McHale's thoughts on the Timberwolves

cpfsf · Post #1 » by **cpfsf** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 7:59 pm

http://www.startribune.com/blogs/53702862.html

Post #2 » by **Calinks** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:09 pm

Well I totally agree with the closer thing. We absolutely need to find that player. I don't think anyone on the roster is capable of doing that. Hopefully we blow everybody out by 10+ so we don't get put in that situation often. I also see where he is coming from with the low post scoring. You need to have that in big games. Darko isn''t going to be that guy. Still the team looks much better and this is a big step if everything proves out. Still, getting Cousins may have been the low post piece we needed if we were intent of trading Al. He moves the ball as good as any bit and he is versatile. Huge upgrade over Darko offensively right now.

And just playing 2K11, these are issues. In close online games I cannot go inside, we can't do anything. Flynn and Johnson are basically my go to guys and they are hit and miss.

Krapinsky · Post #3 » by **Krapinsky** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:23 pm

Flynn definitely has the potential to be our closer. Just let him drive and dish. He should be able to take anyone in the NBA off the dribble. With Love, Beasley or Tolliver, Webster, and Ellington or Johnson, we can put four shooters around Flynn in a game winning shot scenario.

Post #4 » by **Calinks** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:29 pm

Krapinsky wrote:Flynn definitely has the potential to be our closer. Just let him drive and dish. He should be able to take anyone in the NBA off the dribble. With Love, Beasley or Tolliver, Webster, and Ellington or Johnson, we can put four shooters around Flynn in a game winning shot scenario.

Yea. I think it's worth a try at least. Rubio is coming over next season anyway so we might as well put Flynn through the paces and see what he can do. He has the speed and the handles.

cpfsf · Post #5 » by **cpfsf** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:50 pm

I wonder if Kahn has any intention of keeping both Flynn and Ridnour if Rubio does indeed come over in 2011.

BTW, does anyone know where I can find the McHale/Kahn interview?

Dewey · Post #6 » by **Dewey** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 9:48 pm

I think he laid it out there pretty well ... we'll likely be in more games, but will struggle to close them out. Flynn? meh. We just don't have that player game-in game-out ... plain and simple.

So, I see his point on needing interior scoring, but Al slows things down to a default. If we can get 35 points and 25 rebounds a night from our bigs and benefit defensively, then so be it. Our added punch right now is designed to come from Beasley, Johnson, Webster, Ellington, and Brewer on both ends of the floor.

Keys: Beasley's offensive consistency, Brewer ability to step up defensively, and Rambis' ability to manage rotations and minutes.

The one thing McHale missed was the teams added depth across the board, and that should certainly help keep the roster motivated.

Going in I see this type of depth chart:
Ridnour - Telfair - (Flynn)
Webster - Johnson - Ellington
Beasley - Brewer - Hayward
Love - Tolliver - (Waivers)
Milicic - Pekovic - Koufos

Post #7 » by **Klomp** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 10:23 pm

On the interior scoring, how many points did OKC get from their posts? How about CHI? Or even the 90s Bulls? I understand where he's coming from, but McHale needs to realize that this isn't the 80s anymore, and its a completely different league. There aren't any Ewings or Olajuwons anymore.

Post #8 » by **Klomp** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 10:26 pm

Dewey wrote:I think he laid it out there pretty well ... we'll likely be in more games, but will struggle to close them out. Flynn? meh. We just don't have that player game-in game-out ... plain and simple.

So, I see his point on needing interior scoring, but Al slows things down to a default. If we can get 35 points and 25 rebounds a night from our bigs and benefit defensively, then so be it. Our added punch right now is designed to come from Beasley, Johnson, Webster, Ellington, and Brewer on both ends of the floor.

Keys: Beasley's offensive consistency, Brewer ability to step up defensively, and Rambis' ability to manage rotations and minutes.

The one thing McHale missed was the teams added depth across the board, and that should certainly help keep the roster motivated.

Going in I see this type of depth chart:
Ridnour - Telfair - (Flynn)
Webster - Johnson - Ellington
Beasley - Brewer - Hayward
Love - Tolliver - (Waivers)
Milicic - Pekovic - Koufos

I don't see Webster starting games this year. I think Kurt really likes him in the 6th man role. I still see Brewer starting the first few weeks until Johnson's fully healthy.

Post #9 » by **Calinks** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:41 pm

Klomp wrote:On the interior scoring, how many points did OKC get from their posts? How about CHI? Or even the 90s Bulls? I understand where he's coming from, but McHale needs to realize that this isn't the 80s anymore, and its a completely different league. There aren't any Ewings or Olajuwons anymore.

