MIN motion offense?

[minimus]

Problem:

Our defensive metric from last year:
#25 defensive rebounding
#29 2nd pts chance
#24 opp 3pta
#29 opp 3pt%
#26 opp off reb
#27 opp ast
#23 opp allowed pts
#23 opp fg%

Question #1: how it is possible to be so bad at defensive rebounding and contesting 3pt shots? if we leave corner 3s wide open where were our players who suppose to boxout and stop rolling bigmen from getting offensive rebounds?

Context: first, our bigmen (not including KAT) from last season were pretty mediocre rebounders for bigmen standard. Taj, Saric, AT, Dieng are not the most athletic nor gifted rebounders, also they often lost in space, when opponents drag them out of the paint, stretching the floor. Second, Wiggins, Rose, Okogie, Tyus and Teague lacked size and rebound abilities to affect game. Wiggins under Ryan averaged 5.7rpg, but mainly because he played SF, Rose started 13 games at SG, played 51 games often sharing the ball with Tyus. So we were short on wings and in paint. Third, we lacked rim protectors, and our weak side help did not exists. Thats why we allowed many easy points in paint.

Solution: we replaced Taj, Saric, AT with Bell, Vonleh, Layman. Both Bell and Vonleh are considered as defensive specialists. They are superior defenders, rebounders and rim protectors than Gibson, Saric and AT.

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We added size on perimeter, replacing Rose with Culver, who should be able to defend wings, and provide some resistance in paint. I fully expect KBD and RoCo being major source of improvement in defending at wings because they can switch in defense, rebound AND block shots. Their are not impressive, but they fit better as multidimensional defenders.

KBD 13ppg, 43% fg%, 40% 3pt, 5.3 rpg, 2.3apg, 1spg, 1bpg, 1.3tov (in three starts)
RoCo 14.5ppg, 43% fg, 37% 3pt, 5.7rpg, 1.5apg, 2.3spg, 1.1bpg, 1.1tov

Question #2: how we can maximise KAT abilities in offense without having elite level ballhandler and 3pt shooter?

Context: Our roster outside of KAT is pretty mediocre in terms of shooting and scoring. Our offense is all about KAT, which itself a big turnaround and improvement from Thibs era. Assuming that we surround KAT with many defensive minded players in RoCo-KBD-Bell-Vonleh-Wiggins-Culver etc, we need to find a model where every player on the floor can impact the game on offence. Let start with the most interesting and controversial player: Teague. I’ve heard many times that Jeff was good passer and decision maker in ATL, well that is not true.

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If you watch this video from Atlanta times, you can see that he was rarely asked to truly generate offence. Main portion of decision making was distributed within veterans and came from Horford, Millsap, Korver etc. Teague did not force anything, he played within strong offensive system based on ball movement. However, Teague was athletic, quick enough to score 1on1 something we did not see much in MIN. Interesting fact, in 2014-15 season Teague dunked 21 times, in four next seasons he dunked 23 times overall. Thats why I think that he both regressed athletically and did not fit in Thibs offense. So I would not expect a breakout year from Teague, he cant be main decision maker, because he never been in ATL/IND, he cant be 2nd nor even 3rd scorer, because he cant create for himself, but he still can be positive player on the floor, bringing ball in half court situations, hitting open 3s or midrange shots.

When I watched Teague highlights from ATL I asked myself if the way young Teague was integrated in ATL offense should be used for Wiggins. Minimal ISOs, give the ball to KAT, move without ball, cut hard, receive the pass. Look at these videos. KAT can make Wiggins look like an all-star.

https://preview.redd.it/lz3h6h0o06931.gif?format=mp4&s=a1aecf96afb1c41f207ab9f620aee6f6e34e8044

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Solution: implement motion offense similar to ATL offense with Bud. We have one requirement for this: versatile bigman who can shoot and pass. Distribute decision making within our best players to mitigate lack of elite ballhandler.

KAT has already shown big progress last season as he was passing out off double teams. His patented over shoulder pass is already a solid weapon.

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Interesting fact: if we compare assist stats per 36 minutes within Bell, Vonleh, Dieng, Saric, AT, Gibson group then the best is Bell with 3.5ast, second is Vonleh with 2.7, then Dieng with 2.5.

Bell assists number is definitely inflated because of “corner 3 Blind Pig passes”. We don’t have such luxury as Curry and Klay catch and shoot points. However, playing in very efficient and creative GSW offense might help definitely him to pickup new offensive scheme in MIN.

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Vonleh assists came mostly from handoffs, screens. A lost art here once Zach was traded.

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Also think that Dieng is a solid passer for bigman.

To sum up: It seems to me that our reality invites us to the next step, i.e. make our bigs passing the ball more, trust KAT more as distributor and decision maker. His ability to shot 3s with 40% accuracy is impressive. The only serious issue that I see is our lack of elite catch and shoot option, a player who can be our center of gravity on perimeter, making life of other players easier simply by running through multiple screens, generating motion. Without such player we need to rely on multiple efforts from our wings and better shot selection. Layman is such example. Not an elite shooter, but very active player in offence, who takes only good shots.

P.S. Last but not least. I am very impressed by Naz Reid. Especially by his passing in combination with 3pt shooting. Look at his assist to cutting player. He still has log way to go, but he fits ideally in motion offense.

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[minimus]

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[Klomp]

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And that wasn't even his best pass of the night!

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[CP1981]

I could be wrong but I think some said Teague would be better in a system based on ball and player movement. I dont think anyone mentioned better passing or decision making

He was our second leading scorer the year you're mentioning. He also lead the team in assist. I think he had more than 200 more total assist than the next guy

We had good passing bigs in Al and Sap

Jeff said he stopped dunking because of the wear and tear on his ankles and knees from landing.

Our wings could shoot and the moved and cut without the ball a lot

The system could work with the Wolves but Wiggins has to shoot better and move without the ball way more than he has shown.

Korver and Caroll were constantly moving and cutting. Roco did that from the little time he played

Kat can pass but he has a tendency to go for the fancy pass rather than the simple one

I dont know If the other bigs on the roster can pass so its hard to say

Kat,Roco, Teague , Okogie, and Cullver are players I know would thrive in that system for sure. And probably the guy from the Blazers. I dont know about the others. I guess preseason will give more insight.

[minimus]

We already have a development coach from Texas, who I believe should speed up Culver development. I wonder if hiring a dedicated bigmen coach might help us. If only one from our group Bell/Vonleh/Reid becomes a rotation player it will be a huge win.

[karch34]

And that wasn't even his best pass of the night!

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That one made me think he's lucky or his court vision is almost scary!

[minimus]

As I said before, Layman can thrive in motion offense, his shot selection, off ball movements and motor are impressive.

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