Minnesota Sports Forum

The win tonight was essential to any chance the Wolves have of finishing higher than 8th. It was a good win against an inferior but decent team. This win fit the model for a Wolves win, namely not getting out rebounding and scoring at least 110 points. We played about as well as we can play defensively but still gave up 109 points. So as usual, the Wolves need to rely mainly on offensive firepower to win against good teams. Of course, they have to play some defense too. :). Importantly, our top three players with Butler out -- Towns, Wiggins and Teague -- came through with terrific games. We need these three to step up the same way in all of our remaining 10 games.

I can't say enough about Andrew's performance tonight. He was or player of the game in my view. This was his best all-around game of the season by far and it may have been his best in a Timberwolves uniform. His defense was stellar and his offense highly efficient. He made multiple hustle/effort plays and he stayed within himself, making the smart basketball play rather than forcing things with the ball in ways that have often resulted in turnovers. And best of all, he played at a consistently high level for 4 quarters. This is the max player we've all wanted to see. If he plays like this consistently the rest of his career, with just an occasional off-night, then he'll join KAT as a perennial Allstar and this franchise has a great future. I know I've gotten excited about Wiggins before, only to be terribly disappointed by a string of low-intensity, inefficient performances. But Andrew's defense has been better almost all season and I remain open to the possibility that the light could turn on permanently for him ast some point. Perhaps it happened tonight. Keep your fingers crossed that it did.

Teague gets honorable mention as the Wolves second best player tonight after Wiggins. He was aggressive and smart on the offensive end while holding his own defensively. This was the Teague I remember seeing years ago in Atlanta. This is the Teague I want to see the rest of the season. KAT was obviously terrific with 30 points and 10 boards. Once again he was getting beat up with no calls. He was royally screwed by that 4th quarter blocking call on what was an obvious charge. Jordan scored tonight, but he's a beat and nearly all his points came on great guard play and ball movement that left him open for easy slams. Taj was solid as always.

Now a word about Derrick Rose. As good as Wiggins, Teague and KAT were, you can't overlook the tremendous game Rose had before he went down with an ankle sprain. Just as he was in the second half of the Houston game, Rose was our key catalyst in the first half of tonight's game, preventing the Clippers from building up a big lead and putting us in a position to finish the first half up by a point. The Rose we saw tonight was close to the MVP Rose back when the Bulls were contending. He was lightning quick and crafty with the ball with just a little less verticality. But what I've liked most about his play these past two games has been his toughness. Now I get why Thibs signed him and was interested signing him last year. Rose is a fierce competitor. He puts the other team on its heels and ignites his own team when he's in there. I really hope his ankle heals fully and quickly because I now see him as an important part of what this team can do in these final 10 games and the playoffs.

Now it's critical that the Wolves win at least one of their next two games on the road. The best shot will be our next game against the Knicks. I see that as a critical win to keep this team in the running for a top 6 finish. The next game on the road against the Sixers will be tougher, but it would be sweet to avenge our horrible loss to them at home. One game at a time, playing as a team and with intensity, getting A games from Wiggins, KAT and Teague on a consistent basis. Those are the keys for the Wolves the remaining 10 games. Add in some really good games from Belly, Taj, Crawford and hopefully Rose. This will certainly be the most exciting final 10 game of the season for the Wolves in a long time.

Jon P or was it Britt mentioned something about Tyus and Dieng and their unhappiness tonight about the quick pull ( I think to start the 4th).

Did you see anything of note?

crazy-canuck wrote:Jon P or was it Britt mentioned something about Tyus and Dieng and their unhappiness tonight about the quick pull ( I think to start the 4th).

Did you see anything of note?

I didn't notice anything from Tyus. But I could see that Gorgui was not a happy camper as he came off the floor. I had a great look directly at his face, which showed his distress at being pulled. However, he didn't lip off to any of the coaches and he didn't go off into a corner and sulk. Tyus did not play well tonight. He's the only Wolves player who didn't have a good game. So it was right to pull him. I thought Thibs coached a good game tonight.

As always thank you for the game report.

These are the games where the people who are in Wiggins corner keep coming to. Is he perfect no, but man in the game he teases us he looks so damn good and he is only 23. If his 3pt shot is falling he is such a dynamic player and he is one of the best post up players in the NBA. Hopefully he stops teasing us and is more consistent down the stretch.

