Minnesota Sports Forum

khans2k5 wrote:Two things have stood out to me on Lavine. When he attacks the rim, he is actually trying to finish. He's thrown down some athletic dunks in an athletic manner that make them tough to stop based on how quickly he gets up and throws it down. That's is why I want him to attack any chance the PnR big defender gives him any kind of lane to the basket. The second is his end to end speed and the effect it has on the fast break. He is an instant fast break off any defensive rebound and actually makes some good passes when we have numbers. He also has the size and athleticism where he will be able to finish almost any fast break he wants to by going through, around or over the defender trying to stop him. Those two things make me believe he has a place in this league at least as a spark plug off the bench once he gets the confidence to truly be aggressive. That may be enough once he learns how to play D and become a more consistent jump shooter to be a worthy starting 2.

Not sure he has the strength, power, or inclination to attack in this manner. Yes, he's had a couple of nice drives to the hoop, but they result in dunks only when he has a clear path to the basket. He can't really power through people or draw fouls yet. Plus his instinct is to pull up off the dribble for a jumper. And finally, he has no left-hand, making it difficult for him to adjust in traffic around the hoop.

I think a more realistic path for Zach is to become a more athletic version of Jamal Crawford.

Q12543 wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:Two things have stood out to me on Lavine. When he attacks the rim, he is actually trying to finish. He's thrown down some athletic dunks in an athletic manner that make them tough to stop based on how quickly he gets up and throws it down. That's is why I want him to attack any chance the PnR big defender gives him any kind of lane to the basket. The second is his end to end speed and the effect it has on the fast break. He is an instant fast break off any defensive rebound and actually makes some good passes when we have numbers. He also has the size and athleticism where he will be able to finish almost any fast break he wants to by going through, around or over the defender trying to stop him. Those two things make me believe he has a place in this league at least as a spark plug off the bench once he gets the confidence to truly be aggressive. That may be enough once he learns how to play D and become a more consistent jump shooter to be a worthy starting 2.

Not sure he has the strength, power, or inclination to attack in this manner. Yes, he's had a couple of nice drives to the hoop, but they result in dunks only when he has a clear path to the basket. He can't really power through people or draw fouls yet. Plus his instinct is to pull up off the dribble for a jumper. And finally, he has no left-hand, making it difficult for him to adjust in traffic around the hoop.

I think a more realistic path for Zach is to become a more athletic version of Jamal Crawford.

Bigs are rarely the guys back on defense in transition and he will have an advantage over most 1's and 2's (aka the primary guys who get back in transition D). He definitely doesn't have the strength to do much at this point, but the kid is 19. He's going to get stronger and when he does he will be fine. I was making a note of those two parts of his game because he is doing them now in limited quantities and they will become much bigger assets to his game once he matures into his body and play style. I think to have a guy that athletic fall back into a jump shooting role would be an atrocity of a development job for him. If he fills out his frame he should be able to live off of his ability to get to the rim and finish because there aren't many 2's who will have the athleticism to stay in front of him once they can no longer muscle him out of his spots without fouling him. It is important as a SG to be able to shoot, but it would be just as beneficial to our offense if he could be a guy we give the ball to and get to the rim looking to finish because that is a role we have lacked forever and is something the best 2's in the game do night in and night out for their team. His jumpshot isn't broken and looks decent so it will become more consistent over time, but to truly reach the star potential people saw out of him around the draft time as the one guy outside the top 10 who could be a top 5 player in that draft, he will need to play more like Westbrook and less like Crawford. I think if we gave him the reigns to the second unit as a scorer once Ricky comes back that he could begin to develop more into the role he should play as a scorer than as a playmaker. He's going to be a scoring type player, but right now Flip isn't willing to let a 19 year old try to do too much in that department in case he his game isn't ready to do it somewhat efficiently thus possibly crushing his confidence moving forward. That's why I think when Ricky comes back you let Lavine loose on the second unit and you can just pull him on nights when he doesn't have it to protect his confidence.

Q12543 wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:Two things have stood out to me on Lavine. When he attacks the rim, he is actually trying to finish. He's thrown down some athletic dunks in an athletic manner that make them tough to stop based on how quickly he gets up and throws it down. That's is why I want him to attack any chance the PnR big defender gives him any kind of lane to the basket. The second is his end to end speed and the effect it has on the fast break. He is an instant fast break off any defensive rebound and actually makes some good passes when we have numbers. He also has the size and athleticism where he will be able to finish almost any fast break he wants to by going through, around or over the defender trying to stop him. Those two things make me believe he has a place in this league at least as a spark plug off the bench once he gets the confidence to truly be aggressive. That may be enough once he learns how to play D and become a more consistent jump shooter to be a worthy starting 2.

Not sure he has the strength, power, or inclination to attack in this manner. Yes, he's had a couple of nice drives to the hoop, but they result in dunks only when he has a clear path to the basket. He can't really power through people or draw fouls yet. Plus his instinct is to pull up off the dribble for a jumper. And finally, he has no left-hand, making it difficult for him to adjust in traffic around the hoop.

