Lineups and practices

[Yes We Kahn]

I don't have video or direct quotes from Adelman.. Its just Zgoda's twitter, but here's brief recap.

JerryZgoda Jerry Zgoda
@kingzaabri Think all it says it what we already knew: DW will come off bench and they've decided for now he's strictly PF, not SF

@Rheylew DWill for now can't play out on the floor and defend Beasley at SF, let alone play SG. They're asking him to play only PF for now.

@TannerThanY0U And not sure Wolves would do that anyway. Don't think they're in any hurry to trade him since DW isnt ready to play sf yet

@phodgdon You mean DW? He's not an NBA SF right now. Can defend a guy out of floor who can shoot like Beas, not mobile, confident enough yet

@dunkingwolves I've seen them some during the little they let us watch. Initial impression: DWill can't guard Beas out on the floor

If I have time I'll look to see if Adelman says it himself in an interview

[B Calrissian]

It says "for now" and I wouldn't trust any info that mentions anything about Williams playing at SG haha.

[Yes We Kahn]

Adelman might have to limit how much time he plays the trio together until Williams becomes a better defender. Adelman said the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 draft has a "ways to go" defensively. When Williams is on the floor with Love and Beasley, he most likely will be matched up with a power forward, since Adelman has shifted Williams to that position to help his transition.

Adelman said Williams has made progress at both ends of the court since being relieved of any small forward responsibilities. The move was made after three days of practice. Williams, projected as a small or power forward in the draft, also sees the improvement.

"I still know the plays for both positions, but playing the 'four' (power forward) has helped me to not think as much when I'm out there," Williams said. "I've been able to concentrate more on one thing."

Williams said the forwards will be asked to defend "big men" and guards in certain situations. Keeping Love, Beasley and Williams on the floor together for extended stretches could depend on how well all five players are handling their defensive responsibilities.

http://www.twincities.com/ci_19581426?s ... ost_viewed

[Klomp]

It says "for now" and I wouldn't trust any info that mentions anything about Williams playing at SG haha.

Some rube asked JZ about DW playing SG, nothing more...

[Yes We Kahn]

It says "for now" and I wouldn't trust any info that mentions anything about Williams playing at SG haha.

I agree and hope it is just "for now" too, but I think that it will be a while yet. I think that the SG thing probably had to do with someone asking Zgoda if we'd see a Rubio/Williams/Beasley/Love/Darko lineup.

[B Calrissian]

It says "for now" and I wouldn't trust any info that mentions anything about Williams playing at SG haha.

Some rube asked JZ about DW playing SG, nothing more...

Sorry I don't use twitter so I didn't really know who was saying what in that post.
I bet it was that weight loss guy on here that asked him.

Adelman might have to limit how much time he plays the trio together until Williams becomes a better defender. Adelman said the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 draft has a "ways to go" defensively. When Williams is on the floor with Love and Beasley, he most likely will be matched up with a power forward, since Adelman has shifted Williams to that position to help his transition.

Adelman said Williams has made progress at both ends of the court since being relieved of any small forward responsibilities. The move was made after three days of practice. Williams, projected as a small or power forward in the draft, also sees the improvement.

"I still know the plays for both positions, but playing the 'four' (power forward) has helped me to not think as much when I'm out there," Williams said. "I've been able to concentrate more on one thing."

Williams said the forwards will be asked to defend "big men" and guards in certain situations. Keeping Love, Beasley and Williams on the floor together for extended stretches could depend on how well all five players are handling their defensive responsibilities.

http://www.twincities.com/ci_19581426?s ... ost_viewed

That is not Adelman saying he will not play any SF this season. It is someone misinterpreting the actual quote from Adelman I posted before. I don't know how long Adelman thinks it will take Williams to get comfortable but if he thought it was going to take all season he would have simply said Williams is not a SF.

* I thought you were implying that Williams will only play at PF this whole season but now I see that is not the case. Or is it?

[Leor_77]

Hey guys, really wondering why you aren't starting Rubio and Williams (and for that matter, Barea) over Udoh and Beasly. Just doesn't make any sense from an outsiders point of view.

If you are mistaking Ridnour for Udoh I can see why things might not make sense.

Sorry about that - Don't know why I got those two confused. Like I said before, I haven't followed this team.

[Yes We Kahn]

Even when Williams himself is acknowledging that he is concentrating on PF? Hard to misinterpret that. He can't defend the 3, therefore he won't play there. If he can eventually show that ability, he will. Whether that is this season, next season, or in 5 years... we don't know yet. But it likely will not be in the near future.

[B Calrissian]

Even when Williams himself is acknowledging that he is concentrating on PF? Hard to misinterpret that. He can't defend the 3, therefore he won't play there. If he can eventually show that ability, he will. Whether that is this season, next season, or in 5 years... we don't know yet. But it likely will not be in the near future.

Just because he is concentrating on playing PF doesn't mean he won't play SF at all. That has been my point. I just don't think there is a 0% chance of him getting some minutes at SF like you have implied multiple times. Also we had Ridnour and Barea on the court at the same time. Neither can cover a SG.

[Yes We Kahn]

I'm not saying he will never play SF in the future. I'm saying that they are only using him at PF now. All the quotes point to that. Obviously there may be some match-ups where he might get a few minutes at the 3, but I was just making the point that it is going to be hard to get 30 minutes a game when he is being used (almost) exclusively at PF. That is, unless they use the Beas-Will-Love lineup a ton.

[B Calrissian]

Last night was the perfect storm to keep Williams minutes down - Love played 41 min, Darko was as aggressive as we will see him, and it was Williams first game. He still got 23 minutes.

I guess we will just have to agree to disagree.

[Yes We Kahn]

Yeah, I think it will definitely be a wait and see what happens sort of thing. Personally, I hope that the Beas-Will-Love lineup works. Then you will be right about the minutes and I will be right about the position

In case you are curious, I figured out the frontcourt lineups that Williams was a part of:
Beasley and Love (10:44)
Tolliver and Love (6:06)
Tolliver and Darko (2:46)
Tolliver and Randolph (2:42)
Beasley and Darko (0:52)
Beasley and Randolph (0:38)

[B Calrissian]

Yeah, I think it will definitely be a wait and see what happens sort of thing. Personally, I hope that the Beas-Will-Love lineup works. Then you will be right about the minutes and I will be right about the position

In case you are curious, I figured out the frontcourt lineups that Williams was a part of:
Beasley and Love (10:44)
Tolliver and Love (6:06)
Tolliver and Darko (2:46)
Tolliver and Randolph (2:42)
Beasley and Darko (0:52)
Beasley and Randolph (0:38)

I didn't realize him and Tolliver played the forwards together so often. I honestly had tunnel vision watching Rubio and Barea out there. Also Ridnour but in a negative way.

It's nice to have debates involving players of this quality compared to past years (Brewer vs Ellington Ridnour vs Flynn).

[Yes We Kahn]

^^^ its very refreshing. I hope these guys can keep their energy and optimism up throughout the season. I think they are going to turn a lot of heads if they do.

[Klomp]

Minus the 3-minute cameo appearance from Randolph, it seems like there is a current 9-man rotation of Luke, Wes, Beasley, Love, Darko starting and Ricky, JJ, Williams, Tolliver off the bench. I can live with that. I think the main players with a chance to break into the nightly rotation are Webster (once healthy), Miller (once healthy), and Lee (as he develops).