The Rob Dillingham Thread

BlacJacMac · Post #561 » by **BlacJacMac** » Wed Aug 7, 2024 12:43 am

If 2 of our 3 best players are out, we're very thin?

That's like saying if both Tatum and Brown are out, Boston is very thin...

Post #562 » by **Klomp** » Wed Aug 7, 2024 12:48 am

winforlose wrote:
thinktank wrote:What team has more center depth than us?

DPOY C, all-Star C, 6MOY PF / C.

I ask you.

For Klomp as well.

Naz is a PF who has transitioned away from the C. He didn’t really play much C last season, and he won’t this season. I said above that having both Karl and Rudy means we have the best backup C in the NBA. However, if Rudy and KAT are out on the same night, we are very thin. You might start Naz at C and move Jaden up, but behind them you have Miller and Garza. Minott could play PF but he isn’t built for it. You ask who has more big man depth, off the top of my head I believe ATL, Cleveland, and Utah. I would need to dig into more as I need to remember all the offseason moves and picks to answer this thoroughly. Your point is valid that proper depth in every position is hard. That said, we chose to go super shallow when we signed Garza and Dozier instead of actual NBA players.

If you are comparing Luka Garza or Leonard Miller to starting big men on other teams, yes you would obviously be disappointed and would say that they are underwhelming options.

However, if you go into a game understanding that these guys are a third-string fill-in option, I think you would probably go into the game understanding that they are better than any other team's third-string fill-in option.

frankenwolf · Post #563 » by **frankenwolf** » Wed Aug 7, 2024 6:16 pm

I think I am with W4L on the center situation. Naz can play small ball 5, but if Rudy AND KAT are out for an extended period of time, the C position is terrible. Could we have done better than Garza? I don't think so, as a 3rd center. However, the possibility is there that as Luka works on his coordination/foot speed, etc. he may be a passable C. His defense will never remind us of Rudy, but I think we will be ok.

All of that being said, I really hope that Dilly plays better than I think he will. PG in the NBA is a difficult position to step into and he is lucky that MN Mike will be around to mentor him, but as a rookie PG, he will have a massive learning curve.

thinktank · Post #564 » by **thinktank** » Wed Aug 7, 2024 10:00 pm

winforlose wrote:
thinktank wrote:What team has more center depth than us?

DPOY C, all-Star C, 6MOY PF / C.

I ask you.

For Klomp as well.

Naz is a PF who has transitioned away from the C. He didn’t really play much C last season, and he won’t this season. I said above that having both Karl and Rudy means we have the best backup C in the NBA. However, if Rudy and KAT are out on the same night, we are very thin. You might start Naz at C and move Jaden up, but behind them you have Miller and Garza. Minott could play PF but he isn’t built for it. You ask who has more big man depth, off the top of my head I believe ATL, Cleveland, and Utah. I would need to dig into more as I need to remember all the offseason moves and picks to answer this thoroughly. Your point is valid that proper depth in every position is hard. That said, we chose to go super shallow when we signed Garza and Dozier instead of actual NBA players.

So three teams have better C depth than us but those teams also don’t have the C talent we have.

In other words, we have the best Cs in the league, overall.

I’m sorry. I cannot be concerned about our 3rd C the way you are.

Go ahead and raise a stink about 3rd C.

I think you’re crying wolf left and right, no pun intended.

KGdaBom · Post #565 » by **KGdaBom** » Wed Aug 7, 2024 10:30 pm

thinktank wrote:
winforlose wrote:
thinktank wrote:What team has more center depth than us?

DPOY C, all-Star C, 6MOY PF / C.

I ask you.

For Klomp as well.

Naz is a PF who has transitioned away from the C. He didn’t really play much C last season, and he won’t this season. I said above that having both Karl and Rudy means we have the best backup C in the NBA. However, if Rudy and KAT are out on the same night, we are very thin. You might start Naz at C and move Jaden up, but behind them you have Miller and Garza. Minott could play PF but he isn’t built for it. You ask who has more big man depth, off the top of my head I believe ATL, Cleveland, and Utah. I would need to dig into more as I need to remember all the offseason moves and picks to answer this thoroughly. Your point is valid that proper depth in every position is hard. That said, we chose to go super shallow when we signed Garza and Dozier instead of actual NBA players.

