Minnesota Sports Forum

I am really glad I didn't watch this game after the Denver matchup followed by the Vikings, I've been through enough pain the last few days

The more things change... the more they stay the same...

Last season, a mediocre Orlando Magic team struggled through 3+ quarters against a bad Minnesota Timberwolves team. Minnesota was up 91 - 81 with 2:44 left... until the Wolves crumbled and Cole Anthony beat them at the buzzer for a 97 - 96 win.

At least it can be argued that the better team won... Orlando had Vucevic and Gordon and Fournier leading the way. The Wolves were without Towns.

Last night, the mediocre Timberwolves struggled (but led consistently) through three quarters against an awful Orlando Magic team. All the veterans are gone and Mo Bamba (23) was the oldest starter for the Magic. In fact, Mo Wagner (24) was the oldest guy on the court for the Magic yesterday and he played only 5 minutes.

Cole Anthony led them to another surprise victory in Minnesota, outscoring the Wolves 43 - 19 in the 4th quarter. When one of the league's most dysfunctional fledgling franchises continues to beat your team... even with a super young team that doesn't care about wins-and-losses...

...ugh. The Wolves are so very far away from anything of relevance.

That performance was embarrassing. Why is nothing created for Towns on the low post? We also continue to get screwed by the refs, not much a coach can do about that. Without Russell I expected a loss. Too many role players are taking too many shots. This is Towns, Edwards, and Russells team. The rest just need to play a minor role, rebound, play defense, and feed the more talented players.

TheFuture wrote:That performance was embarrassing. Why is nothing created for Towns on the low post? We also continue to get screwed by the refs, not much a coach can do about that. Without Russell I expected a loss. Too many role players are taking too many shots. This is Towns, Edwards, and Russells team. The rest just need to play a minor role, rebound, play defense, and feed the more talented players.

To be fair...

Edwards - 131
Towns - 100
Russell - 92
McDaniels - 28
Vanderbilt - 22
___________
Beasley - 57
Reid - 39
Beverley - 23
Prince - 23

It's already pretty damn lopsided. Even top-heavy teams like Brooklyn and the Lakers have better distribution. And of the 11 guys who have taken at least 10 shots... 6 of them are shooting below 36%.

The Wolves are shooting a woeful 31.6% on three pointers as a team. Fortunately, opponents are shooting only 29.9%. Which one heats up first?

Well, we're 3-3 so it's not like we're in this massive hole. My fear is that the second the shooting starts to improve, the defense starts to deteriorate and teams start raining 3's and dunks on us....especially when we start playing actual good teams! Ugh!

Q12543 wrote:Well, we're 3-3 so it's not like we're in this massive hole. My fear is that the second the shooting starts to improve, the defense starts to deteriorate and teams start raining 3's and dunks on us....especially when we start playing actual good teams! Ugh!

1. Hey, 3 - 3 isn't bad for a team that has finished .500 only one time in 16 seasons...
2. But the Wolves have played 4 of those games vs. Houston, New Orleans (no Zion) and Orlando. (combined 4 - 17 record) ... but 2 - 2 vs. the Wolves
3. And 5 of the 6 games have been at home.

Still optimistic in 36 wins. But... ok. Then what? We're all banking on Edwards taking the leap and that could lead to more future success if it happens. But does anybody expect Russell or Towns to get better? I don't think meaningful improvement is realistic after 6+ seasons. Do we expect meaningful improvement from Beasley in year 6 and beyond? I think we're all seeing the limitations of Jaden (Lil Pippen) McDaniels.

Is there any realistic/probable path to 50 wins with this roster even in the future?

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

Q12543 wrote:Well, we're 3-3 so it's not like we're in this massive hole. My fear is that the second the shooting starts to improve, the defense starts to deteriorate and teams start raining 3's and dunks on us....especially when we start playing actual good teams! Ugh!

1. Hey, 3 - 3 isn't bad for a team that has finished .500 only one time in 16 seasons...
2. But the Wolves have played 4 of those games vs. Houston, New Orleans (no Zion) and Orlando. (combined 4 - 17 record) ... but 2 - 2 vs. the Wolves
3. And 5 of the 6 games have been at home.

Still optimistic in 36 wins. But... ok. Then what? We're all banking on Edwards taking the leap and that could lead to more future success if it happens. But does anybody expect Russell or Towns to get better? I don't think meaningful improvement is realistic after 6+ seasons. Do we expect meaningful improvement from Beasley in year 6 and beyond? I think we're all seeing the limitations of Jaden (Lil Pippen) McDaniels.

Is there any realistic/probable path to 50 wins with this roster even in the future?

