Game Report - Wolves v. Blazers

[Lipoli390]

A bigger crowd than the Orlando game, but still too many empty seats for a Saturday night game on a mild, dry December night.

I'm going to keep this one very short. The Wolves have more talent than the Blazers and the Wolves were playing at home. Yet we still lost. Same thing against Orlando the other night. What I saw tonight was one coach - Sam Mitchell -- being out-coached by the other.

The clearest example from tonight's game was Sam limiting KAT to 32 minutes on a night when KAT was in a zone and not in foul trouble. This was a game when KAY should have been on the floor for at ,east close to Wiggins' 40 minutes. Early 4th quarter I was calling for Sam to pair KAT with Dieng since Dieng was playing well. About 7 minutes later, Sam did just that, but it was too late. Then Sam took bafoonery to a new level when he subbed Prince for KAT on a defensive possession near the end of the game. That's when Lillard scored the clincher high off the glass. We'll never know whether KAT would have blocked that shot or simply altered the shot just enough to miss. But it was barely short of insane to sub Prince in for our best interior defender and shot blocker - especially knowing that the most likely attempt would be a drive by Lillard to the basket.

I mentioned after the Orlando game that Sam reminds me of Rambis with how slow he is during time outs figuring out what he wants his team to do. He's also Rambis like in how much time he spends sitting on the bench while opposing head coaches stand and pace, cajoling their players and working the officials. But the worst is watching this team play without any semblance of an offense. There is very little cutting and movement without the ball. Very few good screens are set.

Then, Sam did his typical condescending post-game pressed. Oh, and Sam accepted no accountability either - very Rambis like.

[Coolbreeze44]

Good point about the offense. And I'm going to tell you this much, Andrew still doesn't touch the ball on enough possessions. He's the type of player that should be the first option just about every time down the floor. But you're right, way too much standing around on offense and a lack of continuity. You can't blow twin 17 point leads against Portland and lose 2 games at home. Just ridiculous.

[WildWolf2813]

Am I the only one who feels like very little has changed overall with this organization? I can't even work up anger and frustration with the team anymore, just resignation.

[Mstermisty [enjin:6864008]]

To me Sam has "Smartest Guy in the Room" syndrome. Rambis had it, Kahn had it (Flynn--why!), and here's two other guys who have it: Gregg Popovich and Phil Jackson. But the difference between Pop and Phil compared to the others is that those two actually ARE the smartest guy in the room, and they know it, and they know everyone around them knows it.

The other day against the Clippers the Wolves were on a run and closed the gap to 4 points with 7 minutes left in the 3rd--they had all the momentum. All of a sudden out of nowhere Sam calls a timeout. After that timeout the Clippers went on a 7-0 run and the Wolves never recovered.

Tonight down 2 needing a stop Sam subs out KAT for Prince, and this is right after the unit on the court had played the best defensive possession of the game (right before KAT missed the second 3). So because the Blazers bring in a forward Sam subs out KAT, our best rim protector? Why? Oh wait here's why: Sam is smarter than everyone else. And that's why he can't admit he made a mistake in the presser.

Lets face it, 8-11 is about where this team should be, and at the end of the day the players lose games, and the players lost this one tonight by playing pitiful basketball from early in the 3rd quarter on. But good coaches do the little things that give their teams the best chance to win, even when the players aren't making plays.

Sam is a good guy overall and he makes an excellent assistant coach, but as a head coach he's playing checkers while his opposing coaches are playing chess.

We're surely stuck with him for the rest of the year (or are we?), but after that he has to go. But even more important, we have to find the right guy to take over.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Disappointed to hear about the loss, but good to see Kat bounced back. Looking forward to Pek coming back, he'll help us nail more 3 pointers.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Well, at least we change up the way we disappoint the home crowd. Against Orlando, we started out sluggishly and then clawed our way back in the game, but it wasn't enough. In this game, we started out great and then let Portland stampede us in the 2nd half. Diversity!

It's hard for me to point the finger at one or two particular moves or decisions by Mitchell and say it cost us the game. This game was lost when we were up 17 and then the Blazers went on to score on something like 14 out of their next 18 possessions. That process began with our starting unit on the floor, including Towns. We aren't going to win a lot of games letting the other team shoot over 50% from the field.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Well, at least we change up the way we disappoint the home crowd. Against Orlando, we started out sluggishly and then clawed our way back in the game, but it wasn't enough. In this game, we started out great and then let Portland stampede us in the 2nd half. Diversity!

