Minnesota Sports Forum

I haven't heard from you guys about how stupid and pointless it is to give him the ball and let him work anymore in quite awhile, there used to be quite a bit of hatred towards it early in the season

I'm not sure it was hatred. I think everyone wants Wiggins to be a star. He's in his third year with that #1 over all pick hanging over his head. That brings high expectations. For this to be a good team, he's going to have to be one of the guys to carry them. I think pretty much everyone on this board would like to see that happen.

Bloop looking to rub salt in wounds!

People questioned having him do so when he wasn't having much success with the team still in position to push for playoff position. I think everybody understood that Thibs was prioritizing Wiggins growth and learning from those experience over winning, not everybody is still enjoying that particular ride after a dozen years.

As much as I'm happy with his being more successful in those situations I'm far happier with his playing more consistently and not just showing up every few games! If Wiggins and KAT play with that type of energy more consistently there will hopefully be fewer games requiring Wiggins to don his cape in close end game situations.

I'm glad someone other than me said it. Spot on Bloop!! I eagerly anticipate the times he gets to initiate. Gets better and better as the season progresses.

My issue wasn't with Wiggins initiating the offense as much as it was mis-using Rubio and his strengths. I think it's important for both Wiggins and LaVine (when he was healthy) to get reps as pick and roll ball handlers. I was just not happy at the extreme to which this was happening, to the exclusion of the guy that actually does it better than anyone on the team!

I actually think this was addressed weeks ago, as Thibs started to run more pick and rolls with Rubio. The result has been some more off-ball scoring opportunities for Wiggins off cuts, fast breaks, and 'oops.

Wiggins has become a very dangerous scorer as "point Wiggins" in pick and roll situations. The next step in his development is to get others easy looks out of those sets as he attracts more and more attention from the defense. He can make the most rudimentary passes, like kick outs when everyone collapses, but he rarely makes more advanced passes that lead to easy buckets. Hopefully that will come.

How does Wiggins? 1st and 2nd and 3rd year match up to Kobe's 2nd, 3rd, and 4th?

Quick glance says.

Wiggins better Scorer and Kobe better rebounder and passer.

I don't know about Wiggins just yet. It may be one of his hot streaks. It surely happened before. We'll see.

Bleed, I think that's what you will find when comparing him to a number of the great wings, both past and present. As a volume scorer that can get points in any number of ways, he's on track or ahead of where they were at the same point in their careers. As a defender, rebounder, and play maker, he's behind.

bleedspeed177 wrote:How does Wiggins? 1st and 2nd and 3rd year match up to Kobe's 2nd, 3rd, and 4th?

Quick glance says.

Wiggins better Scorer and Kobe better rebounder and passer.

It doesn't. Even at this stage in his career, Kobe was simply a much more complete player. He was a great playmaker, and had already made a name as a great defender......two things that Wiggins is sorely lacking. On the surface, scoring is similar, but I think their overall impact isn't all that close. I think people forget that despite being one of the most dynamic scorers in the past couple decades, he was also asked to be a facilitator and defensive stopper as well. Wiggins has all the PHYSICAL tools to become a great defender, but has yet to show this skill in any consistent fashion. And we know his limitations as a facilitator.

Wiggins a better 3pt shooter. Kobe better FT FG% simular

Kobe had a way better team to play on and was not the focus. Shaq was unstoppable.