Wolves @ 76ers

[TwolvesFanRome]

ARRRROOOOOOO!!!

So happy for the win!! It means .500!!

However we have the ability not to close games like no one else...

Do you have a reason for this? Do you think it is physical or mental?

[winforlose]

ARRRROOOOOOO!!!

So happy for the win!! It means .500!!

However we have the ability not to close games like no one else...

Do you have a reason for this? Do you think it is physical or mental?

100% mental. We stop running our offense, play hero ball, turn it over, and just break down in the late fourth. Maybe it is a function of slowing it down with a lead and not using the pace. Maybe it is a pressure issue as other teams get into crunch mode and make things more difficult. Maybe it is a money issue, Ant trying to earn the bonus (rose rule,) on his upcoming max. We know Dlo wants a big bag on his next deal. Also KAT has an ear to the media and message boards at all times. His reputation of not being consistent in big games makes KAT susceptible to hero ball to self validate. Whatever the case may be, these guys lost an easily won playoff series to Memphis by melting down in the fourth, and have continued that traction this year.

Easy example: Someone on here posted that we didn’t bring the ball past the free throw line in the last 6 minutes of the game. Before that we had scored something like 48 points in the paint. When you go from the paint to the mid range and contested 3 you have significantly lower percentages. Also worth noting that we took the full 24 at least twice, for a pace team that is bad sign.

[shrink]

However we have the ability not to close games like no one else...

Do you have a reason for this? Do you think it is physical or mental?

I’ve been thinking about this (oh, for about 15 years), and two major reasons I see are:

1. We have never been a good defensive team, and defense is more reliable than offense. A team can run good offense, get a good shot off, and sometimes it just doesn’t go in. On the other hand, there is less “lucky bounce” chances with defense. A solid defense makes all the opponents’ shots harder.

2. At the end of games, the NBA rules are built to put the ball in the hands of your superstar guard, and have him go get you buckets (or draw fouls). For years, MIN never had that player. Our stars were Kevin Love and then Karl-Anthony Towns. Maybe Ant can become that guy, but he’s not there yet, so he (and the rest), need to play that same unselfish, ball movement offense late in games that they try to use for the first 40 minutes.

I suppose I’m hardwired so that the first place I look is roster construction. Another point of attack defender would massively improve the end game defense, and if Ant makes the next leap, it would improve end of game offense. DLo is rarely the guy for that. You could say it’s physical, you could say it’s mental. But to me, our roster construction with Ant and Gobert helps me see a better future for closing games than we have had in a long time.

[SSUBluesman]

ARRRROOOOOOO!!!

So happy for the win!! It means .500!!

However we have the ability not to close games like no one else...

Do you have a reason for this? Do you think it is physical or mental?

100% mental. We stop running our offense, play hero ball, turn it over, and just break down in the late fourth. Maybe it is a function of slowing it down with a lead and not using the pace. Maybe it is a pressure issue as other teams get into crunch mode and make things more difficult. Maybe it is a money issue, Ant trying to earn the bonus (rose rule,) on his upcoming max. We know Dlo wants a big bag on his next deal. Also KAT has an ear to the media and message boards at all times. His reputation of not being consistent in big games makes KAT susceptible to hero ball to self validate. Whatever the case may be, these guys lost an easily won playoff series to Memphis by melting down in the fourth, and have continued that traction this year.

Easy example: Someone on here posted that we didn’t bring the ball past the free throw line in the last 6 minutes of the game. Before that we had scored something like 48 points in the paint. When you go from the paint to the mid range and contested 3 you have significantly lower percentages. Also worth noting that we took the full 24 at least twice, for a pace team that is bad sign.

Unfortunately I was unable to catch most of the 2nd half but this was the big thing I noticed in the ORL game. Everyone's sharing the ball (well, except for Ant to Rudy), making the extra pass, etc. and the offense was generating open looks and a large lead. 4th Q hits and all of a sudden D'LO is shot hunting, then Ant, then all of a sudden our massive lead is shrunk as the offense dries up. There was another game earlier in the season (can't remember which exactly) where KAT played hero ball into OT and after the game said something to the effect of "I thought it was on me to close the game out".

However we have the ability not to close games like no one else...

Do you have a reason for this? Do you think it is physical or mental?

I’ve been thinking about this (oh, for about 15 years), and two major reasons I see are:

1. We have never been a good defensive team, and defense is more reliable than offense. A team can run good offense, get a good shot off, and sometimes it just doesn’t go in. On the other hand, there is less “lucky bounce” chances with defense. A solid defense makes all the shots harder.

2. At the end of games, the NBA rules are built to put the ball in the hands of your superstar guard, and have him go get you buckets (or draw fouls). For years, MIN never had that player. Our stars were Kevin Love and then Karl-Anthony Towns. Maybe Ant can become that guy, but he’s not there yet, so he (and the rest), need to play that unselfish, ball movement offense late in games that they try to use for the first 40 minutes.

I suppose I’m hardwired so that the first place I look is roster construction. Another point of attack defender would massively improve the end game defense, and if Ant makes the next leap, it would improve end of game offense. DLo is rarely the guy for that. You could say it’s physical, you could say it’s mental. But to me, our roster construction with Ant and Gobert helps me see a better future for closing games than we have had in a long time.

And before Love and KAT we had KG, whose team's playoff results were completely different when our #2 went from Wally to Sam. If this team is going to be a true title contender then Ant will have to take that step and not be getting stripped clean with less than 20 seconds left in the game.