This is some of the greatness of Towns, I didn't think he was that special tonight and he had 30 and 10. A side note, it was a block on that play, he was sliding. (He does get hammered a lot and doesn't get the call)

Teague had the game on a string tonight. Excellent game from him and when he has it going the teams has such a high ceiling.

With Rose, if he plays like he has for the last 4 quarters he can be a big plus. He is sort of like Crawford, if he has it going they can be a big plus and help us win games, if they don't they are big negatives. But how the wolves are constructed I am fine with that layout. Having 2 guy who in theory could take over.

kekgeek1 wrote:As always thank you for the game report.

These are the games where the people who are in Wiggins corner keep coming to. Is he perfect no, but man in the game he teases us he looks so damn good and he is only 23. If his 3pt shot is falling he is such a dynamic player and he is one of the best post up players in the NBA. Hopefully he stops teasing us and is more consistent down the stretch.

This is some of the greatness of Towns, I didn't think he was that special tonight and he had 30 and 10. A side note, it was a block on that play, he was sliding. (He does get hammered a lot and doesn't get the call)

Teague had the game on a string tonight. Excellent game from him and when he has it going the teams has such a high ceiling.

With Rose, if he plays like he has for the last 4 quarters he can be a big plus. He is sort of like Crawford, if he has it going they can be a big plus and help us win games, if they don't they are big negatives. But how the wolves are constructed I am fine with that layout. Having 2 guy who in theory could take over.

It looked like Towns was pretty stationary on that call, but I suspect you had a better look at home on replay. I hope Wiggins keeps teasing us consistently for the next 10 games. :)

Good point about Towns. This wasn't one of his best games, yet he still put up 30 and 10. I like that we won even though Belly and Tyus had bad games. Based on what I've seen from Rose the past four quarters, I think he can be less streaky than Crawford because he doesn't rely on perimeter jump shots. Instead, Rose gets his point in dribble penetration. If he's healthy, he's proven these past 4 quarters that he still has terrific quickness, craftiness and toughness getting to the hole and finishing. He has also looked good defensively -- definitely better than Crawford. But I give Crawford credit for effort on the defensive end. He really gets after it.

lipoli390 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:As always thank you for the game report.

These are the games where the people who are in Wiggins corner keep coming to. Is he perfect no, but man in the game he teases us he looks so damn good and he is only 23. If his 3pt shot is falling he is such a dynamic player and he is one of the best post up players in the NBA. Hopefully he stops teasing us and is more consistent down the stretch.

This is some of the greatness of Towns, I didn't think he was that special tonight and he had 30 and 10. A side note, it was a block on that play, he was sliding. (He does get hammered a lot and doesn't get the call)

Teague had the game on a string tonight. Excellent game from him and when he has it going the teams has such a high ceiling.

With Rose, if he plays like he has for the last 4 quarters he can be a big plus. He is sort of like Crawford, if he has it going they can be a big plus and help us win games, if they don't they are big negatives. But how the wolves are constructed I am fine with that layout. Having 2 guy who in theory could take over.

It looked like Towns was pretty stationary on that call, but I suspect you had a better look at home on replay. I hope Wiggins keeps teasing us consistently for the next 10 games. :)

Good point about Towns. This wasn't one of his best games, yet he still put up 30 and 10. I like that we won even though Belly and Tyus had bad games. Based on what I've seen from Rose the past four quarters, I think he can be less streaky than Crawford because he doesn't rely on perimeter jump shots. Instead, Rose gets his point in dribble penetration. If he's healthy, he's proven these past 4 quarters that he still has terrific quickness, craftiness and toughness getting to the hole and finishing. He has also looked good defensively -- definitely better than Crawford. But I give Crawford credit for effort on the defensive end. He really gets after it.

Rose has been better than I expected. He is playing in his role and that is huge for him. We don't want him to think he is the MVP and if he can accept his role he could be a plus.

Also with Rose super small sample but who cares everything now is going to be small sample size. This is the time to get hot. Let's say about 20 games left this year including playoffs give me 10 games where rose plays close to what he has done these last 4 quarters and he is with the flyer we took on him.

Also not many games left but give me hot 3pt shooting wiggins. For these last few games. It would be so huge.

kekgeek1 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:As always thank you for the game report.

These are the games where the people who are in Wiggins corner keep coming to. Is he perfect no, but man in the game he teases us he looks so damn good and he is only 23. If his 3pt shot is falling he is such a dynamic player and he is one of the best post up players in the NBA. Hopefully he stops teasing us and is more consistent down the stretch.

