The Terrence (TJ) Shannon Thread

[TheZachAttack]

Wow, we got so lucky. Not because we took Shannon, but because he was available.

His ceiling is incredibly high for the #27 overall pick. For reference, typically at the #27 pick you don't get an NBA rotation player. You might. But if you look back any amount of years most players drafted in the #25-#30 area don't yield NBA level players.

Shannon, on the other hand, has an incredible skill-set. His defensive ability and understanding on screen navigation is top notch (maybe he watched some Jaden McDaniels film). He is going to be a positive defender out of the gate.

Offensively, he attacks close outs better than anyone I have ever seen in a Timberwolves uniform--ever. His decision making is so quick off the catch and his footwork and body control (think about shifting his weight to explode and get down hill) is tremendous.

I think he will be coming in year 1 as a better player than Nickeil Alexander-Walker. This is incredibly high praise for me, since I thought NAW was very close to Naz Reid in terms of impact/importance last year (albeit different roles).

I don't say this lightly--Shannon could very well be an 8-man rotation player--not Diklingham--and we shouldn't be upset if that is the case.

I doubt Shannon ever becomes a star or anything similar (Jimmy Butler a recent comparison as an older prospect developing from role player to star). That doesn't mean we shouldn't appreciate what Shannon can and will be for us.

I would have said Naz is the best I have seen at attacking off the catch on a Wolves uniform. I am not sure I have seen anyone better at attacking off the catch in the NBA.

[Klomp]

Does anyone see a little bit of Jalen Williams in his game?

[Saltine]

Watch on YouTube

[MN7725]

he seems to know how to draw fouls (unlike ANT)

won't get a very good whistle as a rookie, but getting to FT line is always best way to be efficient scorer

[Neeva]

My favorite thing about him is you can tell he is the most explosive athlete in summer league but he doesn’t force anything.

[minimus]

TSJ trying to answer the question who is the Wolves 8th man. You ask him about Jingles his answer should be “Joe who?”

I think that Ingles and TSJ will love to play with each other.

Just think how great that 2nd unit could be with Dilly, Ingles, TSJ, and Reid. Throw anybody in at center. I like Garza if not Kat or Rudy.

IMO it is either Towns-Reid or Reid. If Minott can fill PF spot he will get 10-15 minutes.

[Klomp]

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[BlacJacMac]

Did it go under the radar though?

It seems like every scouting report I read on him talks about how he was the defensive stopper at Texas Tech, but that his defensive intensity understandably suffered some when his usage went from low 20s to almost 30.

For example, The Ringer:

They list his two biggest skills as On-Ball Defense and Off-Ball Defense.

PLUSES
Defends with an explosive athleticism that allows him to make highlight plays like chase-down blocks or fly-in rebounds from the perimeter. He displays solid defensive fundamentals, which could allow him to earn NBA minutes right away.

MINUSES
He hasn’t defended as well as an upperclassman. His effort isn’t the same as it was in his underclassman years at Texas Tech. Though he carries a heavier offensive workload now, he should still maintain his tone-setting approach from years prior.

[thinktank]

Does anyone see a little bit of Jalen Williams in his game?

I actually see Jaylen Brown.

[Klomp]

Bringing this comment over from the Dillingham thread to not derail it:

Sorry but I gotta disagree. Dane Moore talks about TSJ in today’s episode and he says it better than me. Long story short, with Gobert and Karl down low, attacking the paint off a close out is what Kyle did. We don’t need TSJ attacking an already crowded paint, we need him drilling corner 3s. I think it is THE skill that will determine how much playing time he gets, because you don’t want someone who cannot shoot the long ball with Rudy.

I think that's a rather simplistic way of looking at the situation. A Shannon attack is much different than an Anderson attack. Part of the issue with Anderson is there was no need to close out on him. If Anderson attacked, his drive was so methodical that it didn't shift the defense. Guys will react to Shannon if he's on the perimeter. When that happens, he'll blow by them.

Read on Twitter

[minimus]

Bringing this comment over from the Dillingham thread to not derail it:

Sorry but I gotta disagree. Dane Moore talks about TSJ in today’s episode and he says it better than me. Long story short, with Gobert and Karl down low, attacking the paint off a close out is what Kyle did. We don’t need TSJ attacking an already crowded paint, we need him drilling corner 3s. I think it is THE skill that will determine how much playing time he gets, because you don’t want someone who cannot shoot the long ball with Rudy.

I think that's a rather simplistic way of looking at the situation. A Shannon attack is much different than an Anderson attack. Part of the issue with Anderson is there was no need to close out on him. If Anderson attacked, his drive was so methodical that it didn't shift the defense. Guys will react to Shannon if he's on the perimeter. When that happens, he'll blow by them.

Read on Twitter

Yeah, everything Anderson did with ball in his hands was slow: jumpshot, push shot, layup. TSJ can operate in small spaces because he is quick and decisive.

