Minnesota Sports Forum

monsterpile wrote:

Big O wrote:and now a word from a Wiggins detractor...
He clearly can play up to his ability when he plays certain teams or is the first option like tonight when Butler is out and KAT is in foul trouble. But can he ever be effective as the third option? Even last night, when he was great in the first half, his game slipped as soon as KAT was back in and playing well. To contend in this league you need a big three that plays well together. Wiggins needs to figure out how to impact the game when playing with the rest of our stars. It may be an Xs and Os issue or his pride but we need this Wiggins every night. When that happens I will be happy to hear "I told you so".

It's worth noting that while Wiggins didn't get a bunch of buckets in the 2nd half the Wolves scored 61 points including 20 or whatever from Towns and the Wolves erased an 8 point deficit from one of the best teams in the league and won the game without one of the top players in the league.

Damn Wiggins!! He didn't get 20 points in the 2nd half too. Man he sucks. Without him the game would have been over at halftime, but man he sucks.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:This is just astonishing. The board has become boorish. Whether he plays well or poorly, the board becomes an Andrew bashfest after every game. It wouldn't be so bad if some new thoughts or points were brought up every once in a while. But it's the same stale takes time and time again. I can't speak for anyone else but I get it, he has poor handles, bad hands, doesn't rebound, checks out during games, is inconsistent, and plays below average defense. Do we need to focus on these things every night?

I understand your frustration, Cool. Actually, Wiggins had a great game last night, even when he wasn't scoring in the second half. There is no question that Wiggins is doing a better job overall this season on the defensive end. I just looked at his advanced stats and noticed improved rebounding and a lower turnover ratio. And as Thibs said, Andrew's has been doing the "little things" lately that don't show up in the stats. Although his assist average this season is below his average, my eye test tells me his passing has improved. Thibs mentioned last night that Wiggins' reads are much better and I agree. So as frustrated as we all get with Wiggins, I think it's important to maintain some perspective.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:This is just astonishing. The board has become boorish. Whether he plays well or poorly, the board becomes an Andrew bashfest after every game. It wouldn't be so bad if some new thoughts or points were brought up every once in a while. But it's the same stale takes time and time again. I can't speak for anyone else but I get it, he has poor handles, bad hands, doesn't rebound, checks out during games, is inconsistent, and plays below average defense. Do we need to focus on these things every night?

"the board", meaning everyone or almost everyone? Looks pretty balanced to me. I see a lot of people complimenting the game he had last night and defending him.

I think others are frustrated, myself included, that he decides to only show up on occasion with inspired play. Where were these dunks in other games!? What were two emphatic slams last night have more often been weak finger rolls this year.

The bottom line is we've seen this movie before. He comes to play and puts out a great game three or four times a month, but otherwise is "meh".

Q12543 wrote:

CoolBreeze44 wrote:This is just astonishing. The board has become boorish. Whether he plays well or poorly, the board becomes an Andrew bashfest after every game. It wouldn't be so bad if some new thoughts or points were brought up every once in a while. But it's the same stale takes time and time again. I can't speak for anyone else but I get it, he has poor handles, bad hands, doesn't rebound, checks out during games, is inconsistent, and plays below average defense. Do we need to focus on these things every night?

"the board", meaning everyone or almost everyone? Looks pretty balanced to me. I see a lot of people complimenting the game he had last night and defending him.

I think others are frustrated, myself included, that he decides to only show up on occasion with inspired play. Where were these dunks in other games!? What were two emphatic slams last night have more often been weak finger rolls this year.

The bottom line is we've seen this movie before. He comes to play and puts out a great game three or four times a month, but otherwise is "meh".

Nah, it hasn't been balanced Q. He had a great game last night and yet it's still a platform to talk about his weaknesses. Your post is a perfect illustration of this. How many times have you said a similar variation to what you just posted over the last year. 100 times? 150? I don't think I'm exaggerating.

As I've said before I think you're takes are more objective than some others. But again, i get it, we get it.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:This is just astonishing. The board has become boorish. Whether he plays well or poorly, the board becomes an Andrew bashfest after every game. It wouldn't be so bad if some new thoughts or points were brought up every once in a while. But it's the same stale takes time and time again. I can't speak for anyone else but I get it, he has poor handles, bad hands, doesn't rebound, checks out during games, is inconsistent, and plays below average defense. Do we need to focus on these things every night?

I think people become heavily entrenched in their first impressions of a player. Wiggins has always been inconsistent, and it brings up a myriad of ideas about how to develop consistency. The fact is he has become a plus player for us on a winning team who is still inconsistent (more so on offense than defense). People have become so embedded in their impressions that no amount of gradual improvement will turn them around, even though the only way to correct inconsistency is through repetition and gradual improvement. I think your perspective is significant because you've spent so much time as a coach and know what it takes to instill good habits even with great talent. I think many people are inexperienced with this and their impatience turns to frustration.

The last 15 games have seen Wiggins improve on various areas of the Stat sheet that have been atypical for him in the past (Rebounds, Blocks and Steals). Wiggins has become a great switchable option with Butler on the perimeter and is at the top of the league in 3 pointers defended (a hustle stat from a "non-hustle guy"). I see it in the games, he is usually first to rotate to the perimeter 3 point shooter and covers a lot of ground. I think his D has been good and moving toward great as a tandem with Butler on the perimeter. I really think Thibs and Butler are changing wiggins game and I love what I am seeing. The shots going in is just gravy as we move forward. He'll figure out where his best spots are.

New rule.

Nobody can repeat criticism over an 82-game schedule. Ever.

I'll check back with everybody next October. Enjoy your summers everybody.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:New rule.

Nobody can repeat criticism over an 82-game schedule. Ever.

I'll check back with everybody next October. Enjoy your summers everybody.

Enjoy yours as well. I hope you mean it when you said you wont come back till Oct.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:New rule.

Nobody can repeat criticism over an 82-game schedule. Ever.

I'll check back with everybody next October. Enjoy your summers everybody.

C'mon. What are you, 6?

CoolBreeze44 wrote:This is just astonishing. The board has become boorish. Whether he plays well or poorly, the board becomes an Andrew bashfest after every game. It wouldn't be so bad if some new thoughts or points were brought up every once in a while. But it's the same stale takes time and time again. I can't speak for anyone else but I get it, he has poor handles, bad hands, doesn't rebound, checks out during games, is inconsistent, and plays below average defense. Do we need to focus on these things every night?

I think people point out positives about him too, so there is balance whether you can appreciate it or not. The thing with Wiggins is that the physical profile and ability is there and everybody knows it. He just got paid to start showing it as a max player. That changes a lot of things. He's a big boy and the criticism is well-deserved, just as the praise is after a performance like last night's.

PS: When Wiggins plays like a star with good energy once every 10 games, it tends to bring up the obvious question, "Why can't he be that for the other nine games?"

CoolBreeze44 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:New rule.

Nobody can repeat criticism over an 82-game schedule. Ever.

I'll check back with everybody next October. Enjoy your summers everybody.

C'mon. What are you, 6?

Settle down. I'm being sarcastic.

We should all be able to discuss whatever we want... good or bad or in-between. That's what a sports forum is. Personally, sans the Bazz over Wiggins criticism... I think it's a legit discussion point considering the ramifications his next contract will have for the next few years.

And the fact that it can still illicit discussions means it's a valid one. If it was too one-sided or easy to predict... we wouldn't discuss it. It's sort of like the Rubio deal. It was such a big part of the franchise that it was hard to ignore after awhile... for all the good and bad it brought to the board.