When does Flip start getting ripped?

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

When does Flip start getting ripped? Last in 3 pointers attempted. Even worse then the Lakers whose coach said that 3's are overrated.

Last in defense. Even behind the LAKERS AND 76ERS! They don't have Love, Dieng plays more, and they have Wiggins, whats the excuse?

Dieng at the 4? Why? Jim P was smart enough to point out that's it's a whole different gameplan and offensive sets and being in different places at the power forward spot. Dieng has no clue how to play the PF spot when he's clearly a center.

JJ had better stats then Mo has so far this year IN LESS MINUTES! Somehow Mo has managed to be worse then JJ was last year.

Bennett looks to have zero game outside of long twos. Is this really how Flip want's him to develop?

The offense and defense looks way more clueless then it does a talent issue. Maybe Flip's defenses looked so good because he got KG and one the best defensive rosters of all time?

[bleedspeed]

I think Flip is getting a bit of pass for not having Young or Rubio.

Pek is the guy that has been a huge disappointment. If he gets on track like he usually does in January we need to try and unload him. As I stated during preseason we really need length at PF. Hummel and GR3 do nothing for us.

Shabazz is preforming better then I thought. I would love to see him start a few games at SG. As passive as Wiggins is he and Shabazz might work together.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Good questions and points, Alex. The answer to your question is that Flip is already getting ripped on many Wolves' boards...but not by me. I still find myself thinking several times a game "Man, am I ever glad Rick is gone and Flip is here". Don't underestimate the impact the loss of Ricky has had on this team. Has Scotty Brooks all of a sudden become a much worse coach? Of course not. He's trying to patch things together after losing his two best players, just like Flip is trying to patch things together without the two best players (by far) that Adelman had on his roster last year.

Before Ricky went down, I was quite impressed with this team. We took two great teams (Memphis and Chicago) down to the wire, and beat a couple other teams that I think we are better than. Still, the Brooklyn win on the road was impressive. But since Ricky went down, the team has been terrible. But I think it's wrong to put that on Flip. You don't replace your two best players with a bunch of rookies and expect to be competitive. It's not Flip's fault that Mo has never been a good defender or distributor, and that Zach is 19 and struggling to learn the NBA game. I agree with you that starting Gorgui at PF was a mistake, but what options did he have...a hobbling AB or Robbie Hummel.

Flip is getting ripped, but I think undeservedly. One point I do agree with you, though, is how he is developing AB. I understand that Bennett is not completely healthy, but I also don't like how Flip is using him in his offense. I am so tired of AB getting the ball at the top of the key and either launching a long 2 or immediately looking to pass to the wing on his left, and then drifting into the lane. It's so predictable, and I think that is on both Flip and AB. Flip needs to find ways to establish AB offensively in other ways...more like the way he was used at UNLV. I think they will get there together, but it sure has been disappointing so far.

I appreciate Flip's engagement and enthusiasm on the sidelines, and I don't miss the old man scowling and sitting on the bench.

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

Let's not begin to compare the losses of Rubio and Thad to Durant and Westbrook. Even so, the Thunder haven't looked near as bad as the Wolves have. I don't think there's much of a different in talent between the two teams either

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Let's not begin to compare the losses of Rubio and Thad to Durant and Westbrook. Even so, the Thunder haven't looked near as bad as the Wolves have. I don't think there's much of a different in talent between the two teams either

I disagree. I'm not saying that Ricky and Love equals Durant and Westbrook, because they clearly don't. I'm just saying that the impact of losing two players who are far and away your best players is similar, not to mention Flip has had to deal with losing this year's starting PF also. And I don't agree that OkC hasn't looked as bad as the Wolves. Their schedule has been much easier than the Wolves' schedule...more cupcakes and no grueling 12-day road trip...and still they are only 1/2 game ahead of us in the standings. OkC is terrible right now as are the Wolves, but neither Brooks or Saunders is a bad coach...they're just dealing with incredible adversity.

[Carlos Danger]

I was certainly hoping for better defense this year. It is still early. It's a new coach, new system, new players, young players. I'm willing to give that time as long as there is progress that we can hang our hats on. Last night they didn't quit. After another crappy start, they played them even in Q3 and won Q4. I'll hang my hat on that knowing:

* Dallas has been home for I think 4 games in a row
* I believe Dallas was completely healthy except a backup PG
* MN had been on the road for what - a month?
* MN was missing it's starting PG, PF and back up C. And their starting C was hurt during the game

Let's get home. Get Thad back. And look at some film to see where the break downs are occurring. I think the team is better than they played the last few games. It was a brutal road trip and the loss of Rubio was obviously demoralizing.

[BloopOracle]

lmao we are starting 2 rookies, down our best player and our 2nd best player can't even walk to mid court without getting winded, on our longest road trip in years and trying to experiment with 10+ players trying to find the right combination. I don't have a single problem with Flip so far

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

lmao we are starting 2 rookies, down our best player and our 2nd best player can't even walk to mid court without getting winded, on our longest road trip in years and trying to experiment with 10+ players trying to find the right combination. I don't have a single problem with Flip so far

Very concisely and accurately stated, bloop...I couldn't agree more. This is an opinion board with a lot of very good basketball minds, so I expect discussion about decisions the coach makes. But circumstances need to be considered before completely ripping him (unless you're on the rubechat board :) )

BTW, despite how well JJ has been playing in Dallas, I don't rip Flip for trading him and ultimately leaving us with a problem at PG. Flip got to watch "Bad JJ" all last season, and even though JJ played well in preseason, he didn't really believe (as I didn't ) that JJ could change. But I'm now convinced that JJ was a victim of Adelman's system and our poor bench. He didn't jack up wild threes for us preseason and he isn't for Dallas, but I sense that he thought he had to last year...or maybe even Rick was asking him to. I don't know. In retrospect, JJ playing like he is this year would have been a better option for us then Mo or Zach. But Flip went out to get Mo because he didn't like what he saw in JJ last year, and with three healthy PG's on the roster, there just wasn't going to be room for JJ. Barea wasn't in our long-term plans and he is perfect coming off the bench and playing well for Dallas...it was a good move for both JJ and the Wolves, even though it doesn't fell like it now.

[Brandon BassHole [enjin:8183321]]

Im guessing you wanted a championship this year? lol, This isnt a 30+ win team and get used to it man, It dosnt matter who coaches or GMs. You wanted to keep JJ? he had one year left anyways, and this team dosnt need him this year because this team isnt making the playoffs.

Flip A+ for getting rid of love and JJ

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Tough to judge given the circumstances. A number of us have certainly ripped his tactics in terms of the lack of 3-point shots, but it's still early in the season.