[winforlose]

Bringing this comment over from the Dillingham thread to not derail it:

Sorry but I gotta disagree. Dane Moore talks about TSJ in today’s episode and he says it better than me. Long story short, with Gobert and Karl down low, attacking the paint off a close out is what Kyle did. We don’t need TSJ attacking an already crowded paint, we need him drilling corner 3s. I think it is THE skill that will determine how much playing time he gets, because you don’t want someone who cannot shoot the long ball with Rudy.

I think that's a rather simplistic way of looking at the situation. A Shannon attack is much different than an Anderson attack. Part of the issue with Anderson is there was no need to close out on him. If Anderson attacked, his drive was so methodical that it didn't shift the defense. Guys will react to Shannon if he's on the perimeter. When that happens, he'll blow by them.

Read on Twitter

If you know he is a threat to drive and doesn’t want to shoot, you play off of him and make him shoot. If he is 33% from the corner that means he scores 1 point per 3PA from the corner. If he can do both, then defenses cannot leave him at all. You use the blow by and finish after you establish the corner 3. The better he is at the corner catch and shoot the more space he opens up for everybody else. This is why he should take the opportunity at SL to show he is a shooter, not a non shooter.

[Klomp]

If you know he is a threat to drive and doesn’t want to shoot, you play off of him and make him shoot. If he is 33% from the corner that means he scores 1 point per 3PA from the corner. If he can do both, then defenses cannot leave him at all. You use the blow by and finish after you establish the corner 3. The better he is at the corner catch and shoot the more space he opens up for everybody else. This is why he should take the opportunity at SL to show he is a shooter, not a non shooter.

There are very few players who get the "no closeout" disrespect. It's not a high bar he has to climb there.

[winforlose]

If you know he is a threat to drive and doesn’t want to shoot, you play off of him and make him shoot. If he is 33% from the corner that means he scores 1 point per 3PA from the corner. If he can do both, then defenses cannot leave him at all. You use the blow by and finish after you establish the corner 3. The better he is at the corner catch and shoot the more space he opens up for everybody else. This is why he should take the opportunity at SL to show he is a shooter, not a non shooter.

There are very few players who get the "no closeout" disrespect. It's not a high bar he has to climb there.

If you know he wants to drive off the catch, you play back. If you know he is gonna pop it, you close out hard. NBA has some of the best scouting reports in all of professional sports. In a 5 on 5 game it is much easier to break down and convey how to defend. They will cheat off and run out at a less capable shooter, especially if he WANTS to drive it. You need to establish the 3 to set up the drive.

Edit to add: go back and listen to Grady and Pete talk about the Wolves scouting reports on which guys need closeouts and how hard they close out to them.

[BlacJacMac]

If you know he is a threat to drive and doesn’t want to shoot, you play off of him and make him shoot. If he is 33% from the corner that means he scores 1 point per 3PA from the corner. If he can do both, then defenses cannot leave him at all. You use the blow by and finish after you establish the corner 3. The better he is at the corner catch and shoot the more space he opens up for everybody else. This is why he should take the opportunity at SL to show he is a shooter, not a non shooter.

There are very few players who get the "no closeout" disrespect. It's not a high bar he has to climb there.

If you know he wants to drive off the catch, you play back. If you know he is gonna pop it, you close out hard. NBA has some of the best scouting reports in all of professional sports. In a 5 on 5 game it is much easier to break down and convey how to defend. They will cheat off and run out at a less capable shooter, especially if he WANTS to drive it. You need to establish the 3 to set up the drive.

I'm hoping we're a little more dynamic than "park TSJ in the corner".

[winforlose]

There are very few players who get the "no closeout" disrespect. It's not a high bar he has to climb there.

If you know he wants to drive off the catch, you play back. If you know he is gonna pop it, you close out hard. NBA has some of the best scouting reports in all of professional sports. In a 5 on 5 game it is much easier to break down and convey how to defend. They will cheat off and run out at a less capable shooter, especially if he WANTS to drive it. You need to establish the 3 to set up the drive.

I'm hoping we're a little more dynamic than "park TSJ in the corner".

You say that, but what do you think we plan to do with Jingles? The lack of offensive structure often leads to parking guys in the corner. TSJ will have more flexibility and opportunities if he can space the floor.

[Klomp]

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[minimus]

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I still have phantom pains aka Jake Layman toe injury

[KGdaBom]

I think at the end of TJ's SL it is safe to conclude that he was a draft day steal.

[TheZachAttack]

If you know he is a threat to drive and doesn’t want to shoot, you play off of him and make him shoot. If he is 33% from the corner that means he scores 1 point per 3PA from the corner. If he can do both, then defenses cannot leave him at all. You use the blow by and finish after you establish the corner 3. The better he is at the corner catch and shoot the more space he opens up for everybody else. This is why he should take the opportunity at SL to show he is a shooter, not a non shooter.

There are very few players who get the "no closeout" disrespect. It's not a high bar he has to climb there.

I will say that I think this is probably mostly true in the regular season. In the post-season, teams will forsure let guys shoot. I am not really concerned about his shooting because in college he was a willing shooter and a willing tough 3 shooter. I think he’s confident in his shot. Ideally he’s Jaden McDaniels or better from 3 and even then teams will probably let him shoot with how good he is driving off the catch.