Knicks at Timberwolves, 8:30 pm local, TNT

[MN7725]

ANT's comments post-game
lack of space at rim (which he's been saying since Gobert trade to be fair)
lack of identity on offense

don't think he's happy at the position he's been put in by either his coach or GM

Given that Anthony Edwards has thrown multiple games this season with his horrible hero-ball, I would strongly suggest to him that a lot of the problems are self-inflicted.

Dude is a black hole, the lack of offensively flow is as (if not more) attributable to him than it is Julius Randle.

hero ball happens more when a player doesn't trust his teammates

thats the point

i'm just curious if the Wolves will accommodate ANT in either lineup or roster

[shrink]

Timberwolves are 9-1 when the opponent scores under 105 points this season, 5-10 (about to be 5-11?) when they score over 105 points.

I was going to ask a smart ass question, “what’s our record when we give up 133?”

Then I looked at last night’s scores. Two other teams gave up 133, and GSW gave up 144! Last night’s game was a disaster, but I think our typical good defense has sheltered me from the rise of scoring for the rest of the NBA. For me, I think the Wolves have had a good defensive game if they hold their opponents under 100, and that’s probably not fair any more.

[TimberKat]

While this is just one game in a long season. This loss and the way it happened, feels worse than any of the playoff loss to DAL or MEM. Is it the all time Twolves lowlight game? I can't think of another one that is as embarrassing or disappointing. Sure, a couple of the DAL loss was bad, but there was hope.

I can't think of anyone that is happy besides Danny Ainge right now. NYK fans aren't all that happy because they expect to screw everyone on every trade anyway, so, just business as usual for them.

[Klomp]

Timberwolves are 9-1 when the opponent scores under 105 points this season, 5-10 (about to be 5-11?) when they score over 105 points.

I was going to ask a smart ass question, “what’s our record when we give up 133?”

Then I looked at last night’s scores. Two other teams gave up 133, and GSW gave up 144! Last night’s game was a disaster, but I think our typical good defense has sheltered me from the rise of scoring for the rest of the NBA. For me, I think the Wolves have had a good defensive game if they hold their opponents under 100, and that’s probably not fair any more.

On the whole, I think "good defensive game" probably falls in that 110 range, sliding anywhere from 105 to 115 depending on the opponent.

Last year, the sharp decline happened at 112 points. 6-20 when they allowed 112 or more, 50-6 when they allowed 111 or fewer.

[KATKlownFeet]

While this is just one game in a long season. This loss and the way it happened, feels worse than any of the playoff loss to DAL or MEM. Is it the all time Twolves lowlight game? I can't think of another one that is as embarrassing or disappointing. Sure, a couple of the DAL loss was bad, but there was hope.

I can't think of anyone that is happy besides Danny Ainge right now. NYK fans aren't all that happy because they expect to screw everyone on every trade anyway, so, just business as usual for them.

I can. The whole Spurs organization and fanbase has to be salivating over those two future Wolves picks.

[Muskies97]

I REEEEEAALLLY wish we leaned into the KAT-Centric 5 out offense more in MN bruh. I've always believed that if you aren't squeezing every bit of offensive impact out of Towns, you are using him incorrectly. His current situation is basically a 2.0 version of the old Rosas 1-3-1 Timberwolves of 2019-2021. These guys offer elite spacing-shooting-movement all around which maximizes his gravity and truly punishes teams for trying to double KAT.

If you remember back in 2019-20, KAT was having some of the most dominant individual stretches of his career, whilst surrounded by the a pretty trash supporting cast of guys mostly out the league rn. I'm not surprised a team built to maximize his offensive impact can dominate like this when surrounded by a legit co-star + a quality supporting cast. I believe in this Knicks Team a lot tbh.

[Klomp]

I REEEEEAALLLY wish we leaned into the KAT-Centric 5 out offense more in MN bruh. I've always believed that if you aren't squeezing every bit of offensive impact out of Towns, you are using him incorrectly. His current situation is basically a 2.0 version of the old Rosas 1-3-1 Timberwolves of 2019-2021. These guys offer elite spacing-shooting-movement all around which maximizes his gravity and truly punishes teams for trying to double KAT.

If you remember back in 2019-20, KAT was having some of the most dominant individual stretches of his career, whilst surrounded by the a pretty trash supporting cast of guys mostly out the league rn. I'm not surprised a team built to maximize his offensive impact can dominate like this when surrounded by a legit co-star + a quality supporting cast. I believe in this Knicks Team a lot tbh.

This I absolutely agree with. And I think it has a higher chance in New York than it did here, in part due to being in the East but also because he has better pieces around him.

I don't know if it will be enough to beat the Celtics though. And with the offseason New York had, that's the curve the trade's success will be judged by.

