Shved/Williams

[MNister89]

Just curious if any other Wolves fans have picked up on what appears to be a nice chemistry between Shved and Williams? I know Shved deserves to running with the first unit and is a much bigger part of out future than DWill but the increase in confidence and fluidity that Williams displays when Shved is out there is palpable. Granted I'm still desperate to justify how DWill has been unable to grow at all since we drafted him but I think these two might be able to grow into a very useful duo off the bench. Shved seems to always feed Williams and I think it is time we give Derrick a fair shot to contribute without the burden of living up his pre-draft expectations. I'm serious, D-Will needs to feel like he belongs if we ever want to do anything other than trade him as an expiring.

As bad as DWill's been on the court at times - he's been terrible more often than not - I think Kahn and Adelman have really done a poor job in managing how he fits into the fabric of the team. Alexey and Derrick seem to mesh well as second unit scorers and those two, in addition to Dante, and ideally a pure shooter could form a very nice bench group if the F.O and coaching staff can get Derrick to buy in and start having fun again. I know this sounds very charitable to keep coddling DWill but I really do think he is worth trying to salvage as his trade value sucks and he looks very comfortable out there with the young Russian. Has anyone else thought they seem to play well together or do I need to let go of my dreams for Derrick? He's not Wes but he is almost there. But Wes started over 100 games for us I think and he clearly wasn't the player we thought he was mentally or physically. DWill looks more lost out there than he does overwhelmed. He needs to start having fun again and things will slow down for him. Putting him in defined role with Shved will empower him perhaps and he can't play worse than he has so far.

[Swish4]

I do think DWill's game is markedly better playing with a good creative pass first guy like Shved or Rubio.

[MNister89]

I do think DWill's game is markedly better playing with a good creative pass first guy like Shved or Rubio.

Yeah, I guess that is a given but we can safely assume he isn't going to be getting a lot of looks with Rubio unless Adelman decides he doesn't completely hate him anymore. Shved though seems a nice middle-ground. Ridnour is just so frustrating to watch because he is not a great distributor and too often dribbles himself into a corner. Barea drives me bonkers generally and I think he would maybe be one of the least fun PGs (if that is what he is) to play with. Shved seems to be oblivious to the notions of Williams as a bust and for better or worse that might be exactly the thing Derrick needs to get going here.

I think Derrick will probably never be a good starter in this league but I am also very sure that a smart coach like Adelman can find matchups most nights that Derrick can exploit if he can just look past his current lack of poise and confidence. Derrick and DC can be a great pair of backup forwards for this team and if Shved is to be used as our sixth man I have seen enough this year to believe that he can cultivate a good chemistry with Derrick that will make him worth more to us as a reserve than as a trade asset. Personally, I think DWill has actually done OK this year. His problem is that he looks lost out there, drunk even at times, and his mistakes are so maddening to actually watch happen that he gets more flak he may deserve. But I am a hopeless homer who also thought Jonny Flynn would stick as a Mo Williams type and that Wes J would be at worst a guy who can defend hit 35% of his 3Ps, so I am aware of my capacity to be stubborn with MN players. But for me, the Ridnour/Barea duo has been the obvious weak part of our team and even guys like Stiemsma/Amundson have been much bigger problems this year than Williams who seems to be the scapegoat more often than is fair.

[[RCG]]

I wouldn't mind putting this lineup together:

1st unit:
Rubio
Lee/Howard
Kirilenko
Love
Pekovic

2nd unit:
Barea/Ridnour
Shved
Williams
Cunningham
Stiemsma

[phonzadellika]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I still think Derrick can be an above-average starter in the league. He shows flashes of being able to hit the 3, of being able to go to the rim, of being a not-sucky defender. I was surprised at his passing ability a few times this year and he's a solid defensive rebounder. He's just got to figure out how to play within the offense and do everything that he's capable of doing all the time. The only way you do that is by playing.

Great success doesn't come immediately to some. Derrick's college career reflected that. It's going to take him time. Probably won't be able to do it here.

[tranjSAIC]

Williams needs to go to a crappy team that he is allowed to make mistakes, looks like he is playing scared to me. Plus he is a tweener so they guys take longer to develop if they ever do.

[MNister89]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I still think Derrick can be an above-average starter in the league. He shows flashes of being able to hit the 3, of being able to go to the rim, of being a not-sucky defender. I was surprised at his passing ability a few times this year and he's a solid defensive rebounder. He's just got to figure out how to play within the offense and do everything that he's capable of doing all the time. The only way you do that is by playing.

