Minnesota Sports Forum

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 12:03 am

KiwiMatt wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 10:50 pm Randle must be the most bi-polar player in the association. On the court that is.

The effort he put in tonight was exceptional, even on the defensive end. Let’s hope he can keep it up, at least more often than not!

The recipe for success for this team going forward with Randle is him embracing the point forward role. Him playing top of the key like we used to run Slo Mo as a zone breaker.

I think we have a pretty bi-polar team, Matt. . Seriously, tonight’s game like many others this season illustrated that this team has the talent to contend for a title this season and I think the team’s chances were enhanced by the Ayo deal. But the necessary mentality is absent far too often as we saw recently against the Pelicans and Clippers. If this team can at least play consistently at a level equal to the sum of its parts, they’ll have a decent chance at a title this year. If they can somehow dig deep enough to slightly overachieve, they’ll have a terrific chance. Let’s see if this team can continue going forward to play at the level they played tonight.

kekgeek wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 9:20 am

FNG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:17 am I decided to skip this one after hearing Atlanta would be missing Johnson and Dyson...also still had a hangover from Sunday's disaster. But it was good to check the results this morning to see we took care of business. Also nice to see a very good line from our new guy Ayo and a triple dub from Ju. We needed this one, boys, so thanks for taking care of business in my absence.

Get well FNG. Haha

kekgeek wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 9:27 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 12:03 am

KiwiMatt wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 10:50 pm Randle must be the most bi-polar player in the association. On the court that is.

The effort he put in tonight was exceptional, even on the defensive end. Let’s hope he can keep it up, at least more often than not!

The recipe for success for this team going forward with Randle is him embracing the point forward role. Him playing top of the key like we used to run Slo Mo as a zone breaker.

I think we have a pretty bi-polar team, Matt. . Seriously, tonight’s game like many others this season illustrated that this team has the talent to contend for a title this season and I think the team’s chances were enhanced by the Ayo deal. But the necessary mentality is absent far too often as we saw recently against the Pelicans and Clippers. If this team can at least play consistently at a level equal to the sum of its parts, they’ll have a decent chance at a title this year. If they can somehow dig deep enough to slightly overachieve, they’ll have a terrific chance. Let’s see if this team can continue going forward to play at the level they played tonight.

I want to say I agree with you 100% on this. My next thing is does it matter that the wolves play like shit against bad teams and seem like they don’t care as long as they lock in for the playoffs?

Been thinking about this a lot lately but I think this whole board believes we can be a contender if we try (sad thing to say), so does it matter that we are not trying for some games in the regular season besides it a less enjoyable experience for us fans. It’s not like we are developing a lot of young players at the moment. We sort of know what to expect from a role standpoint once the playoffs start.

As long as we make the playoffs does it matter we have God Awful games. I hate to say it does not matter but I’m leaning that way because we all see it, if they are locked in what they always are in the playoffs the wolves have a chance

jscott wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 9:03 am Glad we got the W. Really need to string a good run together.

rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 9:52 am

kekgeek wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 9:27 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 12:03 am

I think we have a pretty bi-polar team, Matt. . Seriously, tonight’s game like many others this season illustrated that this team has the talent to contend for a title this season and I think the team’s chances were enhanced by the Ayo deal. But the necessary mentality is absent far too often as we saw recently against the Pelicans and Clippers. If this team can at least play consistently at a level equal to the sum of its parts, they’ll have a decent chance at a title this year. If they can somehow dig deep enough to slightly overachieve, they’ll have a terrific chance. Let’s see if this team can continue going forward to play at the level they played tonight.

I want to say I agree with you 100% on this. My next thing is does it matter that the wolves play like shit against bad teams and seem like they don’t care as long as they lock in for the playoffs?

Been thinking about this a lot lately but I think this whole board believes we can be a contender if we try (sad thing to say), so does it matter that we are not trying for some games in the regular season besides it a less enjoyable experience for us fans. It’s not like we are developing a lot of young players at the moment. We sort of know what to expect from a role standpoint once the playoffs start.

As long as we make the playoffs does it matter we have God Awful games. I hate to say it does not matter but I’m leaning that way because we all see it, if they are locked in what they always are in the playoffs the wolves have a chance

I think we ran out of gas against Dallas in the WCF, where OKC was just better than us. Of course a few bounces (like SGA on the ground, throwing it under a players legs and J Dub hitting the three) and you win game 4 and all of a sudden it's a 2-2 series. I do think it matters to an extent as you get deeper in the playoffs if you've built up the required endurance equity and good habits by doing it in the regular season. Than again we have multiple nagging injuries, and getting a major injury develop from all the nagging injuries isn't going to get you anywhere either.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 10:08 am

jscott wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 9:03 am Glad we got the W. Really need to string a good run together.

