Minnesota Sports Forum

Okay we can all put the gas pipes away now, time to celebrate the first win. As I said in an earlier thread, we just needed a win and now we can move forward. So here is the 1st of 49 version of the 2 + 1:

1) Not going to dwell too much on the negative tonight but here goes. The word is out. You have to be physical with KAT. I expect every team to buy into this scouting report. Karl is going to get banged every time he gets the ball in the post. So far it's been a very effective ploy. He will eventually figure out how to deal with - most likely he's going to live at the free throw line. But he's also going to get better at recognizing the double team and moving the ball before the defense can collapse. There is nothing to be alarmed at here. He is still going to be great, he just is going to go through some growing pains in his sophomore season.

2) I could see it coming early in the 3rd quarter. As the lead continued to build I knew we weren't going to get to see our starters much in the 2nd half. And that sucks because they were so much fun to watch. But if we don't see them play much in the 4th quarter going forward, that will probably be a good thing. But damn, I can't wait to see them play again. It was a lot of fun.

+1 - Let's go bullet style tonight since there were so many positives:

- I talked about Wally Pipp in another thread - maybe that wasn't too far fetched as it pertains to Kris Dunn. I think we saw some truth tonight. He at least has a chance to be a monster at the PG position. If he continues to hit the 3, I'm sure he will. Starting to see what Thibs liked about this guy.

- Zach was okay tonight...........yeah right. You have to wonder how good of a 3 point shooter he can become. The shot is totally effortless. I'm not sure there is a prettier shot in the league. Good thing his ankle doesn't appear to be serious.

- Also nice to see Andrew stroking the 3 so far this year. More attempts please.

- Great to see G come out and play like a stud after getting his deal. He was great on both ends of the floor tonight. Really glad to know he's locked up and we don't have to worry about it.

- Hey, the bench didn't make the game interesting at the end!! Progress!

- Finally, congrats to Thibs on the first W. Just 48 more this season Tom.

And that's Cool's 2 things I didn't like tonight +1

Lol, when does the theme flip to 2 things you like and 1 you didn't? Not there yet?

khans2k5 wrote:Lol, when does the theme flip to 2 things you like and 1 you didn't? Not there yet?

It's all about branding :-d

Cool - Great point about KAT needing to do a better job of reading and reacting to the double team. There have been a number of times in these first three games, including tonight, where he should and could have attacked the basket in the low post before the double team arrived. And once doubled, he tried to hard to beat it himself. But he's a smart player so he'll figure it out. Good to point out that he's averaging over 4 assists per game and that he got a quiet double-double tonight.

I had a nightmare last night we traded Towns. I remember at some point saying in the dream "we must be the dumbest team in the league" after finding out we made another move that was also terrible but I don't remember what it was. I've never been so glad to wake up before my alarm! Lol

monsterpile wrote:I had a nightmare last night we traded Towns. I remember at some point saying in the dream "we must be the dumbest team in the league" after finding out we made another move that was also terrible but I don't remember what it was. I've never been so glad to wake up before my alarm! Lol

Check "The Onion" it was not a dream. :-)

Some good points in the 2+1, cool. Yeah, Zach's jumper looks sweet...fun to hear him talk about perhaps moving over to the 3-point contest this year!

I'm going to give a little love to KAT. I agree that he is not playing at the level he was in preseason or even last year, but I'm going to add a big "yet"...I think most of you agree that there's little to worry about with Karl. I think his energy and toughness at the start of the game helped set the stage for a blowout. He wasn't content to drift around the perimeter, but was inside fighting on every possession. Some of his physicality might have been due to the relief of not having Gasol out there. I'm curious to see if he can keep it up against Denver Thursday..

longstrangetrip wrote:Some good points in the 2+1, cool. Yeah, Zach's jumper looks sweet...fun to hear him talk about perhaps moving over to the 3-point contest this year!

I'm going to give a little love to KAT. I agree that he is not playing at the level he was in preseason or even last year, but I'm going to add a big "yet"...I think most of you agree that there's little to worry about with Karl. I think his energy and toughness at the start of the game helped set the stage for a blowout. He wasn't content to drift around the perimeter, but was inside fighting on every possession. Some of his physicality might have been due to the relief of not having Gasol out there. I'm curious to see if he can keep it up against Denver Thursday..

Denver isn't exactly the powder puff gang either. Nurkic is a freakin' bull in a china shop and Jokic is a very skilled big as well. Gallo has a size advantage against Wiggins too. If anything, Denver poses the most physically imposing front line we've seen yet.

I've always thought of KAT as a better version of Kevin Love. He's a guy you want to start out in the low block with touches early and often. Then eventually allow him to move out to the perimeter as matchups dictate. This was the blueprint for Love in his 26PPG season a few years ago.

Q12543 wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:Some good points in the 2+1, cool. Yeah, Zach's jumper looks sweet...fun to hear him talk about perhaps moving over to the 3-point contest this year!

I'm going to give a little love to KAT. I agree that he is not playing at the level he was in preseason or even last year, but I'm going to add a big "yet"...I think most of you agree that there's little to worry about with Karl. I think his energy and toughness at the start of the game helped set the stage for a blowout. He wasn't content to drift around the perimeter, but was inside fighting on every possession. Some of his physicality might have been due to the relief of not having Gasol out there. I'm curious to see if he can keep it up against Denver Thursday..

Denver isn't exactly the powder puff gang either. Nurkic is a freakin' bull in a china shop and Jokic is a very skilled big as well. Gallo has a size advantage against Wiggins too. If anything, Denver poses the most physically imposing front line we've seen yet.

I've always thought of KAT as a better version of Kevin Love. He's a guy you want to start out in the low block with touches early and often. Then eventually allow him to move out to the perimeter as matchups dictate. This was the blueprint for Love in his 26PPG season a few years ago.

...and Kenneth Fariid.