GDT: Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers (Preseason)

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

All of ESPN's highlights for this game were Laker clips while they were losing. How weird.

[Q-is-here]

Yes, D'Angelo Russell should absolutely strive to do what Chris Paul -- arguably the third-best point guard in league history -- does annually. Obviously, nobody can argue against that, but I'm telling you now that it's an unfair ask and just not who he is. It's not who a LOT of guys are either, which is why CP3 is an all-timer, but I digress...

D-Lo is going to average around 15 shot attempts per game, which is just fine. Part of that is who he is as a player and another part is just a byproduct of roster makeup and the offense Chris Finch has in place, which ensures the ball will be in his hands a lot. I'm less interested in his shot volume, but rather his efficiency. I expect him to have a significant bounce back in that regard -- specifically from three-point range -- and perhaps even the best true shooting percentage of his career now that he's a third or fourth focus for opposing defenses, but I don't expect him to lower his attempts much, if at all, and nor should he.

I'm not asking DLO to be Chris Paul the total player and the fact you interpret it that way shows you aren't really grasping the comparison. He'll never be as good defensively as Chris Paul and he'll never be as efficient of a scorer. I'm just using last year's version of a late career Chris Paul and how he performs on offense as a point of comparison. I hardly think it's outside of DLO's skill-sets with the weapons he now has on offense to go get 10 or 11 assists per game while still averaging 14-15 PPG.

Given the weapons DLO has around him this year, there is absolutely no reason he should be taking 15 shots per game on average. If he is, it's because he's taking 3 or 4 bad shots per game. If he takes 10-12 shots per game, that leaves plenty of room for him to run PnR with Rudy and take those open mid range shots and floaters that Rudy will create for him, not to mention the catch and shoot 3's he'll get off the regular offense that KAT and Ant create.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on this point because it's clear nothing will convince you that he needs to take fewer shots than last year and nothing will convince me that he should retain the same role as a scorer as he did last year.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Yes, D'Angelo Russell should absolutely strive to do what Chris Paul -- arguably the third-best point guard in league history -- does annually. Obviously, nobody can argue against that, but I'm telling you now that it's an unfair ask and just not who he is. It's not who a LOT of guys are either, which is why CP3 is an all-timer, but I digress...

D-Lo is going to average around 15 shot attempts per game, which is just fine. Part of that is who he is as a player and another part is just a byproduct of roster makeup and the offense Chris Finch has in place, which ensures the ball will be in his hands a lot. I'm less interested in his shot volume, but rather his efficiency. I expect him to have a significant bounce back in that regard -- specifically from three-point range -- and perhaps even the best true shooting percentage of his career now that he's a third or fourth focus for opposing defenses, but I don't expect him to lower his attempts much, if at all, and nor should he.

I'm not asking DLO to be Chris Paul the total player and the fact you interpret it that way shows you aren't really grasping the comparison. He'll never be as good defensively as Chris Paul and he'll never be as efficient of a scorer. I'm just using last year's version of a late career Chris Paul and how he performs on offense as a point of comparison. I hardly think it's outside of DLO's skill-sets with the weapons he now has on offense to go get 10 or 11 assists per game while still averaging 14-15 PPG.

Given the weapons DLO has around him this year, there is absolutely no reason he should be taking 15 shots per game on average. If he is, it's because he's taking 3 or 4 bad shots per game. If he takes 10-12 shots per game, that leaves plenty of room for him to run PnR with Rudy and take those open mid range shots and floaters that Rudy will create for him, not to mention the catch and shoot 3's he'll get off the regular offense that KAT and Ant create.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on this point because it's clear nothing will convince you that he needs to take fewer shots than last year and nothing will convince me that he should retain the same role as a scorer as he did last year.

Firstly, that's not what I said and I am fully grasping your comparison. I just don't think it's a fair one to make. As in, it's not as simple as D'Angelo Russell shooting the ball less and passing the ball more. The balance within his game is fine -- evident by his teammates' production with him on the floor versus when he isn't -- and contrary to your belief this team still needs him to be a secondary scorer, which is exactly what he was last year. Also, Chris Paul is one of the best players of all-time when it comes to picking his spots while also getting everyone else involved and maintaining his rhythm. Very few players ever have been able to do that as efficiently as he has, which is why it's a silly comparison. Every lead guard strives to do that. CP3 just makes it look easy when it's not.

Moving on, I too think D-Lo could threaten the 9-10 assists per game mark, but that increase in statistical output would likely come from teammates converting their opportunities at a higher level versus him drastically changing his approach. He's still going to get up those 15 shot attempts per game, and it's because the team will need him to, especially on nights where Karl-Anthony Towns finds himself in foul trouble or Anthony Edwards can't find his shot -- both of which are certain to happen from time to time. Assuredly, Russell's shots won't all be off the dribble, nor should they be, but his volume is going to be what it has been the last couple of years and the efficiency should be higher. That's all I'm saying. I really don't think there's anything crazy or disagreeable with that. He's just not suddenly going to turn into Ricky Rubio or Tyus Jones on offense and he doesn't need to.

