Tyus homecoming vs wolves

[AbeVigodaLive]

i see several issues with this team, the first being that we are still mentally and physically soft. When shots aren't dropping, we tend to fold up. Where are the hustle guys like Cabloco on this team. Other than Okogie, we really don't have any of those guys.

A bigger problem seems to be with the system itself. There is nothing that says we have to jack a bunch of 3's in this system. It just requires that we limit our midrange to long 2's. If a guy can't shoot 3's efficiently, pass the ball, post up, or break down the D. If you can't do any of those, you shouldn't be getting minutes. Why teach a system and give minutes to a guy that isn't going to be here in a year?

Why take a very good wing defender and punish him by forcing him to play PF? We might as well trade Cov if that is our only option with him. Do we even have a true PF on the team anymore. With Kat playing more and more on the perimeter, it seems like we have a need for a power guy down low.

Maybe the answer is less video games!

I couldn't agree more. It doesn't feel like the roster fits the system nor does the system fit the roster, but this team is forcing it to work anyway.

Future moves are absolutely necessary in order for this team to be successful, but regardless of what happens with the roster I always think the coaching should utilize the personnel to their strengths while mitigating their weaknesses and that isn't happening to its fullest capability.

Basically, the season is about implementing a system for Towns and Wiggins. Or, a system for Towns and for propping up Wiggins trade value.

The pieces around them will move. A LOT.

So I understand the rigidness of sticking to it in the early days as they're trying to create a certain style and culture and all that. It probably helps out a very green coach at the same time. Asking for Saunders to make tweaks to accommodate second- or third-rate prospects and players is probably a lot to ask. More importantly, it has a shelf life. I'm very surprised if this team doesn't look entirely different... by next summer... or even February.

[mjs34]

I couldn't agree more. It doesn't feel like the roster fits the system nor does the system fit the roster, but this team is forcing it to work anyway.

Future moves are absolutely necessary in order for this team to be successful, but regardless of what happens with the roster I always think the coaching should utilize the personnel to their strengths while mitigating their weaknesses and that isn't happening to its fullest capability.

Basically, the season is about implementing a system for Towns and Wiggins. Or, a system for Towns and for propping up Wiggins trade value.

The pieces around them will move. A LOT.

So I understand the rigidness of sticking to it in the early days as they're trying to create a certain style and culture and all that. It probably helps out a very green coach at the same time. Asking for Saunders to make tweaks to accommodate second- or third-rate prospects and players is probably a lot to ask. More importantly, it has a shelf life. I'm very surprised if this team doesn't look entirely different... by next summer... or even February.

I am with Cam on this. I get your point Abe, but why don't we have those players instead of the guys they signed? What makes us believe anything will be different next off season? I would think making the PO's would be the most important goal, if for no other reason than showing FA's that we are worth signing with. That requires playing to win.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

i see several issues with this team, the first being that we are still mentally and physically soft. When shots aren't dropping, we tend to fold up. Where are the hustle guys like Cabloco on this team. Other than Okogie, we really don't have any of those guys.

A bigger problem seems to be with the system itself. There is nothing that says we have to jack a bunch of 3's in this system. It just requires that we limit our midrange to long 2's. If a guy can't shoot 3's efficiently, pass the ball, post up, or break down the D. If you can't do any of those, you shouldn't be getting minutes. Why teach a system and give minutes to a guy that isn't going to be here in a year?

Why take a very good wing defender and punish him by forcing him to play PF? We might as well trade Cov if that is our only option with him. Do we even have a true PF on the team anymore. With Kat playing more and more on the perimeter, it seems like we have a need for a power guy down low.

Maybe the answer is less video games!

Just adding to Abe's comments above, which I mostly agree with.

On RoCo....We play a switching defense. These guys are constantly handing off their guy to each other on pin downs and ball screens. So RoCo inevitably does guard wings a lot of the time.

On the PF position and having a power guy....why is this necessary? What strategic advantage does it give us? The entire objective of our current system is to NOT have anyone planting themselves in the paint and open it up for drivers and cutters. But that means someone in addition to KAT has to hit 3s, thus the personnel/system mis-match.

On the why teach a guy a system if he isn't going to be here in a year....well, as Abe said, we wouldn't even be able to field a team then since there probably is only one truly untouchable player on the squad. Our roster is far from "set", and no one, including Rosas and Saunders, know who is going to be here next year, other than KAT.

[thedoper]

The system in a short time has moved Wiggins into a conversation about actually having value around the league. It also has us outperforming our talent by almost everyone's account so far. This roster was never going to be Rosas long term plan, the only established player he signed for more than a year was Layman. I think it is smart to say "this is the way we are going to play" so that when free agency happens and players become available in trade they can have some sense of how they would fit in. Heck, our culture and system might even attract players for once.

