Game 4: Wolves vs Dallas.

[minimus]

Wake up, brothers! It is a game day!

I hope MIN will hit DAL with all types of physical plays. I just want to wipe that mocking smile off Doncic face.

[Klomp]

Happy National TV Week!

Tonight on TNT, Friday on ESPN

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

[shrink]

Wolves are 5 point favorites, but they’ve been very clunky so far, with occasional bursts of good play.

I hope we can pick up another early season win here, with the Mavs having to travel. Ant seems to show up bigger for national games, and better opponents, so I expect big things.

[minimus]

Wolves are 5 point favorites, but they’ve been very clunky so far, with occasional bursts of good play.

I hope we can pick up another early season win here, with the Mavs having to travel. Ant seems to show up bigger for national games, and better opponents, so I expect big things.

DAL have lost two quality 3&D guys: Derrick Jones and Green. In theory it should give more room for Ant

[dschroeder01]

[quote="minimus"][quote="shrink"]Wolves are 5 point favorites, but they’ve been very clunky so far, with occasional bursts of good play.

I hope we can pick up another early season win here, with the Mavs having to travel. Ant seems to show up bigger for national games, and better opponents, so I expect big things.[/quote]

DAL have lost two quality 3&D guys: Derrick Jones and Green. In theory it should give more room for Ant[/quote]

They did replace them with Marshall and Grimes who provide some of the same 3 and D functionality. Those 2 come off the bench though while Jones was in the starting lineup. Who guards Ant to start the game? It has to be Klay right? Does Klay close then too? If so, Dallas doesn't really have anyone to guard a strong perimeter player if Kyrie and Luka are in there as well.

EDIT: Not sure why the quote function doesn't work for me?

[TimberKat]

I view the Towns trade as largely a result of how the team performed in the DAL series. This will be a good test that are new bigs combo doesn't get bullied by Gafford and Lively. The addition of DDV helps contain Luka/Kyrie to a reasonable level. May see meaningful Minott playing time tonight.

[Klomp]

I view the Towns trade as largely a result of how the team performed in the DAL series. This will be a good test that are new bigs combo doesn't get bullied by Gafford and Lively. The addition of DDV helps contain Luka/Kyrie to a reasonable level. May see meaningful Minott playing time tonight.

Much in the way that the Gobert trade was a result of the team's performance against the Grizzlies, but not quite how you think.

I don't think it was because the bigs got bullied. I think it was more because we got exposed at the time for Ant being the only shot creator. That seemed to be the theme with all of our transactions this offseason. Every one of the additions have had a history of creating shots for either themselves or others.

[Klomp]

EDIT: Not sure why the quote function doesn't work for me?

Make sure that in the reply window, on the right it says BBCode is ON. That's the only fix I can think of at the moment.

[dschroeder01]

EDIT: Not sure why the quote function doesn't work for me?

Make sure that in the reply window, on the right it says BBCode is ON. That's the only fix I can think of at the moment.

It did say on, but a box below was checked that said "disable BBCode" and I unchecked that. Thanks for alerting me to the whole thing though as it was the root of the problem.

[dschroeder01]

Much in the way that the Gobert trade was a result of the team's performance against the Grizzlies, but not quite how you think.

I don't think it was because the bigs got bullied. I think it was more because we got exposed at the time for Ant being the only shot creator. That seemed to be the theme with all of our transactions this offseason. Every one of the additions have had a history of creating shots for either themselves or others.

I think you're right. Lack of a 2nd shot creator was an issue, but so was the defense as we didn't have an answer for the Luka/big pick and roll. Dane Moore thinks it's because Conley wasn't able to be enough of a deterrent as a help guy in that action. I think the trade could help both of those things though. Randle is that 2nd shot creator and DDV give us the option of more size in the Conley role defensively. Donte tagging a roll man or helping on Luka is more helpful than Conley if Finch is ok to cede some minutes there.

[Klomp]

I think you're right. Lack of a 2nd shot creator was an issue, but so was the defense as we didn't have an answer for the Luka/big pick and roll. Dane Moore thinks it's because Conley wasn't able to be enough of a deterrent as a help guy in that action. I think the trade could help both of those things though. Randle is that 2nd shot creator and DDV give us the option of more size in the Conley role defensively. Donte tagging a roll man or helping on Luka is more helpful than Conley if Finch is ok to cede some minutes there.

That was an interesting discussion Dane had about Conley. I honestly didn't remember that from the conference finals, but I absolutely believe it.