So three teams have better C depth than us but those teams also don’t have the C talent we have.

In other words, we have the best Cs in the league, overall.

I’m sorry. I cannot be concerned about our 3rd C the way you are.

Go ahead and raise a stink about 3rd C.

I think you’re crying wolf left and right, no pun intended.

I'm with you. Making an issue over #3 at any position is ridiculous.

KGdaBom · Post #566 » by **KGdaBom** » Thu Aug 8, 2024 7:21 am

Are teams cool with top draft picks playing in Pro Ams during the off season?

Watch on YouTube

shrink · Post #567 » by **shrink** » Thu Aug 8, 2024 1:50 pm

I think we have better quality at center than most teams, but worse depth.

Our third stringer (Garza) is a vet min guy that would probably still be on a two-way of it was legal. I question whether Naz is even a center, after transforming his body from 270 pound center to 230 pound big wing, and Naz really can’t defend centers anyway.

That said, this isn’t unusual. We have two players who were multiple All NBA centers, so those are the players we want to get on the court at that position. When team-building, few great options as third centers are going to want to come to MIN, and ride the bench multiple entire games. A big injury to a star player is going to hurt most teams at their position.

shrink · Post #568 » by **shrink** » Thu Aug 8, 2024 1:52 pm

winforlose wrote: is a PF who has transitioned away from the C.

The word choice made me chuckle. :wink:

Post #569 » by **Klomp** » Thu Aug 8, 2024 6:04 pm

KGdaBom wrote:Are teams cool with top draft picks playing in Pro Ams during the off season?

Yes. Happens every summer.

KGdaBom · Post #570 » by **KGdaBom** » Fri Aug 9, 2024 12:03 am

Klomp wrote:
KGdaBom wrote:Are teams cool with top draft picks playing in Pro Ams during the off season?

Yes. Happens every summer.

You can look at it like training/practice staying in shape. I remember Chet missing a whole season due to a Pro/Am.

winforlose · Post #571 » by **winforlose** » Fri Aug 9, 2024 2:09 am

KGdaBom wrote:
Klomp wrote:
KGdaBom wrote:Are teams cool with top draft picks playing in Pro Ams during the off season?

Yes. Happens every summer.

You can look at it like training/practice staying in shape. I remember Chet missing a whole season due to a Pro/Am.

Yeah, a wet floor and a wrong step caused a foot injury. I was really sad at the time as I have a bias in favor of any Minnesota native making it to the pros in sports.

BlacJacMac · Post #572 » by **BlacJacMac** » Fri Aug 9, 2024 2:35 am

KGdaBom wrote:
Klomp wrote:
KGdaBom wrote:Are teams cool with top draft picks playing in Pro Ams during the off season?

Yes. Happens every summer.

You can look at it like training/practice staying in shape. I remember Chet missing a whole season due to a Pro/Am.

It’s not just draft picks. You know Chet was guarding LeBron when it happened, right?

KGdaBom · Post #573 » by **KGdaBom** » Fri Aug 9, 2024 2:50 am

BlacJacMac wrote:
KGdaBom wrote:
Klomp wrote:Yes. Happens every summer.

You can look at it like training/practice staying in shape. I remember Chet missing a whole season due to a Pro/Am.

It’s not just draft picks. You know Chet was guarding LeBron when it happened, right?

I did not know. Very interesting.

BlacJacMac · Post #574 » by **BlacJacMac** » Fri Aug 9, 2024 3:14 am

KGdaBom wrote:
BlacJacMac wrote:
KGdaBom wrote:You can look at it like training/practice staying in shape. I remember Chet missing a whole season due to a Pro/Am.

It’s not just draft picks. You know Chet was guarding LeBron when it happened, right?

I did not know. Very interesting.

The play:

Watch on YouTube

TheZachAttack · Post #575 » by **TheZachAttack** » Sat Aug 10, 2024 10:56 pm

I am probably as optimistic about RD's ability as a PG as anyone on this board. In addition, I am probably the least concerned about his defense. In summer league, none of the opposing teams perimeter players shot efficiently against the Wolves when RD was on the floor. I think RD showed more than expected in terms of his compete level on defense and his ability to stay in front of opposing guards (of which pretty much all of the guards the Wolves played were/are NBA rotation caliber guards).

