Game Report - Woves v. Pelicans

[Lipoli390]

Haven't done one of these in a while. It's just getting a bit too depressing to re-live these games as I write about them. I was at the Dallas game and that was about as bad as it can get.

Tonight's games wasn't too bad. The effort was generally there from the beginning with some familiar exceptions. The star of the game for the Wolves was clearly Dieng. He keeps getting better and better. Moreover, you know you can count on him to contribute positively every game. He is all effort all the time and that effort was apparent again tonight.

Budinger also gave a great effort tonight and gave the team a big lift. I'm more and more inclined to want the Wolves to keep him. Chase is another one of our few all effort all the time guys along with Dieng, Shabazz, Ricky and Robbie. Those are the 5 guys on this team you never have to worry about getting an all out effort from. You could legitimately add Thad Young and Pek to that group. Unfortunately we have guys at the opposite end of the effort spectrum -- guys like Mo Williams and Anthony Bennett. And most our effort have major holes in their games -- Shabazz lacks lateral quickness to guard wings. Robbie lacks overall NBA -level talent, although his effort and high IQ Make him an NBA-level player. Wiggins is developing some bad habits like pouting rather than getting back on defense and not fighting through pi?ks. And he continues to get passive Nd disappear far too ofen.

Some other tidbits:

Pek is starting to get his legs under him. He was pretty vocal with his teammates tonight, talking to the young guys in particular. He really showed some leadership tonight.

Flip was about as mad at a player as I've ever seen him when he pulled Bennett after Bennett's lazy hand-off attempt.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Encouraging that we could hang with them for a little while, but it's getting so that you can predict when the 4th quarter rolls around that we'll fall behind by about 10 and never really threaten after that. Depressing.

Bennett, Bennett, Bennett. He needs to go to the D League and play a bunch to learn how to play the game, because he has not improved in a year and a half of NBA ball. At this point, he brings so little to the floor. It's tough to have much hope for him. Dante does what Bennett could potentially do SO much better.

[worldK]

Nice to hear from you again lip.

Dieng has been overlook a bit as a bright spot for the team as most have turned their attention and praise on bazz and wiggins. But as ive stated in the game thread. Dieng has played his way into a permanent starting role for this season. You cant start pek over him now. Nothing vs pek as he is a nba level starter talent but dieng has earned a starting spot.

I hope flip looks into starting Pek and Dieng together moving forward. We are a team that is not good enough to have an nba starting caliber big in pek come off the bench. He should start and so do dieng. Move thad to the sf spot and go with a big lineup. Flip play big when he coached the wolves and pistons before. I believe pek and dieng can play together so time for flip to start them. If we are thinking of getting okafor or towns next year then we should see if we can play pek and dieng together and if dieng can be effective at the 4 spot.

Bennett seems to be only to do 2 things well on offense. The long 2 and the two hand power dunk. Both requires setups from team mates. He has no post moves and every time he takes a fade away turnaround jumper, it always comes off short.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Keep 'em coming Lip!

[Mstermisty [enjin:6864008]]

I need some Ricky.

[Tactical unit]

1st Q
Mo: did what was expected
Wig: Slow start to the game, needs to be more involved as our best player.
Robbie: Did what was expected *HUSTLE (I would have started Thad at SF vs Cunningham and with Peck in over Robbie you match up better vs AD & Asik)
Thad: Started out on fire *taken out at 4:13
Dieng: Defended well as expected
Flip: I'm handing out negative marks based on not starting his best players based on matchups. Peck should have started, I understand he may be on a minutes limit but you have to have your best squad on the floor together as much as possible. When Thad is on fire you gotta keep the hot hand in the game why take him out for AB with 4:13 left and the game just started.....WTF :(

[Tactical unit]

2nd Q
Lavine: Hit a three right before being pulled.
Wig: Looked good in the post up game.
Bud: Active on both ends, nice steal.
AB: Moving pick, Doesn't set pick in 2 man pick and roll game instead fades for a jumper which gets blocked. Then doesn't hustle back leads to AD dunk! Played about 10mins from 1Q into 2Q and looked LAZY & SLOPPY.
Peck: Looks like he is getting close to 100% and getting back to starting alongside Dieng hopefully.
Flip: Negative marks again not sure why he took out Thad for AB and then waited until 6 mins left in the 2Q to go back to Thad. Should have had a much shorter leash on AB the way he was playing or rather the lack thereof quality play. Disliked taking out Lavine with 5mins left in the 2nd Q when he just hit a three and New Orleans was playing zone. Did approve of him starting Lavine in the 2Q though. Also called a end of half play with a quick sub of Lavine which got a good look.

[Tactical unit]

3rd Q
Mo: Vet ran the offense, could have been a bit more aggressive.
Wig: OOC on the fast break.
Bud: Looked good in pick and roll with Peck off the bench together. Didn't pout when Mo hit Thad on a failed fast break when Chase was wide open for three.
Robbie: I think he's better as a PF but either way he plays hard.
Thad: Rather quiet and had one pass that was really bad.
Dieng: Considering the completion he played well to this point.
Peck: Worked Asik on more than one occasion, looking good.
Flip: 9:30 on the clock into 3rd Q with the offense struggling- Flip yells out a play which leads to a Wiggins rub cut basket.

[Tactical unit]

4Q down six
Lavine: matchup vs Wolters - Again I like starting your future in crunch time at home as this kid needs the experience and you rest Mo for a strong finish if Lavine isn't playing well. Lavine needs to improve his defense, pick and roll defense was bad and he didn't stop penetration much at all.
Bud: matchup vs Pondexter - Ran the break well twice and added a sweet finger roll on another play.
Robbie: matchup vs Cunningham - Facts are Cunningham had a great game and in the 4th beat out Robbie for 2 boards which I'm not sure was his fault as they were really nice plays by Cunningham but don't we kinda have to have Wiggins on the floor to start the 4th Q as he is our best player and we are down 6pts and Wiggins came out at 3:48 in the 3rd so he should be ready to go.
Wig: Had a good feed and a nice drive late but was again quiet when we needed some scoring.
Peck: matchup vs Asik - Worked Asik in the 2nd half in limited mins only 21mins on the game.
Dieng: matchup vs AD - Pelicans are not that good on the road but AD showed up in the 4th kinda taking the game over. He's just more talented than Dieng, not much could have been done.
Flip: See my 4th Q Robbie comments - 7:05 was a good time to go back to the vet Mo-Will to finish out the game. The team with more talent won the game.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Terrific in-depth analysis, TU. One issue I disagree with you on is Flip taking Thad out in the 1st quarter after he picked up his second foul. Flip saw this game as one we had a chance to win, and allowing Young to pick up his third foul in the first quarter would have seriously limited his options late in the game. Any NBA coach takes Young out after he picks up his second foul so early.