Timberwolves 2021-22 Regular Season Discussion Thread

life_saver · Post #1 » by **life_saver** » Wed Dec 8, 2021 9:22 pm

I think it'd be better to have a seperate thread just to discuss the team and players performances (outside trade thread and game threads)

life_saver · Post #2 » by **life_saver** » Thu Dec 9, 2021 9:30 pm

One thing I would like to see more is Ant moving the ball faster in half-court offense...he often wastes lot of shotclock just stopping the offense without movng the ball. That would maybe make sense if Ant was a KD level scorer which he clearly isn't.

winforlose · Post #3 » by **winforlose** » Thu Dec 9, 2021 10:14 pm

I think one of our biggest weaknesses is inconsistent performance from everyone not named KAT. We need to figure out ways to get players the ball in positions to shoot more efficiently. We also need to mix up our offensive and defensive schemes. KAT trapping at the top was surprising for a while, now it is predictable. Likewise, we need to mix up our offensive sets and do more PNR, PNP, get Vando the ball down hill as a cutter or roller. Just little tweaks that the coaching staff has been slow to make. I love that Finch has created a culture of defense, and I love that the guys are so bought in. But they only stay that way if the coaches keep their trust, and that only happens when coach’s adapt rather than treading water.

Post #4 » by **Mamba4Goat** » Sat Dec 11, 2021 6:09 am

winforlose wrote:I think one of our biggest weaknesses is inconsistent performance from everyone not named KAT. We need to figure out ways to get players the ball in positions to shoot more efficiently. We also need to mix up our offensive and defensive schemes. KAT trapping at the top was surprising for a while, now it is predictable. Likewise, we need to mix up our offensive sets and do more PNR, PNP, get Vando the ball down hill as a cutter or roller. Just little tweaks that the coaching staff has been slow to make. I love that Finch has created a culture of defense, and I love that the guys are so bought in. But they only stay that way if the coaches keep their trust, and that only happens when coach’s adapt rather than treading water.

I would probably still include KAT in the inconsistent group. Sure he’s the only one shooting the ball well but he’s definitely a wild card game to game.

Post #5 » by **Mamba4Goat** » Sat Dec 11, 2021 6:13 am

Also, as much as the Turner/Nance/Boucher/etc sized hole needs to be addressed I feel like needing a player that could legitimately run the offense and create their own shot is right up there as biggest roster issue/hole 1b. If you could fuse Beasley and Nowell into one player they would perfectly fill that need but alas, Gupta has figured out gene splicing or the fusion dance.

m2002brian · Post #6 » by **m2002brian** » Sat Dec 11, 2021 6:15 am

Mamba4Goat wrote:Also, as much as the Turner/Nance/Boucher/etc sized hole needs to be addressed I feel like needing a player that could legitimately run the offense and create their own shot is right up there as biggest roster issue/hole 1b. If you could fuse Beasley and Nowell into one player they would perfectly fill that need but alas, Gupta has figured out gene splicing or the fusion dance.

Run what offense? Finch has them read and reacting. Barely any set plays out even much pick n roll.
It’s getting sad out there.

Post #7 » by **Mamba4Goat** » Sat Dec 11, 2021 6:18 am

m2002brian wrote:
Mamba4Goat wrote:Also, as much as the Turner/Nance/Boucher/etc sized hole needs to be addressed I feel like needing a player that could legitimately run the offense and create their own shot is right up there as biggest roster issue/hole 1b. If you could fuse Beasley and Nowell into one player they would perfectly fill that need but alas, Gupta has figured out gene splicing or the fusion dance.

Run what offense? Finch has them read and reacting. Barely any set plays out even much pick n roll.
It’s getting sad out there.

Exactly! Also, I’m just tired of the ball handler dribbling the air out of the ball for a late forced shot/turnover. Or KAT and Ant turning it over a ton. A non-regressed McLaughlin would fill this need to an extent.

Wolf_Cry · Post #8 » by **Wolf_Cry** » Sat Dec 11, 2021 8:50 am

I want someone to ask why it's a read and react offense? Clearly, it hasn't worked all season. Why not just go back to the good 'ol simple plays? These guys just aren't good enough to react correctly. Each player has a very limited skill-sets and the court IQ is probably the worst in the league.