[mjs34]

i see several issues with this team, the first being that we are still mentally and physically soft. When shots aren't dropping, we tend to fold up. Where are the hustle guys like Cabloco on this team. Other than Okogie, we really don't have any of those guys.

A bigger problem seems to be with the system itself. There is nothing that says we have to jack a bunch of 3's in this system. It just requires that we limit our midrange to long 2's. If a guy can't shoot 3's efficiently, pass the ball, post up, or break down the D. If you can't do any of those, you shouldn't be getting minutes. Why teach a system and give minutes to a guy that isn't going to be here in a year?

Why take a very good wing defender and punish him by forcing him to play PF? We might as well trade Cov if that is our only option with him. Do we even have a true PF on the team anymore. With Kat playing more and more on the perimeter, it seems like we have a need for a power guy down low.

Maybe the answer is less video games!

Just adding to Abe's comments above, which I mostly agree with.

On RoCo....We play a switching defense. These guys are constantly handing off their guy to each other on pin downs and ball screens. So RoCo inevitably does guard wings a lot of the time.

On the PF position and having a power guy....why is this necessary? What strategic advantage does it give us? The entire objective of our current system is to NOT have anyone planting themselves in the paint and open it up for drivers and cutters. But that means someone in addition to KAT has to hit 3s, thus the personnel/system mis-match.

On the why teach a guy a system if he isn't going to be here in a year....well, as Abe said, we wouldn't even be able to field a team then since there probably is only one truly untouchable player on the squad. Our roster is far from "set", and no one, including Rosas and Saunders, know who is going to be here next year, other than KAT.

Q, think back to the early 2000's and how Flip had a jump-shooting team that only won when shots were falling. We are not likely to be able to beat the Rockets or LAC at their game. We have to have more versatility so when shots aren't falling, we can go to something else to manufacture points. The wolves have very limited options each night, and it costs us against bigger lineups as well as more spirited teams when we can't make shots.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

i see several issues with this team, the first being that we are still mentally and physically soft. When shots aren't dropping, we tend to fold up. Where are the hustle guys like Cabloco on this team. Other than Okogie, we really don't have any of those guys.

A bigger problem seems to be with the system itself. There is nothing that says we have to jack a bunch of 3's in this system. It just requires that we limit our midrange to long 2's. If a guy can't shoot 3's efficiently, pass the ball, post up, or break down the D. If you can't do any of those, you shouldn't be getting minutes. Why teach a system and give minutes to a guy that isn't going to be here in a year?

Why take a very good wing defender and punish him by forcing him to play PF? We might as well trade Cov if that is our only option with him. Do we even have a true PF on the team anymore. With Kat playing more and more on the perimeter, it seems like we have a need for a power guy down low.

Maybe the answer is less video games!

Just adding to Abe's comments above, which I mostly agree with.

On RoCo....We play a switching defense. These guys are constantly handing off their guy to each other on pin downs and ball screens. So RoCo inevitably does guard wings a lot of the time.

On the PF position and having a power guy....why is this necessary? What strategic advantage does it give us? The entire objective of our current system is to NOT have anyone planting themselves in the paint and open it up for drivers and cutters. But that means someone in addition to KAT has to hit 3s, thus the personnel/system mis-match.

On the why teach a guy a system if he isn't going to be here in a year....well, as Abe said, we wouldn't even be able to field a team then since there probably is only one truly untouchable player on the squad. Our roster is far from "set", and no one, including Rosas and Saunders, know who is going to be here next year, other than KAT.

Q, think back to the early 2000's and how Flip had a jump-shooting team that only won when shots were falling. We are not likely to be able to beat the Rockets or LAC at their game. We have to have more versatility so when shots aren't falling, we can go to something else to manufacture points. The wolves have very limited options each night, and it costs us against bigger lineups as well as more spirited teams when we can't make shots.

I would just echo most of what Doper said above. They are playing a long-game here. Some of the moves Rosas tried to make in the offseason would have better matched system with personnel, but they didn't pan out. At the end of the day, he had to field a squad, so we made some cheap signings. I think the hope is he has more success between now and the beginning of next season in refreshing the roster with players that fit better.

[Monster]

You know what this team has sucked at for years? Defense. It's not just about jacking up and making 3's. Graham is a solid segmented and plays hard and with some physicality that this team hasn't had much of. Napier gets into guys. Bell and Vonleh had some positive defensive numbers in terms of advanced stats. These players came here for basically free or dirt cheap and some of them were young enough to hope for them to be better than what they were. Dieng has ended up being the most modern backup Big compared to a couple of those younger guys which...isn't completely surprising.

