Preseason Game 6: at Bucks (7 p.m., FSN)

[AQuintus]

I think he'll win ROY by a fair margin.

Probably, but only because he has high volume scoring numbers. He'll be mediocre to bad in pretty much everything else.

[MinotauroBigNog]

I think he'll win ROY by a fair margin.

Probably, but only because he has high volume scoring numbers. He'll be mediocre to bad in pretty much everything else.

Yea 18 points on 19 shots Isn't impressive in the slightest, but just because he will have more ppg than any other rookie he will win ROTY

[Klomp]

You guys are being too hard on some players, on JJ.Barea too, and i dont like the guy but...

The guy has 8 points 9 assists, he played well tonight.

8 points on 8 shots. That's not good.

[Nitroglycerin]

Great win. Love our Center depth. Will this get a replay tomorrow?
The true test would be the last game against Chicago.

[Feilong]

Time to dl the game. Looks like a good effort. But to be honest so far we played against bad teams.
Next game is against a good team, for the first time.

[urinesane]

Time to dl the game. Looks like a good effort. But to be honest so far we played against bad teams.
Next game is against a good team, for the first time.

I'll take it. Better than playing badly against bad teams.

[eyeteeth]

I think Bud is def getting play time. Lavine and GRIII will get D-league time. If we have to make two cuts I'd probalby lean towards Heslip and Hummell.

This is what Im thinking. A healthy Chase means Hummel is not needed so much. GR3 and LaVine will need to develop before getting regular mins. Rotation:

Rubio 34, Mo 14
Martin 28, Mo 6, Chase 14
Wiggins 28, Brewer 20
Thad 32, Bennett 10, Chase 6
Pek - 28, Dieng 20

Turiaf, Bazz and JJ make up bench.

I have a really hard time imagining LaVine going to the DLeague. Especially at first. There's too much marketing tied up in him. GR3, on the other hand, may need to do a stint there until we can clear up a spot for him.

One or more of JJ/Hummel and Brewer/Buddinger will be traded. The first two of those are the ones we probably want to get rid of, and the second two probably have more market value. Pairing one of each set in a trade seems likely, perhaps for not much coming back at all.

[Klomp]

Saunders made it clear Wednesday that he is not fundamentally opposed to the three-point shot, as some math-loving Wolves fans have contended on Twitter and Internet chat rooms.

“I’m just opposed to not making shots, whether it’s a two-pointer or a three-pointer,” he said. “Sometimes you can have guys taking three-point shots and maybe that’s out of their range and they shouldn’t be shooting those. A made shot is a made shot. If you’re not a three-point shooter, you can always work to expand your shot. We want to make sure we take good, open three-point shots.”
---
Before the game, Saunders was asked if he knew a three-point shot is worth more than a two-pointer.

“I’m aware of that,” he said dryly. “Yeah, I’m aware of that.”

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/280140222.html

[TwolvesFanRome]

I saw the previous match and i was impressed by Mo, AB and Rubio...

Against Bucks what information do you have obtain?

I did not see the match..!

I'm reading the boxscore: Shabazz was great!

can anyone give me quick impressions about the game played?

regards from Rome

[packforfreedom]

Some notes from me:

Budinger looks really really good. His lateral quickness might be better than ever, he got his hoops back which helps his jumper and he was suprisingly good on defense, too. Sure, Flip is showcasing him right now, but still, he's a joy to watch.

Pek still has some rust on him, but he's our best scorer atm.

Shabazz surprised me, he looks quicker and even passed the ball (!)

Barea must go. First I thought he could be less crazy than last season, but that changed really quickly.

That Giannis-has-guard-handles-thing is a joke.

I somehow like our steal-focused defense, it can really work against some teams, with weaker passing perimeter players.

Ricky did his lean in, low arcing jumper again. But normalizing his jumper will take time.

Thad Young is a good offensive player, but man Ilyasova could basically walk up the three point line and drain these open 3s.

LaVine is way to passive. He should try to drive sometimes and take advantage of his superior athletic.

[Grits n Gravy]

Great win. Love our Center depth. Will this get a replay tomorrow?
The true test would be the last game against Chicago.

Yep we are beyond set at center, love these two so dam much. Bud's first half was sensational and I though his defense was terrific. Great game for Bazz, you just got to love his drive and competitiveness.

[criteriado]

We played some bad D on the 4th, got lucky that they couldn't make an open 3.

Knight was taking some truly awful shots. Kidd has to put Wolters in the starting lineup, he is just so much better than Knight.

I loved Ricky tonight, that 6 minute stretch on the 3rd was glorious. I absolutely hated the two first shots that he took in the game..What the heck was that?

Shabazz was agressive but not outta control like he usually is, that was nice to see.

[Worm Guts]

Shabazz looks pretty good when he's making the basic passes and not forcing everything. Can he do that on a consistent basis? I don't know.

[criteriado]

Shabazz looks pretty good when he's making the basic passes and not forcing everything. Can he do that on a consistent basis? I don't know.

When he plays with Ricky, he plays with much more control and stops with the ball-hogging. Maybe he only plays well when he plays with players that he knows that are better than him?

[Devilzsidewalk]

hopefully Pek hits up that chameleon training next summer

[Krapinsky]

I didn't see much but a few minutes from the second quarter, but it sounds like Bazz played well at SG. If he can handle backup SG duties than that makes Barea and Brewer more expendable IMO.

[jpatrick]

I'm blown away by how much thinner Bazz looks, and as someone noted above, he didn't disrupte ball flow. Lavine will be a liability until he learns to take the ball to the basket at least occasionally. It feels like he's afraid to go in there and therefore to often settles for long jumpers. He might not get many minutes the first half of the season.

[rugbyrugger23]

Flip should call Toronto. They are over stocked at PF and thin at wing. Plus they have a TPE that can absorb Barea.

Barea for TPE + Bud or Brewer for one of their PF's.

Then flip can either move another small asset for a third PG or sign FA. Or he is fine with Rubio/Mo/LaVine depth.

[The J Rocka]

Shabazz looks pretty good when he's making the basic passes and not forcing everything. Can he do that on a consistent basis? I don't know.

When he plays with Ricky, he plays with much more control and stops with the ball-hogging. Maybe he only plays well when he plays with players that he knows that are better than him?

I've noticed that as well. When he's out with the second unit guys, he knows he's the best guy out there and the team needs buckets. When we have a controlled lead with Rubio & Co. he defers to them, playing like an actual team player.

[guest81]

I'd jump aboard the playoff bandwagon if the Wolves got this kind of cupcake schedule for the whole year. Bucks and Pacers twice, the 76ers, and the Thunder without Durant? A YMCA team could probably get a winning streak with that schedule.