This is some of the greatness of Towns, I didn't think he was that special tonight and he had 30 and 10. A side note, it was a block on that play, he was sliding. (He does get hammered a lot and doesn't get the call)

Teague had the game on a string tonight. Excellent game from him and when he has it going the teams has such a high ceiling.

With Rose, if he plays like he has for the last 4 quarters he can be a big plus. He is sort of like Crawford, if he has it going they can be a big plus and help us win games, if they don't they are big negatives. But how the wolves are constructed I am fine with that layout. Having 2 guy who in theory could take over.

It looked like Towns was pretty stationary on that call, but I suspect you had a better look at home on replay. I hope Wiggins keeps teasing us consistently for the next 10 games. :)

Good point about Towns. This wasn't one of his best games, yet he still put up 30 and 10. I like that we won even though Belly and Tyus had bad games. Based on what I've seen from Rose the past four quarters, I think he can be less streaky than Crawford because he doesn't rely on perimeter jump shots. Instead, Rose gets his point in dribble penetration. If he's healthy, he's proven these past 4 quarters that he still has terrific quickness, craftiness and toughness getting to the hole and finishing. He has also looked good defensively -- definitely better than Crawford. But I give Crawford credit for effort on the defensive end. He really gets after it.

Rose has been better than I expected. He is playing in his role and that is huge for him. We don't want him to think he is the MVP and if he can accept his role he could be a plus.

Also with Rose super small sample but who cares everything now is going to be small sample size. This is the time to get hot. Let's say about 20 games left this year including playoffs give me 10 games where rose plays close to what he has done these last 4 quarters and he is with the flyer we took on him.

Also not many games left but give me hot 3pt shooting wiggins. For these last few games. It would be so huge.

Wiggins was so zoned in tonight. You saw it in his 3-point shooting, but you also saw it in his free throw shooting. It's almost all mental with Wiggins -- concentration and intensity. If he's totally focused, he's a very special player. Now he needs to stay focused for at least the next 10 games.

lipoli390 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:As always thank you for the game report.

These are the games where the people who are in Wiggins corner keep coming to. Is he perfect no, but man in the game he teases us he looks so damn good and he is only 23. If his 3pt shot is falling he is such a dynamic player and he is one of the best post up players in the NBA. Hopefully he stops teasing us and is more consistent down the stretch.

This is some of the greatness of Towns, I didn't think he was that special tonight and he had 30 and 10. A side note, it was a block on that play, he was sliding. (He does get hammered a lot and doesn't get the call)

Teague had the game on a string tonight. Excellent game from him and when he has it going the teams has such a high ceiling.

With Rose, if he plays like he has for the last 4 quarters he can be a big plus. He is sort of like Crawford, if he has it going they can be a big plus and help us win games, if they don't they are big negatives. But how the wolves are constructed I am fine with that layout. Having 2 guy who in theory could take over.

It looked like Towns was pretty stationary on that call, but I suspect you had a better look at home on replay. I hope Wiggins keeps teasing us consistently for the next 10 games. :)

Good point about Towns. This wasn't one of his best games, yet he still put up 30 and 10. I like that we won even though Belly and Tyus had bad games. Based on what I've seen from Rose the past four quarters, I think he can be less streaky than Crawford because he doesn't rely on perimeter jump shots. Instead, Rose gets his point in dribble penetration. If he's healthy, he's proven these past 4 quarters that he still has terrific quickness, craftiness and toughness getting to the hole and finishing. He has also looked good defensively -- definitely better than Crawford. But I give Crawford credit for effort on the defensive end. He really gets after it.

Rose has been better than I expected. He is playing in his role and that is huge for him. We don't want him to think he is the MVP and if he can accept his role he could be a plus.

Also with Rose super small sample but who cares everything now is going to be small sample size. This is the time to get hot. Let's say about 20 games left this year including playoffs give me 10 games where rose plays close to what he has done these last 4 quarters and he is with the flyer we took on him.

Also not many games left but give me hot 3pt shooting wiggins. For these last few games. It would be so huge.

Wiggins was so zoned in tonight. You saw it in his 3-point shooting, but you also saw it in his free throw shooting. It's almost all mental with Wiggins -- concentration and intensity. If he's totally focused, he's a very special player. Now he needs to stay focused for at least the next 10 games.

