Wolves vs Rockets GDT

[KiwiMatt]

Rockets had Anderson playing at the 5 and Ariza at the 4 down the stretch yet we play ISO one on one ball with Wiggins at the top of the Perimeter. KAT had his way ALL NIGHT with Anderson down low, yet they resort to this ball shit Wiggins hero ball.

[Coolbreeze44]

Just a ridiculous defeat tonight. I'm at a loss to come to grips with how an NBA team can piss away a game like that. My AAU kids would have won that game.

[KiwiMatt]

I don't understand why we run ISO plays down the stretch for Wiggins at the top of the perimeter. He simply doesn't have the ball handling or play making skills.

Just when you think this team has hit rock bottom, they seem to find a whole never level of incompetence.

There is a couple reasons. First, you can't have Ricky do it because they simply won't guard him the way you have to guard Wiggins. Second, It didn't work tonight, but it has been a good strategy for us like at the end of the first half. What I didn't like is they were running him into the sideline where there was no room. They usually do it toward the top of the key where it seems you have more options.

Cool it hasn't worked all season....

Give it down low to KAT for the high percentage play. Especially with Ryan fricken Anderson guarding him.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Soft.

[thedoper]

Just a ridiculous defeat tonight. I'm at a loss to come to grips with how an NBA team can piss away a game like that. My AAU kids would have won that game.

I keep going back to the Gordon layup. You give him the shot all day but you know it's a two for one and you let him walk in without even trying. Worst play all year.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I still can't believe Lavine let Gordon walk in for that layup at the end of the 4th. This is something anyone with any heart or any sense of defense at all does not do.

I know Wiggins will get blamed for this loss as usual around here but Wiggins d was amazing on Harden tonight. Yes Harden got off a bit in OT but we had that game if not for poor decision making by Zach at the end of the game and our "vet" Ricky retardo dribbling it off his feet. Just pathetic.

We were in total control of the game until there were two minutes left. Here are the things I saw in no particular order:

1. The in bound play from Houston with 36 seconds left that wound up getting Ryan Anderson a wide open 3. That was a massive defensive breakdown - not sure who to blame, but KAT had been assigned to Anderson up to that point. Need to look at it again.

2. The critical turnover between KAT and Ricky where it bounced off Ricky's legs out of bounds. Again, I'd have to look at it, but I don't think that was all on Ricky. It looked like a tough pass to gather.

3. LaVine did three things wrong: Not defending Gordon on that easy layup; not diving for the loose ball where Wiggins missed the putback on the O-board - Beverley simply outfought him for it; and then biting on that pump fake by Ariza that then allowed him to re-load and make the game-tying 3. These guys have to do a better job staying on their feet!

4. Wiggins going 4-16 or whatever it was. He takes tough shot after tough shot and didn't do enough to get himself to the line for some easier looks.

Like all the meltdowns this year, there is plenty of blame to go around.

[Coolbreeze44]

I don't understand why we run ISO plays down the stretch for Wiggins at the top of the perimeter. He simply doesn't have the ball handling or play making skills.

Just when you think this team has hit rock bottom, they seem to find a whole never level of incompetence.

There is a couple reasons. First, you can't have Ricky do it because they simply won't guard him the way you have to guard Wiggins. Second, It didn't work tonight, but it has been a good strategy for us like at the end of the first half. What I didn't like is they were running him into the sideline where there was no room. They usually do it toward the top of the key where it seems you have more options.

Cool it hasn't worked all season....

Give it down low to KAT for the high percentage play. Especially with Ryan fricken Anderson guarding him.

You're right about the advantage KAT had, but I disagree on the other point. It HAS worked pretty well this season. Wig had one turnover tonight. Zach had 8, KAT had 6. The play is designed to give either Wig or KAT a mismatch, depending on whether the defense switches or not. If those two guys can't execute it's on them, but the strategy is something I like.

[Crazysauce]

Timberwolves, learning to close out games since 2004.

[Coolbreeze44]

I still can't believe Lavine let Gordon walk in for that layup at the end of the 4th. This is something anyone with any heart or any sense of defense at all does not do.

I know Wiggins will get blamed for this loss as usual around here but Wiggins d was amazing on Harden tonight. Yes Harden got off a bit in OT but we had that game if not for poor decision making by Zach at the end of the game and our "vet" Ricky retardo dribbling it off his feet. Just pathetic.

We were in total control of the game until there were two minutes left. Here are the things I saw in no particular order:

1. The in bound play from Houston with 36 seconds left that wound up getting Ryan Anderson a wide open 3. That was a massive defensive breakdown - not sure who to blame, but KAT had been assigned to Anderson up to that point. Need to look at it again.

2. The critical turnover between KAT and Ricky where it bounced off Ricky's legs out of bounds. Again, I'd have to look at it, but I don't think that was all on Ricky. It looked like a tough pass to gather.

3. LaVine did three things wrong: Not defending Gordon on that easy layup; not diving for the loose ball where Wiggins missed the putback on the O-board - Beverley simply outfought him for it; and then biting on that pump fake by Ariza that then allowed him to re-load and make the game-tying 3. These guys have to do a better job staying on their feet!

4. Wiggins going 4-16 or whatever it was. He takes tough shot after tough shot and didn't do enough to get himself to the line for some easier looks.

Like all the meltdowns this year, there is plenty of blame to go around.

Agree with all of this Q. That loss just can't happen. I'll add one more thing. Towns was a monster. But the way he played resulted in Gorgui and Wig basically standing around all night. I know Wig had a decent shot total, but most of his shots seemed to come in those pockets when Zach and KAT were off the floor. This team simply needs to move the ball better. It would benefit everybody. We're getting by on our talent alone. It's actually amazing how well we are doing on offense considering how hard we make it on ourselves.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I know we're tired of moral victories, but up until the last two minutes and OT, that probably was one of our best defensive efforts of the season considering who we were playing. And even after the comeback win, we still held Houston well below their season shooting percentages. May be our defense is starting to come around a bit?

You also have to hand it to Houston. While we did everything we could to help, they still had to make three 3's in a row in the final minute or so to tie the game. I mean it's kinda ridiculous what they did.