Great Scott! I just needed an excuse to say that.

Welcome. The Midwest Volleyball brand continues to grow!

60WinTim wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 10:29 am

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 10:08 am

jscott wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 9:03 am Glad we got the W. Really need to string a good run together.

Great Scott! I just needed an excuse to say that.

Welcome. The Midwest Volleyball brand continues to grow!

LOL!

I want to point out that Ayo is flying under the radar here. Despite Q cherry picking advanced stats to knock his game, Ayo's contributions were impactful. He played 30 minutes, 4 more than Donte. He closed out both halves, including the final 17 minutes of the 2nd half.

While a handful of those minutes came from Donte, most of them would have been allocated to Mike and Clark. The productivity of Ayo compared to what Mike and Clark have provided lately is rather stark. Remove Ayo's minutes from this game and we might have had a nailbiter...

I also what to say, knowing it's a very small sample size, Ayo plays more PG-ish than Donte. Donte is more of your classic 6th man. I doubt we see a change in the starting lineup, but it sure seems TC may have secured another piece for ANT 2.0.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 11:30 am

60WinTim wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 10:29 am

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 10:08 am

Great Scott! I just needed an excuse to say that.

Welcome. The Midwest Volleyball brand continues to grow!

LOL!

I want to point out that Ayo is flying under the radar here. Despite Q cherry picking advanced stats to knock his game, Ayo's contributions were impactful. He played 30 minutes, 4 more than Donte. He closed out both halves, including the final 17 minutes of the 2nd half.

While a handful of those minutes came from Donte, most of them would have been allocated to Mike and Clark. The productivity of Ayo compared to what Mike and Clark have provided lately is rather stark. Remove Ayo's minutes from this game and we might have had a nailbiter...

I also what to say, knowing it's a very small sample size, Ayo plays more PG-ish than Donte. Donte is more of your classic 6th man. I doubt we see a change in the starting lineup, but it sure seems TC may have secured another piece for ANT 2.0.

I like Ayo. I'm just befuddled by his 5-year track record of having a negative net rating and net on/off rating, which belies some of his other advanced stats and how folks (esp. Bulls fans) have perceived him over the years (very positive).

So it's almost comical to me that he's already in the hole on these two stats after two games with the Wolves, as he's obviously producing while on the court.

rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 11:49 am

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 11:30 am

60WinTim wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 10:29 am

LOL!

I want to point out that Ayo is flying under the radar here. Despite Q cherry picking advanced stats to knock his game, Ayo's contributions were impactful. He played 30 minutes, 4 more than Donte. He closed out both halves, including the final 17 minutes of the 2nd half.

While a handful of those minutes came from Donte, most of them would have been allocated to Mike and Clark. The productivity of Ayo compared to what Mike and Clark have provided lately is rather stark. Remove Ayo's minutes from this game and we might have had a nailbiter...

I also what to say, knowing it's a very small sample size, Ayo plays more PG-ish than Donte. Donte is more of your classic 6th man. I doubt we see a change in the starting lineup, but it sure seems TC may have secured another piece for ANT 2.0.

I like Ayo. I'm just befuddled by his 5-year track record of having a negative net rating and net on/off rating, which belies some of his other advanced stats and how folks (esp. Bulls fans) have perceived him over the years (very positive).

So it's almost comical to me that he's already in the hole on these two stats after two games with the Wolves, as he's obviously producing while on the court.

I think on/off can often be poor for younger players. He just turned 26 last month, but was never a major piece his first few years. Hopefully it's something that improves as he keeps getting better.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 12:18 pm

rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 11:49 am

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Tue Feb 10, 2026 11:30 am

I like Ayo. I'm just befuddled by his 5-year track record of having a negative net rating and net on/off rating, which belies some of his other advanced stats and how folks (esp. Bulls fans) have perceived him over the years (very positive).

So it's almost comical to me that he's already in the hole on these two stats after two games with the Wolves, as he's obviously producing while on the court.

I think on/off can often be poor for younger players. He just turned 26 last month, but was never a major piece his first few years. Hopefully it's something that improves as he keeps getting better.

Very true. Randle's first few years was a nightmare of red ink in this stat. But I don't really think of a guy in his 5th season as being that young anymore. To your point of growth, his net rating stuff was less negative this season in Chicago than the prior ones, so may be his actual talent level and work ethic is starting to show up more.