Minnesota Sports Forum

FNG wrote: ↑Sun Jan 12, 2025 8:54 am Morning after thoughts...still both happy about a terrific game, and unhappy about letting an opponent score the last 6 points to steal a win on our court. Thinking about the end of game action, I'm going to both defend and then rip Finchie.

Defend: Don't rip the coach for the poorly executed end of game play, rip Ant...he didn't run the play that was called. Look at Donte in the corner gesturing his frustration with his WTF body language as soon as he realizes Ant is doing the wrong thing (you can see the clip on Jace Frederick's X).

Rip: Finchie's 8-man rotation (with occasional minutes from a 9th) is wearing our guys out. The Wolves and the Griz both have deep rosters, but only one coach is using his. It's astounding that not one Grizzlie is averaging more than 30 MPG this season, and that 2 rookies are starting. I get that Rob's brittleness is not helping and Josh has not been very good recently, but only playing 8+ leaves us worn out at the end of close games...like last night. Jaylen Wells was terrific last night picking up Ant full court all game. But I can't help wondering if our own Wells is being wasted right now in Iowa. He is older and was more highly regarded than Wells coming out of college, and is probably ready to contribute right away...at the very least on the defensive end. I'd love to see Shannon getting some minutes going 94 feet against their best wing. Giving him and Minott (and Rob in a week) minutes would also keep our wings fresher at the end of games. It's time to expand the rotation.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 12, 2025 1:54 pm

FNG wrote: ↑Sun Jan 12, 2025 8:54 am Morning after thoughts...still both happy about a terrific game, and unhappy about letting an opponent score the last 6 points to steal a win on our court. Thinking about the end of game action, I'm going to both defend and then rip Finchie.

Defend: Don't rip the coach for the poorly executed end of game play, rip Ant...he didn't run the play that was called. Look at Donte in the corner gesturing his frustration with his WTF body language as soon as he realizes Ant is doing the wrong thing (you can see the clip on Jace Frederick's X).

Rip: Finchie's 8-man rotation (with occasional minutes from a 9th) is wearing our guys out. The Wolves and the Griz both have deep rosters, but only one coach is using his. It's astounding that not one Grizzlie is averaging more than 30 MPG this season, and that 2 rookies are starting. I get that Rob's brittleness is not helping and Josh has not been very good recently, but only playing 8+ leaves us worn out at the end of close games...like last night. Jaylen Wells was terrific last night picking up Ant full court all game. But I can't help wondering if our own Wells is being wasted right now in Iowa. He is older and was more highly regarded than Wells coming out of college, and is probably ready to contribute right away...at the very least on the defensive end. I'd love to see Shannon getting some minutes going 94 feet against their best wing. Giving him and Minott (and Rob in a week) minutes would also keep our wings fresher at the end of games. It's time to expand the rotation.

I share your frustration with Finch’s stubborn adherence to his 8-man rotation. It is well past time to get TSJ meaningful minutes. Same for Dilly when he’s healthy. One of the problems with the Wolves over the years has been their failure to develop the young talent they have. To develop young talent you have to give them opportunity, which means meaningful minutes, and be patient with them. A lot of teams with better records than the Wolves are giving (and have previously given) meaningful minutes to young players. Here are some examples:

1. Memphis rookie Jaylen Wells (a 21 year old 2nd round pick) is averaging 26 MPG and played 31 in last night’s win over the wolves.

2. Memphis 22 year old rookie Zach Edey (9th pick) is averaging 21 MPG. He was the 9th pick in the draft, one slot later than Dilly.

3. Memphis 23 year old 3rd year player Jake LaRavia (19th pick) is averaging 22 MPG this season after averaging 23 minutes last season and 12 as a rookie.

4. Memphis veteran Desmond Bane (30th pick) averaged 22.3 minutes as a 22 year old rookie.

5. Miami 23 year old 2nd year player Jamie Jacques (18th pick) is averaging 23.3 MPG after averaging 28 as a rookie last season.

6. Miami 21 year old 3rd year player Nikola Jovic (27th pick) is averaging 22 MPG this season after averaging 19.5 last season and 13.6 as a rookie.

7. Miami 20 year old rookie Kek’el Ware (15th pick) is averaging 12 MPG.

8. Denver’s 22 year old 2nd year player Julian Strawther (29th pick) is averaging 21.7 MPG and played 31 in Denver’s win two nights ago. He averaged 11 MPG as a 21 year old rookie.

9. Denver’s 22 year old 3rd year player Payton Watson (30th pick) is averaging 24.7 MPG after averaging nearly 19 in his second season last year.

10. Denver’s 23 year old 3rd year player Christian Braun is averaging 32.6 MPG after averaging 31.3 in his second season and 30.3 his rookie year.

11. OKC’s 23 year old 3rd year player Jalen Williams (12th pick) is averaging 32.6 MPG after averaging 31 last season and 30 as a rookie.

12. Z OKC’s 21 year old 2nd year player Cason Wallace (10th pick) is averaging 27.2 MPG after averaging 20.6 as a rookie.

13. OKC’s 22 year old 3rd year player Jaylin Williams (34th pick) is averaging 22 MPG after averaging 12.2 last season and 18.7 as as rookie.

14. Mavs 20 year old 2nd year player Derrick Lively (12th pick) is averaging 24.6 MPG after averaging 23.5 as a rookie.

The list goes on. Note that all these players are the same age or younger than TSJ and the vast majority did not have the extensive experience TSJ had in college. Minott is in his third NBA season while MIller and Clark are in their second. Not also that none of these 14 players was a top 5 pick. Their draft position ranged from #9 down into the 2nd round. I get that players have to produce to earn consistent playing time, but they need the opportunity and their development requires patience through their struggles before the opportunity is taken away. It’s telling that teams with better records than us are giving young players significant minutes while we keep our bevy of young talent planted firmly on the bench or down in Des Moines.

It like Finch and have been dead set against letting him go. However, I might join those entertaining the notion of moving on from Finch if he continues his stubborn refusal to expand his rotation and give our young talent a meaningful opportunity to develop. Ultimately, all of this falls on Tim Connelly. He runs the basketball operations of the team and he needs to make sure the young talent he’s been bringing in has a reasonable chance to develop and succeed with this franchise.

kekgeek wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:33 pm Via Jim Pete the wolves had a def rating of 108 with Rudy and a 144 def rating without Rudy against the grizzlies. Think people are massively underrating what Rudy brought defensively