It's hard for me to point the finger at one or two particular moves or decisions by Mitchell and say it cost us the game. This game was lost when we were up 17 and then the Blazers went on to score on something like 14 out of their next 18 possessions. That process began with our starting unit on the floor, including Towns. We aren't going to win a lot of games letting the other team shoot over 50% from the field.

Interestingly enough... Portland's two best players and leading scorers shot below 50%.
Al-Farouq Aminu has had his two best shooting games of the season in Minnesota:

7 - 12 fg (2 - 5 threes)
5 - 7 fg (2 - 2 threes)

He's 69 - 192 (35.9%) vs. everybody else.

[m4gor [enjin:6667447]]

To me Sam has "Smartest Guy in the Room" syndrome. Rambis had it, Kahn had it (Flynn--why!), and here's two other guys who have it: Gregg Popovich and Phil Jackson. But the difference between Pop and Phil compared to the others is that those two actually ARE the smartest guy in the room, and they know it, and they know everyone around them knows it.

The other day against the Clippers the Wolves were on a run and closed the gap to 4 points with 7 minutes left in the 3rd--they had all the momentum. All of a sudden out of nowhere Sam calls a timeout. After that timeout the Clippers went on a 7-0 run and the Wolves never recovered.

Tonight down 2 needing a stop Sam subs out KAT for Prince, and this is right after the unit on the court had played the best defensive possession of the game (right before KAT missed the second 3). So because the Blazers bring in a forward Sam subs out KAT, our best rim protector? Why? Oh wait here's why: Sam is smarter than everyone else. And that's why he can't admit he made a mistake in the presser.

Lets face it, 8-11 is about where this team should be, and at the end of the day the players lose games, and the players lost this one tonight by playing pitiful basketball from early in the 3rd quarter on. But good coaches do the little things that give their teams the best chance to win, even when the players aren't making plays.

Sam is a good guy overall and he makes an excellent assistant coach, but as a head coach he's playing checkers while his opposing coaches are playing chess.

We're surely stuck with him for the rest of the year (or are we?), but after that he has to go. But even more important, we have to find the right guy to take over.

Sam kept Gorgui on the floor instead of KAT because Gorgui is much much better PnR defender than KAT at this point. KAT is going to need more experience to get there. That is btw reason why Sam plays Dieng in 4th quarters over him against fast guards. Rubio sucks donkey balls in PnR defense so you have to play your best big PnR defender to have any chance.

My observations:
95-92 for POR: Rubio gets fouled very softly still cannot finish layup for AND1.
95-94 for POR: Rubio runs into the screen, gives Lillard all the time in the world to make wide open 3 pointer.
98-94 for POR: Rubio gives up backdoor for C.J. for easy 2. (btw. if kid does it in junior category, he gots earplug and is subbed)
100-94: Rubio cannot finish reverse layup for some reason. Do not ask me why he cannot bang that of glass.

That is like -10 points caused by our marvelous 15mil starting PG in 2 minutes span. Last 3 minutes our offense works like this. Rubio dribbles half court gives ball to Zach and goes to camp left corner, that is where he hurts the least as his defender cannot double anybody in 4v4.

Last layup by Lillard. Rubio forced Lillard to go right side and Gorgui should be there as a help defender. He went too far with Plumlee and could not get to the spot where he could challenge Lillard with his layup. Rubio still should be closer to Lillard and challenge him a bit. He just cannot as Lillard out runs him by 8-10 feet on 40 feet sprint.

[TAFKASP]

Kahn had it (Flynn--why!)

Pretty much agree with everything but the above. Can we stop ignoring the fact that Flynn's game was based on quickness and speed, both of which were sapped by his hip injury? Obviously not taking Curry over his protestations was a huge mistake, but damn it, stop pretending Flynn was garbage, take away Curry's athleticism and he wouldn't be able to get off 90% of the shots he takes either.

Cliffs: Bash Kahn for taking the wrong player(s) but quit shitting all over Flynn for the offense of having a serious injury.

[bleedspeed]

Good to hear Towns bounced back after a few subpair games. I am not worried about making the playoffs this year. I would love to get close to 30 wins though but no lose that pick. I am dreaming we win the lottery again.