Minnesota Sports Forum

Tonight, there were 3 instances where Derrick looked extremely useful and could benefit this team. No not as a SF, and with scarce minutes, probably not as a PF either, but actually as a backup 5.

In preseason, what was he doing best? Posting up, and that was with the loss of weight. He'd post up a smaller guy because he'd get switched up on him, and just get to the rack. He'd get fouled (a lot) and have several and 1's. Tonight, when the shot wasn't falling (and it didn't fall), he got the ball, posted up in the paint and made 2 shots. That's one area of his game that a) can be effective on this team and b) is something he was EXTREMELY comfortable doing at Arizona where he was doing more posting up. The highlights we saw of him at Arizona involved him in the paint, not hoisting shot after shot. The game against OKC we saw more of this.

So my theory is this.

When Love is shifting over to the 5, why not make Derrick in that lineup the 4, but use him the way you use Pekovic? Love's gonna do what he usually does, but instead of Derrick running to the three point line and waiting, you can have him do what Pek does. Either set a high screen or get the ball down low. At least we know he can create contact. It can give the team two things: 1) much needed confidence for Derrick. If the shots aren't gonna fall, start over and work your confidence back up while doing something we know he can do, and it also gives Pekovic much needed rest without thinking nobody can pick up the slack. It also keeps him engaged in the game knowing that there's actual plays that can be designed for him when plans A and B (pass it to a guy named Kevin) doesn't work.

It's something I hope Adelman notices in the film because our bench needs the help and I think Williams needs to be the guy we saw at Arizona instead of this tweener we want him to be.

that....that actually isn't a bad idea. what about on defense though?

Williams would likely get matched up by the other team's PF anyway. I think it would be a no brainer to do, but it's still up to Adelman.

With all due respect wild, i dont think that will work. Thats not derricks strength at the nba level. He played center in college and often times was the strongest and tallest player. He is an undersized pf at the pro level. Yes, he has some success at the post vs smaller defenders, but he wont have success playing in the interior againts 4 and 5's.

D-Will has guard the other team's center many times in the past

You have to take a moment and think and watch what pek's role on offense is. Sealing off defenders. Carving out space. Constant battling for position down low. Can derrick do that againts inside players in the league? I dont see how that can work.

Minus the Derrick Williams part, and maybe that's coming yet coming off the back spasms, but it seems like Adelman is toying with the idea a little with Pekovic being the key player with the 2nd unit. If Rick could stagger Pek's minutes somehow so that he could run a pick and roll/pop with Barea as ball handler, Cunninham popping or Pek rolling, and Budinger spotting up in the corner or coming off a screen.

Barea and Cunningham hopefully aren't as bad as they've shown this season then Budinger will be a welcomed addition. Obviously it's too big of a leap to say that Budinger will turn the Wolves into a contender, but I don't think it's a stretch to say what we've seen this season out of the starting 5 is playoff worthy. If the goal is just the playoffs the bench doesn't need to be better than the opponents, they just need to be able to hold a lead/play even. Budinger and Turiaf should at least swing the Wolves closer to even against most teams,

The way to use Derrick Williams correctly is to trade him with Shved and Shabbazz for somebody who can contribute.

I'm not ready to dump Shabazz, but if we can get a contributor for DWill lets move him. I am starting to miss having Ridnour on this team. He would have been perfect off the bench for this team or playing with the Kevin's.