Minnesota Sports Forum

Conley: C
Clark: D
Ant: F
Jaden: C
Naz: F
Donte: B+
Naw: B
TSJ: A
Dilly: C
Garza: C

I was pleased with what we saw from DDV. I am sure he was on a 24 minute restriction. Unfortunately, he probably will not play tomorrow, along with ANT being suspended.

You forgot to grade the refs! I think that may have been our most one-sided officiated game we've had this season...

Im convinced if a laker RKO a ref out of nowhere they still wouldn't get a technical.

So many comments in the GDT I agree with, especially Kek's and Cool's comments about Ant. Yes. he is a nitwit and he does miss Rudy's screening out there. And yes, I'm also looking forward to seeing how they look without him against a woeful Utah team. I mentioned in the Ant 2.0 thread yesterday how his mega-dribbling slow-walk halfcourt style just doesn't mesh with this young group that just wants to run. And this was painfully obvious last night. How much more fun was it to watch our offense after Ant got thrown out (even with the missed shots)! Loved all the moving without the ball, cutting, ball movement, and aggressive drives to the basket...so much more fun to see the early offense, instead of watching our high scorer dribbling and probing for the first 20 seconds of the clock. TJ's offense gets unlocked when Ant isn't out there.

All that said, i don't Ant deserves an F in this game. 18-6-5 on 50% shooting with NO turnovers is at least a C game. If we're going to grade Ant on his intelligence, we would give him an F every night. He's a nitwit, but he's our nitwit I guess. And 18 efficient points in only 25 minutes is pretty good. I've got some really good seats for the Suns game down here Sunday, and as much as I want to see how we look Ant-less against Utah, I want to see Ant back and playing well sunday.

And yeah, great to have Donte back, and I also give him a B+. And I think we all give TJ an A.

Apparently ANT apologized to the team after the game, and that he has to be better. Will this really mark a new way forward for ANT? Seems unlikely, but there is always hope. "Rebellions are built on hope..."

60WinTim wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2025 12:44 pm Apparently ANT apologized to the team after the game, and that he has to be better. Will this really mark a new way forward for ANT? Seems unlikely, but there is always hope. "Rebellions are built on hope..."

Ant is a good team mate. I can appreciate his frustration as he watches guys like SGA and Doncic grift their way into drawing fouls while Ant only gets them the old-fashioned way. He almost never goes into any sort of unnatural shot motion, so when he feels a lot of contact on drives to the bucket that he works his ass off for and doesn't get a call while someone like Austin Reaves jumps sideways into a trailing defender or SGA goes into his shot motion after hooking a guy's arm it probably is pretty infuriating (just as it is to us fans).

It's one of the reasons some fans like the college game a lot better than the NBA. You just don't see the foul-baiting in college games. I'm not sure it happens in any other professional league around the world either. It's like this unique feature (or bug) to the NBA game.

Still, he hurt his team last night and don't be surprised if we lose tonight. The rookies are fun to watch, but they are still rookies. Tonight is a big test for Jaden and Naz. They need to step up after a lackluster showing last night.

At some point... Edwards has to grift, too.

Make it his offseason focus.




[Note: To his credit, he's found ways to improve every season and I think his grifting for fouls is his next project.]

I agree with Abe that Ant could get to his ceiling quicker if he learns to grift...we may not like it, but it's better than having opponents get calls we don't get.

And I agree with Q that Ant is a good teammate...no, he's a great teammate. He cheers for his teammates from the bench enthusiastically even when he's having a bad game, and he enjoys talking about his teammates' successes post-game more than his own. Apparently he is universally loved in the locker room. That said, while we love the fact he apologized to his teammates, he shouldn't have put himself in that position in the first place...it's immature. I'm not too worried about him missing the Utah game...they're terrible, and it might even make the game more fun watching the kids run. And a day off might be good for his minor injuries. But there is some talk he may be suspended another game for throwing the ball into the stands, and I was hoping to see him and Rudy (and maybe Ju) against the Suns. Let's hope it's only one game.

Serious question. How is Ant supposed to contain his emotions as a competitor when he is a victim of multiple missed and obvious calls every game?

I honestly don’t blame him. The gulf between what constitutes a foul between Ant and the likes of Shai and Austin Reaves is ridiculous. It’s no wonder he gets frustrated.

AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2025 2:41 pm At some point... Edwards has to grift, too.

Make it his offseason focus.




[Note: To his credit, he's found ways to improve every season and I think his grifting for fouls is his next project.]

Since January 1 (26 games played), he's averaged 8.8 FTAs per game, which is 4th during that timeframe behind Shai, Embiid, and Giannis. And he's doing that without grifting.

I think the key is that the floor has opened up more for him so he can get downhill more often rather than being a floor spacer for a Julius Randle-centric offense.

That doesn't negate his frustration, as again, those fouls involve real contact because he's so damn strong and athletic. Trae Young's 8.1 FTAs per game on the other hand.....That's the frustrating part for him.