Great success doesn't come immediately to some. Derrick's college career reflected that. It's going to take him time. Probably won't be able to do it here.

I agree with this sentiment. I think most Wolves fans are especially vulnerable to thinking he is cooked as an NBA contributor. Kahn's terrible drafting has done that to us. But Derrick is really a good player who seems to get a lot of criticism he doesn't deserve. He should be playing more and my biggest issue besides his actual production or lack thereof is that his inability to get on the floor might speak to a bigger more hidden issue that Adelman feels makes him unworthy of playing time. I've never thought he was a particularly bright guy but that isn't enough to explain it. Maybe he is really just having a hard time focusing on improving his game with all the money he has now. Or maybe he has an emotional or mental affliction that the Wolves know about but won't expose for fear of officially killing his already minimal trade value. Not saying he's Royce White or even Beasley, but could the kid just be a complete meathead? He seemed genuinely hungry to get better when we drafted him and I thought that he had the right mindset which helped me overlook positional questions and other red flags.

My best guess is that he was poisoned by the influence of the chronic over-achievers who were on the Wolves last year like Darko, Beasley, AR, Webster, Wes etc. Those bitter lottery castoffs were the worst possible teammates a young talent like Derrick could possibly inherit as "veteran" teammates. None of those guys has ever been able to get past their early struggles and each was given chances to show they were still promising and none were able to put in the hours to do so. For Beasley and Darko, it was all about work ethic and attitude: both are WAY too talented to be nobodies but both have developed the me-against-the-world mindset that is so fatal to team progress. AR15 just kinda sucks really and Martell well he is somehow still a huge mystery to me.

Derrick seemed real impressionable towards the end of the year especially and probably was desperate for a friend on the team and it's possible he had to turn to one of those clowns during a crucial developmental period in his career. Just think that the terrible effect those clowns had - both individually and collectively as an army of misunderstood has-beens if you will - can not be overstated. They were so bad in every way and it honestly makes me wonder if Flynn, Wes and Derrick ever even had a fair shake to learn how to be professionals. More than most things, I think bad attitudes and complacency are contagious and we had a ton of em the last couple years. I'm just glad they're gone but I fear they may have still gotten to Derrick too early and with too much force. Also, I think Love can be a dick and may have been threatened a bit by a young earnest forward like Williams and its possible he helped hurt Derrick's perception in the locker-room. Derrick played a huge part in this himself as he should've been able to see the people he needed to be learning from, but our overall commitment to playing winning basketball was never happening when half your roster is hopelessly lazy and permanently disillusioned lottery busts. Thank freaking god Adelman came in and Rubio is all we thought he could be because we are on a better track now, but looking back Derrick was embedded into a culture of excuse-makers and pretenders at a crucial moment. Hope we don't think he is Wes already because he might be the difference maker he can be very quickly with a change in lifestyle and new surroundings.

[Klomp]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I still think Derrick can be an above-average starter in the league. He shows flashes of being able to hit the 3, of being able to go to the rim, of being a not-sucky defender. I was surprised at his passing ability a few times this year and he's a solid defensive rebounder. He's just got to figure out how to play within the offense and do everything that he's capable of doing all the time. The only way you do that is by playing.

I don't disagree with any of this. However, unless he proves he can play SF, that won't happen here. I like him off the bench with Dante, but next to Kevin he doesn't really fit, especially defensively.

[Calinks]

So is this show just a scam? I bet Telly Hughes produced this episode.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wpPJxOR-qg[/youtube]

[[RCG]]

I think Adelman definitely has something against Derrick Williams. Why not put him in during the last couple minutes when we widened the lead on Cleveland?

Is it his character, does he not try hard enough in practice, does he not get the offense or do the little things? Something is going on.

[Murphs56]

I think Adelman definitely has something against Derrick Williams. Why not put him in during the last couple minutes when we widened the lead on Cleveland?

Is it his character, does he not try hard enough in practice, does he not get the offense or do the little things? Something is going on.

Love is going to play 35 minutes a night. Cunningham is going to take the rest of those minutes. The only way D-Will sees the floor is if the Wolves are playing a small team and Adelman opts to not go with Stiemsma. It's a sucky situation for someone you are trying to develop but there really is no comparison. Cunningham has just been a lot better than him this year. Offensively, defensively, and hustle plays

[Adenusi]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I still think Derrick can be an above-average starter in the league. He shows flashes of being able to hit the 3, of being able to go to the rim, of being a not-sucky defender. I was surprised at his passing ability a few times this year and he's a solid defensive rebounder. He's just got to figure out how to play within the offense and do everything that he's capable of doing all the time. The only way you do that is by playing.

