Minnesota Sports Forum

Phenom wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 2:19 pm

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 12:35 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 8:49 am

The Wolves are 9th in pace of play this year and Ant has picked up his pace since last season, although still slower than the likes of Ayo, DDV, and Bones. So not only is it possible to play faster with Ant in the rotation, it's actually the reality. Ant has shown he's willing to go along for the ride if others are getting out and running.

No it isn't reality and no he's not willing to go along for the ride. He simply wants to slow the game down so he can play one on one in the half court. It's what drives him and he knows moving the ball ahead on the break is going to limit his opportunities. We need him in the half court badly, but we also rely on it way too much when he plays.

Ant is the classic, "needs to touch the hot stove to see if it's hot", kind of person. I think if he feels the tempo make his life easier and the results bring him juice, he will make it part of his game.

rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 10:59 am Ayo in the last 4 games, 19/8/5.5 on 50/47.3/90 and a +53. Love the rebounding, and for those that were worried about his on/off net rating coming in, he has been really good.

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 12:35 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 8:49 am

FNG wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 7:43 am

This was a terrific win. Not only did we beat arguably the best team in the East on their court by 10, but we also played at both ends of the court in a manner many of us here enjoy...getting out on the break on offense, moving the ball when we are in the half court, and maximum effort on defense. And while Ju is being fairly ripped here for his poor shooting game, I thought his hustle and toughness on defense set the stage for a great team effort defensive game. And he and Rudy listened to the verbal spanking they got from Finchy after the Portland game and hit the boards nicely.

But then you have to dampen my blissful mood this morning, Abe, by asking how everything will flow when Ant returns. I think you know the answer there...we'll go back to the same plodding (but admittedly often effective) half court offense, and back to the meh defensive effort we have grown accustomed to this season. A few times last night I blurred my eyes and dreamed about Ant fitting into the style of play we all enjoyed last night as opposed to the rest of the team fitting into his style, and even with blurred eyes I just couldn't see it. This team always adjusts to the way its star likes to play, not the way its coach wants them to play. And it's fine, I guess, and often effective...just not as fun as games like this, or the Milwaukee win that Ant also missed. I think we are who we are always going to be when Ant is playing, and as a Wolves fan,
I need to learn to accept and enjoy it (but also to really enjoy the high energy we bring in the games Ant misses).

I love the twin +26's Naz and Bones delivered last night, but I thought the story of this game was Ayo...at both ends. He plays like an animal that has been let out of his cage when he replaces Ant in the starting lineup. How many times did we get to watch him in the open court finishing at the rim most of the time? And his defense was about the best I have seen this season. He's fitting in well here and I think he will continue to bring a spark off the bench when Ant returns.

Bones hit some big buckets too. He and DiVo can be so streaky, but it seems like one of them is usually making his shots...last night it was Bones as Donte had a poor shooting night. I'm not going to get down on Donte though...he brought the same defensive disruptive energy he seems to bring every night.

What a win! Next we have two tough home games coming up against Houston and Detroit that we have to win to ensure not dropping into play in contention. We'll be slight favorites in both games, but I think we're going to need the same effort we brought tonight to go 2-0.

The Wolves are 9th in pace of play this year and Ant has picked up his pace since last season, although still slower than the likes of Ayo, DDV, and Bones. So not only is it possible to play faster with Ant in the rotation, it's actually the reality. Ant has shown he's willing to go along for the ride if others are getting out and running.

No it isn't reality and no he's not willing to go along for the ride. He simply wants to slow the game down so he can play one on one in the half court. It's what drives him and he knows moving the ball ahead on the break is going to limit his opportunities. We need him in the half court badly, but we also rely on it way too much when he plays.

rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 2:37 pm

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 12:35 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 8:49 am

The Wolves are 9th in pace of play this year and Ant has picked up his pace since last season, although still slower than the likes of Ayo, DDV, and Bones. So not only is it possible to play faster with Ant in the rotation, it's actually the reality. Ant has shown he's willing to go along for the ride if others are getting out and running.

