Game 18 : Philadelphia 76ers (13-6) @ Minnesota Timberwolves (4-13) - 8:00 PM

[Foye]

Jim Pete: "Size matters" Basically said we are screwd because we are small and he doesn't like small ball. Can't say I disagree.

Was this supposed to be JP's epiphany moment or something? Has not everyone here been saying this since season start? Or did he finally just have enough of watching this and was willing to say it.

I figure that happens when your organization only has guys in top decision maker positions that were never competitive themselves on the nba level.

I mean you cant go completely with former nba guys in your front office because they might tend to forget the business side.

But guys like Ryan and Rosas who have never played the game on competitive level...its only logical that they will build a team that cant compete.

They went wrong right from the get go when trying to build a small ball team. This is what you get when your key decision makers are not qualified enough.

[Domejandro]

Just to be clear, small ball is awesome if you team can shoot threes. It isn’t small ball that is inherently the problem, it is the personnel.

So obviously we shouldn’t run it, right? Given that our team is hot garbage, there really is not a choice, Minnesota has to.

[LesGrossman]

Just to be clear, small ball is awesome if you team can shoot threes. It isn’t small ball that is inherently the problem, it is the personnel.

So obviously we shouldn’t run it, right? Given that our team is hot garbage, there really is not a choice, Minnesota has to.

There simply isnt a way out of this misery other than getting rid of the decision makers, because their priorities are obviously not directed at winning games.

[Jedzz]

Just to be clear, small ball is awesome if you team can shoot threes. It isn’t small ball that is inherently the problem, it is the personnel.

So obviously we shouldn’t run it, right? Given that our team is hot garbage, there really is not a choice, Minnesota has to.

There simply isnt a way out of this misery other than getting rid of the decision makers, because their priorities are obviously not directed at winning games.

I think while discussing how they continue to operate while these decision makers are still here anyway, the choice has to be to not do anything half way. If you are going to force the team to stay small, then they have to force the team back to targeting over 40 3pt shots a game. On that pace more players warmup throughout the game even if they start off cold. They did this last season without the players capable of shooting high level really ever. They can do it now with more players capable of heating up and hitting a lot more. THey just aren't strict about doing anything llike last season. Last season it was working for more competitive games once they reached 30% as a team. They need to get over that every game. Go back in alll the way towards that silly looking amount of 3s. That's how this was designed so just can't half way back out of this.

For an example, Jazz just beat Mavs back to back games by attempting 41(hitting 39%) and 48(hitting 42%) 3pt shots. Obviosly they are hitting them better. But Wolves seem to be targeting 30-33 a game which is a lot like the Mavs amount who just dropped two games to Utah. In a strange early season game Wolves beat the jazz (With Towns and Dlo) and the Wolves only shot 29 3s, but at 44%. Meanwhile Jazz only attempted 34 at 29%. There may be something to the chase, in that once your team is hitting them the pressure builds on the opponent to chase and hit theirs. Pressure leads to mistakes. MN led the first two quarters of that game and held on to win. So indeed, the players here are capable of 44% 3s as a team. Why back away from that during a stretch where Towns was out. Hold fast and stop backing away from that. Even if they start cold, double down and warm everyone up or play more towards those warm enough that day. But keep that shooting pressure on. When it's a good shooting day maybe you won't need 40.

Or, completely stop the nonsense and hurry up and add some size to this team already. Just stop doing anything halfway. I do agree there is the option to get rid of decision makers who don't make winning a priority for mutliple seasons. We've seen that this season again and there is no question now. I'm fine with seeing them get rid of these guys at this point if that's the choice. But there is a way to continue if they choose to get back to that identity they were pushing before.

[LesGrossman]

Just to be clear, small ball is awesome if you team can shoot threes. It isn’t small ball that is inherently the problem, it is the personnel.

So obviously we shouldn’t run it, right? Given that our team is hot garbage, there really is not a choice, Minnesota has to.

There simply isnt a way out of this misery other than getting rid of the decision makers, because their priorities are obviously not directed at winning games.

I think while discussing how they continue to operate while these decision makers are still here anyway, the choice has to be to not do anything half way. If you are going to force the team to stay small, then they have to force the team back to targeting over 40 3pt shots a game. On that pace more players warmup throughout the game even if they start off cold. They did this last season without the players capable of shooting high level really ever. They can do it now with more players capable of heating up and hitting a lot more. THey just aren't strict about doing anything llike last season. Last season it was working for more competitive games once they reached 30% as a team. They need to get over that every game. Go back in alll the way towards that silly looking amount of 3s. That's how this was designed so just can't half way back out of this.

