Nets & Wolves - 3/10/23

[Zonarosa]

This game was lost at the free throw line.

[shrink]

This team…

[Devilzsidewalk]

Ant can get so selfish on offense at times. He just will not stop trying to drive through strong side help digging down on the ball. Turns it over all the time. Hopefully that can be KAT soon instead of Jaden so the help has to make a tougher decision.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I'm still not on board with Gobert being on the floor when the other team goes 5 out. He had a great game overall, but when it came down to it in OT with Claxon fouled out, Brooklyn was able to space the floor and get a good look repeatedly. It was a repeat of the OT against Sacramento when Sabonis fouled out and they brought in Lyles. They spread the floor, drive, get us rotating and helping, and we're too slow to recover...open shots. DFS/Cam Johnson/Bridges/Dinwiddie/Royce ONeall - That's 5 wings. if you're not intent getting him the ball on offense, then I don't see a reason why he should be out there. I'd put in Prince or NAW.

[GopherIt!]

I'm still not on board with Gobert being on the floor when the other team goes 5 out. He had a great game overall, but when it came down to it in OT with Claxon fouled out, Brooklyn was able to space the floor and get a good look repeatedly. It was a repeat of the OT against Sacramento when Sabonis fouled out and they brought in Lyles. They spread the floor, drive, get us rotating and helping, and we're too slow to recover...open shots. DFS/Cam Johnson/Bridges/Dinwiddie/Royce ONeall - That's 5 wings. if you're not intent getting him the ball on offense, then I don't see a reason why he should be out there. I'd put in Prince or NAW.

Smart coaching by Brooklyn (or bad coaching by Finch?) Did you notice, outside of Claxton, every single one of those guys can shoot the lights out of the ball. I really like their roster now post KI/KD.

[Guest84]

This team…

…is right. Doesn’t matter the regime, players wearing the jersey, etc. Same thing every single year.

Worst drug known to man is being a wolves fan.

[Calinks]

I'm still not on board with Gobert being on the floor when the other team goes 5 out. He had a great game overall, but when it came down to it in OT with Claxon fouled out, Brooklyn was able to space the floor and get a good look repeatedly. It was a repeat of the OT against Sacramento when Sabonis fouled out and they brought in Lyles. They spread the floor, drive, get us rotating and helping, and we're too slow to recover...open shots. DFS/Cam Johnson/Bridges/Dinwiddie/Royce ONeall - That's 5 wings. if you're not intent getting him the ball on offense, then I don't see a reason why he should be out there. I'd put in Prince or NAW.

That's the rub with this plan. If we are going to go big, we damn well better be able to punish teams with it.

[minimus]

Well... While I am disappointed as hell, I actually enjoyed the game. For a few reasons:

1) Gobert dominated on both ends of the floor, just like he supposed to do against smallball teams. Yes, he should have stayed with DFS on last 3pt make from Nets, but before that he played excellent four quarters. I dont like when he is getting too excited in offense and tries eurosteps or dream shake, I would love him to make quick pass and move the ball, but expect this I really liked his performance. He contested MULTIPLE mid range shots, because he was involved in defensive action, got deflections, rebounds etc. MIN outscored the Nets 66-38 in the paint.

2) Really loved Conley effort, yes, he missed a couple of easy floaters, yes he missed couple of pullup 3pt shots, but Dear Lord, he gave everything today: four (!!!) offensive rebounds, steals, block, deflections, FTs, assists, rebounds, also Brooklyn players committed at least two offensive fouls on him (moving screens). If anyone asks me I would prefer this Conley performance over DLo hot shooting "every day and twice on Sunday(s)". Why? Because it defines team heart.

3) It was a playoff type of game, MIN had run, BRO had a run, some elite defense and some elite shotmaking, multiple effort plays, hero ball etc. Gobert vs five out, ATOs etc.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

4) Edwards continuously lost defensive assignments and rotations. But I appreciate the effort. Is this Conley (and other veterans) influence, I dont know. But when Edwards buys into our new defensive minded identity - MIN will be scary opponent.

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5) I really like MCD <===> Gobert connection, there were two Gobert dunks this game generated by MCD. And as we remember MCD hit already one clutch 3pt shot from Gobert assist

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6) Minnesota shot 2/16 from 3 (12.6%) in the second half and overtime. I like how Jake Paynting describes it as "power outage" in offense. I can live with it, as long as players give 100% effort and play good defense. And while I loved unselfishness and effort, our bench was useless tonight. McLaughlin 3pt is off, TP cant create his shot, he also throws consistently ball away when he tries to drive and kick, looks out of rhythm now. NAW is everything I want from defensive minded bench guard, but he needs to work on his mid range game and finishing at rim. I have ZERO problems with our bench players, because I understand that we cant replace 40 pts per game that we got from DLo and Towns, we cant ask Reid/TP/NAW/KA/McLaughlin to score +10 pts, that is not fair. The only realistic option here is Nowell.

7) Naz Reid hit that big 3pt shot, but also was the main reason why BRO won 3rd quarter. Reid either fouled or got scored. He struggles in high wall, he struggles in drop, he struggles in 1vs1.

To sum up:

I wonder if this game was similar to DAL playoff series against UTA. If I think about this game as test I really see some positive and negative things, but the most important thing is that we can build our identity around Gobert defense and Edwards growing game in offense. It is not enough to be a playoff team yet, but as early outcome of this season I am good with it.

[cmoss84]

Is Bridges a max player?

[minimus]

Is Bridges a max player?

He is worth four late FRPs for sure, because he has three more full seasons in contract, 22 mil per year.

[BlacJacMac]

Is Bridges a max player?

He's a max player on an absolute steal of a contract.

[minimus]

Just want to add that NAW had an excellent first half today. However in 2nd half Dinwiddie absolutely outplayed Nickeil. It reminded me an old video of their 1v1 battle. Dinwiddie looks bigger, stronger and more refined compared to NAW.

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But. I saw multiple stats saying that Dinwiddie is playing on absolute elite level. As passer, as ISO scorer and 3pt shooter.

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Read on Twitter

So putting NAW on Dinwiddie was a big test for our young guard. And first test showed that NAW cant stop elite scorers yet. But Dinwiddie is 30 yo in his prime. NAW will get better. Hopefully as MIN player.