[TimberKat]

I REEEEEAALLLY wish we leaned into the KAT-Centric 5 out offense more in MN bruh. I've always believed that if you aren't squeezing every bit of offensive impact out of Towns, you are using him incorrectly. His current situation is basically a 2.0 version of the old Rosas 1-3-1 Timberwolves of 2019-2021. These guys offer elite spacing-shooting-movement all around which maximizes his gravity and truly punishes teams for trying to double KAT.

If you remember back in 2019-20, KAT was having some of the most dominant individual stretches of his career, whilst surrounded by the a pretty trash supporting cast of guys mostly out the league rn. I'm not surprised a team built to maximize his offensive impact can dominate like this when surrounded by a legit co-star + a quality supporting cast. I believe in this Knicks Team a lot tbh.

This I absolutely agree with. And I think it has a higher chance in New York than it did here, in part due to being in the East but also because he has better pieces around him.

I don't know if it will be enough to beat the Celtics though. And with the offseason New York had, that's the curve the trade's success will be judged by.

OG is too small. If they get Simmons on a cheap contract or get someone Aaron Gordon may work. Also, when Robinson comes back, I can see they go two bigs, which end up looking like Wolves.

[Klomp]

In their last 4 head-to-head meetings, Karl-Anthony Towns is 3-1 against Rudy Gobert with a stat line of 24.8 ppg and 12.5 rpg on 33-54 (.611) shooting.

[Klomp]

I REEEEEAALLLY wish we leaned into the KAT-Centric 5 out offense more in MN bruh. I've always believed that if you aren't squeezing every bit of offensive impact out of Towns, you are using him incorrectly. His current situation is basically a 2.0 version of the old Rosas 1-3-1 Timberwolves of 2019-2021. These guys offer elite spacing-shooting-movement all around which maximizes his gravity and truly punishes teams for trying to double KAT.

If you remember back in 2019-20, KAT was having some of the most dominant individual stretches of his career, whilst surrounded by the a pretty trash supporting cast of guys mostly out the league rn. I'm not surprised a team built to maximize his offensive impact can dominate like this when surrounded by a legit co-star + a quality supporting cast. I believe in this Knicks Team a lot tbh.

This I absolutely agree with. And I think it has a higher chance in New York than it did here, in part due to being in the East but also because he has better pieces around him.

I don't know if it will be enough to beat the Celtics though. And with the offseason New York had, that's the curve the trade's success will be judged by.

OG is too small. If they get Simmons on a cheap contract or get someone Aaron Gordon may work. Also, when Robinson comes back, I can see they go two bigs, which end up looking like Wolves.

That's the weak spot, along with the lack of overall depth. I'm not saying Anunoby is a bad player, but he will be an undersized 4 in the playoffs a lot like Jarred Vanderbilt was. In his favor though is being a non-negative shooter.

[TimberKat]

That's the weak spot, along with the lack of overall depth. I'm not saying Anunoby is a bad player, but he will be an undersized 4 in the playoffs a lot like Jarred Vanderbilt was. In his favor though is being a non-negative shooter.

Yes, I don't think he is bad either. It's a matter of fit. I feel like he is a in-between 3-4.

[TheZachAttack]

I'm not sure if this has been discussed, but one thing that has also hurt the Wolves is whoever told Ant he has to either be passive or try to get to the rim. Ant needs to "lace that bih" like earlier in the season. I totally agree that the best version of Ant is probably not taking 15 3's per game. But the best version of Ant on this team with this spacing, definitely is taking 15 3's per game. And the best chance he has to open up any spacing on that starting unit is taking 15 3's per game. And the second best skill he has outside of his downhill force, is his 3 point shooting. I actually might argue his 3 point shooting is his best skill.

Ant should be firing, preferably as much catch and shoot as possible but he should be taking 15 3's per game. Especially if the alternative is a night like last night and/or Jaden/Randle/Conley 3's.

[Domejandro]

ANT's comments post-game
lack of space at rim (which he's been saying since Gobert trade to be fair)
lack of identity on offense

don't think he's happy at the position he's been put in by either his coach or GM

Given that Anthony Edwards has thrown multiple games this season with his horrible hero-ball, I would strongly suggest to him that a lot of the problems are self-inflicted.

Dude is a black hole, the lack of offensively flow is as (if not more) attributable to him than it is Julius Randle.

hero ball happens more when a player doesn't trust his teammates

thats the point

i'm just curious if the Wolves will accommodate ANT in either lineup or roster

He must have really not trusted KAT, because the Anthony Edwards hero ball woes have been a problem his entire career.