This teams should (eventually) easily be able to draw up good late game shots with Ant's athleticism and slashing, Gobert's length and ability to finish lobs around the rim, KAT providing spacing and elite shooting, etc.

On a related note I think KAT going back to using the step back 3 would help his slashing from the perimeter as it's the best chance he has of being able to cleanly beat his man to the rim.

[TimberKat]

ARRRROOOOOOO!!!

This teams should (eventually) easily be able to draw up good late game shots with Ant's athleticism and slashing, Gobert's length and ability to finish lobs around the rim, KAT providing spacing and elite shooting, etc.

On a related note I think KAT going back to using the step back 3 would help his slashing from the perimeter as it's the best chance he has of being able to cleanly beat his man to the rim.

Whatever happen to a coach call a time out late in the game and come back out with a drawn up play? Is that becoming a lost art too? Or our players are so dumb that they can't execute. Finch should had called a play and replace DLo with JMac in one of those late game time outs. Maybe it's just too early in the season to play that card.

[Dewey]

These concerns become more real as you realize game but game… you still have no team leader aka PG.

The Viking have suffered for decades because they have failed to address QB unlike the perennial winners. You just have to have a PG (that guy) that runs the team

[Note30]

These concerns become more real as you realize game but game… you still have no team leader aka PG.

The Viking have suffered for decades because they have failed to address QB unlike the perennial winners. You just have to have a PG (that guy) that runs the team

Ideally thats who you trade picks for, not a center who can't effectively do the same job. There's one center in the league who can do that and it's Jokic. That's the whole list.

[winforlose]

These concerns become more real as you realize game but game… you still have no team leader aka PG.

The Viking have suffered for decades because they have failed to address QB unlike the perennial winners. You just have to have a PG (that guy) that runs the team

Ideally thats who you trade picks for, not a center who can't effectively do the same job. There's one center in the league who can do that and it's Jokic. That's the whole list.

Rudy was brought in to fix our defense, improve our rebounding, and to be a PNR king. They bet on Dlo playing better than he is, especially in a contract year. Bad outcome or not, it was still a reasonable move.

[younggunsmn]

This was one of those games that was Exhibit A of what I hate about the modern NBA and superstar-officiating.
Embiid was clearly gassed, was not playing well, just putting his head down and plodding into people.
And got obscenely rewarded for it.
At least half of his free throws were undeserved, with little to no contact.
And he hit players in the face clearly on 3 occasions and no call.
I thought Finch should have challenged the first one where they called a foul on Gobert, it was blatant and obvious.

That said, Philly missing 3 key starters, this is one we should have won. And almost didn't and blew another 20 point lead.
We are only going to win the games this year where we have hot shooting or the other team is ice cold from outside, because that defense is still some kind of broken.
Would not have known that was shake milton and Melton out there and not James Harden and Tyrese Maxey.
Thank goodness we were able to hide someone on old man PJ Tucker or probably would have lost.

[younggunsmn]

These concerns become more real as you realize game but game… you still have no team leader aka PG.

The Viking have suffered for decades because they have failed to address QB unlike the perennial winners. You just have to have a PG (that guy) that runs the team

Ideally thats who you trade picks for, not a center who can't effectively do the same job. There's one center in the league who can do that and it's Jokic. That's the whole list.

Rudy was brought in to fix our defense, improve our rebounding, and to be a PNR king. They bet on Dlo playing better than he is, especially in a contract year. Bad outcome or not, it was still a reasonable move.

They could have upgraded D-Lo if they hadn't given up way way too much for Rudy (and probably should have done that first just to take some of those chips off the negotiating table).

[winforlose]

Ideally thats who you trade picks for, not a center who can't effectively do the same job. There's one center in the league who can do that and it's Jokic. That's the whole list.

Rudy was brought in to fix our defense, improve our rebounding, and to be a PNR king. They bet on Dlo playing better than he is, especially in a contract year. Bad outcome or not, it was still a reasonable move.

They could have upgraded D-Lo if they hadn't given up way way too much for Rudy (and probably should have done that first just to take some of those chips off the negotiating table).

I said before during the summer that they both overpaid for Rudy and gave Dlo huge leverage over them. That salary slot is insanely valuable to us. I don’t need Dlo upgraded as much as I need him to do the small things better. He is still capable of giving us what we need, but he needs to accept his role and especially PLAY DEFENSE.

[Statlanta]

Game summary.

[winforlose]

Game summary.

That is half of it. The other half is him hitting Rudy in the face then getting free throws as a reward.

[shrink]

Michael Grady had a great line during this game. It was like ..

“Joel Embiid complaining to the refs, the one time they don’t say he was fouled.”

Exactly what I was thinking! I’m going to like this guy!

[A1FromDay1]

These concerns become more real as you realize game but game… you still have no team leader aka PG.

The Viking have suffered for decades because they have failed to address QB unlike the perennial winners. You just have to have a PG (that guy) that runs the team

Ideally thats who you trade picks for, not a center who can't effectively do the same job. There's one center in the league who can do that and it's Jokic. That's the whole list.

And, apparently, Luka Garza

[TimberKat]

Game summary.

That is half of it. The other half is him hitting Rudy in the face then getting free throws as a reward.

Towns performing the half Wuxi Finger Hold - It's deadly man.

Watch on YouTube

[WolfAddict]

Towns performing the half Wuxi Finger Hold - It's deadly man.

Watch on YouTube