Rebuild Plan
Posted: Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:55 am
Some vague comments on the direction of the Wolves, so no need to disect the examples:
I'd have to say we are building a 2-in and 3-out. Traditionally, teams used to be built around a big man, PG, and tough defense. Then came the era of a more speed-driven style to utilize the better athletes and run the floor, but the lack of fundamentals and inside-out game has slowed that philosophy.
I see a little bit of a trend to utilize more of a two-post offense, and spread the floor with ballhandlers/shooters (Detroit for example). Dallas, for example, has gotten caught in the middle and struggled in the playoffs vs. the traditional big man/PG of the Spurs and the speed of Golden State. The Hornets have the PG, but not the true big man. The Knicks had the right idea, but had too many selfish players, over-rated skill, and ultimately lacked chemistry.
The Wolves, in my opinion, have a decent strategy using the two-post offense and I like the scheme. First, we now have two legit post players that each serve a purpose (Low and High). Our perimeter players can handle the ball, shoot, and spread the floor. The key is we have a unique player in Jefferson who can consistantly postup 1-on-1. McHale likes post players who can pass effectively enough to avoid defensive closeouts, and Love fits the bill. Adding Miller increased our depth and ability to spread the floor for 60 minutes with shooters. As we spread the floor, Foye will have opportunity to penetrate, and our posts will have the opprtunity to play in space or take advantage of the high-low or inside-out game on double-downs. Brewer/Gomes are unselfish type players and will likely prosper with garbage points as 5th wheels.
The big question to me is defenseive capability. In other words, do we have players who CAN play good team defense. We have a few, but the jury is out on the majority. Jefferson is adequate but must and will improve, Brewer is pretty good, Foye is average, McCant is average on good days, Miller is average but does rebound well, Gomes is decent but his speed can limiting at his position, Maddog is physical but a hack, Smith is a tweener and struggles with most matchups, etc... We need atleast one defensive guard to defend PG's and smaller SG's. You can have average defensive players and still play good team defense, but there's always a true need for a role defender on the perimeter. I'm hoping Collins can serve that specific role in the post.
Duhon is likely not coming here, so I feel Watson or a Travis Knight may be the best alternatives, defensively, even though they are both small.
I'd have to say we are building a 2-in and 3-out. Traditionally, teams used to be built around a big man, PG, and tough defense. Then came the era of a more speed-driven style to utilize the better athletes and run the floor, but the lack of fundamentals and inside-out game has slowed that philosophy.
I see a little bit of a trend to utilize more of a two-post offense, and spread the floor with ballhandlers/shooters (Detroit for example). Dallas, for example, has gotten caught in the middle and struggled in the playoffs vs. the traditional big man/PG of the Spurs and the speed of Golden State. The Hornets have the PG, but not the true big man. The Knicks had the right idea, but had too many selfish players, over-rated skill, and ultimately lacked chemistry.
The Wolves, in my opinion, have a decent strategy using the two-post offense and I like the scheme. First, we now have two legit post players that each serve a purpose (Low and High). Our perimeter players can handle the ball, shoot, and spread the floor. The key is we have a unique player in Jefferson who can consistantly postup 1-on-1. McHale likes post players who can pass effectively enough to avoid defensive closeouts, and Love fits the bill. Adding Miller increased our depth and ability to spread the floor for 60 minutes with shooters. As we spread the floor, Foye will have opportunity to penetrate, and our posts will have the opprtunity to play in space or take advantage of the high-low or inside-out game on double-downs. Brewer/Gomes are unselfish type players and will likely prosper with garbage points as 5th wheels.
The big question to me is defenseive capability. In other words, do we have players who CAN play good team defense. We have a few, but the jury is out on the majority. Jefferson is adequate but must and will improve, Brewer is pretty good, Foye is average, McCant is average on good days, Miller is average but does rebound well, Gomes is decent but his speed can limiting at his position, Maddog is physical but a hack, Smith is a tweener and struggles with most matchups, etc... We need atleast one defensive guard to defend PG's and smaller SG's. You can have average defensive players and still play good team defense, but there's always a true need for a role defender on the perimeter. I'm hoping Collins can serve that specific role in the post.
Duhon is likely not coming here, so I feel Watson or a Travis Knight may be the best alternatives, defensively, even though they are both small.