Yea but besides the Bulls how many of those teams get Conference Finals and Finals appearances?

Krapinsky · Post #10 » by **Krapinsky** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:00 am

Klomp wrote:
Dewey wrote:I think he laid it out there pretty well ... we'll likely be in more games, but will struggle to close them out. Flynn? meh. We just don't have that player game-in game-out ... plain and simple.

So, I see his point on needing interior scoring, but Al slows things down to a default. If we can get 35 points and 25 rebounds a night from our bigs and benefit defensively, then so be it. Our added punch right now is designed to come from Beasley, Johnson, Webster, Ellington, and Brewer on both ends of the floor.

Keys: Beasley's offensive consistency, Brewer ability to step up defensively, and Rambis' ability to manage rotations and minutes.

The one thing McHale missed was the teams added depth across the board, and that should certainly help keep the roster motivated.

Going in I see this type of depth chart:
Ridnour - Telfair - (Flynn)
Webster - Johnson - Ellington
Beasley - Brewer - Hayward
Love - Tolliver - (Waivers)
Milicic - Pekovic - Koufos

I don't see Webster starting games this year. I think Kurt really likes him in the 6th man role. I still see Brewer starting the first few weeks until Johnson's fully healthy.

Says the guy that wants to trade Brewer for Curry and Walker.

theGreatRC · Post #11 » by **theGreatRC** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:00 am

I remember flynn hitting our game winner against the Jazz. It was a bank shot or layup I think

Tirion · Post #12 » by **Tirion** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 1:14 am

Krapinsky wrote:Flynn definitely has the potential to be our closer. Just let him drive and dish. He should be able to take anyone in the NBA off the dribble. With Love, Beasley or Tolliver, Webster, and Ellington or Johnson, we can put four shooters around Flynn in a game winning shot scenario.

wait, you're serious?

younggunsmn · Post #13 » by **younggunsmn** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 1:28 am

I think Kahn sees a Rubio/Love Pick and Roll as our future end of game staple with johnson and webster as weakside shooters.

shangrila · Post #14 » by **shangrila** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 1:29 am

Tirion wrote:
Krapinsky wrote:Flynn definitely has the potential to be our closer. Just let him drive and dish. He should be able to take anyone in the NBA off the dribble. With Love, Beasley or Tolliver, Webster, and Ellington or Johnson, we can put four shooters around Flynn in a game winning shot scenario.

wait, you're serious?

Why wouldn't he be?

It's a simple play. You have Love at centre, Beasley or Tolliver at PF and two of Ellington, Johnson and Webster at the 2/3. Inbound it to Flynn, have Love set him a screen, then you've got the pick and pop with Love, the pull up with Flynn, the drive with Flynn or the kick out to one of the shooters (Beasley, Tolliver, Ellington, Johnson or Webster) who can then swing it to the next shooter is they close out on him.

So why the hell was that comment worthy of a "lol"?

Tirion · Post #15 » by **Tirion** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 2:15 am

I'm not really confident in Jonny's ability to execute a difficult kick out pass under pressure or in his pull-up ability for that matter.

Krapinsky · Post #16 » by **Krapinsky** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 2:42 am

People are waaaay too down on Johnny. He's going to be good.

B Calrissian · Post #17 » by **B Calrissian** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 2:51 am

Krapinsky wrote:People are waaaay too down on Johnny. He's going to be good.

People have been bashing him since Jennings scored 55. They never really gave him a chance.

Tirion dislikes him because he wears a Wolves uniform.

cpfsf · Post #18 » by **cpfsf** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 3:32 am

I think there was a good chance Jefferson would still be on this team if Love never complained about starting and getting minutes. I'm sure conditioning was a huge factor for his 28.6 mpg. I actually don't expect to see that number drastically exceed 30 mpg this year either, but that's up to Rambis to decide.

collin_k41 · Post #19 » by **collin_k41** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 5:00 am

Now that we actually have some effective jump shooters, I think we'll see Jonny's assist numbers go way up. Last year he made sooo many wonderful passes to wide open jump shooters who simply couldn't convert. Add that with the extra athleticism and speed style we have now without Al, and I like how Jonny fits in with this team.

TMo519 · Post #20 » by **TMo519** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:56 pm

Flynn's not gonna just carry your squad with scrubs on it, but when there are weapons around, I feel confident he'll find them. As stated above, we didn't exactly have a lot of guys who could convert much of anything when given the rock, so it's hard to pile up big assist numbers that way. With the added wing scoring juice of Wes, Webster, and even Beasley, as well as improved offense from K Love, plus not having as much clutter in the paint area, I think Flynn with thrive much more this season than last and won't feel the need to force things like it seemed happened sometimes last year.