Minnesota Sports Forum

I'm seeing a lot of statements, anecdotes, discussions, et al on this lately. It's become almost "too noticeable"... like it's by design.

Fair enough. But is it to change the narrative from what's been fairly obvious to many basketball fans over the past three years to justify the $150+M extension to the guy... or is it a legit response to squash unsubstantiated claims?

I'm not quite following your poll here....Are you implying that the team is furthering the narrative? And if so, your poll options don't make sense.

Other than Glen's face to face thingy, I am not sure that the team is doing anything that either promotes or refutes the "low motor/competitive fire" narrative.

I agree with Q. Thibs isn't saying anything about Wiggins now that he didn't say all last season. He's always refuted claims that Wiggins isn't competitive. And Thibs isn't one to publicly spin. So I think Thibs truly believes what he says about Wiggins. Moreover, Glen hasn't said anything to further some kind of "phony narrative" that Wiggins is competitive. To the contrary, Glen's insistence on a face-to-face meeting with Wiggins to hear Wiggins affirm his commitment to improve would tend to counter any such narrative since it implies concern about Wiggins commitment/competitive drive.

Damn it. Maybe I worded it poorly... with "narrative" in both options. Basically a shoddy poll.

The 2nd option... phony narrative... was supposed to insinuate that the narrative about Wiggins' motor/effort fire is false to begin with.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Damn it. Maybe I worded it poorly... with "narrative" in both options. Basically a shoddy poll.

The 2nd option... phony narrative... was supposed to insinuate that the narrative about Wiggins' motor/effort fire is false to begin with.

OK. I didn't read it carefully enough. I guess my sense is that there isn't any design or strategy. Thibs has always countered questions about Wiggins competitiveness dating back to the beginning of last season. And Glen's public call for a face-to-face with Wiggins is hardly countering the narrative questioning Wiggins' competitiveness. Of course, Wiggins will meet and say he's completely committed to getting better and helping the Wolves win a title. And Thibs will continue to state his view that Wiggins is quietly very competitive -- unless/until Thibs changes his mind. I say changes his mind, because I'm convinced Thibs believes what he says about Wiggins.

lipoli390 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Damn it. Maybe I worded it poorly... with "narrative" in both options. Basically a shoddy poll.

The 2nd option... phony narrative... was supposed to insinuate that the narrative about Wiggins' motor/effort fire is false to begin with.

OK. I didn't read it carefully enough. I guess my sense is that there isn't any design or strategy. Thibs has always countered questions about Wiggins competitiveness dating back to the beginning of last season. And Glen's public call for a face-to-face with Wiggins is hardly countering the narrative questioning Wiggins' competitiveness. Of course, Wiggins will meet and say he's completely committed to getting better and helping the Wolves win a title. And Thibs will continue to state his view that Wiggins is quietly very competitive -- unless/until Thibs changes his mind. I say changes his mind, because I'm convinced Thibs believes what he says about Wiggins.

The narrative isn't really that new. Sam Mitchell basically said the same thing and I think even Flip said similar things as well. I do think this will be a key year to see what we get out of Wiggins for his career. Games will matter he has vets to help. Ring the most out of him AND his teammates. Sam Mitchell seemed pretty convinced adding Taj and Butler will make a pretty big difference for both Towns and Wiggins. We will see.

I think there is a difference between his competitiveness and his motor/fire. Everything I've ever heard from anybody who would know is that he's competitive as hell and works his tail off. However, I've seen his motor be unacceptable in many games. I still think he needs to get into better cardio condition. He's not a guy that should have been playing as many minutes at his age. He just wasn't physically ready for it and I thing it showed on the court.

I've read and heard too many people infer that he's lazy. If you're doing what you're doing and you're getting $150 mil, why change up how you go about things? That's the fear some have with Wiggins getting this deal.

We are going to learn a lot about Wiggins this year.

I have always been in the camp that he needs to do more but some of it is situational.

For example since coming into the league he has played top 10 in minutes in the NBA, asked to be our primary scoring option and also guard the best player on the other team. Last year he was also asked to initiate offense and run the break hard. He gets hit a lot as seen in his free throw attempts.

So is he strategically not attacking rebounds (he does crash hard in close end of the game situations) and not taking charges, slash getting on the floor or hustle plays because of this. He has also kept away from injuries and some of that could be because of the situations he dosen't put himself in.

Now with that said if his role is reduced will rebounds/hustle plays go up and will FG% go up because of it we are going to find out.

Just for example on how wiggins life might become easier and more productive, last year against Portland he had to guard CJ and be defended by aminu. This year it is going to be guarded by CJ and gets to defend aminu. What is easier all around. Against the rockets he will now get to guard Ariza and get defended by Harden, instead of the opposite last year

kekgeek1 wrote:We are going to learn a lot about Wiggins this year.

I have always been in the camp that he needs to do more but some of it is situational.

For example since coming into the league he has played top 10 in minutes in the NBA, asked to be our primary scoring option and also guard the best player on the other team. Last year he was also asked to initiate offense and run the break hard. He gets hit a lot as seen in his free throw attempts.

So is he strategically not attacking rebounds (he does crash hard in close end of the game situations) and not taking charges, slash getting on the floor or hustle plays because of this. He has also kept away from injuries and some of that could be because of the situations he dosen't put himself in.

Now with that said if his role is reduced will rebounds/hustle plays go up and will FG% go up because of it we are going to find out.

Just for example on how wiggins life might become easier and more productive, last year against Portland he had to guard CJ and be defended by aminu. This year it is going to be guarded by CJ and gets to defend aminu. What is easier all around. Against the rockets he will now get to guard Ariza and get defended by Harden, instead of the opposite last year

To whom much is given much is expected. If he's this generational talent, being able to be a legit two-way player should be expected. Otherwise, what is his appeal? The reality is we needed a better two way player than Wiggins to join alongside him. We needed potentially two better scoring options than him. If you're a franchise player, the solution to getting you help isn't and shouldn't be players better than you. All that does is confirm what you aren't as a player.

If I'm Glen Taylor and I have to ask whether he's committed, I'd have to think twice, and if I already know he's committed and I'm asking anyway, as a player I'd be insulted. Glen wants this meeting for two reasons: 1. he's hokey and 2. it's because sadly it's a good question to ask in this case.