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So I missed yesterday's game, got up this morning bracing to see another losing box score. Instead I'm greeted with this:

Foye - 37 minutes, 9-12 FG, 3-4 3pt, 14 assists, 2 TO, 2 Steals, 23 points

Not that I'm complaining, but what the hell? Everyone who thought this was a 35-40 win team (myself included) was expecting these kind of nights from Foye pretty regularly. He's done nothing through ten games this year, and all of a sudden he's going for 23 and 14 against a Detroit team known for defense?

I'm a fan of the big lineup, and I know Iverson is nowhere near the defender Chauncey was for the Pistons, but for those who saw the game: what was different last night? Was Randy really playing that different, that much more motivated? Was he just making shots he's been missing all year? Or did Detroit just stink?

Probably all of the above. If he is the type of player that needs a fire lit under his ass every night, then we are in for a bumpy ride.

Foye made his first shot of the night and after that he just seemed more confident than I've seen him in a while. He did have some really nice dishes but a lot of his passes were to people on the perimeter who actually made their shots for once. The Detroit game was a big step in the right direction for Foye but I don't think he'll be putting up these numbers consistently any time soon. So far this season he's been horribly disappointing but I'm glad he at least showed us he still has his old self in him if that makes any sense. I think we can expect Foye to build off this game for the rest of this season.(not getting numbers like 25 and 15 but doing a lot better than he has so far this season)

The coaches said before the game that they simplified the playbook to make things easier for the PG's and the team. I think that having fewer plays to run allowed Foye to be a better PG because he didn't have to think about so much. On top of that the coaches asked Foye to be more aggressive liked they asked Mike Miller. Foye said he would and he responded last night.

I don't see how you were expecting this regularly out of Foye this season though. These are Chris Paul like stats, no way is Foye putting up Chris Paul numbers on a consistent basis. I was expecting 16-18 PPG along with 5-7 APG. And even that may be a little high.

someone on the main board mentioned something in the lines of the Pistons giving up. this might be the case in the 2nd half but Foye looked dominant the entire game. he seemed really confident taking some shots he was used to take. as far as his passing goes, he was all over the place. driving and dishing out to the perimeter, pick & roll, driving into the lane waiting for the big men to help out and passing to a wide open man close to the rim.

dare I say this was his best game as wolf? he looked so confident, so poised out there. I have to admit that I missed watching his 1st season but I'd go out on a limb to say it was his best game for us so far. not that I wanted it to happen in any case but I'm quite sure Foye would have been 4th quarter Foye if it would have been required yesterday.

Calinks3 wrote:I don't see how you were expecting this regularly out of Foye this season though. These are Chris Paul like stats, no way is Foye putting up Chris Paul numbers on a consistent basis. I was expecting 16-18 PPG along with 5-7 APG. And even that may be a little high.

He is right in line on his APG (5.8). If he was shooting at his normal percentage (from the 1st two seasons) he would be at about 14 PPG. 18 PPG might be a little high but 14-15 shouldn't be unreasonable if he can get comfortable ona regular basis.

^And I truly believe that that line (15ppg, 6 apg) would mean significant improvement for the Wolves as a whole. Nobody else when crazy yesterday (Al shot 9-20), even in a blowout.

I think the simplified playbook is a terrific explanation. Is Wittman coaching? My God, this looks like a coaching move...

It wasn't just Foye. Foye got it started, but the entire team played with both energy and confidence. Gomes was just unbelievable (9-11 from the field). And team defense! I couldn't believe it was the same team that just got run over by the Celtics.

Nov 24 G Randy Foye made nine of 12 shots, scored a season-high 23 points and delivered 14 assists, a career high. "Randy Foye was different," coach Randy Wittman said. "He was that guy he can be, but he has not been that way." Wittman said he urged Foye for the last two days to aggressively look for his shot, and then find his teammates when the defense collapses around him. Foye said the difference was a simplification of the team's offense for Sunday's game. "Coach took me aside a couple of times and just told me to go," Foye said.

I was surprised during the broadcast when Jim said Wittman had an extensive playbook - I was taken aback, is it possible that Wittman has a host a of kickass plays, but the players have been wholly incapable of execution?

I think it's more likely that he has a host of terrible plays, and the players have been far too good at executing them.

Devilzsidewalk wrote:I was surprised during the broadcast when Jim said Wittman had an extensive playbook - I was taken aback, is it possible that Wittman has a host a of kickass plays, but the players have been wholly incapable of execution?

Well, maybe so: http://www.twincities.com/timberwolves/ci_11074044

Short story: Wittman has been deliberately vague about how much the offense was pared down for the last game, but it was significant.

"We had about 75 plays in our playbook, and we pared it down to 10 or 15," rookie forward Kevin Love said, "so that helps a lot."

75 plays down to 10 or 15? Wow....

TMo519 wrote:

Devilzsidewalk wrote:I was surprised during the broadcast when Jim said Wittman had an extensive playbook - I was taken aback, is it possible that Wittman has a host a of kickass plays, but the players have been wholly incapable of execution?

Well, maybe so: http://www.twincities.com/timberwolves/ci_11074044

Short story: Wittman has been deliberately vague about how much the offense was pared down for the last game, but it was significant.

"We had about 75 plays in our playbook, and we pared it down to 10 or 15," rookie forward Kevin Love said, "so that helps a lot."

75 plays down to 10 or 15? Wow....

but it never looked like they had that many. it rather looked like they had 3 or 4 maximum

I think AQuintus has it right.

Wittman 11/1: "OK let's try Play 59. Randy you get the ball to Rashad. Rashad, you throw up an ill-advised three-pointer as soon as you can. The rest of you, make sure you stay uninvolved. OK, go!"

^I wonder how many "plays" Phil Jackson's famed triangle offense has. Or Jerry Sloan's long-tenured attack in Utah? I'm not a pro basketball player or coach, but I think 75 is waaaaaay too many plays for a game based on flow and improvisation.