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Re: Mike’s Team Dinner - Wolves at Thunder GDT
Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2025 8:58 am
by FNG
First, Happy Thanksgiving boys. We may be done on our team today after 3 straight losses, but we can be grateful that the current roster has given us a lot more joy than we are used to as Wolves' fans.
I mentioned in this thread that I felt pretty good when we had the ball in a tie game with 3 minutes left and OkC seemed to be relying on the 3-point shooting of 30% Lou Dort. But then Donte turned it over, SGA scored, Jaden turned it over, and we didn't score again until we were down 4 with just a minute to play. Sloppy turnovers late in a game where we had actually done a good job protecting the ball up until then. And missed free throws. Some here blamed the refs for this loss (and I didn't like the Rudy flagrant at all), but the two teams shot almost the same amount of free throws...we just missed FIFTEEN of them, and they only missed 8. Ball game.
So we're now a disappointing 10-8, but still 2 games better than this time last year when we ended up with 49 wins. And TJ's terrific game along with some signs of Rob starting to get it (2 assists and no turnovers) is a reason for some hope. I also liked the defensive effort. Rudy only had 3 shots (we're now 5-6 when he takes fewer than 7), but I thought he was excellent on defense,,,12 rebounds, 3 blocks and several altered shots.
I rag on Ant a lot, but we need much more from him than we are getting. We talk about the lack of a true PG and the problem with our non-Rudy defense, but I continue to think that our biggest barrier to success is that we do better when our alleged "superstar" is off the court than when he is on! Take a look at the on/off stats at cleaning the glass, and you'll see that just doesn't happen with the top ten superstars in the league...their teams thrive when they are on the court. I don't know if this is entirely Ant's fault, or if Finchy just isn't coaching him right. All I know is that we absolutely have to outscore our opponent when Ant is on the court, and we're not.
The three losses have dropped us into the play-in group, but while the schedule isn't easy, I do think we will be favored in the next 7 games...but we have to win the next two home games against Boston and the Spurs. Not goanna be easy. But if we win those two, I think there is a good chance of being 17-8 or 16-9 when we play OkC next on December 19.
Re: Mike’s Team Dinner - Wolves at Thunder GDT
Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2025 9:03 am
by FNG
AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 27, 2025 8:52 am
FNG wrote: ↑Thu Nov 27, 2025 8:13 am
I always enjoy Abe's stream of consciousness summaries. I found it interesting when he mentioned SGA and the Thunder really knowing the NBA rule book, because during the game I was thinking the opposite about Ant...I'm not sure he has a good grasp of the rule book. He clearly doesn't know how to flop...something many of the top 10 players have learned. He doesn't seem to understand what a foul is in the NBA...it seems like he believes a foul happens every time he drives to the basket! And it also seems like he doesn't understand the challenge rule. Every game we seem to see him waving his arm at the bench asking for a review when even the most casual fan knows they are out of challenges. Ant: million dollar talent, 10 cent head.
I can't remember a time that I've witnessed so many fans have this much distain for a franchise altering player who had already accomplished as much as Ant. I think y'all need to zoom out every once in a while
I would call it frustration, Aussie, more than disdain. Ant is a lovable character, and it's a delight to watch him when he goes on a heater. But take a look at my last post...unlike almost every "best player on his respective team", Ant has a negative on/off. That simply can't happen. You simply have to outscore your opponent when your superstar in on the court. I can zoom out and just enjoy his bubbly personality and general offensive brilliance, but I want more from this team...and when I zoom in and look at deeper analytics, my frustration builds.
Re: Mike’s Team Dinner - Wolves at Thunder GDT
Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2025 9:22 am
by AussieWolf3
FNG wrote: ↑Thu Nov 27, 2025 9:03 am
AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 27, 2025 8:52 am
FNG wrote: ↑Thu Nov 27, 2025 8:13 am
I always enjoy Abe's stream of consciousness summaries. I found it interesting when he mentioned SGA and the Thunder really knowing the NBA rule book, because during the game I was thinking the opposite about Ant...I'm not sure he has a good grasp of the rule book. He clearly doesn't know how to flop...something many of the top 10 players have learned. He doesn't seem to understand what a foul is in the NBA...it seems like he believes a foul happens every time he drives to the basket! And it also seems like he doesn't understand the challenge rule. Every game we seem to see him waving his arm at the bench asking for a review when even the most casual fan knows they are out of challenges. Ant: million dollar talent, 10 cent head.
