Minnesota Sports Forum

Good teams don't design plays with the goal of a 3 point shot. They design plays to break down the defense and then either get a look at or near the rim or let the natural ball movement find an open 3 point shooter when the defense needs to rotate to help on the penetrator. Case in point the Spurs tell Parker and Manu to go berserk breaking down the defense thus forcing the defense to rotate help and then they kick it to the perimeter for the open 3. When the defense doesn't help, Parker and Manu get buckets around the rim. Dribble penetration is the foundation of the restricted area or 3 only type offense. Taking what the defense gives you is another foundation of it because the defense is more times than not going to have to give you at least a decent shot. You just have to be smart enough to move the ball to that shot and take it and the really good teams make the defense move in a way that opens up the shot they want.

We have 2 guys that can get to the rim in Lavine and Wiggins and they aren't conditioned yet in the art of passing during penetration. When they go to the bucket they are pretty much taking a shot regardless of how contested it is. They need to get better at keeping their head up while driving to find the open man when the defense commits 2 defenders to their drive. It's not something I would expect them to be good at at their age, but it is why we don't see many open three point opportunities. The other way to increase attempts is no more long two's off the dribble. Step off to the side and take the 3. Not forward to take the 2. If you're going to go forward at all take it all the way and put pressure on the defense to try to get a lay up out of the advantage instead of a jumper (especially after getting the defender to bite on a pump fake).

Q12543 wrote:Doper, you don't need a dominant low post scorer like Pek (when healthy) or Okafor to create 3-point chances. That's an old-fashioned way to look at 3-point shooting and it wouldn't surprise me if Flip would say something like this.

Flip needs to stop looking at the 3-point shot as only an opportunistic option that comes out of a traditional offensive set, as if the 3-point shot is still a novelty in the NBA. Instead, he should be seeking out ways to generate a 3-point shot as a primary option.

A perfect example is one of Flip's favorite playcalls, which is the high pick and pop between the point guard and whoever is playing the power forward. That play is designed to get the ball back to the PF for an open jumper. But our PFs, dating back to AB and Young in the first half of the season, almost NEVER pop out beyond the arc. They pop out to ~ 18-20 feet. If Flip is OK with these guys taking 20-footers, than he should definitely be OK with taking a shot worth 50% more points that is only a couple feet further away. In fact, he should be furious that they aren't popping out beyond the arc. But alas, a dinosaur roams the sidelines. Now we see the same thing from Payne....inefficient 2-point jumpers that defenses will happily yield.

I know you don't need a low post scorer. But I would certainly be happier with real shooters taking 3s and having a PF and C that were capable of scoring 10 feet in (this has been a problem for a while for us). The idea of building an offense around Thad, AB, or Payne taking more 3s sounds scary to me. One way or another you build your offense around your horses, our stable is still sparse on bigs who finish 10 feet in and guards who can shoot. Other than that we are great :).

Great win! I saw a few of you posting about wanting to see losses. DON'T GIVE IN TO THE DARK SIDE!!!

What some of our young guys showed in this win was big for us. LaVine playing with confidence (need to cut down on the TOs though), a young team playing just 7 deep and winning in OT, and lots of emotion from the players. Again, I think Rubio is really setting a great example the way he gets into these games even from the bench. It's just one win, but this is how we start to turn out culture around. Worth way more than a couple ping pong balls.

SameOldNudityDrew wrote:Great win! I saw a few of you posting about wanting to see losses. DON'T GIVE IN TO THE DARK SIDE!!!

What some of our young guys showed in this win was big for us. LaVine playing with confidence (need to cut down on the TOs though), a young team playing just 7 deep and winning in OT, and lots of emotion from the players. Again, I think Rubio is really setting a great example the way he gets into these games even from the bench. It's just one win, but this is how we start to turn out culture around. Worth way more than a couple ping pong balls.

Exactly Drew. These games do matter in terms of building confidence and culture. Let the chips fall where they may as far as the lottery is concerned.

In 48 games before the All-Star break, LaVine was shooting 28% from 3 on 1.4 attempts per game.
In 17 games since the All-Star break, LaVIne is shooting 49% from 3 on 2.4 attempts per game.

Who do we attribute these results to? Penberthy? LaVine himself, maybe? Either way, LaVine developing that outside shot is huge for his development. He can get it off whenever he wants.

Camden wrote:In 48 games before the All-Star break, LaVine was shooting 28% from 3 on 1.4 attempts per game.
In 17 games since the All-Star break, LaVIne is shooting 49% from 3 on 2.4 attempts per game.

Who do we attribute these results to? Penberthy? LaVine himself, maybe? Either way, LaVine developing that outside shot is huge for his development. He can get it off whenever he wants.

He has the potential to be something really special, honestly he will probably be the teams closer going forward, I am pumped about Zach and even though it has been a disaster I honestly believe him playing PG this year will help him moving forward.

Q12543 wrote:

SameOldNudityDrew wrote:Great win! I saw a few of you posting about wanting to see losses. DON'T GIVE IN TO THE DARK SIDE!!!

What some of our young guys showed in this win was big for us. LaVine playing with confidence (need to cut down on the TOs though), a young team playing just 7 deep and winning in OT, and lots of emotion from the players. Again, I think Rubio is really setting a great example the way he gets into these games even from the bench. It's just one win, but this is how we start to turn out culture around. Worth way more than a couple ping pong balls.

Exactly Drew. These games do matter in terms of building confidence and culture. Let the chips fall where they may as far as the lottery is concerned.

Couldn't agree more Q and Drew

kekgeek1 wrote:

Camden wrote:In 48 games before the All-Star break, LaVine was shooting 28% from 3 on 1.4 attempts per game.
In 17 games since the All-Star break, LaVIne is shooting 49% from 3 on 2.4 attempts per game.

Who do we attribute these results to? Penberthy? LaVine himself, maybe? Either way, LaVine developing that outside shot is huge for his development. He can get it off whenever he wants.

He has the potential to be something really special, honestly he will probably be the teams closer going forward, I am pumped about Zach and even though it has been a disaster I honestly believe him playing PG this year will help him moving forward.

Agreed. Painful, but necessary.