Minnesota Sports Forum

monsterpile wrote:I sorta stumbled across this article today. Maybe I totally forgot about this or I never heard about it at the time. Somehow 2016 seems like kind of a long time ago...

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18066071/dangelo-russell-patterns-game-manu-ginobili

Manu was fearless going to the hoop, and moved non-stop. Both have great vision and are lefties. Not the worst ideal for Dlo but I don't think he's quite made it there. If he did everything 30% faster I would start to see it.

I'm done with D'Angelo Russell, a slow-footed guard who relies on jumpers simply doesn't cut it in the playoffs when you are being paid max money. There is plenty of blame to go around this series but long-term vision wise I want to move on from him as soon as possible.

BloopOracle wrote:I'm done with D'Angelo Russell, a slow-footed guard who relies on jumpers simply doesn't cut it in the playoffs when you are being paid max money. There is plenty of blame to go around this series but long-term vision wise I want to move on from him as soon as possible.

I agree. I think its our best opportunity for overall improvement with his salary level.

22 TO's, 29 Fouls, Giving up 18 OREB

I think it's time for a Knee Jerk Reaction.

Why aren't KAT & ANT capable of playing off one another? There Pick N' Roll synergy should be elite yet it's rather non existent.

Not closing the 4th quarter has lost 2 games in the series. With a lead in the 4th, can MN please play the best defenders and put the pressure on the team down and in need of points. MN can always run offense through KAT & ANT in the 4th, the supporting cast matters more on defense IMO especially with a lead.

Ant went for the steal at the end of the game and knew it was a bad play as soon as he did it.
Chalk that one up to youth and do better next time.
This is why the Wolves needed to make the playoffs. Every one of the Wolves is showing what they truly are.

D'Natagal wrote:Ant went for the steal at the end of the game and knew it was a bad play as soon as he did it.
Chalk that one up to youth and do better next time.
This is why the Wolves needed to make the playoffs. Every one of the Wolves is showing what they truly are.

If nothing else this has been a HUGE education for both the players and the front office. You can't take making the playoffs for granted, so once you get there, you'd like to get as far as possible - it hurts to lose this game and go down 3-2.

But if you take a step back and think of what the franchise is learning collectively and how it may pay dividends in the future, it's been a very fruitful endeavor.

thedoper wrote:

monsterpile wrote:I sorta stumbled across this article today. Maybe I totally forgot about this or I never heard about it at the time. Somehow 2016 seems like kind of a long time ago...

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18066071/dangelo-russell-patterns-game-manu-ginobili

Manu was fearless going to the hoop, and moved non-stop. Both have great vision and are lefties. Not the worst ideal for Dlo but I don't think he's quite made it there. If he did everything 30% faster I would start to see it.

Manu is in the HOF and was a hell of a guard it think it's interesting that Russell was so enamored with a guy that spent a lot of his career coming off the bench and played a winning type of basketball. Will Russell he willing to make those type of sacrifices? Manu made plenty of money but he probably could have demanded more. To me whether or not the Wolves should keep Russell past his current contract is significantly impacted by what his price tag is. It will be interesting to see if he and the Wolves end up with a reasonable extension this offseason. He could still be traded after that at some point.

monsterpile wrote:

thedoper wrote:

monsterpile wrote:I sorta stumbled across this article today. Maybe I totally forgot about this or I never heard about it at the time. Somehow 2016 seems like kind of a long time ago...

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18066071/dangelo-russell-patterns-game-manu-ginobili

Manu was fearless going to the hoop, and moved non-stop. Both have great vision and are lefties. Not the worst ideal for Dlo but I don't think he's quite made it there. If he did everything 30% faster I would start to see it.

Manu is in the HOF and was a hell of a guard it think it's interesting that Russell was so enamored with a guy that spent a lot of his career coming off the bench and played a winning type of basketball. Will Russell he willing to make those type of sacrifices? Manu made plenty of money but he probably could have demanded more. To me whether or not the Wolves should keep Russell past his current contract is significantly impacted by what his price tag is. It will be interesting to see if he and the Wolves end up with a reasonable extension this offseason. He could still be traded after that at some point.

Yeah, his salary for trade purposes might be the better asset. I just cant see any way that his camp settles for 20mil which would be where I would want him for his contributions.

Tactical unit wrote:22 TO's, 29 Fouls, Giving up 18 OREB

I think it's time for a Knee Jerk Reaction.

Why aren't KAT & ANT capable of playing off one another?Why aren't KAT & ANT capable of playing off one another? There Pick N' Roll synergy should be elite yet it's rather non existent.

Not closing the 4th quarter has lost 2 games in the series. With a lead in the 4th, can MN please play the best defenders and put the pressure on the team down and in need of points. MN can always run offense through KAT & ANT in the 4th, the supporting cast matters more on defense IMO especially with a lead.

I caught this from an article out of the Pioneer Press which touches on part of the problem:

"They stop moving the ball. They start settling. Whoever is the first of the "Big 3" -- whether that be Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards or D'Angelo Russell -- that gets the ball usually holds it, sizes up their opponent and attacks against a set defense. That's a hard way to make a living.

"I mean, you see it, we always do that at the end of the game. That's just .. that's us," Edwards said. "It's a lotta I want the ball, DLo want the ball, KAT want the ball. Know what I'm saying? Once we figure it out, we're gonna be alright.""

Full read:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/timberwolves-no-direction-clutch-why-131000734.html

DLo as the floor leader needs to know to defer to KAT and Ant in those end of game situations. How he called his own number when Brooks has been shutting him down the whole series was really baffling to me. Our end of game execution sucks because we dont have a floor general. Beverly is the closest thing we have right now and he can be an emotional wreck at times. JMac just doesnt have the stature yet, Ant is 20. Its got to be DLo being the mature one, last night he showed that he isnt.