I can't remember a time that I've witnessed so many fans have this much distain for a franchise altering player who had already accomplished as much as Ant. I think y'all need to zoom out every once in a while
I would call it frustration, Aussie, more than disdain. Ant is a lovable character, and it's a delight to watch him when he goes on a heater. But take a look at my last post...unlike almost every "best player on his respective team", Ant has a negative on/off. That simply can't happen. You simply have to outscore your opponent when your superstar in on the court. I can zoom out and just enjoy his bubbly personality and general offensive brilliance, but I want more from this team...and when I zoom in and look at deeper analytics, my frustration builds.
I want to see more from him this year as well. Imo his offensive game is more or less where it needs to be but his team defense sometimes resemble a rookie, it's unacceptable.
When I say to zoom out, I'm not talking about just his personality nor am I saying to just take what you can get cause this franchise has been horrible for so long.
What I'm saying is that historically he is in prodigious company with the growth of his game year over year, the accomplishments of his team, raising his have playoff time, and by all accounts he's a great leader in the locker room
So for me, it's about the perspective that he is on the right trajectory relative to what his peers have done by his age.
It's too much to transfer line by line, but yesterday I was curious and looked on basketball reference to compare some of his stats both traditional and advanced with the like of Luka, Joker, Gannis, SGA, Curry and even LeBron for the hell of it.
When you look at what he did at age 23- I compared Vorp and WS specifically- and he slots right next to SGA, Curry and Gannis.
SGA is the best analog actually and Ant has outpaced him slightly at similar points in their career and it was his age 24 season where he made his big jump.
This is the point I'm coming from. I don't know what his career will hold but he on a great path. I also have a lot of respect for the fact that he has grown every year as a player and has added new layers every year- including this one. He dedicated to his craft of that I have no doubt and that fact is highlighted even more in comparison to a player like Morant
Ps- happy Thanksgiving
Re: Mike’s Team Dinner - Wolves at Thunder GDT
Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2025 9:41 am
by rapsuperstar31
FNG wrote: ↑Thu Nov 27, 2025 8:58 am
First, Happy Thanksgiving boys. We may be done on our team today after 3 straight losses, but we can be grateful that the current roster has given us a lot more joy than we are used to as Wolves' fans.
I mentioned in this thread that I felt pretty good when we had the ball in a tie game with 3 minutes left and OkC seemed to be relying on the 3-point shooting of 30% Lou Dort. But then Donte turned it over, SGA scored, Jaden turned it over, and we didn't score again until we were down 4 with just a minute to play. Sloppy turnovers late in a game where we had actually done a good job protecting the ball up until then. And missed free throws. Some here blamed the refs for this loss (and I didn't like the Rudy flagrant at all), but the two teams shot almost the same amount of free throws...we just missed FIFTEEN of them, and they only missed 8. Ball game.
So we're now a disappointing 10-8, but still 2 games better than this time last year when we ended up with 49 wins. And TJ's terrific game along with some signs of Rob starting to get it (2 assists and no turnovers) is a reason for some hope. I also liked the defensive effort. Rudy only had 3 shots (we're now 5-6 when he takes fewer than 7), but I thought he was excellent on defense,,,12 rebounds, 3 blocks and several altered shots.
I rag on Ant a lot, but we need much more from him than we are getting. We talk about the lack of a true PG and the problem with our non-Rudy defense, but I continue to think that our biggest barrier to success is that we do better when our alleged "superstar" is off the court than when he is on! Take a look at the on/off stats at cleaning the glass, and you'll see that just doesn't happen with the top ten superstars in the league...their teams thrive when they are on the court. I don't know if this is entirely Ant's fault, or if Finchy just isn't coaching him right. All I know is that we absolutely have to outscore our opponent when Ant is on the court, and we're not.
The three losses have dropped us into the play-in group, but while the schedule isn't easy, I do think we will be favored in the next 7 games...but we have to win the next two home games against Boston and the Spurs. Not goanna be easy. But if we win those two, I think there is a good chance of being 17-8 or 16-9 when we play OkC next on December 19.
Ant's plus minus usually drops in his minutes with Mike, Naz, and Clark once Rudy and Jaden are off the court, and in the clutch minutes. He does need to clean up a few things on defense and boxing out, but we really can't ask any more from him on offense than what he's doing (outside of the clutch)