Lip nailed in the difference between Crawford and Rose so far is defense. Rose has looked pretty good in that end actually an asset and Crawford generally gives back a lot of points he gets. Tonight he made enough positive plays on that end though which was good.

I was pissed about that Towns block call but watching the replay he did lean over it was the right call. There were some other calls I was less than happy with.

I don't think anyone should be upset with their minutes tonight. The clippers played a lot of guards and this may not have been the best matchup for Belly as a SF. He could have played more at the 4 I guess. Dieng was more of a mixed bag than the bad people have said in this thread. He had 6 rebounds and had a couple solid defensive possessions. He didn't need to be out there more though. Teague and the other guards were playing terrific it was a night to ride those guys instead of Tyus. I think Thibs playing time or rotations or whatever is something worth criticizing but I those he pretty much got it right in this game.

monsterpile wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

kekgeek1 wrote:As always thank you for the game report.

These are the games where the people who are in Wiggins corner keep coming to. Is he perfect no, but man in the game he teases us he looks so damn good and he is only 23. If his 3pt shot is falling he is such a dynamic player and he is one of the best post up players in the NBA. Hopefully he stops teasing us and is more consistent down the stretch.

This is some of the greatness of Towns, I didn't think he was that special tonight and he had 30 and 10. A side note, it was a block on that play, he was sliding. (He does get hammered a lot and doesn't get the call)

Teague had the game on a string tonight. Excellent game from him and when he has it going the teams has such a high ceiling.

With Rose, if he plays like he has for the last 4 quarters he can be a big plus. He is sort of like Crawford, if he has it going they can be a big plus and help us win games, if they don't they are big negatives. But how the wolves are constructed I am fine with that layout. Having 2 guy who in theory could take over.

It looked like Towns was pretty stationary on that call, but I suspect you had a better look at home on replay. I hope Wiggins keeps teasing us consistently for the next 10 games. :)

Good point about Towns. This wasn't one of his best games, yet he still put up 30 and 10. I like that we won even though Belly and Tyus had bad games. Based on what I've seen from Rose the past four quarters, I think he can be less streaky than Crawford because he doesn't rely on perimeter jump shots. Instead, Rose gets his point in dribble penetration. If he's healthy, he's proven these past 4 quarters that he still has terrific quickness, craftiness and toughness getting to the hole and finishing. He has also looked good defensively -- definitely better than Crawford. But I give Crawford credit for effort on the defensive end. He really gets after it.

Rose has been better than I expected. He is playing in his role and that is huge for him. We don't want him to think he is the MVP and if he can accept his role he could be a plus.

Also with Rose super small sample but who cares everything now is going to be small sample size. This is the time to get hot. Let's say about 20 games left this year including playoffs give me 10 games where rose plays close to what he has done these last 4 quarters and he is with the flyer we took on him.

Also not many games left but give me hot 3pt shooting wiggins. For these last few games. It would be so huge.

Wiggins was so zoned in tonight. You saw it in his 3-point shooting, but you also saw it in his free throw shooting. It's almost all mental with Wiggins -- concentration and intensity. If he's totally focused, he's a very special player. Now he needs to stay focused for at least the next 10 games.

Lip nailed in the difference between Crawford and Rose so far is defense. Rose has looked pretty good in that end actually an asset and Crawford generally gives back a lot of points he gets. Tonight he made enough positive plays on that end though which was good.

I was pissed about that Towns block call but watching the replay he did lean over it was the right call. There were some other calls I was less than happy with.

I don't think anyone should be upset with their minutes tonight. The clippers played a lot of guards and this may not have been the best matchup for Belly as a SF. He could have played more at the 4 I guess. Dieng was more of a mixed bag than the bad people have said in this thread. He had 6 rebounds and had a couple solid defensive possessions. He didn't need to be out there more though. Teague and the other guards were playing terrific it was a night to ride those guys instead of Tyus. I think Thibs playing time or rotations or whatever is something worth criticizing but I those he pretty much got it right in this game.

Monster -- I agree with you on Thibs. I thought tonight was one of his best coaching performances. His rotations and substitutions were very good, his timeouts were strategic and the team was strong for 4 quarters.

Wiggins has definitely put a solid sample size of games together with better shooting. Hopefully he keeps it up and doesn't go back to his clanking ways! I remember he's had some really hot months in the past, only to regress to his usual mediocrity. I hope he proves me wrong and turns some kind of corner.