Fan Enthusiasm (or lack of it)

[Klomp]

Just doing a quick schedule comparison from last year's to this year's...

We are currently three wins behind the 2021-22 pace. At this point, we were in the middle of a 10-1 stretch that spanned roughly three weeks. However, I had forgotten that from Mar. 21 on, we went just 5-6 immediately following the 10-1 run to the end of the regular season. I'm hoping a more steady climb will put us into a better position going into the postseason.

[Klomp]

I know nothing about psychology, and I know a little about basketball, but last year this team was built around aggressive defense which means more steals, fastbreaks and dunks. While this year this team is more about structure, discipline, effort. Also we traded our two best 3pt shooters: Beasley and DLo, while Towns is down with injury.

Basically we decreased use of two major elements which give fans excitement: dunks and three point shots. Instead TC brought here methodical, robotic Gobert. Plus Edwards, Gobert and Towns were in a bad physical shape, they didn't move well, didn't dunk much in first games. Plus sometimes chemistry and effort were lacking. So I understand why fans can call this team ugly and weird. Take for example SAC: they play fast, they shoot a ton of threes, it is easier to root for them (and they don't have injuries). Meanwhile MIN is weird team, that looking for new identity.

I think this may actually be getting to a big root of the enthusiasm.

It's easy to get fans hyped with personalities like Beverley and Vanderbilt, and to a lesser extent guys like Beasley. I think that's probably why fans immediately attached more to Minott than Moore. Connelly comes in with a more business-like approach. Come in and do your job. Those personalities were replaced by more serious veterans like Gobert, Conley, Rivers and Anderson.

The funny thing is, I think that's a better fit with most of the younger guys. Jaden, Naz and Jordan all seem much more serious in nature with a business-like approach. Ant has shown in each of his first three seasons that he can thrive in any environment.

Getting back to this point, something I forgot to mention is that I think this resonates with many because it also kind of reflects the bigger personality that drew fans to Kevin Garnett in the 1990s. So breaking up that group felt like ripping up a piece of their childhood and early fandom, I bet.