Bucks@Wolves GDT

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I'm interested to see how we match up defensively against the Bucks. To me, there is absolutely zero reason we should have a big guarding Brook Lopez. All he does is hang out on the perimeter and take 70% of his shots from 3. This drags a big out to guard him and creates a ton of space for Giannis to operate.

I'd try something really unconventional and put Gorgui and then Vonleh (not so unconventional since he's guarded him in the past) on Giannis and have someone like Wiggins match up against Lopez. I'd also tell both guys to give Giannis about 8 feet of space.

There are two things we want: 1) Baiting Lopez to post up, and 2) Baiting Giannis to shoot from outside.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

PG: Jeff Teague - Eric Bledsoe
SG: Treveon Graham - Wesley Matthews
SF: Andrew Wiggins - Khris Middleton
PF: Robert Covington - Giannis Antetokounmpo
C: Gorgui Dieng - Brook Lopez

I'd imagine Ryan Saunders plays it pretty straight up from tip-off. While the Wolves might need to make adjustments in-game, I don't think we want Dieng to defend anyone on the perimeter that can dribble. He's too goofy and clumsy to stay with mobile players even while providing a cushion. And while Lopez mainly stretches the floor these days, I think he'd take any of our wings to the woodshed in the post. He's still a huge human being with a very solid back-to-the-basket game.

Putting Noah Vonleh on Giannis is something Minnesota will likely do, though. Good luck to him. I definitely can't imagine Saunders using Jake Layman there.

[Monster]

PG: Jeff Teague - Eric Bledsoe
SG: Treveon Graham - Wesley Matthews
SF: Andrew Wiggins - Khris Middleton
PF: Robert Covington - Giannis Antetokounmpo
C: Gorgui Dieng - Brook Lopez

I'd imagine Ryan Saunders plays it pretty straight up from tip-off. While the Wolves might need to make adjustments in-game, I don't think we want Dieng to defend anyone on the perimeter that can dribble. He's too goofy and clumsy to stay with mobile players even while providing a cushion. And while Lopez mainly stretches the floor these days, I think he'd take any of our wings to the woodshed in the post. He's still a huge human being with a very solid back-to-the-basket game.

Putting Noah Vonleh on Giannis is something Minnesota will likely do, though. Good luck to him. I definitely can't imagine Saunders using Jake Layman there.

FWIW Vonleh actually guarded Giannis last year and had some success. I'm just imagining this not even being a close game since we are without Towns so the Wolves can pretty much try whatever and I'm not going to have much of a problem with it. Heck throw Jordon Bell out there on Giannis at some point maybe. Bell would be averaging nearly a dribble double per 36mins this year...Points rebounds and...almost 9 turnovers a game. Lol

[Coolbreeze44]

If you don't put a big on Lopez, he will take you inside and abuse the smaller player. Though he hangs out at the arc, he's still plenty capable of going inside to exploit a matchup. I think you need to keep Gorgui on him. The biggest thing the Wolves need to do is wall up against Giannis. You need to keep him from getting to the tin, and then hope their 3 point shooting fails them. This is how teams are beating the Bucks. And if Giannis does get inside you need to use all your fouls against him. He is not hitting his free throws again this year.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I actually would want Lopez to post up. Let him post up Wiggins or Graham and take contested 7-foot 2-pt jump hooks and turnarounds. I'll take my chances on that versus a barrage of 3's and trips to the free throw line.

[thedoper]

I hope they're willing to try a few unconventional approaches this game since we should be double digit underdogs. Anything that results in a competitive game is great by me.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I hope they're willing to try a few unconventional approaches this game since we should be double digit underdogs. Anything that results in a competitive game is great by me.

Exactly. Like to see us get a little creative here since we are without KAT and would be underdogs even if he were playing.

[Coolbreeze44]

I actually would want Lopez to post up. Let him post up Wiggins or Graham and take contested 7-foot 2-pt jump hooks and turnarounds. I'll take my chances on that versus a barrage of 3's and trips to the free throw line.

Perhaps, but you don't want to use up your fouls on Lopez. You need them to keep Giannis from getting easy baskets.

[Monster]

Dieng just came off a pretty good game and with Lopez it's a matchup of guys that aren't looking to score on the inside. Play Dieng. Reward him for some solid play last game. Give the guy some run because there is a pretty good chance the guy isn't going to be playing a whole lot and he probably deserves some chances to play some this season. If it isn't working (might not even be Dieng's fault) then go with some unconventional stuff but I'd give Dieng another start to throw the guy a bone.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Matchups like Milwaukee and Philadelphia are partially why I'd like the Wolves management to sign Joakim Noah. Admittedly, he isn't necessarily needed, but I think he'd be a "nice to have" option. The guy turns 35 in February, but he was a mid-season addition by Memphis last year and showed he still had plenty in the tank for 40-ish games. Not to mention, if he stayed healthy and produced in his limited role here, there's that added appeal of flipping him for draft compensation from a contender that may have been hesitant about him pre-season due to injury concerns -- see: Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, etc.