Minnesota Sports Forum

thedoper wrote:

TheFuture wrote:

thedoper wrote:Another season ending injury for the Clippers in the playoffs. Wow. Rinse and repeat. That franchise really is cursed.

Griffin is such a pansy.

I couldn't help but laugh when I saw "Griffin out the remainder of the playoffs with a hurt toe." They should let him walk.

He's a strange talent. He can be physically dominant but his body seems to give out. Like Stoudamire and McDyess a bit. I never liked how much he dives for someone so big. He also mixes up a lot of chippy play. All that being said I think I'd still like him if he was our 4, although I'd be worried about price and injury risk.

Favors, Griffin, Ibaka....just not sure I'd be willing to trade/sign any of these guys given the price they will command. I get that we probably have to overpay someone at some point (that someone just might be Wiggins by the way), but it doesn't feel like any of these guys are needle movers.

Milsap I'd overpay for. I get he's on the wrong side of 30, but if Thibs doesn't run him into the ground, he can be productive well into his mid 30s like a lot of other forwards.

This Griz/Spurs game is a lot of fun to watch. Watching Leonard and Conley is a special treat. Watching Leonard down the stretch tonight shows what Thibs wants Wiggins to become. The question for all of us is whether Wiggins has the toughness and competitiveness to do it.

lipoli390 wrote:This Griz/Spurs game is a lot of fun to watch. Watching Leonard and Conley is a special treat. Watching Leonard down the stretch tonight shows what Thibs wants Wiggins to become. The question for all of us is whether Wiggins has the toughness and competitiveness to do it.

This game just shows me how far we are away. The current wolves would crumble under this physical game

kekgeek1 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:This Griz/Spurs game is a lot of fun to watch. Watching Leonard and Conley is a special treat. Watching Leonard down the stretch tonight shows what Thibs wants Wiggins to become. The question for all of us is whether Wiggins has the toughness and competitiveness to do it.

This game just shows me how far we are away. The current wolves would crumble under this physical game

Geek -- Yes and no. What we're seeing is key players making plays through sheer force of will. I've seen KAT exert his will on the offensive end down the stretch a number of times. He definitely has that in him to go with his tremendous talent. I've watched Wiggins assert his talent down the stretch, but have yet to see him repeatedly exert his will. Nevertheless, I'm not willing to concede that Wiggins doesn't have it in him. And I see KAT, after only two seasons and one college season, substantially improving his defense. Add one or two vets with toughness along with improvement from within and things could turn around enormously next season. But yes, we have a long way to go. I just think we can get there faster than you think.

I think Wiggins could eventually become as good or better offensive player than Leonard, which is a lot to say considering what we just saw. I think it will take a few more years, but it could happen.

Defensively, I see no possible way Wiggins reaches Leonard's level. He simply doesn't have the strength/hands/motor to do it.

Q12543 wrote:I think Wiggins could eventually become as good or better offensive player than Leonard, which is a lot to say considering what we just saw. I think it will take a few more years, but it could happen.

Defensively, I see no possible way Wiggins reaches Leonard's level. He simply doesn't have the strength/hands/motor to do it.

Sadly, I think you're right about Wiggins on the defensive end. We'd better hope you're wrong and I'm still holding onto some hope for him on that end. But I do think KAT can become a defensive stalwart. I think he has the motor as well as the talent.

Forgetting about the Wolves for a moment, that Memphis/San Antonio game was incredibly fun to watch!!

Memphis is my new adopted team for the playoffs. :)

Q12543 wrote:I think Wiggins could eventually become as good or better offensive player than Leonard, which is a lot to say considering what we just saw. I think it will take a few more years, but it could happen.

Defensively, I see no possible way Wiggins reaches Leonard's level. He simply doesn't have the strength/hands/motor to do it.

Leonard's level right now... or next year... or the year after?

Let's not forget that Leonard is still improving, too. He averaged 16.5 ppg two seasons ago. 21.2 ppg last season. 25.5 ppg this season. He just keeps getting better.

Wiggins will never be the same type of defender as Leonard because of size and length. He could definitely become a defender who excels on the perimeter though, like Klay etc. He's not going to be George or Leonard though because he's just not as bulky or long as those guys. It is an asset to see how he has regularly taken to guarding 1-3 on the court, always being assigned the top offensive player despite his low motor.