Wolves v. Grizzlies, Oct. 30, 7:00pm

[shangrila]

I think Oceanary needs to take over from SnP. SnP's stuff has become so negative it's almost not readable anymore

[Someone Else]

15 as, 29 to, that is big problem.

[southern wolf]

"I feel like we were a disgrace to the game of basketball," said Michael Beasley, who turned it over six times. "We had 30 turnovers. Thirty turnovers, man. That's not basketball. That's not team basketball. That's not basketball at all. Everything we worked on since training camp just went out the window. Defensively. Offensively. We didn't play as a team. It was just bad from every aspect of the game."

[Foye]

"I feel like we were a disgrace to the game of basketball," said Michael Beasley, who turned it over six times. "We had 30 turnovers. Thirty turnovers, man. That's not basketball. That's not team basketball. That's not basketball at all. Everything we worked on since training camp just went out the window. Defensively. Offensively. We didn't play as a team. It was just bad from every aspect of the game."

This game was really ugly but it might have been a great reminder for the team that they need to always bring their A-game or they'll be crushed night in night out. It's better to get blown out once than lose a couple of games by a slight margin. Hopefully, the team can learn from this game.

I'll be content if we put on a fight against the Heat and Magic. The Hawks are the next game that I count.

[Calinks]

"I feel like we were a disgrace to the game of basketball," said Michael Beasley, who turned it over six times. "We had 30 turnovers. Thirty turnovers, man. That's not basketball. That's not team basketball. That's not basketball at all. Everything we worked on since training camp just went out the window. Defensively. Offensively. We didn't play as a team. It was just bad from every aspect of the game."

At least Beasley gets the message. That was nothing to be proud of!

[Dewey]

Most Horrible: Telfair, Darko

Confusion:
---Aren't we were suppose to be a good passing team? I've never seen a team pull up after one quick pass for a three attempt ... like watchng Grinnell College but with many turnovers.
---Why don't we feed Pekovic on the block? ... he always has position and draws lots of fouls. How are you 7' and can't make a 4' shot? ... some are actually aitballs.
---Who's giving the green light to Telfair to have a shoot-first emntallity? ... no excuse.

Not impressed at all with the team defense. Outside of Johnson and Brewer, we really display a "lack-of-will" mentallity. Players need to be held accountable, but the coaches are accepting none of it - leadership starts at the top.

Our ball movement (outside of Ridnour) is horrible. Our best shooter (Johnson) is the only one who seems to take a look inside or for a cutter ... appears we need to go to a junio-high "5 pass motion" to get these guys seeing the floor.

Our turnovers clearly represent players unsure of where they're going and/or what they're suppose to be looking for. The ball goes into Love ... 4 players stood and watched - no one cut to OPEN space. Ball goes to Darko ... 4 players stood and watched - no one cut to OPEN space. Ball goes to Pek ... 4 players stood and watched - no one cut to OPEN space. I have 5th grade boys this year and we deal with the same problem ... confidence.

[Tha Juice]

"I feel like we were a disgrace to the game of basketball," said Michael Beasley, who turned it over six times. "We had 30 turnovers. Thirty turnovers, man. That's not basketball. That's not team basketball. That's not basketball at all. Everything we worked on since training camp just went out the window. Defensively. Offensively. We didn't play as a team. It was just bad from every aspect of the game."

I'm sure everyone on the Wolves realized they played a horrendous game but I love the fact that Beasley stood up and said something. Watching our D last night was like watching someone give the Grizzles the "after you" hand gesture on a 1st date. Offensively we had several opportunities to cut the lead into something manageable but just ended up turning it over and not playing team basketball. I fully agree with the Oceanary comment above as well. We'll have the types of games like last nights.

An already embarrassed and angry Beasley returning to the team who sold him for a bag of chips should be interesting. I hope he can channel all that motivation and energy into a good performance where he doesn't think he has to do it all or try to prove something to the world.

[C.lupus]

These types of games happen with young teams because they tend to play off of emotion and energy. Once they mature a bit as a team, they'll figure out what it takes to play consistently over a whole season. We just have to accept that there are going to be games like this this year (Wed at Orlando for instance).

[Darko Miliminutes]

Back 2 backs with the Heat and then the Magic really scare me. Not just because of the loss, but because of a potential demoralizing affect.

And Darko last night...ugh I pride myself on being his biggest supporter. Generally, the worse he plays, then the more fun i have talking him up to folks down on him. But that game leaves me speechless. He will come around though...just 3 games in, and this was game 2 of a back 2 back, and he's notorious for getting winded. It doesn't surprise me at all. But remain patient guys, he will come around on the O.

[Esohny]

And how about that overrated Rudy Gay? Thank God that the Wolves didn't waste their cap space on this loser in the offseason!

I'm not sure why you added this. It's not like the Wolves didn't try to get him, the Grizzlies just offered him the maximum amount of money he could get, and considering he was a restricted free agent, that basically meant that he was stuck there.

I'm not talking about his contract situation, just the "overrated" and "not worth the max" talk.

[Breakdown777]

It didn't take long for opposing teams' coaching staffs to figure out the perfect game plan vs. the wolves:

Nobody but Ridnour and Telfair can handle the ball, so make them pass to anyone else and lock them up to make them commit turnovers.

It worked perfectly, and it will continue to work perfectly until someone on this team learns how to handle the ball. Whats most annoying is that Love and Darko BOTH are supposed to be good ball handlers for their positions, yet they still don't know how to get the ball to an open man without doing something stupid. Those two are familiar with the system, so it shouldn't happen to them as much. I know this is what happens to young teams that aren't familiar with the system and team mates...but when records get broken that means you've done it worse than every team ever.....that's pretty inexcusable.

[Klomp]

Whats most annoying is that Love and Darko BOTH are supposed to be good ball handlers for their positions

Since when?

[Dewey]

It didn't take long for opposing teams' coaching staffs to figure out the perfect game plan vs. the wolves:

Nobody but Ridnour and Telfair can handle the ball, so make them pass to anyone else and lock them up to make them commit turnovers.

It worked perfectly, and it will continue to work perfectly until someone on this team learns how to handle the ball. Whats most annoying is that Love and Darko BOTH are supposed to be good ball handlers for their positions, yet they still don't know how to get the ball to an open man without doing something stupid. Those two are familiar with the system, so it shouldn't happen to them as much. I know this is what happens to young teams that aren't familiar with the system and team mates...but when records get broken that means you've done it worse than every team ever.....that's pretty inexcusable.

Not to rag on you: They are suppose to be the offensive hubs (good passers) not ball handling - specifically dribbling. I still think part of it is due to others not making the necessary reads that Love, Darko, and Pek have been taught to be looking for ... then they force something immediately.

We're "okay" skill-wise, but really struggling concept-wise as a team.

[Breakdown777]

Not to rag on you: They are suppose to be the offensive hubs (good passers) not ball handling - specifically dribbling. I still think part of it is due to others not making the necessary reads that Love, Darko, and Pek have been taught to be looking for ... then they force something immediately.

We're "okay" skill-wise, but really struggling concept-wise as a team.

This makes more sense then what I was trying to say. I'll chalk it up more to inexperience with the system then the players themselves, but it's sill disappointing when players who have been here for awhile (Love, Brew, Darko) still couldn't make anything happen.

Whats most annoying is that Love and Darko BOTH are supposed to be good ball handlers for their positions

Since when?

I just lumped "passing" in with "ball handling". I still feel that those two should make better decisions when they have the ball. I'm sure a big part of it was the lack of wing involvement (not cutting when they're supposed to. Not moving w/o the ball, etc.)