GameThread: Wolves @ Wizards - 8PM EST

[payitforward]

I'm still in California & unable to watch our games, but it looks like we didn't play very well. Is that right?

[montestewart]

Are the Wolves better without KAT? Maybe the Wizards defense isn't the best test, but the Timberwolves definitely went against some trends without Towns. Not playing through him, they seemed to share the ball much more (33 assists vs. 22 apg avg.) and shooting much better from deep even without Towns, their best 3 point shooter thus far this season.

I don't believe so. It may seem crazy to say, but I personally don't believe Minnesota played all that differently than we have in other games. The one difference being they hit their shots that they missed in the first four games. Hitting shots was what improved their assist total and shooting percentage more than anything. So unless Towns was telling teammates to miss shots, I don't think that's it.

First Wolves game I've seen this year, but connecting on shots (51 vs.40 per game the previous four games) would explain more assists. The first sentence was a joke on hot take 180s.

[montestewart]

I'm still in California & unable to watch our games, but it looks like we didn't play very well. Is that right?

They put the ecta in spectacular

[shrink]

@Minny fans .. What is the Timberwolves plan for Culver? Surprised me when they traded up for him in the draft (although saw some reports that their the target was Garland) yet he’s only getting garbage time minutes so far?

I was hyping him up so much before the draft bc I thought he was more “dynamic” as an athlete + creator than he seems to be.

From what I’ve read, you’re 100% right that they moved up and hoped to get Garland. I don’t know that for sure but it seems likely. Culver has looked pretty rough so far but not in an Anthony Bennett sort of way by any means. Just looking like he needs some time to adjust to strength, pace, etc. I really wish the G League didn’t seem like such a demotion, especially for high picks. It would be great to send him there and to let him learn the system and play against some stronger competition for a bit. Last night’s game was a great time to let him loose a bit and not have him worry about making mistakes.

Yeah wasn’t saying he doesn’t look like an NBA player or anything, but he doesn’t jump off the screen as an elite talent per se. BUT it could be that he’s still growing into his body.

One of the sites I read for pre-draft analysis -The Stepien speculated that Culver was one of those players with a late growth spurt (ala Scottie Pippen) and could end up being a big 6’7-6’8 wing . That’s tbd but he’ll be one of the interesting prospects for me to follow from this class

Btw this is the Stepien site..they actually recently wrote a follow up article suggesting that Minnesota is not developing Culver optimally and compared it to Frank Ntilikina’s situation the Knicks

https://www.thestepien.com/2019/11/02/nba-notes-jarrett-culver-team-context-related-possibility-failure/

I agree that they initially wanted Garland, and moving up to 6, they thought they had a shot at him (daring CLE to draft a second PG next to Sexton). They negotiated, but CLE wanted too much. They negotiated with the Bulls too, and I think they could have gotten a little “something” to pass on Coby White, since MIN clearly looks like they could draft the PG of the Future. CHI held their ground, good for them, and got White at 7 while Rosas went with Culver.

After the draft MIN said they had five prospects over all the rest, and since they didn’t put DeAndre Hunter (or White) at this level, they got one of the five. Part of the reason was because of the scarcity of NBA wings, while the PG market is very full. However, the main reason appears to try to develop Culver as a bigger playmaker, who can still guard the 1-3. Culver looked comfortable creating shots in preseason, which is surprising for most rookies, but once the actual season started, he has looked overmatched. We’ll see if he can rise to the occasion, but I can finally see what they are going for with Culver. I think they are serious too, because MIN only has two PG’s, and an injury will give Culver or Wiggins time as ballhandlers.

Thanks for the link to that article too.