Minnesota Sports Forum

Okay, I think we have seen a good dose of reality the last couple games. Like I said in the 18 game prediction thread, we just aren't that good. Lots of material for tonight's 2 + 1, so let's give it a shot:

1) Once again, it's early in the 4th quarter and Sam has our reserves getting the shit kicked out of them by the Miami starters. Game over at that point. This isn't rocket science Sam. When the other team has better players on the floor, chances are you're going to lose ground. Late in the 3rd quarter Miami subbed out Whiteside for...........................................Bosh. They were able to do that because Spoelstra smartly staggers his rotations to keep a solid group on the floor. We are so handicapped on the bench. Don't listen to what the talking heads are telling you, that's their job. Use your own eyes and mind to see what's happening here, because Jim Peterson certainly isn't going to throw anyone under the bus.

2) We need to make up our minds, are we about development or are we trying to win? On the one hand it looks like we're trying to win. We have KG and Prince starting (neither have played well), and for some unknown reason Kevin Martin is getting the most minutes on the team. Then on the other hand we are using this platoon system to give 10 guys a lot of playing time. So it looks like we're developing some lesser guys at the expense of our brighter young prospects. Just decide what it's going to be and pick one. Is it about development or is it about winning? I'm certainly confused as to what the agenda is.

One other point, not so much a negative as it is an observation: Whatever happened to the Ricky Rubio who entered the league 5 years ago? You know the kid with the mad playmaking skills who kept you on the edge of your seat because you weren't sure what he was going to do next. He might throw a 60 foot bounce pass, or maybe send it through the legs of the defender, and it was always entertaining. I'm not saying he's less effective today, but when did his flair leave his game? And why? He's playing in a box out there and it just doesn't seem like the same guy we grew to love. Personally I think Adelman took away some of his love for the game, and it's a damn shame.

Plus 1 - I don't know guys, can you think of any? The young guys we're leaning on all pretty much blew chunks tonight. And the veterans weren't much better. I suppose the play of Bazz was somewhat encouraging, but like KMart, he isn't the easiest guy to play with on the floor. You take the good with bad with those two guys, and when they play at the same time the other three players are going to be far less effective. But let's give it to Bazz for his tenacity tonight. A small bright spot in a dreadful evening.

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

It's hard to be joyful about the game when you lose a bunch and have multiple long-term recovery injuries. Ricky doesn't get to be the fun support piece anymore like he always was in Spain. The team actually relies on him to play well to win games which means he can't make as many risky plays because we have nobody to pick him up and carry the team. I think the losing has sucked the joy out of his game and thus turned him into a more serious, risk-averse player.

I'm also confused at what we're trying to do out there. Sam preached that this year was about development, yet he starts Prince. Lavine was declared the starting off guard, then that idea was quickly scratched, so it's almost like to save face Mitchell plugged him in at backup point guard: FAIL.

The bottom line is 2-2 isn't a bad start, but after starting 2-0 on the road it's very disappointing. It's obvious to me at this point that both the starters and the 2nd unit are completely unbalanced. The starters have too little offense (KG and Prince giving us nothing, Rubio still is what he is, and also with KG and Prince being so ineffective it's two less guys Rubio has to pass to--which is his strength). Then you have the 2nd unit, where K-Mart, Lavine and Bazz all are shot hunters, meanwhile Lavine is also being tasked with running the offense, which has been proven to death he is not suited for. And finally getting caught up in this mess is Belly, who despite so far having a rough adjustment to the league, deserves to play with smarter players because he actually plays the game the right way.

It really comes down to making a few simple changes right now: Move Bazz or Zach into the starting lineup, remove Prince, and let Miler back up Rubio or even better give Jones a chance. If Jones gets eaten alive then you scratch that plan and send him to the d-league. But from what Jones showed in pre-season I don't see him being a worse option than continuing with Zach.

I don't care who starts and the combined 24 minutes Prince and KG played didn't cost us a BB game. What did cost us the game was the 84 long range jumpers we took, AGAIN!

This team doesn't need a stretch 5, they need a low post scorer that is efficient, and continues to get out on the PnR. Towns did neither of those things the last two games. Wiggins isn't hitting his outside shot, so STOP taking them, and start driving and posting up more. Lavine doesn't have the BB IQ to play PG in the NBA. Let him focus on scoring and nothing else.

Sam, start coaching this team. We don't need another monkey with a routine. When Bazz is aggressive and scoring, get him 35 minutes, and ride him. You do it for Kmart, but not Bazz, so how is that developing? Shorten your bench, and stop thinking each guy has to play the same minutes on a nightly basis. If they are playing well, feed them minutes.

Last thing is in reference to the officiating. If they aren't giving you respect, you need to get nasty and let them know what a foul looks like. Stop playing passive, and letting them dictate the game. Start hard fouling your opponent, and getting in their face. Other than Payne, we have nobody that does that effectively. Maybe they should sign Jeff Adrien back.

sjm34 wrote:

Last thing is in reference to the officiating. If they aren't giving you respect, you need to get nasty and let them know what a foul looks like. Stop playing passive, and letting them dictate the game. Start hard fouling your opponent, and getting in their face. Other than Payne, we have nobody that does that effectively. Maybe they should sign Jeff Adrien back.

Q agrees with you...

I actually think Mitchell is clearly making this season all about development, but I vehemently disagree with one-half of his approach. Bear with me.....

Part I of his approach is the starting lineup, which consists of two over-the-hill vets that don't really give you much offensively anymore, but know where to be, how to move the ball, and can defend. It also consists of our best player and best PG - Rubio. Then you have the two future franchise cornerstones in Wiggins and Towns. This lineup enables those two guys to be the first two options offensively, with the theory that getting lots of touches now will accelerate their development into elite offensive weapons.

So I get Part I. I'm not sure I would do it the same way, but I get it.

Part II of his approach is where things fall apart and it all starts and ends with the PG position. It's the position that has the most influence on the offense. Starting a player that doesn't know how to play PG is counter-productive to not only Zach's development, but the rest of the guys he's on the floor with!

So why doesn't Mitchell apply the same logic in Part I to Part II by putting Andre Miller on the floor with Dieng, Bazz, Bjelica and Martin/LaVine (at the 2)?

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

sjm34 wrote:

Last thing is in reference to the officiating. If they aren't giving you respect, you need to get nasty and let them know what a foul looks like. Stop playing passive, and letting them dictate the game. Start hard fouling your opponent, and getting in their face. Other than Payne, we have nobody that does that effectively. Maybe they should sign Jeff Adrien back.

Q agrees with you...

Heh, looks about right.

btw. if you want mismatch at SG put there Bazz as he will post the smaller guy up and destroy him, Wig does not have handle to beat the smaller guy and penetrate and he is not able to post up and score reliably either, he even does not have better defensive numbers at SG, put Wig back to 3 and split minutes 24/24 between Martin and Lavine at SG pls Sam, with that we can use Miller as a backup PG as that guy is incredibly smart and knows what he is doing out there, and cut Tayshun out of rotation

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

sjm34 wrote:

Last thing is in reference to the officiating. If they aren't giving you respect, you need to get nasty and let them know what a foul looks like. Stop playing passive, and letting them dictate the game. Start hard fouling your opponent, and getting in their face. Other than Payne, we have nobody that does that effectively. Maybe they should sign Jeff Adrien back.

Q agrees with you...

Too Funny!

If this season is clearly about development, wouldn't Tyus be getting some run at the backup point? Hard to develop your first round point guard while he's in civi's every night. This is why the direction to me is far from clear.