Or maybe this IS what Finch wants them to do. Chucking up 42 threes per game and miss a billion of them. We're #2 in 3 point attempts but we're the 9th worse 3 point shooting team. That's not a good formula for success. Then again, as some of you pointed out- these players just aren't very good at doing anything else, so all they can do is keep jacking up 3's and pray they start going in. Either way, it's doom to fail and honestly, is boring as hell to watch. I start yawning midway through the first. Oh well. The rate this team is going, Finch will be fired soon and the team will blow it up anyways.

Child of Wonder · Post #9 » by **Child of Wonder** » Sat Dec 11, 2021 2:22 pm

The last few seasons the team couldn't hold my attention more than 10-15 games in. This year's team managed to do it for 25! They pulled a great trick by pretending to be better defensively to start the year and then went right back to their old ways.

We have a highly inefficient offense, an inconsistent (at best) defense, and a star that whines so much the officials have painted a target on his back.

Unless at least 1 of those things changes, we will perennially be a 25-35 win team.

life_saver · Post #10 » by **life_saver** » Mon Dec 13, 2021 3:43 pm

I hope Finch gives Nowell more playing time, especially when DLo is not playing...having a guard who can create for himself is valuable and Nowell can do that much better than Beasley who is mostly a C&S guy.

life_saver · Post #11 » by **life_saver** » Thu Dec 16, 2021 3:10 pm

KAT's performance against Nuggets was one of his best performances this season imo. I think Finch worded it really well and I agree with him. KAT should stop overcomplicating and overthinking things on offense and play more like how he did yesterday.

Read on Twitter

life_saver · Post #12 » by **life_saver** » Sat Dec 18, 2021 5:29 pm

Nowell had a good game off bench yesterday...hoping that he can cement his spot in rotation going forward. He is more rounded offensively than Beasley but Nowell just hasn't made best use of opportunities he has gotten so far.

life_saver · Post #13 » by **life_saver** » Mon Dec 20, 2021 2:18 pm

Jaden has been playing well recently...his 3 pt shot is finally going in

Post #14 » by **Calinks** » Mon Dec 20, 2021 5:07 pm

Anyway we can give a G-League big a trial through these new league exemption rules? I'd like to see some in our system.

Post #15 » by **Klomp** » Mon Dec 20, 2021 5:45 pm

Read on Twitter

life_saver · Post #16 » by **life_saver** » Mon Dec 20, 2021 5:51 pm

Klomp wrote:

Read on Twitter

sigh..I do wonder if NBA will revise the covid protocols for asympotamatic vaccinated players like how NFL did recently

D1SGRUNTL3D · Post #17 » by **D1SGRUNTL3D** » Mon Dec 20, 2021 7:26 pm

Usually they all follow suit if one league does it. This is ridiculous.

Post #18 » by **Calinks** » Mon Dec 20, 2021 7:36 pm

Tuesday game just got a lot harder.

winforlose · Post #19 » by **winforlose** » Mon Dec 20, 2021 7:40 pm

Calinks wrote:Tuesday game just got a lot harder.

Worse still, there are still about 30 hours to tip off and we have no idea who else might test positive in those 30 hours.

TaylorTag · Post #20 » by **TaylorTag** » Mon Dec 20, 2021 8:13 pm

They need to change the health and safety protocols. This is not sustainable.

NBA needs to mandate vaccines and boosters when available to the individual. This must apply to players, coaches, refs, team personnel (including arena employees). Anyone who refuses will not be allowed in the arena. If a player refuses, then their game checks are forfeited.

Fans should be required to prove vaccination and booster too.

League should have daily testing still. Any player who tests positive should be required to isolate -- no team meetings, no team practice, no team work outs, etc. However, they will be able to play in games on the basis that everyone in the arena is vaccinated, and the only legitimate risk is spreading to another player, but these guys are healthy young adults with little health risks. If a player gets COVID, they are on a two-week timeline to become naturally immunized, likely for the duration of the season, including playoffs, so the league reaches herd immunity before the playoff stretch.

The only concern I have with this plan is that there are players in the league who have health complications that make them a greater risk to COVID. There's also players in this league that likely are compromised in some way but don't even know about the health problem yet. It's not fair to put these players out there when another player has COVID, but we are essentially doing that right now under the current scheme, with players popping up in the health and safety protocols a day after they played in a game.

The league knows that they cannot eliminate COVID risk -- it's become apparent the past week. League has to pivot or this season will be a disaster.

Edit: Oh, and the added caveat to all this, everyone must also be assymptomatic. If you are displaying symptoims even if vaccinated/boosted, you cannot play in the game