Lakers@Wolves - GDT

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

KAt is getting better defensively, but the defense on the perimeter are making it easier for him.

He's been getting alot more weakside blocks recently because you now often see a man (wiggs, jones, or butler) with their arms up between the rim and the offensive player which allows kat to jump behind the defender.

We arent getting those straight beeline rim attacks anymore and the only breakdowns we seem to have is when we make the wrong gamble on help.

[Monster]

KAt is getting better defensively, but the defense on the perimeter are making it easier for him.

He's been getting alot more weakside blocks recently because you now often see a man (wiggs, jones, or butler) with their arms up between the rim and the offensive player which allows kat to jump behind the defender.

We arent getting those straight beeline rim attacks anymore and the only breakdowns we seem to have is when we make the wrong gamble on help.

You make a good point. There have been some signs if I can't stretches where this team not only has been containing but they are just playing with great energy on thy end absolutely swarming everywhere. Last night they were so good the Pacers had little chance of scoring for a chunk of that first quarter. They started out much the same way tonight. So yes it's a team improvement and really good to see.

[kekgeek]

Apparently Clarkson is being made available as well as Randle. That's a really nice guard making just $11.5M the next couple years.

I'd offer Aldrich ($2M cap hit in 2018), Bjelica (expiring), and OKC's first-round pick for both of them. Talk about bolstering the bench.

Teague / Jones
Butler / Clarkson / Crawford
Wiggins / Clarkson
Gibson / Randle
Towns / Dieng / Randle / Patton

Nine-man rotation with the starters and Jones, Clarkson, Randle, and Dieng.

Interesting trade idea I bet the Lakers would take that deal. I'd be a little conflicted on it. Clarkson has 2 years left after this year at $12.5 then about $13.5 million. Would he shot 3's better on a better team? For a tough guard he doesn't seem to get to the FT line as much as you would think. I really like him. I also like Belly he is the type of player this team really needs as a floor spacer but his injury issues are concerning. Randle could be a nice young player that probably won't get paid a ton as a RFA. I don't think Belly is gonna get paid a ton either you get different stuff from either guy I call that one a wash so basically it's a 1st rounder for Clarkson who at some point the Lakers might just ask someone to take him off their hands if they their FA way...which I don't think they will.

I heard they are also considering waiting till 2019 FA when there will be some other pretty good players available too and the price to unload a guy like Deng won't be quite as high. What I am continued to be impressed by is how they have seemed to assemble a nice group of young players not from lottery picks.

I don't think financially we could do that (or it wouldn't be financially smart).

But gorgui (15 mil), Wig (25), Teague (19), Gibson (14), Clarkson (12), Butler (19), randle (A low end of 10 mil), towns (gets the max of 25), tyus (up for extension so a low end of 6 mil), Crawford (3 mil)

So 145 mil about for those players. We need to draft, sign and develop our own randle and Clarkson

[kekgeek]

Just want to point out the wolves are #1 in def rating in 2018. So suck it thibs haters ?

[AbeVigodaLive]

Quick summary for this one:

Check out all the comments about Wiggins on Page 1. We all saw the same thing from the jump.

Ends up with a season high with 9 rebounds. Pushed the ball on the break. Battled for loose balls. 4 assists. Et al. Amazing how OBVIOUS the energy level was, right?

So is this a precursor of things to come? Or, an anomaly. Because if it's an anomaly when it's that obvious what a difference effort and energy makes... ... ...

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Quick summary for this one:

Check out all the comments about Wiggins on Page 1. We all saw the same thing from the jump.

Ends up with a season high with 9 rebounds. Pushed the ball on the break. Battled for loose balls. 4 assists. Et al. Amazing how OBVIOUS the energy level was, right?

So is this a precursor of things to come? Or, an anomaly. Because if it's an anomaly when it's that obvious what a difference effort and energy makes... ... ...

Yeah, I'm happier with Wiggins' effort lately. It's still not where it needs to be for a max player, and his shot still looks stiff (he just doesn't have much touch when finishing but he's so athletic he gets into position to be able to put the ball on the glass where it has a chance to go in), but he's defending better and making plays other than scoring. That assist to Butler on the break was nice.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

When's the last time the Wolves won seven of their last eight games? That's the tear Minnesota is on right now.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

When's the last time the Wolves won seven of their last eight games? That's the tear Minnesota is on right now.

I think a turning point was coming off that home Phoenix loss and squeezing out the one point victory over Portland and then going on the road to beat Denver. Those were HUGE wins at a time we needed some separation from those guys.

We really only need to play .500-ish ball from here on out to get a solid playoff seed, largely thanks to this most recent stretch of play and that early season 5-game win streak.