Teams did try to exploit RD's slight frame and lack of length by backing him down into the post. Opposing teams guards were able to back him down into the post pretty much as they wanted. That being said, for me, I don't think that backing down RD into the paint and trying to get shots up over him with Rudy, KAT, and Jaden mucking up the paint around him is a recipe of offense that hurts the Wolves. Rob showed some ability with his hands to strip balls as the player went up for shots and that along with taking tough midrange shots is not a recipe for a high-efficiency offense.

That being said, I do think the Wolves have made a mistake by not adding another point guard to this roster that can be trusted. It's a bummer that Monte Morris went to the Suns and that the Wolves could not bring back McLaughlin. The Wolves are in trouble if Mike Conley misses any time. This may not matter in the regular season that much, but if Conley were to miss the playoffs teams would be able to muck up our offense pretty much by playing physical and guarding our initiators full court like we did to Denver. I don't think we want Rob playing this role heavily in crucial minutes and I don't think we want Ant doing that either. I don't think we have anyone on our roster other than these 2 that can even do it as well as they can either.

Folklore · Post #576 » by **Folklore** » Sun Aug 11, 2024 5:21 pm

KGdaBom wrote:Are teams cool with top draft picks playing in Pro Ams during the off season?

Watch on YouTube

It bothers me how many times he gets blocked at the rim since being drafted. Does anyone know if he usually misjudges his defenders like this? This may be a hot take but I believe that JMac will be a better player. I feel like Robs body is just too small to defend and create space for himself. And for whatever reason now our roster can hide a PG who can't guard when for JMac he was a liability? JMac is a sneaky athletic pest on the court and I don't see that from Rob because being a pest without fouling is a real skill.

Note30 · Post #577 » by **Note30** » Sun Aug 11, 2024 6:17 pm

Folklore wrote:
KGdaBom wrote:Are teams cool with top draft picks playing in Pro Ams during the off season?

Watch on YouTube

It bothers me how many times he gets blocked at the rim since being drafted. Does anyone know if he usually misjudges his defenders like this? This may be a hot take but I believe that JMac will be a better player. I feel like Robs body is just too small to defend and create space for himself. And for whatever reason now our roster can hide a PG who can't guard when for JMac he was a liability? JMac is a sneaky athletic pest on the court and I don't see that from Rob because being a pest without fouling is a real skill.

Just depends on his attitude with coaches. I think some of those things are coachable, but I don't think it's a one season fix.

KGdaBom · Post #578 » by **KGdaBom** » Sun Aug 11, 2024 6:20 pm

Note30 wrote:
Folklore wrote:
KGdaBom wrote:Are teams cool with top draft picks playing in Pro Ams during the off season?

Watch on YouTube

It bothers me how many times he gets blocked at the rim since being drafted. Does anyone know if he usually misjudges his defenders like this? This may be a hot take but I believe that JMac will be a better player. I feel like Robs body is just too small to defend and create space for himself. And for whatever reason now our roster can hide a PG who can't guard when for JMac he was a liability? JMac is a sneaky athletic pest on the court and I don't see that from Rob because being a pest without fouling is a real skill.

Just depends on his attitude with coaches. I think some of those things are coachable, but I don't think it's a one season fix.

I think he's fine just the way he is and is only going to get even better.

Pointgod · Post #579 » by **Pointgod** » Sun Aug 11, 2024 7:54 pm

Will be checking in on this thread throughout the season. I thought the Dilligham trade was a bold move from your front office. Excited to see how he develops on a contending team.

Note30 · Post #580 » by **Note30** » Sun Aug 11, 2024 8:10 pm

KGdaBom wrote:
Note30 wrote:
Folklore wrote:
It bothers me how many times he gets blocked at the rim since being drafted. Does anyone know if he usually misjudges his defenders like this? This may be a hot take but I believe that JMac will be a better player. I feel like Robs body is just too small to defend and create space for himself. And for whatever reason now our roster can hide a PG who can't guard when for JMac he was a liability? JMac is a sneaky athletic pest on the court and I don't see that from Rob because being a pest without fouling is a real skill.

Just depends on his attitude with coaches. I think some of those things are coachable, but I don't think it's a one season fix.

I think he's fine just the way he is and is only going to get even better.

Of course you do.