McHale's thoughts on the Timberwolves

[C.lupus]

Yes, we need a closer/go-to guy. Nothing new there - we were missing that when McHale was in charge, too (after KG). Beasley looks like he might be the one guy with the potential to be that but he's still a ways away. I think Jonny could become a pretty decent drive-and-dish type guy but I don't think he is the closer Mac is talking about - nothing against Jonny. I'm hoping Pekovic can become the low post scorer we are missing.

Good news is we are young and have some time, we have a lot of nice assets, and we are still $9 million under the cap.

[Krapinsky]

Getting rid of Al alone has already made Flynn a better point guard and he hasn't even played a game yet.

[jpatrick]

I think it's about right that we'll be in more games, be more fun to watch, but also struggle at the end of games when NBA teams actually start to play real defense. Until we find a franchise type go to player, preferable a wing who can really create, that's going to be a problem. I will always cheer for us to win and deep down I know we'll never win the lottery, but Harrison Barnes would cure alot of the Wolves problems if he's as good as advertised.

As far as Flynn goes, he needs to develop a better feel for playing the point. Maybe it was the system or maybe it was just being a rookie but he didn't seem to have a feel for making players better last year. I do think it hurt him from a fans point of view that he's seen already as not as good as Curry, Jennings, Holiday, Lawson or Collison. And if he's our go to guy at the end of games, we're in some trouble.

Isn't the hope that the Beas will develop into a go to type scorer. He sure seems hit or miss the preseason though.

[collin_k41]

Point guard is the hardest position to adjust to in the NBA. This is especially true for Flynn, who had his whole style of offense drastically changed upon joining the Wolves. Jennings was overseas which makes for an easier adjustment, Curry isn't really a PG, and arguments could be made about who's better right now in the group of Flynn, Holiday, Lawson, Collison. I think Flynn will be good in this league. I don't think he'll become the "go to" player Mchale is referring to but a borderline all-star nonetheless.

[big3_8_19_21]

People are waaaay too down on Johnny. He's going to be good.

I don't remember who it was, but around the time of the draft somebody on here was telling me that they would rather have Jason Hart than Jonny Flynn.

[big3_8_19_21]

People are waaaay too down on Johnny. He's going to be good.

People have been bashing him since Jennings scored 55. They never really gave him a chance.

Tirion dislikes him because he wears a Wolves uniform.

Entirely true about Jennings/Flynn. People love to talk about the Brandon Jennings that put up 55 points (against Golden State, so that's almost an asterisk, still incredibly impressive, but let's add some context), but what about the Brandon Jennings of January that averaged 10.7 points and shot 30.7% from the field for the month? Last year about a week after that 55 point game, one of my friends from Milwaukee laughed at me when I said Tyreke Evans would beat Brandon Jennings for ROY...and around the draft I hated both players as prospects...so yeah. There's a reason I'm not a scout. I guess I was high on Rubio, Steph Curry and Gerald Henderson. Anyway, time to end this stream of consciousness ramble.

[Krapinsky]

Jennings is good and deserves some credit, but a lot of the love he got last year should have been directed to Scott Skiles.

[theGreatRC]

Flynn wasn't really comfortable with the triangle either. Let's see how he does in a system a little more freewheeling. I mean, I know we're going to run the triangle sometimes, but we haven't seen Jonny in a running system, yet.

I'm most excited about his play in our slightly altered style.

[funkatron101]

Flynn wasn't really comfortable with the triangle either. Let's see how he does in a system a little more freewheeling. I mean, I know we're going to run the triangle sometimes, but we haven't seen Jonny in a running system, yet.

I'm most excited about his play in our slightly altered style.

We ranked 3rd in pace last season. I don't think much will change, we just got more athletic.

[Killboard]

With a little time and correct adaptation Pek looks like a closer. He is very efficient in the line too. Just look at the play over Hibbert last game, was amazing.
If he capable to make a good defense on opposite center he will get his chance.

[Krapinsky]

It's a good though, especially with Pek's efficiency and FT%. But, maybe next year. This year Pekovic will likely be too turnover/mistake prone.

[Tirion]

People are waaaay too down on Johnny. He's going to be good.

People have been bashing him since Jennings scored 55. They never really gave him a chance.

Tirion dislikes him because he wears a Wolves uniform.

No, people have been bashing Jonny because he was the worst starting point guard in the NBA last season. Jennings (who was below average himself btw) has nothing to do with it.

[shangrila]

With a little time and correct adaptation Pek looks like a closer. He is very efficient in the line too. Just look at the play over Hibbert last game, was amazing.
If he capable to make a good defense on opposite center he will get his chance.

I think it depends on who else is out there. Pekovic isn't good enough of a defender to be out there now to close out meaningful games and I highly doubt he'll ever be the kind of shotblocker that you'd like defending the paint. So if they can get someone, maybe a power forward or even a wing player, who can play with him and help with weakside defence then yeah, he'll be an awesome closer.

[Saltine]

People are waaaay too down on Johnny. He's going to be good.

People have been bashing him since Jennings scored 55. They never really gave him a chance.

Tirion dislikes him because he wears a Wolves uniform.

No, people have been bashing Jonny because he was the worst starting point guard in the NBA last season. Jennings (who was below average himself btw) has nothing to do with it.

That's a load of ****; and the stats don't back you up.

[Tirion]

People have been bashing him since Jennings scored 55. They never really gave him a chance.

Tirion dislikes him because he wears a Wolves uniform.

No, people have been bashing Jonny because he was the worst starting point guard in the NBA last season. Jennings (who was below average himself btw) has nothing to do with it.

That's a load of ****; and the stats don't back you up.

I suggest you check out http://www.hoopdata.com. Jonny is 2nd in Turnover Rate (behind Earl Watson) among point guards that played more than 25 mpg last season, meaning that 14% of his possessions end in a turnover. He's last in Win Shares (I don't count Fisher, cause he took the regular season off) and 5th worst in PER, only topped by the likes of Duhon, Bibby and Blake. I mean you can throw all this guys in the conversation for the worst starting point guard award, but nobody touts them as potential "closers", cause they are either completely washed-up (Bibby) or back-ups, who were forced to start (Duhon, Watson, Blake).

[Tirion]

btw, the only guy on this roster with a potential to be a "closer", is Beasley. which makes me very