And I think we are seeing a clear intention to not overload Conley this year. DiVincenzo is playing more minutes than Conley this season, and I only expect that to continue and possibly even widen.

[dschroeder01]

I think you're right. Lack of a 2nd shot creator was an issue, but so was the defense as we didn't have an answer for the Luka/big pick and roll. Dane Moore thinks it's because Conley wasn't able to be enough of a deterrent as a help guy in that action. I think the trade could help both of those things though. Randle is that 2nd shot creator and DDV give us the option of more size in the Conley role defensively. Donte tagging a roll man or helping on Luka is more helpful than Conley if Finch is ok to cede some minutes there.

That was an interesting discussion Dane had about Conley. I honestly didn't remember that from the conference finals, but I absolutely believe it.

And I think we are seeing a clear intention to not overload Conley this year. DiVincenzo is playing more minutes than Conley this season, and I only expect that to continue and possibly even widen.

We'll also get to see what Finch does on back to backs coming up here soon. We play the Spurs in San Antonio on Saturday after Denver at home on Friday. We then have 2 more back to backs in the next string of games through mid November (both against Portland). Conley not playing in those would open up a window for a Dillingham to come in for some rotation minutes behind Donte. Those back to backs could be a great spot for the young guys in general as their energy will be useful. Dillingham and Minott could spark life into games where the rotation is tired from the night before.

[TimberKat]

I view the Towns trade as largely a result of how the team performed in the DAL series. This will be a good test that are new bigs combo doesn't get bullied by Gafford and Lively. The addition of DDV helps contain Luka/Kyrie to a reasonable level. May see meaningful Minott playing time tonight.

Much in the way that the Gobert trade was a result of the team's performance against the Grizzlies, but not quite how you think.

I don't think it was because the bigs got bullied. I think it was more because we got exposed at the time for Ant being the only shot creator. That seemed to be the theme with all of our transactions this offseason. Every one of the additions have had a history of creating shots for either themselves or others.

Yes, I can agree with the shot creation factor too. Somehow Towns had lost that.

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

[shrink]

EDIT: Not sure why the quote function doesn't work for me?

Make sure that in the reply window, on the right it says BBCode is ON. That's the only fix I can think of at the moment.

You can take the guy out of the moderator, but you can’t take the moderator out of the guy!

Thanks Klomp.

[shrink]

I view the Towns trade as largely a result of how the team performed in the DAL series. This will be a good test that are new bigs combo doesn't get bullied by Gafford and Lively. The addition of DDV helps contain Luka/Kyrie to a reasonable level. May see meaningful Minott playing time tonight.

Much in the way that the Gobert trade was a result of the team's performance against the Grizzlies, but not quite how you think.

I don't think it was because the bigs got bullied. I think it was more because we got exposed at the time for Ant being the only shot creator. That seemed to be the theme with all of our transactions this offseason. Every one of the additions have had a history of creating shots for either themselves or others.

I don’t think either of those incidents was the main reason we saw those trades.

The thing to remember is how rare it is to make a top tier trade. Star players are rarely rarely available, and those that are didn’t want to come to MIN and stay here. Those types of deals require a lot of trade assets, and they can’t be wasted by a player that wants to force a trade, or leave for nothing.

If we could have traded for any star player, it probably wouldn’t have been Gobert. Bam Adebayo, or even JJJ would be great next to Towns, and let him keep his offensive match up advantage at center while being protected defensively. Now, Gobert did help some of our biggest season-long problems, but I think his interest in coming to MIN drove that deal. We didn’t get a chance at a player at this level very often, and we might have traded for anyone at this level, even worse fits.

Ditto for the Towns for Randle + DDV deal. Personally, I don’t take anything away from the DAL series, when we were physically and mentally drained, and many of our key players were trying to cover up serious injuries. The NYK deal was potentially the only deal to get off KAT’s salary that could be sold to the fans and ownership that wanted the gram to keep advancing after a great playoffs. This might simply be a salary-reducing deal, but Tim Connelly can certainly sell it as competitive when the potential expiring is a two-time All NBA PF. I hope Randle succeeds here, and there is a decent chance he does, particularly with Finch as his coach. However, if he doesn’t, it’s still a decent deal for three years of DDV and more financial freedom to keep Naz and NAW.

[wolves_89]

It would be nice if somebody would stay on Gafford. He's got 4 dunks all on defensive/transition mistakes.

[Movics]

Ants going for 101

[wolves_89]

Julius/Naz still need work on figuring out when and how to get the ball to Rudy. Trying to feed Gobert has been our worst offense so far tonight.