Fun Stats. Let's get defensive edition.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Kyle Kuzma
Markieff Morris.
Caldwell-Pope
Schroder
Gasol
Horton Heat
Caruso
Matthews
McKinnie
Cacok

Does that seem like a good team to you?

That lineup has won 3 out of its past 4 games. The Wolves have not won 3 out of 4 games in nearly a full NBA season (76 games).

The Lakers have held 3 of the past 4 opponents to 94 points or less.
The Timberwolves have held teams under 97 points 3 times in the past 90 games. And under 100 points only 4 times in the past 90 games.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I wonder if the Wolves could beat the Cavs, Magic, and Kings in a four-game stretch. My gut feeling is yes, but it's one thing to say it and another to do it.

I also see a number of veteran players among those names, Abe. Minnesota has been lacking that all year. Keep in mind this roster didn't have anyone over the age of 26 to start the season besides Ricky Rubio and Ed Davis. Either the Wolves will gamble again on their young talent next year or they'll need to add some veteran contributors to this group. My hope is the latter.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

The Wolves have had two long-running systemic problems for the past decade: 1) 3-point shooting, and 2) Opponent eFG%.

We've been really good or really bad or just OK in all the other stat categories But almost without fail, we're bottom 5 or 6 in these two categories in probably 8 or 9 out of the past 10 seasons.

Covington is literally the only player to come through here in the past decade that could both shoot and defend at plus levels. McDaniels may be the second. So we'll have two guys in the span of over 10 seasons that were legit 3&D types.That is an amazing streak of sustained incompetence for an NBA franchise.

[Wolvesfan21]

The Wolves have had two long-running systemic problems for the past decade: 1) 3-point shooting, and 2) Opponent eFG%.

We've been really good or really bad or just OK in all the other stat categories But almost without fail, we're bottom 5 or 6 in these two categories in probably 8 or 9 out of the past 10 seasons.

Covington is literally the only player to come through here in the past decade that could both shoot and defend at plus levels. McDaniels may be the second. So we'll have two guys in the span of over 10 seasons that were legit 3&D types.That is an amazing streak of sustained incompetence for an NBA franchise.

I thought shooting 3's and defending help you win? Why would the Wolves look for those players?

[FNG]

That's a depressing revelation, Q, that only Cunningham meets the definition of a true 3&D guy in recent Wolves history. I agree that Jaden has the potential, but we need to hope his current 3-point success isn't a mirage. As for the rest of the rotation in terms of 3&D potential?

KAT- Maybe
Ant- Maybe
Nowell- Maybe
Rubio- No
DLO- No
Beasley-No
Reid- No
Juancho- No
Vando- No
Culver- No
Josh- No
J-Mac- No
Davis- No
Sunshine- No

I wonder if there is another roster in the NBA where only 4 players even have a slight chance of being competent in both 3-point shooting and defense?

[Lipoli390]

That's a depressing revelation, Q, that only Cunningham meets the definition of a true 3&D guy in recent Wolves history. I agree that Jaden has the potential, but we need to hope his current 3-point success isn't a mirage. As for the rest of the rotation in terms of 3&D potential?

KAT- Maybe
Ant- Maybe
Nowell- Maybe
Rubio- No
DLO- No
Beasley-No
Reid- No
Juancho- No
Vando- No
Culver- No
Josh- No
J-Mac- No
Davis- No
Sunshine- No

I wonder if there is another roster in the NBA where only 4 players even have a slight chance of being competent in both 3-point shooting and defense?

That's depressing. I can think of another depressing list of current Wolves players, namely those who are really bad defenders:

KAT
DLO
Beasley
Juancho

Note that's 4/5 of the starting lineup that Rosas envisioned and was excited about heading into this season.

Ant is also a bad defender, but has the potential to be good. So I left him off the list for now. Juancho ended up playing his way to the bench pretty quickly this season and it looks like Finch will keep him there as a rotation sub in favor of McDaniels as our starting PF for the rest of the season. But even with McDaniels, 4/5 of our starting lineup will consist of poor defenders when DLO returns, although I'm not sure DLO is much worse defensively than Rubio. At best, Rubio's and Reid are mediocre defenders, although some might consider them bad. Okogie and Culver are so bad offensively that they simply can't be on the court very long in spite of their defensive prowess. Same probably goes for Vando.

[Porckchop]

That's a depressing revelation, Q, that only Cunningham meets the definition of a true 3&D guy in recent Wolves history. I agree that Jaden has the potential, but we need to hope his current 3-point success isn't a mirage. As for the rest of the rotation in terms of 3&D potential?

KAT- Maybe
Ant- Maybe
Nowell- Maybe
Rubio- No
DLO- No
Beasley-No
Reid- No
Juancho- No
Vando- No
Culver- No
Josh- No
J-Mac- No
Davis- No
Sunshine- No

I wonder if there is another roster in the NBA where only 4 players even have a slight chance of being competent in both 3-point shooting and defense?

Why are you so easily pessimistic about Mcdaniels continued shooting success while being the first one to come to the defense of a veteran like Rubio? Jadens ability as a three point shooting threat has already trumped Rickys ability to shoot from anywhere on the floor at any time in his career.