Minnesota Sports Forum

First play in this clip...

https://streamable.com/ow0j





[Note: I believe they followed this up with an "and one" fast break layup from DeRozan... after a made basket by the Wolves.]

Look at Towns jogging back, though. Ugh. That's his man.

We are in the bottom third of the league in transition defense, so the clip above is truly representative of one of our problems. The thing is, transition defense off missed shots is not rocket science. It doesn't require Thibs to "add more layers" to his defensive schemes. It's about awareness, discipline, and hustle.

Q12543 wrote:We are in the bottom third of the league in transition defense, so the clip above is truly representative of one of our problems. The thing is, transition defense off missed shots is not rocket science. It doesn't require Thibs to "add more layers" to his defensive schemes. It's about awareness, discipline, and hustle.

Some beauties on that from the Wolves "Big 3"...

- Towns is standing next to Siakam when the shot goes up. He's not yet passed halfcourt when Siakam catches the ball for the dunk.
- Wiggins is basically at halfcourt when Toronto grabs the rebound. He goes to guard his guy 45 - 55 feet away from the hoop as Siakam runs right by him for the wide open dunk.
- LaVine... see Wiggins.

Q12543 wrote:We are in the bottom third of the league in transition defense, so the clip above is truly representative of one of our problems. The thing is, transition defense off missed shots is not rocket science. It doesn't require Thibs to "add more layers" to his defensive schemes. It's about awareness, discipline, and hustle.

One of the issues with playing a more free flowing and/or postionless basketball is it puts guys in spots they aren't used to playing when it comes to transitioning from offense to defense. You have Towns at the top of the key well out to the 3 point line at times and that means that when a shot goes up he should be sprinting back not crashing for an offensive rebound. That's one example. I totally think your post is very good. My point here is that one piece of the problem is a few times during the game I think when shots go up guys are doing more what they typically would do if they are say a PF even if they are in a spot on the floor where they should be getting back. In addition sometimes those player that are under the basket are there and they fore crashing the offensive glass and...um nobody is back. So that effects the Awareness Discapline and even the type of effort guys are giving because of not being at a certain spot. It's not the only issue. It I think it's something that contributes to the problem. These guys need to have more discapline and awareness of what their role is where they are on the floor and give more effort. It would probably help if they took a few better shots and didn't have some awful turnovers too!

monsterpile wrote:

Q12543 wrote:We are in the bottom third of the league in transition defense, so the clip above is truly representative of one of our problems. The thing is, transition defense off missed shots is not rocket science. It doesn't require Thibs to "add more layers" to his defensive schemes. It's about awareness, discipline, and hustle.

One of the issues with playing a more free flowing and/or postionless basketball is it puts guys in spots they aren't used to playing when it comes to transitioning from offense to defense. You have Towns at the top of the key well out to the 3 point line at times and that means that when a shot goes up he should be sprinting back not crashing for an offensive rebound. That's one example. I totally think your post is very good. My point here is that one piece of the problem is a few times during the game I think when shots go up guys are doing more what they typically would do if they are say a PF even if they are in a spot on the floor where they should be getting back. In addition sometimes those player that are under the basket are there and they fore crashing the offensive glass and...um nobody is back. So that effects the Awareness Discapline and even the type of effort guys are giving because of not being at a certain spot. It's not the only issue. It I think it's something that contributes to the problem. These guys need to have more discapline and awareness of what their role is where they are on the floor and give more effort. It would probably help if they took a few better shots and didn't have some awful turnovers too!

Check out the "hustle" from Towns... and "awareness" from Wiggins/LaVine on that play. It encapsulates a lot of what we complain about and try to put a finger on with what's wrong with this team.

Obviously, it's only one play and the game of basketball includes millions of such plays and variables... but I found it amusing if nothing else.

Ok I watched some of the clip...well the good news is that apparently he is doing that to a bunch of other teams. The bad news is why aren't we getting easy looks like that? It sorta reminds me of Brewer getting those easy looks playing with Love. these guys don't already run hard all the time on offense coming up the floor which is weird it's hard to expect them to do it on the other end. It feels like Lavine is down there more often at least doing something.

monsterpile wrote:Ok I watched some of the clip...well the good news is that apparently he is doing that to a bunch of other teams. The bad news is why aren't we getting easy looks like that? It sorta reminds me of Brewer getting those easy looks playing with Love. these guys don't already run hard all the time on offense coming up the floor which is weird it's hard to expect them to do it on the other end. It feels like Lavine is down there more often at least doing something.

It's a mystery. I know we rip Wiggins for his perceived lack of intensity/energy at times.

But with his athleticism and Rubio with the ball... he seems to pull back most of the time even in those moments he's even with the last guy on D. Explode to the hoop.

It's just another example out of many others that this team relies on tougher shots than it gives up to the other team many nights. (Fortunately, the Wolves have 3 legit tough shot makers taking the most shots).

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

monsterpile wrote:Ok I watched some of the clip...well the good news is that apparently he is doing that to a bunch of other teams. The bad news is why aren't we getting easy looks like that? It sorta reminds me of Brewer getting those easy looks playing with Love. these guys don't already run hard all the time on offense coming up the floor which is weird it's hard to expect them to do it on the other end. It feels like Lavine is down there more often at least doing something.

It's a mystery. I know we rip Wiggins for his perceived lack of intensity/energy at times.

But with his athleticism and Rubio with the ball... he seems to pull back most of the time even in those moments he's even with the last guy on D. Explode to the hoop.

It's just another example out of many others that this team relies on tougher shots than it gives up to the other team many nights. (Fortunately, the Wolves have 3 legit tough shot makers taking the most shots).

Offensively I wonder (it's a theory with out much factual info) if they aren't getting down the floor like you would want them to because they are thinking about what they are supposed to be running offensively. That doesn't mean the coaches have overloaded them either this year or last year it could just mean they are young guys trying to process what they are supposed to do...which seems likely if not relatively expected.

monsterpile wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

monsterpile wrote:Ok I watched some of the clip...well the good news is that apparently he is doing that to a bunch of other teams. The bad news is why aren't we getting easy looks like that? It sorta reminds me of Brewer getting those easy looks playing with Love. these guys don't already run hard all the time on offense coming up the floor which is weird it's hard to expect them to do it on the other end. It feels like Lavine is down there more often at least doing something.

It's a mystery. I know we rip Wiggins for his perceived lack of intensity/energy at times.

But with his athleticism and Rubio with the ball... he seems to pull back most of the time even in those moments he's even with the last guy on D. Explode to the hoop.

It's just another example out of many others that this team relies on tougher shots than it gives up to the other team many nights. (Fortunately, the Wolves have 3 legit tough shot makers taking the most shots).

Offensively I wonder (it's a theory with out much factual info) if they aren't getting down the floor like you would want them to because they are thinking about what they are supposed to be running offensively. That doesn't mean the coaches have overloaded them either this year or last year it could just mean they are young guys trying to process what they are supposed to do...which seems likely if not relatively expected.

To be fair... they're not in 4th grade. So if they don't have that sort of awareness after 100 or 180 NBA games... I'm seriously worried about the Wolves future. That's very basic stuff.