[D-Mac [enjin:19736340]]

You can't stop NAZ, you can only hope to contain him

Why did we trade for Rudy. We have Naz. Haha

Well yeah, but Seriously.

[D-Mac [enjin:19736340]]

Yeah, we have 5 legit NBA bigs... gotta sign Garza. I'll say that I hope we play two bigs most of the time. Who needs 1st round picks when you find guys like Naz, Garza, knight, nowell and jmac? Now we just need to get Ant to wake up... I'm not gonna worry until the games actually count though

[Lipoli390]

Yeah, we have 5 legit NBA bigs... gotta sign Garza. I'll say that I hope we play two bigs most of the time. Who needs 1st round picks when you find guys like Naz, Garza, knight, nowell and jmac? Now we just need to get Ant to wake up... I'm not gonna worry until the games actually count though

I'm all in on having two bigs on the floor most of the time. Naz will pair especially well with Gobert. We have quality bigs and might as well make full use of them. Four of those five are offensively versatile. I re-watched last night's game against the Lakers. I'm struck by Naz Reid's quickness, athleticism and skill set. He really is a gifted player. And yes, gotta sign Garza.

[Q-is-here]

Yeah, we have 5 legit NBA bigs... gotta sign Garza. I'll say that I hope we play two bigs most of the time. Who needs 1st round picks when you find guys like Naz, Garza, knight, nowell and jmac? Now we just need to get Ant to wake up... I'm not gonna worry until the games actually count though

I'm all in on having two bigs on the floor most of the time. Naz will pair especially well with Gobert. We have quality bigs and might as well make full use of them. Four of those five are offensively versatile. I re-watched last night's game against the Lakers. I'm struck by Naz Reid's quickness, athleticism and skill set. He really is a gifted player. And yes, gotta sign Garza.

The problem with Naz is consistency. He sometimes appears overwhelmed on defense and on offense that pick and pop 3 doesn't quite go in enough (career 34% from 3). But other times, everything is humming. There is no rule that says folks stop improving after 3 years in the NBA, especially a 23-year old big. Perhaps he takes the next step this season.

[60WinTim]

Q - you and others commented on Naz's lack of balance and strength in previous years. Finch commented on how balance and strength was a focus for Naz's workouts this past summer. I am pretty confident that's why we are seeing an improved Naz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqW71pgBNJUFinch interview after Laker's game

[Q-is-here]

Q - you and others commented on Naz's lack of balance and strength in previous years. Finch commented on how balance and strength was a focus for Naz's workouts this past summer. I am pretty confident that's why we are seeing an improved Naz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqW71pgBNJUFinch interview after Laker's game

Good stuff Tim.

Yeah, the Wolves have had a tendency over the years to get top-heavy Centers that have a hard time holding their ground and staying on their feet. Dieng, KAT, Naz.....

Good to know Naz has been working on this stuff. He has made great strides since being an undrafted rookie.

[Lipoli390]

Yeah, we have 5 legit NBA bigs... gotta sign Garza. I'll say that I hope we play two bigs most of the time. Who needs 1st round picks when you find guys like Naz, Garza, knight, nowell and jmac? Now we just need to get Ant to wake up... I'm not gonna worry until the games actually count though

I'm all in on having two bigs on the floor most of the time. Naz will pair especially well with Gobert. We have quality bigs and might as well make full use of them. Four of those five are offensively versatile. I re-watched last night's game against the Lakers. I'm struck by Naz Reid's quickness, athleticism and skill set. He really is a gifted player. And yes, gotta sign Garza.

The problem with Naz is consistency. He sometimes appears overwhelmed on defense and on offense that pick and pop 3 doesn't quite go in enough (career 34% from 3). But other times, everything is humming. There is no rule that says folks stop improving after 3 years in the NBA, especially a 23-year old big. Perhaps he takes the next step this season.

What we've seen this preseason so far is a much-improved Naz Reid. Whether this improvement sustains itself into the season is the remaining question. But it wouldn't be a surprise if Naz takes the next step this season. In fact, a 23 year old big should be expected to improve, especially when he was held back in college and early in his NBA career by poor conditioning. Naz was highly recruited out of high school. He appears to have gotten fat and lazy. Going undrafted appears to have lit a fire under him and caused him to transform his body and apply himself diligently to perfecting his game. I think there's a lot of upside left in him and he's already a solid NBA backup.