For an example, Jazz just beat Mavs back to back games by attempting 41(hitting 39%) and 48(hitting 42%) 3pt shots. Obviosly they are hitting them better. But Wolves seem to be targeting 30-33 a game which is a lot like the Mavs amount who just dropped two games to Utah. In a strange early season game Wolves beat the jazz (With Towns and Dlo) and the Wolves only shot 29 3s, but at 44%. Meanwhile Jazz only attempted 34 at 29%. There may be something to the chase, in that once your team is hitting them the pressure builds on the opponent to chase and hit theirs. Pressure leads to mistakes. MN led the first two quarters of that game and held on to win. So indeed, the players here are capable of 44% 3s as a team. Why back away from that during a stretch where Towns was out. Hold fast and stop backing away from that. Even if they start cold, double down and warm everyone up or play more towards those warm enough that day. But keep that shooting pressure on. When it's a good shooting day maybe you won't need 40.

Or, completely stop the nonsense and hurry up and add some size to this team already. Just stop doing anything halfway. I do agree there is the option to get rid of decision makers who don't make winning a priority for mutliple seasons. We've seen that this season again and there is no question now. I'm fine with seeing them get rid of these guys at this point if that's the choice. But there is a way to continue if they choose to get back to that identity they were pushing before.

Thats an interesing approach and frankly, it can not get much worse than it is now. Just have to make sure the shots go around and not just Ant, D'lo and Beasley chuck away. Gotta take the open 3's that the offense generates. I've seen a few times when Rubio was driving and kicking that the perimeter guy hesitated and pump faked and drove back in. At this point the shot has to be taken immediately.

[Jedzz]

There simply isnt a way out of this misery other than getting rid of the decision makers, because their priorities are obviously not directed at winning games.

I think while discussing how they continue to operate while these decision makers are still here anyway, the choice has to be to not do anything half way. If you are going to force the team to stay small, then they have to force the team back to targeting over 40 3pt shots a game. On that pace more players warmup throughout the game even if they start off cold. They did this last season without the players capable of shooting high level really ever. They can do it now with more players capable of heating up and hitting a lot more. THey just aren't strict about doing anything llike last season. Last season it was working for more competitive games once they reached 30% as a team. They need to get over that every game. Go back in alll the way towards that silly looking amount of 3s. That's how this was designed so just can't half way back out of this.

For an example, Jazz just beat Mavs back to back games by attempting 41(hitting 39%) and 48(hitting 42%) 3pt shots. Obviosly they are hitting them better. But Wolves seem to be targeting 30-33 a game which is a lot like the Mavs amount who just dropped two games to Utah. In a strange early season game Wolves beat the jazz (With Towns and Dlo) and the Wolves only shot 29 3s, but at 44%. Meanwhile Jazz only attempted 34 at 29%. There may be something to the chase, in that once your team is hitting them the pressure builds on the opponent to chase and hit theirs. Pressure leads to mistakes. MN led the first two quarters of that game and held on to win. So indeed, the players here are capable of 44% 3s as a team. Why back away from that during a stretch where Towns was out. Hold fast and stop backing away from that. Even if they start cold, double down and warm everyone up or play more towards those warm enough that day. But keep that shooting pressure on. When it's a good shooting day maybe you won't need 40.

Or, completely stop the nonsense and hurry up and add some size to this team already. Just stop doing anything halfway. I do agree there is the option to get rid of decision makers who don't make winning a priority for mutliple seasons. We've seen that this season again and there is no question now. I'm fine with seeing them get rid of these guys at this point if that's the choice. But there is a way to continue if they choose to get back to that identity they were pushing before.

Thats an interesing approach and frankly, it can not get much worse than it is now. Just have to make sure the shots go around and not just Ant, D'lo and Beasley chuck away. Gotta take the open 3's that the offense generates. I've seen a few times when Rubio was driving and kicking that the perimeter guy hesitated and pump faked and drove back in. At this point the shot has to be taken immediately.

Absolutely, there have been open shots from good passes delivered and hesitation has caused them to put it on the court and drive in and the results of those haven't been many good finishes. Maybe a FT shot if lucky. Beasely has pulled so many down this season to drive in this year, as well as Ant, Layman, Okogie, anyone else? We need the coaches to reinstill confidence in the decision to just shoot away and who cares, but reinforce that they have feet set/square up and fundamentally shoot better, be ready for that pass. Some finish at the net better than others. Beasley might finish enough, but is that really putting the pressure on the opponent like his made 3s do? I don't think so. Rubio's passes of course and also JMac's. Wasted on hesitating, scared to shoot players who really aren't much better off driving in if they can't finish strong or hit their FT shots.