Being honest, I kind of just think that this is the level of facilitator that he is, for better and for worse.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

ANT's comments post-game
lack of space at rim (which he's been saying since Gobert trade to be fair)
lack of identity on offense

don't think he's happy at the position he's been put in by either his coach or GM

Given that Anthony Edwards has thrown multiple games this season with his horrible hero-ball, I would strongly suggest to him that a lot of the problems are self-inflicted.

Dude is a black hole, the lack of offensively flow is as (if not more) attributable to him than it is Julius Randle.

+1, When you don't realize you're part of the problem, there is no chance you find the solution. The trade has been terrible but ANT is not playing well at crutch time. In the last 6 we win, it's not by chance that our best time came early in the 4th when him and Randle were on the bench.

Yesterday loss was not an offensive issue but getting outrebounded and playing not much defense.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

ANT's comments post-game
lack of space at rim (which he's been saying since Gobert trade to be fair)
lack of identity on offense

don't think he's happy at the position he's been put in by either his coach or GM

Given that Anthony Edwards has thrown multiple games this season with his horrible hero-ball, I would strongly suggest to him that a lot of the problems are self-inflicted.

Dude is a black hole, the lack of offensively flow is as (if not more) attributable to him than it is Julius Randle.

hero ball happens more when a player doesn't trust his teammates

thats the point

i'm just curious if the Wolves will accommodate ANT in either lineup or roster

Or when your BBIQ is not that smart... time will tell. Start to having doubt on ANT ability to be a real leader. He is young so i still have hope but his communication, the way he did manage his personal life.... are indeed questionable.
I hope i'm wrong as he is one of the most talented guy i ever seen but talent himself is not enough.

[Dewey]

Given that Anthony Edwards has thrown multiple games this season with his horrible hero-ball, I would strongly suggest to him that a lot of the problems are self-inflicted.

Dude is a black hole, the lack of offensively flow is as (if not more) attributable to him than it is Julius Randle.

hero ball happens more when a player doesn't trust his teammates

thats the point

i'm just curious if the Wolves will accommodate ANT in either lineup or roster

Or when your BBIQ is not that smart... time will tell. Start to having doubt on ANT ability to be a real leader. He is young so i still have hope but his communication, the way he did manage his personal life.... are indeed questionable.
I hope i'm wrong as he is one of the most talented guy i ever seen but talent himself is not enough.

We need an elite PG … we’ve needed that leadership for years

[shrink]

Greg Popovich had a quote that went something like, “Every season, you’re going to have a half dozen games where you can’t miss, and a half dozen games where you can’t do anything right. What kind of team you are is determined by the other games.”

Last night, starting in the second quarter, we had one of those games. This doesn’t mean the other games, good ones and bad ones, don’t matter, but we need to keep this in perspective.

[shrink]

I will also add that I have liked that people have been willing to look at other players for what went wrong, instead of instantly going to their own personal scapegoats. Naz Reid, Conley and Gobert each had 3 points. THREE guys, THREE points each.

I know people like to blame Randle for everything, but there is plenty of blame to go around for everybody this game.

[Loaf_of_bread]

I will also add that I have liked that people have been willing to look at other players for what went wrong, instead of instantly going to their own personal scapegoats. Naz Reid, Conley and Gobert each had 3 points. THREE guys, THREE points each.

I know people like to blame Randle for everything, but there is plenty of blame to go around for everybody this game.

It would be interesting though to see us play without Randle.

[younggunsmn]

KAT had 32 points on 12 (yes 12) FGA, 20 rebounds and 6 assists.
Gobert had 3 points and 4 rebounds on 1 (yes 1) FGA and was 1/4 from the line.
We've seen games like this from KAT before. We all like to forget that and just remember the bad playoff games.
Julius Randle spent the whole game going 1 on 5 per usual.

TC brought Gobert in here to put his mark on the franchise, with IMHO the idea of trading away KAT from the beginning.

Skill and offensive talent matter way more in this league than anything else and TC bet his entire legacy on a guy who can't shoot an 8 foot jump shot. After building that legacy on lucking into maybe the most skilled big man to ever play the game when his european scouts found Jokic in the 2nd round. It boggles the mind.

The talent downgrade in that trade is just ridiculously massive.
We are going to be fighting just to get into the playoffs for the rest of Ant's time here now.
It's time for TC to go.

On the other hand I'm really happy for KAT.
He's got a coach who understands what he does well (score and rebound) and has fully unleashed him after 2 years of being asked to sacrifice his game and move out of the paint to accomodate a guy with ZERO offensive skill.

Thibs was a terrible GM but always a great coach. And he adapts his system to his players. Unlike FInch.
But in Finch's defense he had his GM make a massive trade that forced a guy on him that permanently screws up everything he wants to do on the offensive end of the floor.
TWICE.