Post Game Thoughts. At Bucks.

[winforlose]

Small ball says it all. Outside of KAT no was big enough to guard a certain Greek Freak or their actual center Lopez. MCD did his best but he lacked sufficient weight. Vando was both too slow and too weak. Naz and to a degree KAT are PFs playing C. We need some true size to match up. The open 3s were all created by their bigs kicking out.

Agree but let's not pretend like KAT wasn't abused last night. In 35 minutes he doesn't even have one block to show it. Giannis destroyed him on 1-1 inside.

The rest well, is something that a few of us talked in the pre-season and we were slammed back then. You can't go for a season, a must win season with this rotation of bigs that we have.

KAT was often out of position because he was trying to help against the drive and GA or Lopez or whoever would get inside position. KAT needed to take the charge a few times but was probably worried they would call the foul on him. That said, you are correct that KAT is not good enough at defense to stop the Greak Freak, especially when he tries to do it without help.

As for the other bigs, no one outside of the wolves FO thinks small ball is a winning formula. Houston literally just abandoned it because they couldn’t make it work. For every one team who lacks the size to make you pay there are two or three more that will do what the Bucks did to us tonight. You cannot always play help D, when you do you free up open 3 point shooters. Naz is a 6’9 PF with some limitations that make him look like a center. That said, if he can become consistent from deep and learn to rebound properly he can play PF and be a serious threat in the low post.

[Sugarless]

KAT's defense was hot trash. He was incredibly slow and soft, and he avoided contact not just against Giannis but against Lopez and anyone who entered the paint. He really needs to step it up defensively if he wants his teams to get anywhere. You just can't live with such poor defense from your C.

Edwards was a calamity on both ends.

In any case last night was just more of the same, and that's to be expected when the coach hasn't been there for more than a full day. The only improvement was that we saw Towns have more of a central role on offense, but that was it. Same standing around, same **** watching Edwards run the offense while Rubio's parked on a corner, same inability to attack the paint and of course the exact same lack of defense they've shown so far. I'm hoping we see something else tonight, but the roster is what it is, there are 4 NBA rotation players right now (Rubio, Russell, Beasley, Towns -and no, I'm not counting Edwards who's a terrible player at the moment, he needs a lot of time and developing) and none of them is a superstar who can carry a team. The FO needs to do a MUCH better job and the new HC needs to implement new things ASAP, cause bad habits die hard and that's twice as true with the Timberwolves.

[perik777]

[I would say that Rubio is shooting well in the last games. 48% FG and 45% 3P in the last 5 games. At least he cant be left open

I didn’t see tonight’s game, but against the Knicks, Thibs was falling off him to try to keep Beasley from getting the ball, so Rubio’s numbers should be better.

But the main reason I wanted to comment is that you have it exactly right .. Rubio doesn’t need to be a great shooter - he just has to be good enough that you can’t leave him open. He already makes great passes, but if he has even a small amount of gravity, he will pick teams apart with his passing.

Rubio is shooting 30% three’s right now, but two of his previous years, in UTA and PHX, he shot 35.2% and 36.1%. I don’t think we should dismiss the idea that he can be an effective enough shooter that teams can’t just be left open, without him making them pay.

Thtas whayt i mean. Rubio is shooting 30% in 3P because that massive shooting slump he had in January (1 of 18). In his last five games he has shot 44% and in his last ten he is over 40%. That should be great news, once players start playing under the new coach.

[Jedzz]

One positive is the spring, late february, march especially, was always the time of year Rubio would start shooting a little better. He's a cyclic wonderball.

[AbeVigodaLive]

You’re going to have a bad time if the other team hits 20 3s

Wolves hit 19.

[Dewey]

I followed the play by play a bit ...
mil layup
Min miss
Mil ft,ft
Min miss
Mil layup
Min miss
Mil ft,ft

... then I shut it off

[TheZachAttack]

I will agree that I'm pretty disappointed in Vando. I thought he'd be great next to Towns but he has not been.

Vanderbilt's greatest asset is his rebounding. That's simply not something in Towns' game that needs to be covered up.

It is something in Naz's game that needs to be covered up.

[TheZachAttack]

You’re going to have a bad time if the other team hits 20 3s

Wolves hit 19.

So your response to the 20 3's statement is to lean on the fact that the Wolves made 1 less 3 point shot on about 20 more attempts?

[AbeVigodaLive]

You’re going to have a bad time if the other team hits 20 3s

Wolves hit 19.

So your response to the 20 3's statement is to lean on the fact that the Wolves made 1 less 3 point shot on about 20 more attempts?