I think you are correct Abe in thinking this roster isn't constructed for future success. We need a ton of help. What gets us as fans is the hypothetical.....every year. Like IF Towns and DLo become competent defenders 6 years in.....and IF Ant becomes our #1 player.....and IF McDaniels becomes a great 3&D player, and IF Beverley can single handedly change the culture, and IF some other guys can step up and provide depth, and IF Vando can provide defense next to KAT, and list goes on. Other really good teams don't likely have to count on so many things going right to be successful.

And I think back to the talk of not trading McDaniels for a guy like Simmons. Many on this board were saying he is a player where they draw the line. Seemed silly at the time, and even more so now. While McDaniels may be a fine player at some point, he is absolutely not someone I place a high value on at the moment. I feel he is a lot more hope than substance.

Hicks123 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

Q12543 wrote:Well, we're 3-3 so it's not like we're in this massive hole. My fear is that the second the shooting starts to improve, the defense starts to deteriorate and teams start raining 3's and dunks on us....especially when we start playing actual good teams! Ugh!

1. Hey, 3 - 3 isn't bad for a team that has finished .500 only one time in 16 seasons...
2. But the Wolves have played 4 of those games vs. Houston, New Orleans (no Zion) and Orlando. (combined 4 - 17 record) ... but 2 - 2 vs. the Wolves
3. And 5 of the 6 games have been at home.

Still optimistic in 36 wins. But... ok. Then what? We're all banking on Edwards taking the leap and that could lead to more future success if it happens. But does anybody expect Russell or Towns to get better? I don't think meaningful improvement is realistic after 6+ seasons. Do we expect meaningful improvement from Beasley in year 6 and beyond? I think we're all seeing the limitations of Jaden (Lil Pippen) McDaniels.

Is there any realistic/probable path to 50 wins with this roster even in the future?

I think you are correct Abe in thinking this roster isn't constructed for future success. We need a ton of help. What gets us as fans is the hypothetical.....every year. Like IF Towns and DLo become competent defenders 6 years in.....and IF Ant becomes our #1 player.....and IF McDaniels becomes a great 3&D player, and IF Beverley can single handedly change the culture, and IF some other guys can step up and provide depth, and IF Vando can provide defense next to KAT, and list goes on. Other really good teams don't likely have to count on so many things going right to be successful.

And I think back to the talk of not trading McDaniels for a guy like Simmons. Many on this board were saying he is a player where they draw the line. Seemed silly at the time, and even more so now. While McDaniels may be a fine player at some point, he is absolutely not someone I place a high value on at the moment. I feel he is a lot more hope than substance.

The Promise of Hope is eternally relentless...



[Note: Meanwhile, nearly every non-Wolves-centric source laughed at the Wolves potential offering in any Simmons trade. Well... small sample 6 games in... and there's no way Morey could even think about trading Simmons for Russell, Beasley AND McDaniels at this point without being run out of Philly by pitchfork. It's common to overvalue our own players and believe they'll get better. That's part of sports fandom.]

It's only been six games... I guess Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum, James Harden, De'Aaron Fox, and all the other meaningful NBA players who are slumping have fooled us. This is just who they are now.

Meanwhile, Paul George has been asked about his theory behind the league-wide shooting drops and he said he didn't want to use it as an excuse, but the new Wilson basketball is a "different basketball." He later said that it doesn't have the same touch and softness that the Spalding ball had.

"Not to make an excuse or anything, it's just a different basketball. It doesn't have the same touch or softness as the Spalding ball had. You'll see this year, there's going to be a lot of bad misses."

I don't know what the actual reason is for guys missing shots that they normally make, but I do believe in the talent they possess. These guys are professionals who have dedicated most of their lives to putting a ball in a hoop. Sooner or later -- hopefully sooner -- these guys are going to make the necessary adjustments and shots will fall.

Camden wrote:It's only been six games... I guess Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum, James Harden, De'Aaron Fox, and all the other meaningful NBA players who are slumping have fooled us. This is just who they are now.

Meanwhile, Paul George has been asked about his theory behind the league-wide shooting drops and he said he didn't want to use it as an excuse, but the new Wilson basketball is a "different basketball." He later said that it doesn't have the same touch and softness that the Spalding ball had.

"Not to make an excuse or anything, it's just a different basketball. It doesn't have the same touch or softness as the Spalding ball had. You'll see this year, there's going to be a lot of bad misses."

I don't know what the actual reason is for guys missing shots that they normally make, but I do believe in the talent they possess. These guys are professionals who have dedicated most of their lives to putting a ball in a hoop. Sooner or later -- hopefully sooner -- these guys are going to make the necessary adjustments and shots will fall.

Sure. They're definitely going to shoot better. And so will the other team.

Remember, opponents are shooting even worse... at 29.9%.



[Note: One interesting thing about Wilson vs. Spalding... at other levels (non-NBA) there is no doubt that the Wilson Evolution is infinitely softer than any of the Spalding TF-1000 offerings.]