No it isn't reality and no he's not willing to go along for the ride. He simply wants to slow the game down so he can play one on one in the half court. It's what drives him and he knows moving the ball ahead on the break is going to limit his opportunities. We need him in the half court badly, but we also rely on it way too much when he plays.

TSJ was a flop to start the year, who was suppose to push the pace. Bones didn't really get a chance until Ant advocated to Finch to play him months into the season. We didn't have Ayo until recently. Bones and Ayo are the ones really pushing the pace now, and they weren't fixtures in the roster not all that long ago. It's not something Ant can just flip the switch on, but like everything Ant does if he works on it in the summer it might be something he can do more of. Ant doesn't even need to run, he would be great in that KAT trailer role where he's coming from behind for the catch and shoot three if a fast breaker gets stalled going to the hoop.

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 3:56 pm

rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 2:37 pm

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 12:35 pm

No it isn't reality and no he's not willing to go along for the ride. He simply wants to slow the game down so he can play one on one in the half court. It's what drives him and he knows moving the ball ahead on the break is going to limit his opportunities. We need him in the half court badly, but we also rely on it way too much when he plays.

TSJ was a flop to start the year, who was suppose to push the pace. Bones didn't really get a chance until Ant advocated to Finch to play him months into the season. We didn't have Ayo until recently. Bones and Ayo are the ones really pushing the pace now, and they weren't fixtures in the roster not all that long ago. It's not something Ant can just flip the switch on, but like everything Ant does if he works on it in the summer it might be something he can do more of. Ant doesn't even need to run, he would be great in that KAT trailer role where he's coming from behind for the catch and shoot three if a fast breaker gets stalled going to the hoop.

Rap, you're missing the point, that's not the way Ant wants to play. He never has. He thrives on breaking his man down in the half court. When he returns it's going to go right back to the way it was. When he brings the ball up court, he hardly ever, and I mean ever, pushes the ball forward to a teammate. And the teammates know it so they A) Don't run hard thinking they might get the ball, and B) Really don't look for the ball. Ant will get out and run if someone else has the ball, but if he has it, it's exactly where he wants it.

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 2:29 pm

Phenom wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 2:19 pm

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 12:35 pm

No it isn't reality and no he's not willing to go along for the ride. He simply wants to slow the game down so he can play one on one in the half court. It's what drives him and he knows moving the ball ahead on the break is going to limit his opportunities. We need him in the half court badly, but we also rely on it way too much when he plays.

Ant is the classic, "needs to touch the hot stove to see if it's hot", kind of person. I think if he feels the tempo make his life easier and the results bring him juice, he will make it part of his game.

I think he's a control freak, and the less control he has the more he's going to move in the other direction. When he's on the court he's the alpha, and he will dictate the style of our offense. And he's a lot more comfortable in the half court. I could see him running more if he is on the end of the fast break, but not when he's got to initiate it. He will usually slow it down, pull the ball out and play picknroll with Rudy

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 3:56 pm

rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 2:37 pm

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2026 12:35 pm

No it isn't reality and no he's not willing to go along for the ride. He simply wants to slow the game down so he can play one on one in the half court. It's what drives him and he knows moving the ball ahead on the break is going to limit his opportunities. We need him in the half court badly, but we also rely on it way too much when he plays.

TSJ was a flop to start the year, who was suppose to push the pace. Bones didn't really get a chance until Ant advocated to Finch to play him months into the season. We didn't have Ayo until recently. Bones and Ayo are the ones really pushing the pace now, and they weren't fixtures in the roster not all that long ago. It's not something Ant can just flip the switch on, but like everything Ant does if he works on it in the summer it might be something he can do more of. Ant doesn't even need to run, he would be great in that KAT trailer role where he's coming from behind for the catch and shoot three if a fast breaker gets stalled going to the hoop.

Rap, you're missing the point, that's not the way Ant wants to play. He never has. He thrives on breaking his man down in the half court. When he returns it's going to go right back to the way it was. When he brings the ball up court, he hardly ever, and I mean ever, pushes the ball forward to a teammate. And the teammates know it so they A) Don't run hard thinking they might get the ball, and B) Really don't look for the ball. Ant will get out and run if someone else has the ball, but if he has it, it's exactly where he wants it.