I got this - Wolves at Bulls GDT

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Wiggins was 3-13 from the field in the second half and overtime. Towns went 6-14 in the second half and overtime. Neither were efficient, so I retract calling Towns' 17 points efficient.

Fun fact:

Karl-Anthony Towns: 3rd player in last 30 seasons w/ 75 pts, 40 reb, 15 blocks w/i first 5 career games. Previous 2: Shaq, David Robinson

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

4-4-3-4, those are Karl-Anthony Towns' block totals in his last four games. His rim protection has been very impressive and effective thus far and I don't see him regressing much in that area over the course of the season. He's a huge reason, maybe the biggest reason, why our team defense has been so improved compared to last year. We haven't had someone like that in way too long.

Very much agree, Cam! I know Q doubted KAT's ability to be a rim protector in this league, much less right off the bat. I was hopeful he would make an impact, but had no idea he would be so damn productive so early. It is impressive.

His defense is a lot better than I thought it would be for a rookie. I knew he had good potential defensively, but he's way ahead of where I thought he'd be. The kid is going to be a star.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I love that Wiggins was able to score 31 points with Jimmy Butler guarding him for most of the night. Even with poor efficiency (11-27, 5-10 FT), that's still impressive.

The real reason we won tonight, though, was Towns and Bjelica's play on both ends of the court. They work so well together offensively and defensively. Not surprising that they were our No. 1 and No. 2 rebounders and both scored 17 efficient points (Towns going 8-18 against Gasol is fine, IMO. Bjelica went 5-9 with several defenders switching on him).

How is it that Wiggins scored 31 with "poor efficiency" (TS% of 49), while Towns scored 17 "efficient points" (TS% of 46)???????

Cam, it's OK that town's struggled offensively. He is a rookie, and isn't going to have great games every night. Even with his low efficiency, he still did some great things on the defensive end.

Shabazz looked like a wreck out there, but Belly really put together a nice game minus the traveling calls.

Once Belly gets through these traveling/foul difficulties he's going to be even more effective. What a nice addition for a cheap price. I suspect he'll be starting next to Towns by this time next year.

[worldK]

Take it easy cam. This team never will be about Wig vs KAT. No sense in you trying to point out who contributed more to a win when its obvious that we won't have won if one of the two didn't play the way they did.

This is not about towns vs Wiggins. Majority here if not all are thrilled about towns while wig splits this board up. That doesn't make it necessary for you to try to measure who contributed more to a win. We beat a playoff team on the road. The core guys contributed. That is all that matter and not who shot what percentage after what half. Both had their moments and those moments contributed to the W.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

3-2 is an impressive way to open up the season given my expectations. The #1 reason why? DE-FENSE! Kudos to Mitchell along with KG and his Magic Mentoring Potion.

(Alex, you should try some of the lotion. I was skeptical too, but it does wonders for your skin AND defensive chops. Good stuff!)

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Take it easy cam. This team never will be about Wig vs KAT. No sense in you trying to point out who contributed more to a win when its obvious that we won't have won if one of the two didn't play the way they did.

This is not about towns vs Wiggins. Majority here if not all are thrilled about towns while wig splits this board up. That doesn't make it necessary for you to try to measure who contributed more to a win. We beat a playoff team on the road. The core guys contributed. That is all that matter and not who shot what percentage after what half. Both had their moments and those moments contributed to the W.

I agree with your sentiment here, but let's just be clear. When you say that Wigs "splits this board up", the split is between those who think he will become a very good player and those that think he will become a Hall-of-Famer. No one here thinks he's going to be mediocre or worse.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Take it easy cam. This team never will be about Wig vs KAT. No sense in you trying to point out who contributed more to a win when its obvious that we won't have won if one of the two didn't play the way they did.

This is not about towns vs Wiggins. Majority here if not all are thrilled about towns while wig splits this board up. That doesn't make it necessary for you to try to measure who contributed more to a win. We beat a playoff team on the road. The core guys contributed. That is all that matter and not who shot what percentage after what half. Both had their moments and those moments contributed to the W.

Take it easy, world. You're off-base here. We won tonight because we got stops late. We shutout the Bulls in overtime and that's actually the first time in their franchise's history that it's ever happened. Towns is our defensive anchor and despite playing little in the first half due to foul trouble, he was great in the second half and overtime. He made life tough on Gasol in the post and played excellent help defense to back up Rubio and Wiggins. I give him and Bjelica the game-balls tonight... You know, that's when you make an observation on who contributed to a win the most... something that happens in every team sport.

[Coolbreeze44]

Let's not be ridiculous here. Wiggins was huge tonight on both ends of the floor. Any discussion about why we won tonight has to prominently include him.

[Lipoli390]

Take it easy cam. This team never will be about Wig vs KAT. No sense in you trying to point out who contributed more to a win when its obvious that we won't have won if one of the two didn't play the way they did.

This is not about towns vs Wiggins. Majority here if not all are thrilled about towns while wig splits this board up. That doesn't make it necessary for you to try to measure who contributed more to a win. We beat a playoff team on the road. The core guys contributed. That is all that matter and not who shot what percentage after what half. Both had their moments and those moments contributed to the W.

I agree with your sentiment here, but let's just be clear. When you say that Wigs "splits this board up", the split is between those who think he will become a very good player and those that think he will become a Hall-of-Famer. No one here thinks he's going to be mediocre or worse.

Q's right about the split on Wiggins. That split actually exists in my own mind.

However, I think it's fair for Cam to offer his observation on the relative contributions of Wiggins and Towns. I think the underlying point is that Towns so far appears to be the more likely of the two to become the Wolves' cornerstone player and NBA star.

[Lipoli390]

As a follow-up to my last post, I'll note that I'm glad we have both KAT and Wiggins.