12 more attempts.

[Calinks]

Vando will bounce back but he's limited. Also again, we are relying too much on young players. Even our vets are young, Rosas is going to have to bring in some more stability. A combination of Finch doing a hell o a coaching job (if he can) and the team playing some more established vets is what's needed over the course of the season if you want to see a leap.

Youngins like Naz Reid, Jmac, Vando, McDaniels, Edwards ain't gonna get it done when all playing together so much, especially when playing with guys like KAT, Beasley, and DlO who don't really have it totally figured out either though KAT and DLO have a lot more experience than even Beasley.

[Baseline81]

Vando will bounce back but he's limited. Also again, we are relying too much on young players. Even our vets are young, Rosas is going to have to bring in some more stability. A combination of Finch doing a hell o a coaching job (if he can) and the team playing some more established vets is what's needed over the course of the season if you want to see a leap.

Youngins like Naz Reid, Jmac, Vando, McDaniels, Edwards ain't gonna get it done when all playing together so much, especially when playing with guys like KAT, Beasley, and DlO who don't really have it totally figured out either though KAT and DLO have a lot more experience than even Beasley.

At this point, I'd rather not see the leap the remainder of the season -- take our 40% chance at a top-3 pick.

[Sugarless]

Vando will bounce back but he's limited. Also again, we are relying too much on young players. Even our vets are young, Rosas is going to have to bring in some more stability. A combination of Finch doing a hell o a coaching job (if he can) and the team playing some more established vets is what's needed over the course of the season if you want to see a leap.

Youngins like Naz Reid, Jmac, Vando, McDaniels, Edwards ain't gonna get it done when all playing together so much, especially when playing with guys like KAT, Beasley, and DlO who don't really have it totally figured out either though KAT and DLO have a lot more experience than even Beasley.

At this point, I'd rather not see the leap the remainder of the season -- take our 40% chance at a top-3 pick.

There's really no incentive to tank for a 40% chance at a top-3 pick when it'll cost you your 1st rounder in next year's "double draft". The Wolves are screwed either way when it comes to that draft pick, so no need to push for one outcome or the other at the expense of losing. That'll only take a bigger toll on the players, coaches and FO.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Vando will bounce back but he's limited. Also again, we are relying too much on young players. Even our vets are young, Rosas is going to have to bring in some more stability. A combination of Finch doing a hell o a coaching job (if he can) and the team playing some more established vets is what's needed over the course of the season if you want to see a leap.

Youngins like Naz Reid, Jmac, Vando, McDaniels, Edwards ain't gonna get it done when all playing together so much, especially when playing with guys like KAT, Beasley, and DlO who don't really have it totally figured out either though KAT and DLO have a lot more experience than even Beasley.

At this point, I'd rather not see the leap the remainder of the season -- take our 40% chance at a top-3 pick.

There's really no incentive to tank for a 40% chance at a top-3 pick when it'll cost you your 1st rounder in next year's "double draft". The Wolves are screwed either way when it comes to that draft pick, so no need to push for one outcome or the other at the expense of losing. That'll only take a bigger toll on the players, coaches and FO.

Rosas is into the numbers. And the numbers say that 40% is >>>>>>>>> 0%. That's indisputable. He also doesn't have an infinite time in the role. Eventually, he'll need to get out of the basement, preferably sooner than later. That should tell us how the remainder of the season will go.

That being said... There have been fleeting few seasons when the Wolves have actively tried to win games. And I think that's the fundamental problem with the organization. Rosas hasn't been here, so he doesn't really know, nor care, about that.

But fans are deservedly sour about one dog-and-pony show after another telling us to simply be patient for the organization not being able to do what 29 other organizations have done.

[Heimdal]

Ideally, we get lucky, don't lose the pick, draft a talent, fix the roster and next year be good and give the Warriors a non-lottery pick.

Russell Beasley Edwards Towns go nowhere, though. Low IQ, no defense.

[Sugarless]

At this point, I'd rather not see the leap the remainder of the season -- take our 40% chance at a top-3 pick.

There's really no incentive to tank for a 40% chance at a top-3 pick when it'll cost you your 1st rounder in next year's "double draft". The Wolves are screwed either way when it comes to that draft pick, so no need to push for one outcome or the other at the expense of losing. That'll only take a bigger toll on the players, coaches and FO.

Rosas is into the numbers. And the numbers say that 40% is >>>>>>>>> 0%. That's indisputable. He also doesn't have an infinite time in the role. Eventually, he'll need to get out of the basement, preferably sooner than later. That should tell us how the remainder of the season will go.

