Minnesota Sports Forum

There is a lot of talk about what the Wolves' roster doesn't have...players that aren't either too young or too old, bulk, sufficient number of reliable 3-point shooters, etc...but the final roster does appear to have something that maybe no other team can match. Length. 7 of the 15 players are 6'10" or taller, and the only two players shorter than 6'4" are not in the 10-man rotation. We're starting a front line that is 6-9, 6-11 (although most people have KG at 7-1) and 7-0, and our starting shooting guard is 6-8. That's a long starting team and a long overall roster.

Do you think any other team can match our height? Let's hope it eventually starts to show up in rebounding?

I've noticed that as well LST. I'm excited about it. But I temper that excitement knowing that good basketball skills normally trump height. Can we have both? Regardless....it's tough to coach more height out of a team. Hopefully they can teach these guys to play and we'll have something.

Its funny, I remember always watching the Wolves try to match taller teams with more athletic smaller players because they of course couldn't sign the best players. Now that smaller, hyper athletic players are all the rage the Wolves finally have a long team.

I know, I know, you can't teach length. On the other hand you can't teach Rubio to be an efficient shooter either.

Strength, girth, and tenacity are far more important than length when it comes to rebounding in my opinion.

Strength is still an issue for this team, especially at Center where I expect KAT and Dieng to struggle at times. KG and Bjelly really don't make up for it either. I have hope that KAT eventually becomes a plus defender, but I don't think it will be this year.

Q12543 wrote:Strength, girth, and tenacity are far more important than length when it comes to rebounding in my opinion.

Strength is still an issue for this team, especially at Center where I expect KAT and Dieng to struggle at times. KG and Bjelly really don't make up for it either. I have hope that KAT eventually becomes a plus defender, but I don't think it will be this year.

Yeah, I agree. Rebounding and post defense could use more bulk. I sense that this team is going to struggle to rebound. I sense that the length may be helpful in defense outside the post though (along with proper rotation), and perimeter defense has been my biggest frustration for a long time. The Milwaukee game was only one game, but I have never seen a Wolves' team give up so few uncontested jumpers.

Pekovic is actually the PERFECT fit for what the frontline rotation needs. While he himself is an average rebounder for a Center, our team rebounding has always been excellent with him on the floor because he seals guys off so well, therefore allowing others to get the rebound. He's also our best offensive rebounder and post-defender.

Seriously, if he were in peak form and healthy, with Towns backing him up, I'd pencil us in for damn near 40 wins.

Q12543 wrote:Pekovic is actually the PERFECT fit for what the frontline rotation needs. While he himself is an average rebounder for a Center, our team rebounding has always been excellent with him on the floor because he seals guys off so well, therefore allowing others to get the rebound. He's also our best offensive rebounder and post-defender.

Seriously, if he were in peak form and healthy, with Towns backing him up, I'd pencil us in for damn near 40 wins.

Yeah, completely agree. I used to be a Pek detractor as to defense, but I turned around on him early last season before he got hurt. As I see him walking around with absolutely no limp at all, I still hold out hope for 15-20 minutes of his 307 pounds (yes, the media guide has finally given up on saying he's under 3 bills!) starting in December.

Hmm...this topic sounds familiar...

Maybe this is a good place to mention I really see the idea of Wiggins at SG as a good thing for his development on both ends of the ball. He will be playing more minutes guarding SGs with Prince starting next to him and he will have to be more engaged guarding quicker players. On offense he has to assert himself more and handle the ball.

Interestingly the guys outside of the rotation right now are the most shortest and likely poorest defenders in Tyus and Miller. Length and or defense is what the 10 top guys have going for them. Bazz at SF doesn't give you length but he give you strength all out play and throws himself around giving some edge to the team that lacks players in general that can dish it out. Overall it's a pretty tall top 10 rotation.

My 48 wins has a bit of Pek in it. I think he can come off the bench, with Dieng and/or KAT seeing a few more minutes at PF. And both those guys would seem to be a good fit with Pek, too, on both ends of the court.

And yes, Wiggins at SG could be a stroke of genius. Zach at PG is a byproduct of that move, but Wiggins starting at SG outweighs Zach backing up Rubio (especially with the supporting cast Zach will have).

I wonder if our bench unit will wind up invoking memories of Hubbie Brown's bench at Memphis...

Tim, You are putting way too much stock in Wiggins' move to SG. That doesn't fundamentally change who he is as a player. I'm not saying it's a bad move, but "stroke of genius" is way overdone.