Game Report - Wolves v Jazz

[Lipoli390]

Not sure why I'm bothering with a game report on this one. A huge crowd with lots of energy, but unfortunately the energy was limited to the crowd and the Utah Jazz.

This was a team loss to which every Wolves player contributed. The defense was horrible as it has often been all season and the offensive was the classic Wolves offense -- poor spacing, player's packed inside the arc, lots of handoffs (worst play in basketball), minimal off-ball movement and lots of iso ball. Our offense is a wet dream for a good defensive team like the Jazz. Watching these two teams is instructive. On defense, the Jazz consistently get up into the opposing players' bodies and make it difficult for them not only to get shots off, but to move, or to see teammates or create passing lanes. And the Jazz are relentless in taking away looks from the 3-point line. The Wolves, on the other hand, hang back to defend mid and long range jumpers, and even then they give opposing players the room to operate and get very comfortable. If Rubio could play the Wolves all 82 games, he'd be among their League's leaders in 3-point shooting.

The Jazz are not a particularly talented team. But they are a really well coached team and a good one overall. It's one thing to lose to them, but quite another to lose by 23 points at home in front of a packed house in a game with huge playoff implications. The Jazz looked like a well-oiled machine offensively and they were relentless defensively. The Wolves looked like they always look on the offensive end - awkward and hoping some guys get hot hitting contested shots.

I'll add this game to the long list of exhibits as to why Thibs needs to go.

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Defensively, the guards can get into the grill of opposing players because they know if they get beat, they know favors and/or gobert will cover them. The Jazz also screen really well and rim run which is also something our bigs (outside of taj) are uncomfortable with defending.

Offensively, we rely so much on iso ball that we are easily defended by a good team unless our big guns decide to run roughshot over opposing defenses.

we should be getting bjelly more involved in the game. The only player that even looksfor him is wiggs, but his handle is to poor to be relied on to run the offense through (although his passing has been much better this year).

[mjs34]

Funny how getting out coached is never part of Thibs press conference.

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

And our bench continues to be a sore spot.
Its time for Patton to take some of diengs minutes.

Crawford and dieng with a combined -43 in 46 minutes of play. Sadly this is becoming a common occurrence unless crawford goes into scorelord mode.

[Crazysauce]

I honestly believe thibs may be the worst coach in the entire nba. Give me just one redeeming quality he has. He has ran our guys into the ground. The defense of defending mid range shots only is the most asinine strategy i have ever seen. Evry shot for an opposing team is a wide open three or a layup. Its unreal when you watch the games and just realize where these teams are constantly shooting from. He needs to go and he needs to go now. If we had quinn snyder coaching us we have at minimum 55 wins. If thibs is back next year it will be the worst thing possible for this franchise.

[Lipoli390]

Defensively, the guards can get into the grill of opposing players because they know if they get beat, they know favors and/or gobert will cover them. The Jazz also screen really well and rim run which is also something our bigs (outside of taj) are uncomfortable with defending.

Offensively, we rely so much on iso ball that we are easily defended by a good team unless our big guns decide to run roughshot over opposing defenses.

we should be getting bjelly more involved in the game. The only player that even looksfor him is wiggs, but his handle is to poor to be relied on to run the offense through (although his passing has been much better this year).

Getting into the grill of opposing players also helps the bigs inside because it slows them down while also limiting their mobility and their vision. Yes, I'd love to have Gobert. And we'd have him if I had been the Wolves PBO at the time. But there's no sense in giving opponents the space we give them, which allows opposing players to get comfortable, see the floor, and get their feet set for jumpers. Oh and it also allows them to get a head of steam and pick their angles going to the hole.

[Coolbreeze44]

Musings:

- The starters are shot, just like Thibs team every year
- Thibs needs to go sooner rather than later
- Teague better have a good reason for missing our most important game since 2004.
- I'm puzzled by KAT's effort on defense tonight. Didn't we need this game? Maybe it's because of point #1
- Crawford is a joke. Jim Pete's worst analysis i can remember.
- Feel good for Ricky - still don't understand why he isn't here anymore.

[Crazysauce]

Cool you couldnt have summarized my thoughts any better. I agree with all of that. It will be very timberwolf- esque to let this team be coached by thibs for about 3 to 4 more years

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Defensively, the guards can get into the grill of opposing players because they know if they get beat, they know favors and/or gobert will cover them. The Jazz also screen really well and rim run which is also something our bigs (outside of taj) are uncomfortable with defending.

Offensively, we rely so much on iso ball that we are easily defended by a good team unless our big guns decide to run roughshot over opposing defenses.

we should be getting bjelly more involved in the game. The only player that even looksfor him is wiggs, but his handle is to poor to be relied on to run the offense through (although his passing has been much better this year).

Getting into the grill of opposing players also helps the bigs inside because it slows them down while also limiting their mobility and their vision. Yes, I'd love to have Gobert. And we'd have him if I had been the Wolves PBO at the time. But there's no sense in giving opponents the space we give them, which allows opposing players to get comfortable, see the floor, and get their feet set for jumpers. Oh and it also allows them to get a head of steam and pick their angles going to the hole.

IMO, they give a little more cushion because they are afraid to get beat because they know there is no last line of defense. And im not even sure if slowing them down would even work when kat or dieng are out of position half the time or they are constantly backpeddling. I think Dieng got that deal because thibs thought he could be that anchor (and he did mostly play the c role next to kat), then he went out and got taj. Now he is hoping that Patton becomes that C, but he looks soft as well, more finesse than gritty. I think kat will eventually get moved to pf because his offense is just too good not to play.

Our perimeter guys are also a problem with teague and crawford being the prime culprits (sometimes wiggs), but I dont think its our biggest problem

Thibs' defense is heavily reliant on your c being that defensive quarterback, Unfortunately, he doesnt have that here. He needs to scheme something new instead of hanging on his ice reputation and relying on the players to hide his lack of scheming.

Maybe a zone type defense would work for these guys.

[KiwiMatt]

This game just reconfirmed the mistakes Thibs made this off season on trading Rubio and signing Teague for a significantly higher salary. That cap space would have come in handy in signing someone other than Jamal Crawford to be our 3rd wing.