That being said... There have been fleeting few seasons when the Wolves have actively tried to win games. And I think that's the fundamental problem with the organization. Rosas hasn't been here, so he doesn't really know, nor care, about that.

But fans are deservedly sour about one dog-and-pony show after another telling us to simply be patient for the organization not being able to do what 29 other organizations have done.

Rosas is definitely into the numbers, so that's why he knows that the only way the Wolves have a 0% chance at a top-3 pick is if they get into the playoffs, which is not happening.

The Wolves are so deep down the standings that they could manage to get a few extra wins and yet end up with the 5th worst record in the league, which would still give them a 34% chance at a top-3 pick (pretty close to that best-case 40%). But they would be actually trying to win and grow, instead of continuing to feel and be portrayed as perennial losers and the laughingstock of the league, which will only be enhanced if they tank the season, finish with the worst record and end up giving a 4th pick to the Warriors, instead of the 9th or 10th that they could get if the Wolves actually compete and climb enough spots.

[AbeVigodaLive]

There's really no incentive to tank for a 40% chance at a top-3 pick when it'll cost you your 1st rounder in next year's "double draft". The Wolves are screwed either way when it comes to that draft pick, so no need to push for one outcome or the other at the expense of losing. That'll only take a bigger toll on the players, coaches and FO.

Rosas is into the numbers. And the numbers say that 40% is >>>>>>>>> 0%. That's indisputable. He also doesn't have an infinite time in the role. Eventually, he'll need to get out of the basement, preferably sooner than later. That should tell us how the remainder of the season will go.

That being said... There have been fleeting few seasons when the Wolves have actively tried to win games. And I think that's the fundamental problem with the organization. Rosas hasn't been here, so he doesn't really know, nor care, about that.

But fans are deservedly sour about one dog-and-pony show after another telling us to simply be patient for the organization not being able to do what 29 other organizations have done.

Rosas is definitely into the numbers, so that's why he knows that the only way the Wolves have a 0% chance at a top-3 pick is if they get into the playoffs, which is not happening.

The Wolves are so deep down the standings that they could manage to get a few extra wins and yet end up with the 5th worst record in the league, which would still give them a 34% chance at a top-3 pick (pretty close to that best-case 40%). But they would be actually trying to win and grow, instead of continuing to feel and be portrayed as perennial losers and the laughingstock of the league, which will only be enhanced if they tank the season, finish with the worst record and end up giving a 4th pick to the Warriors, instead of the 9th or 10th that they could get if the Wolves actually compete and climb enough spots.

I'm not sure if there's a Timberwolves fan out there who is ready for the Wolves to commit to winning more than me. So I'm all in on that.

I'm 100% over hoping and praying for the next great Promise of Hope. Try to win. Actually win. And make that the goal for every member of the organization.

That's the only thing that matters.

[UnFadeable21]

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[NebWolvesFan]

Vando will bounce back but he's limited. Also again, we are relying too much on young players. Even our vets are young, Rosas is going to have to bring in some more stability. A combination of Finch doing a hell o a coaching job (if he can) and the team playing some more established vets is what's needed over the course of the season if you want to see a leap.

Youngins like Naz Reid, Jmac, Vando, McDaniels, Edwards ain't gonna get it done when all playing together so much, especially when playing with guys like KAT, Beasley, and DlO who don't really have it totally figured out either though KAT and DLO have a lot more experience than even Beasley.

It's important to remember that Vando is only 21. He's still very young and could easily improve. He already has an NBA talent as a rebounder and plays solid defense. I worry that Minnesota getting a top 3 pick would mean Minnesota will lose him in RFA and he will continue to develop with another organization.

[Jedzz]

Wolves hit 19.

So your response to the 20 3's statement is to lean on the fact that the Wolves made 1 less 3 point shot on about 20 more attempts?

12 more attempts.

12 possessions wasted by poor shooting. If they shot 12 more attempts even hitting 33% is 4 made and 12 more points. I don't remember the score, would it have done the trick at 33% shooting?

[AbeVigodaLive]

So your response to the 20 3's statement is to lean on the fact that the Wolves made 1 less 3 point shot on about 20 more attempts?

12 more attempts.

12 possessions wasted by poor shooting. If they shot 12 more attempts even hitting 33% is 4 made and 12 more points. I don't remember the score, would it have done the trick at 33% shooting?

Huh?

That's my original point. It's not just the volume... it's the efficiency.