Great success doesn't come immediately to some. Derrick's college career reflected that. It's going to take him time. Probably won't be able to do it here.

He's a caged lion bro.

[cpfsf]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I still think Derrick can be an above-average starter in the league. He shows flashes of being able to hit the 3, of being able to go to the rim, of being a not-sucky defender. I was surprised at his passing ability a few times this year and he's a solid defensive rebounder. He's just got to figure out how to play within the offense and do everything that he's capable of doing all the time. The only way you do that is by playing.

I don't disagree with any of this. However, unless he proves he can play SF, that won't happen here. I like him off the bench with Dante, but next to Kevin he doesn't really fit, especially defensively.

[MNister89]

I think Adelman definitely has something against Derrick Williams. Why not put him in during the last couple minutes when we widened the lead on Cleveland?

Is it his character, does he not try hard enough in practice, does he not get the offense or do the little things? Something is going on.

This. Can't see any other reason Adelman would kill his confidence and trade stock. Hoping we find out soon what is the mssing link her, b/c I agree there is a character/work-ethic angle or something else we don't fully know as mere fans.

[Klomp]

This. Can't see any other reason Adelman would kill his confidence and trade stock.

Coach can't worry about trade stock.

[Klomp]

“@DarrenWolfson: Derrick Williams just talked. Has not requested a trade, he said. Said he'll continue to work hard for minutes. #twolves”

[Figjamjr]

I think Adelman definitely has something against Derrick Williams. Why not put him in during the last couple minutes when we widened the lead on Cleveland?

Is it his character, does he not try hard enough in practice, does he not get the offense or do the little things? Something is going on.

This. Can't see any other reason Adelman would kill his confidence and trade stock. Hoping we find out soon what is the mssing link her, b/c I agree there is a character/work-ethic angle or something else we don't fully know as mere fans.

This was talked about in Training camp and the pre-season. Adelman likes to play guys who give a lot of effort on both sides of the ball. Hustle players and guys that don't make a lot of mistakes. Guys who play a "role" exactly the way the coaches want it to be played. Basically a guy like DC. As we have all seen, there is a BIG difference when watching DC play and when watching Dwill play. If Dwill patterned his "work ethic" basketball side after DC, I guarantee he'll get more play time.

So think about the positives that Dwill brings. I know, most rubes have become sheep like I was at the beginning of the season, and jumped on board the bitching bandwagon, but forget that he was a #2 pick for a moment.

First, he's a stretch 4. He's not a 3. He can play the 3 position a little because of his athleticism but that's not what he is. He can shoot the 3 well. He's at 37% which Leads the team. He has shown that he can put it on the floor and go by other 4's. Now I admit, he struggles, at times, finishing at the rim. Why? I have no idea. He is getting fouled and going to the line though around 3 times a game playing an avg of 20 min/game. He is only shooting 40% from the floor and I have no defense against that except to say it's not really that bad. For example, Paul Pierce, Paul George, Joe Johnson, Brandon Jennings, all shoot around 41%. He also plays good man to man defense. Not great but good. What he's not, that DC is, is a good help defender.

So to re-cap, he's avg 9ppg, 20 min/game, 37% 3p shooting, 5 rpg, and .9 blocks per game. Now imagine if he hustled to loose balls like DC, and had his work ethic. I don't think people would be so down on him if that were the case. That's something he can improve on immediately if he wants to.

I think the biggest problem people have is that we spent the #2 pick on him, hoping that he would be a Blue Chip all-star player, and he's not. And that pisses people off because of how many other draft picks haven't worked out. But that's not Dwill's fault he was picked #2.

All that to say, he's not as bad as everyone makes out. I'd still trade him for a avg starting SG because that's a need, but people need to chill with how bad there making him out to be. Besides it's only been 18 games into a 82 game season.

[Calinks]

I think the problem with Williams is that he is still trying to define his role in the league. DC knows exactly what he needs to do and he is fine with it. Derrick Williams is the number 2 pick and at this point shouldn't aspire to have a role like DC because he has more tools to work with. I think the problem is that Adleman and his staff can't figure out a proper role for him. They don't know how to use him because he is a major tweener and he doesn't fit their regukar schemes.