Let's not forget the other moves this team made in the offseason. Jaylen Nowell was a wildly efficient shooter in college and has been on fire so far in the G-league. Naz reid is a big that can shoot. Jordon McClaughlin shot the 3 very well in college after his freshman season. Martin at least LOOKS like a guy that should make them. It's going to take some time but it's not like they did nothing when it came to shooting. They added guys they thought could play and for the most part were young enough to keep around beyond this year. The team is 12th in defensive rating right now. If that holds up It would be a pretty encouraging development.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

You know what this team has sucked at for years? Defense. It's not just about jacking up and making 3's. Graham is a solid segmented and plays hard and with some physicality that this team hasn't had much of. Napier gets into guys. Bell and Vonleh had some positive defensive numbers in terms of advanced stats. These players came here for basically free or dirt cheap and some of them were young enough to hope for them to be better than what they were. Dieng has ended up being the most modern backup Big compared to a couple of those younger guys which...isn't completely surprising.

Let's not forget the other moves this team made in the offseason. Jaylen Nowell was a wildly efficient shooter in college and has been on fire so far in the G-league. Naz reid is a big that can shoot. Jordon McClaughlin shot the 3 very well in college after his freshman season. Martin at least LOOKS like a guy that should make them. It's going to take some time but it's not like they did nothing when it came to shooting. They added guys they thought could play and for the most part were young enough to keep around beyond this year. The team is 12th in defensive rating right now. If that holds up It would be a pretty encouraging development.

Agree Monster. The #1 reason we are .500+ is improved defense. It sucks watching guys bricking shots, etc. and offense is often the side of the floor that generates the most opinions, but our defensive schemes and personnel are much improved versus last season (so far!).

[AbeVigodaLive]

i see several issues with this team, the first being that we are still mentally and physically soft. When shots aren't dropping, we tend to fold up. Where are the hustle guys like Cabloco on this team. Other than Okogie, we really don't have any of those guys.

A bigger problem seems to be with the system itself. There is nothing that says we have to jack a bunch of 3's in this system. It just requires that we limit our midrange to long 2's. If a guy can't shoot 3's efficiently, pass the ball, post up, or break down the D. If you can't do any of those, you shouldn't be getting minutes. Why teach a system and give minutes to a guy that isn't going to be here in a year?

Why take a very good wing defender and punish him by forcing him to play PF? We might as well trade Cov if that is our only option with him. Do we even have a true PF on the team anymore. With Kat playing more and more on the perimeter, it seems like we have a need for a power guy down low.

Maybe the answer is less video games!

Just adding to Abe's comments above, which I mostly agree with.

On RoCo....We play a switching defense. These guys are constantly handing off their guy to each other on pin downs and ball screens. So RoCo inevitably does guard wings a lot of the time.

On the PF position and having a power guy....why is this necessary? What strategic advantage does it give us? The entire objective of our current system is to NOT have anyone planting themselves in the paint and open it up for drivers and cutters. But that means someone in addition to KAT has to hit 3s, thus the personnel/system mis-match.

On the why teach a guy a system if he isn't going to be here in a year....well, as Abe said, we wouldn't even be able to field a team then since there probably is only one truly untouchable player on the squad. Our roster is far from "set", and no one, including Rosas and Saunders, know who is going to be here next year, other than KAT.

Q, think back to the early 2000's and how Flip had a jump-shooting team that only won when shots were falling. We are not likely to be able to beat the Rockets or LAC at their game. We have to have more versatility so when shots aren't falling, we can go to something else to manufacture points. The wolves have very limited options each night, and it costs us against bigger lineups as well as more spirited teams when we can't make shots.

To be fair, I don't think anybody reasonably thinks this team is anywhere close to competing with Hou or LAC right now. Nor should they be.

I'm surprised the Wolves are still above .500. I'm pretty convinced it won't last. And games like yesterday and the Wizards game and the Suns game... will help ensure they end up as an afterthought.

But up until now... the season would have to be considered a "success" for the record + untapping Wiggins more than the past couple of seasons. At least there's hope with the guy now.

Baby steps. As much as I hate that after the level of futility we've all endured. At least it's progress. Good enough FOR NOW.

[Monster]

Here is something to chew on a bit. What is one of the things a few of us have wondered about Towns when it some to the playoffs and needing a bucket? A big in the post or whatever can that guy just get a bucket? Towns after that brick fest last night 1-10 from 3 is still shooting 42% from 3 on almost 9 attempts a game. He is taking and making pretty deep 3's. Could Towns becoming not just a good 3 point shooter but like one of the best 3 point shooters in the whole league be something that unlocks him in a way maybe it hasn't been considered before? What kind of defenses/defenders will he see on the perimeter in big games? Is it possible the best skill Towns has is shooting? Could Rosas Saunders and others in the organization be envisioning Towns the player in a way most others haven't?