I think a more realistic path for Zach is to become a more athletic version of Jamal Crawford.

True.

Let's be honest, LaVine is Alexey Shved with a clean slate right now.

WildWolf2813 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:Two things have stood out to me on Lavine. When he attacks the rim, he is actually trying to finish. He's thrown down some athletic dunks in an athletic manner that make them tough to stop based on how quickly he gets up and throws it down. That's is why I want him to attack any chance the PnR big defender gives him any kind of lane to the basket. The second is his end to end speed and the effect it has on the fast break. He is an instant fast break off any defensive rebound and actually makes some good passes when we have numbers. He also has the size and athleticism where he will be able to finish almost any fast break he wants to by going through, around or over the defender trying to stop him. Those two things make me believe he has a place in this league at least as a spark plug off the bench once he gets the confidence to truly be aggressive. That may be enough once he learns how to play D and become a more consistent jump shooter to be a worthy starting 2.

Not sure he has the strength, power, or inclination to attack in this manner. Yes, he's had a couple of nice drives to the hoop, but they result in dunks only when he has a clear path to the basket. He can't really power through people or draw fouls yet. Plus his instinct is to pull up off the dribble for a jumper. And finally, he has no left-hand, making it difficult for him to adjust in traffic around the hoop.

I think a more realistic path for Zach is to become a more athletic version of Jamal Crawford.

True.

Let's be honest, LaVine is Alexey Shved with a clean slate right now.

No.

Master Summoner wrote:I said before the draft that Wiggins doesn't have the it factor. He doesn't seem to possess the burning heart, the competitive spirit that takes over. He seems to be too nice. He wants to defer. He has the ability to be better than anyone on our team but he hasn't found that out for himself. He didn't realize it at Kansas and I doubt he does at a higher level of competition. Some people don't have the self confidence to be "the man". I don't believe he will accept that role. He projects as one hell of a #2 guy but I don't see him ever getting stern with teammates and telling them this is his team. Durant is similar in attitude. He hasn't been able to put Westbrook in his place like lebron did with wade and bosh. Westbrook has the #1 attitude with the #2 skill set on that team, Durant the opposite. Its not something you teach, or learn. Its innate. Ricky is the man for our team, and we will go as far as he goes. I don't expect much with him out.

How has Ricky shown to have the "it" factor? He's shy d away from contact when goin to the hole and overall has shown an unwillingness to take and make the big shots. And he's been in the league for 4 years .

Ricky has the competitive fire man. He is emotionally invested in the game. He fires up his teammates and runs the show. Adelman crippled his late game development last year but Ricky has shown plenty of big play promise at the end of games. You don't have to be the scorer to be the man. He's made big defensive plays and has gotten the ball to teammates in a position to make big baskets, they just haven't gone in or were followed by stupid fouls that lost us games. Ricky is our steam engine. The guy was approaching the ability to be a nightly triple double threat. He gives it all in every facet of the game, that is "it".

If any of that confidence and emotion leaks over to Wiggins I'd say watch out as Wiggins would be a monster. You're right, in 3-4 years he very well may be there, but as of right now he is too lackadaisical. The league should be very worried if he ever fully asserts himself on both ends of the court.

The more I think about this the less I want to trade Brewer. Like MS said. Just how he impacts the younger guys. I would rather see Martin go then Brewer. When Rubio comes back I would be interested in seeing Shabazz starting at SG. I think Rubio will help him play the right way.

TheFuture wrote:Ricky has the competitive fire man. He is emotionally invested in the game. He fires up his teammates and runs the show. Adelman crippled his late game development last year but Ricky has shown plenty of big play promise at the end of games. You don't have to be the scorer to be the man. He's made big defensive plays and has gotten the ball to teammates in a position to make big baskets, they just haven't gone in or were followed by stupid fouls that lost us games. Ricky is our steam engine. The guy was approaching the ability to be a nightly triple double threat. He gives it all in every facet of the game, that is "it".

If any of that confidence and emotion leaks over to Wiggins I'd say watch out as Wiggins would be a monster. You're right, in 3-4 years he very well may be there, but as of right now he is too lackadaisical. The league should be very worried if he ever fully asserts himself on both ends of the court.

I think Minnesota fans treat their franchise players more harshly then most fanbases, yet Rubio seems to get the benefit of the doubt more then anyone in recent memory. Add to the fact that he's probably our worst franchise player in any Minnesota sport in a while, it's pretty baffling to me.

Ricky's had four games as the franchise player, and was impressive in each. Not fair to say he's the worst of the Minnesota teams. Piling on to a guy who impacts the game in every way and has only gotten better. Let the sample size be larger before we claim he's lacking as a franchise guy. This is the first year of Rubio's era.

Highly doubt Flip receives a 1st rounder for Brewer. There would certainly have to be more to the deal, as in us taking back a poor contract or throwing in Martin.

Side note: If Shabazz had Wiggins ability, he'd be a better Carmelo Anthony. Shame we don't get to see that.