Minnesota Sports Forum

StarTrib: Before practice, Flip gave every player a piece of paper and a pencil. He asked them...to put down (anonymously) how many minutes they felt they deserved each game. Then he added it up. "We had 380 minutes", Saunders said. "The game is only 240 minutes. So I told 'em I had to figure a way to cut 140 minutes."

Not surprising, but just another reason I like Flip. It's a fun exercise, but also might help players understand when they're not getting the minutes they want. I wonder what Robbie and Glen put down on that paper.

Assuming everyone is healthy, I am seeing Glen and Zach in a tie most nights, and Robbie And Ronny only getting minutes if something happens to one of the PFs or Cs during the game. And this 10-man rotation:

PG: Rubio, Mo
SG: Martin, Bud
SF: Wiggins, Brewer
PF: Young, Bennett
C: Pek, Dieng

An adequate starting five, although rebounding challenged, and a very good second unit. You may have noticed that I have left out one name: Shabazz Muhammad. Because I just don't know where he fits in. He frankly wasn't very good in pre-season, but then really surprised me in his final game...for the first time ever, he looked like he could be more than just a black hole scorer. With JJ gone, I think he is Flip's biggest challenge right now in terms of how he uses him. I suspect that Bazz put 35 minutes down on that piece of paper, and Flip is thinking he can only use him in situations where matchups dictate it. I'm guessing this is the biggest disconnect right now, and I'm hoping it doesn't become a clubhouse issue.

It will be interesting.

I think Flip is going to let match-ups be the key on who plays. I think you will see nights where someone plays and the next they don't. It could be match-ups or just 3 games in 4 nights situation. I think he will tell everyone to be ready, but going into the game he will let the players know who will play. I think Rubio/Wiggins/Young play every night. I can see Pek, Martin, and Williams sitting some games. That is where he will work in the others like Shabazz and LaVine.

I am pretty sure that is what he explained to JJ and he wanted more. I really liked what I saw from Shabazz at SG. I think he is better off starting then coming off the bench. I could see him going from DNP to starter on back to back nights. It should be fun. I think Flip will try some different things. He can do what he wants and really is not answering to anyone at this point.

Don't know if this is the for sure inactives for tomorrow, but this was tweeted yesterday:

Andy Greder @twolvesnow · 15h 15 hours ago
#Twolves official roster to start season lists Glenn Robinson III and Ronny Turiaf as inactive. Coach Flip Saunders said everyone's healthy.

60WinTim wrote:Don't know if this is the for sure inactives for tomorrow, but this was tweeted yesterday:

Andy Greder @twolvesnow · 15h 15 hours ago
#Twolves official roster to start season lists Glenn Robinson III and Ronny Turiaf as inactive. Coach Flip Saunders said everyone's healthy.

Ronny is a good second row choice if both centers are healthy. If something happens to Pek or Dieng, during the game, AB has the length and bulk to defend at center, although not ideal of course.

60WinTim wrote:Don't know if this is the for sure inactives for tomorrow, but this was tweeted yesterday:

Andy Greder @twolvesnow · 15h 15 hours ago
#Twolves official roster to start season lists Glenn Robinson III and Ronny Turiaf as inactive. Coach Flip Saunders said everyone's healthy.

thank goodness we were able to keep that roster spot for GR3

alexftbl8181 wrote:

60WinTim wrote:Don't know if this is the for sure inactives for tomorrow, but this was tweeted yesterday:

Andy Greder @twolvesnow · 15h 15 hours ago
#Twolves official roster to start season lists Glenn Robinson III and Ronny Turiaf as inactive. Coach Flip Saunders said everyone's healthy.

thank goodness we were able to keep that roster spot for GR3

I know. He looks like the second coming of Ryan Gomes with more hops. Absolute HoFer.

I think a 10-man rotation makes sense and it's not too hard to identify the top 10. GR3 and Shabazz will eventually get playing time due to injuries. I think the issue is that we have an abundance of wings without great handles, which puts a ton of pressure on Rubio and Williams to make plays off the dribble.

Bazz and Lavine will probably get sporadic minutes until the inevitable injuries. Lavine possible more than Bazz, but somebody else mentioned Bazz possible getting some surprise starts on a back to back.

the question I have, how many minutes does each player in that rotation get? I would guess that of the starters, Martin gets the least.

I think there will be a lot of tinkering earlier on. I still believe Bazz sees himself as a 2 and if Flip believes it too in certain instances he will get some pt particularly on the 2nd unit.