Minnesota Sports Forum

First off, I'm really proud of the Wolves tonight. Our team battled hard from the opening tip until the end of the game. I feel much better about this loss than a lot of our wins this year. If I wasn't sure before, and I was, I'm completely convinced this group is going to be something special. We're just young, and there isn't much you can do about that. But we gave the Spurs everything they could handle and more. So here's the "Thanks for the effort" 2 + 1:

1) A couple quick things I didn't like tonight as I want to focus on the positive. The big one of course is free throw shooting. If you said it cost us the game you are probably right. Andrew could have had a big night if he just made his free throws. But it wasn't just him, and that's disappointing after how well we've shot them this year.

2) We're not ever going to beat the Spurs if we the game isn't officiated fairly. I don't expect to get too many calls against the seasoned, champion pedigreed Spurs, but we at least need a fair shake. Didn't think we got that tonight. The moving screen on Gorgui and a couple of KAT's fouls were pure folly. Hopefully someday we will get this same treatment at home.

Plus 1 - in bullet form tonight:

- Would it be hyperbole to say that was the best defensive effort since KG left town to join the Celtics. And I emphasize the word "effort". Of course the Spurs still made shots, but our intensity was a joy to watch. And tonight it just wasn't Ricky, KG, and Prince. I thought every man gave it their all tonight. If we can get that kind of effort most nights we are going to be a handful before the end of this season. Just awesome to see.

- Kawhi Leonard is a great player. But the cool thing for Wolves fans is he's not as good of an athlete as Wiggins is. Andrew played him tough tonight, and I could see the beginning of what promises to be a really good rivalry going forward. It's exciting to think how much trouble Wig is going to give not only Leonard, but other big time players in the very near future. Fun to watch.

- Great performance all the way around by KG tonight. I wonder if Sam thought about bringing him back at the end of the game. I can see where his defensive influence is starting to rub off on the young guys. Makes me feel like they are learning what it takes.

- Love how KAT just hates to lose. Wish he would get more touches in the low post, but it's exciting to watch him develop before our eyes. Made some big plays tonight.

- Ricky played so hard tonight. His shooting kills us, but everything else is done so well and with such zeal. Just a shame he isn't serviceable as a jump shooter.

- I don't like much about Sam as a head coach, but I like that he is putting the game in the hands of his young stars. Yeah it's going to suck for a while, but this is the best thing for the long term success of the franchise. And if we happen to get another high lottery pick it wouldn't be such a shame.

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

I'm a pretty disagreeable person and I can find nothing to disagree with here. Sorry, I'll try harder next game!

:thumb:

TheSP wrote:I'm a pretty disagreeable person and I can find nothing to disagree with here. Sorry, I'll try harder next game!

:thumb:

Thanks for reading

CoolBreeze44 wrote:

TheSP wrote:I'm a pretty disagreeable person and I can find nothing to disagree with here. Sorry, I'll try harder next game!

:thumb:

Thanks for reading

Thanks for taking the time to write the reviews, I enjoy them very much!!

Agree with a lot of it. A couple of discussion points where we might differ though...

As far as the free throws... yeah, it kind of was just Wiggins. At least if you're talking about unacceptable efforts. He was 2 - 8. Granted, Gorgui missed 2. And Rubio missed one late... but the rest of the team shot 12 - 16 (75%). That's below average, but not by much.

I dig the optimism with Wiggins. But athleticism doesn't equal talent, necessarily. Leonard is one of the league's smartest players on both ends of the court to go with his athleticism. It's highly doubtful Wiggins ever gets the same feel for the game that Leonard has. That's not a knock on Wiggins... it's testament to Leonard. Tonight's a good example, the guy had 17/11 on only 9 shots.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Agree with a lot of it. A couple of discussion points where we might differ though...

As far as the free throws... yeah, it kind of was just Wiggins. At least if you're talking about unacceptable efforts. He was 2 - 8. Granted, Gorgui missed 2. And Rubio missed one late... but the rest of the team shot 12 - 16 (75%). That's below average, but not by much.

I dig the optimism with Wiggins. But athleticism doesn't equal talent, necessarily. Leonard is one of the league's smartest players on both ends of the court to go with his athleticism. It's highly doubtful Wiggins ever gets the same feel for the game that Leonard has. That's not a knock on Wiggins... it's testament to Leonard. Tonight's a good example, the guy had 17/11 on only 9 shots.

Yeah well Leonard is in his 5th year. I remember them being pretty comparable as 1st/2nd year players. Leonard's game has taken huge leaps during his 4th/5th years. I guess we will just have to see what Andrew looks like after another 250- games. Leonard has also had the advantage of being developed by Pop and playing alongside a bunch of championship caliber players.

I haven't had a chance to watch the game yet, but how did everyone rate Wiggins' overall game. Clearly the missed FTs hurt - but with 6 boards and 2 steals, the stat line is more well rounded than many games this year. Thoughts?

TheSP wrote:I'm a pretty disagreeable person and I can find nothing to disagree with here. Sorry, I'll try harder next game!

:thumb:

I typically find you quite agreeable - so I must disagree that you're a disagreeable person. Me on the other hand...

Shumway wrote:I haven't had a chance to watch the game yet, but how did everyone rate Wiggins' overall game. Clearly the missed FTs hurt - but with 6 boards and 2 steals, the stat line is more well rounded than many games this year. Thoughts?

I thought his compete level was outstanding and that he got better as the game went on. Was a little more aggressive than we've seen in the past. Another interesting thing was he brought the ball up court a few times and didn't look too bad in doing it. His shot needs a lot of work to become more dangerous. it was really fun for me to watch him go head to head with Leonard in the 2nd half. The Spurs substituted Leonard in as soon as Andrew came back in the game. It was clear they didn't want Wig going off on
Green or Ginobili.

Worst refereeing of the season tonight hands down. Especially disappointing considering the huge non-call on Stuckey against Ricky last game that easily could have changed the outcome of that game.

I'll give Sam some credit for throwing Tyus into the fire. It's not always pretty but this move bodes well long term and maybe even by the end of this season. Hopefully the Zach at point guard experiment can be officially put to rest.

Now it's time for Sam to have the same mindset with Bjelica. This team needs three point shooting badly and that could be the understatement of the year. Early on Bjelica looked to be the guy that could really help us. Now he looks like a lost puppy out there and I'm worried we have Shved Part II. This is where a good coach would give Belly some minutes with the starters, etc., and let Ricky feed him a couple times to get him going and hopefully regain the confidence he showed early in the year. Tonight he came in with Tyus, Bazz and company, played about 11 seconds, had a really nice transition dish (another skill being wasted) and then was yanked (but for good reason, that lineup was about to let the game get out of hand).

Oh well strong effort, hopefully they can build on it.