive side: KAT understands what is going on, and finds a way to get the ball to Rudy on the next two possessions for buckets.

Interesting sequence that tells us a lot about where the Wolves are right now.

Guard play, guard play, guard play....it's all about DLO, Ant, and Nowell getting their shit together and figuring out a way to a) start making some shots, b) moving the ball, and c) figuring out how to play with Rudy when any of them are on the floor with him.

KAT and Gobert have largely have stayed true to form (weaknesses included). I don't really blame either for our slow start. The guards have to adjust and play better to make this work.

Very clear that is the issue, Q. On the positive side, it's encouraging that KAT seems to be embracing playing with Rudy. His PPG are down almost 3 points, but his assists are up...and his on-court demeanor is much improved. Now if we could just get our backcourt (other than JMac) to understand that Rudy is a potent, efficient scorer if you just get him the ball when he is close to the basket...

It was reported by multiple people that Dlo called the same play 4 straight times to make sure Rudy got the ball after Ant and Dlo missed him (the 1st 2 were those Rudy dunks).

Yeah Finch said that in the post game presser. For all his shitty play there are aspects of his game that prove his value as a game manager.