Hornets vs. Wolves 2-24-23

[TimberKat]

Can't carry the load on both sides.

Ignoring that Anthony Edwards was also garbage offensively tonight, that play absolute NOTHING to do with "carrying" defensively. He shot the gap on a pass that had zero chance of being stolen when he should have just stepped back and played normal defense. Even being a complete matador on defense would have been better than that pathetic decision he made.

He was our best option on the floor tonight as he has been every night since DLo was traded. There is no back up option besides trying to make your offense run smoothly with only two shooters on the floor (including Edwards).

Yeah I agree it was a bad gamble. Pretty sure no one was in position on that play tho.

A lot of sloppy play on Ant's part but I do want to give him some credit for stepping to guard LaMelo. We should had traded for Hayward, at least would had won this game

[shrink]

At this point, I think I have to ask if Ant is a clutch player.

[TimberKat]

At this point, I think I have to ask if Ant is a clutch player.

No, we need another play to handle some of the load so he's not running empty the last 2 mins. Also, Ant needs to learn how to handle the ball better.

[Calinks]

This is why you continue to build a team organically vs a splash move. In no way were they ready to make a win now move.

More and more likely they’ll miss the playoffs and not be able to do anything in the offseason.

I don't agree. I think when you have talented players, especially ones ready to play at a high level you need to put them in positions where they are playing meaningful games and building towards a title. I think the Butler move was a good move on paper to get Towns in big games. I think trying to get our current team with Towns and Ant competing at a high level is a great move too. That said, you have to make the right win now moves.

Butler was the right player but very wrong personality. Gobert may be a bad move too. Doesn't mean the sentiment is wrong but you got to make the right moves when you do it. The Cavs getting Mitchel is a prime example of doing it right.

[Guest84]

At this point, I think I have to ask if Ant is a clutch player.

No, we need another play to handle some of the load so he's not running empty the last 2 mins. Also, Ant needs to learn how to handle the ball better.

For Ant, I think a lot of it had to do with rust. He was in a great rhythm before the break end with the all star game not being competitive, he might’ve lost a bit of that.

He had 29-8-5 but it wasn’t as efficient as it had been and he was pressing a bunch. Plus the whole team was out of sync. Defense as a whole was poor tonight as well.

[younggunsmn]

At this point, I think I have to ask if Ant is a clutch player.

What is he supposed to do out there surrounded by Kyle Anderson, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels and a 35 year old Mike Conley?
I mean seriously not one player the opponent has to worry about guarding.
I was not a D-Lo fan but at least the opponent had to respect his outside shot and ability to get to it.
Teams have been very successfully deploying some variant of a box and one defense on Ant in crunch time and it's been very successful because we have no other threat and a 7'2 oaf clogging the paint.

Not excusing some of the other poor decisions, but its a lot to ask of a 21 year old, not natural PG, to play 40 minutes and put the team on his back every night. His defense (barring that late 28 footer from Lamelo) was also a big reason we held them to 49 in the 2nd half after getting unexcusably shredded for 70 in the first half.
The continued lack of offensive creativity/playcalling at the end of games from Finch is killing us.
Hornets got a quality shot each time down the floor the last 3 minutes but they also had a heady veteran secondary shot creator out there in Hayward.

We went on a run with Naz in to whittle down a double digit deficit and take the lead, and then Rudy comes back in and the offense goes ice cold the rest of the game.
There is good stuff he does that doesnt show up in the box score, but there is also bad stuff like the drag he has on the team on the offensive end that has to be readily apparent to anyone who's been paying close attention.
If KAT coming back doesn't change that, this team is going to have to move on from Rudy in the summer.
I just love having traded away 5 1st round picks, a swap, and beasley/beverly/vanderbilt for a glorified Steven Adams.

Oh, and glad we didnt trade D-Lo for Rozier, he's hot garbage.
Hayward, on the other hand, showed why he would've been a great fit here.

[Guest84]

This is why you continue to build a team organically vs a splash move. In no way were they ready to make a win now move.

More and more likely they’ll miss the playoffs and not be able to do anything in the offseason.

I don't agree. I think when you have talented players, especially ones ready to play at a high level you need to put them in positions where they are playing meaningful games and building towards a title. I think the Butler move was a good move on paper to get Towns in big games. I think trying to get our current team with Towns and Ant competing at a high level is a great move too. That said, you have to make the right win now moves.

Butler was the right player but very wrong personality. Gobert may be a bad move too. Doesn't mean the sentiment is wrong but you got to make the right moves when you do it. The Cavs getting Mitchel is a prime example of doing it right.

This is more so what I was getting at. It wasn’t even meant to be a knock on Rudy but more general.

I agree with the meaningful games being important but I think the move was made too soon. Especially given the organizations history of decision making regardless of who’s in charge.

On the bright side, it may have sped up ant’s development due to the heavy load he’s had to carry.

[papertrail]

At this point, I think I have to ask if Ant is a clutch player.

He has been shooting 40% during crunch time this season, so the answer is no. He's not.

Read on Twitter

[Note30]

At this point, I think I have to ask if Ant is a clutch player.

He has been shooting 40% during crunch time this season, so the answer is no. He's not.

Read on Twitter

We don't have any other options. The paint is clogged and he's been out leading scorer the whole season. He's also 21. Becoming a good crunch time and clutch player takes experience and time.

I wouldn't rule him out just yet.

[Calinks]

I think we also see again how much we miss a player like Beasley. Yes he is streaky but man does a guy like that really give your team a shot in the arm. He's also a zone buster.

[Dalvin]

I wouldn't mind these losses as long as they take care of business with teams we're in the running with. They punish tanking teams by giving them wins and they hurt teams looking to be in the playoffs by beating them

[_AIJ_]

Good thing from last night was NAW will get Nowells minutes moving forward

[Krapinsky]

Good thing from last night was NAW will get Nowells minutes moving forward

I thought Finchy should have gone with NAW over Slomo down the stretch.

[MN7725]

I believe that Conley is going to be hugely ineffective compared to what he was in Utah

Wolves don't have the shooting Utah has had last few seasons to spread the floor, even when KAT is back, and he is worse than Russell at getting his own shot

[Krapinsky]

At this point, I think I have to ask if Ant is a clutch player.

What is he supposed to do out there surrounded by Kyle Anderson, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels and a 35 year old Mike Conley?
I mean seriously not one player the opponent has to worry about guarding.
I was not a D-Lo fan but at least the opponent had to respect his outside shot and ability to get to it.
Teams have been very successfully deploying some variant of a box and one defense on Ant in crunch time and it's been very successful because we have no other threat and a 7'2 oaf clogging the paint.

Not excusing some of the other poor decisions, but its a lot to ask of a 21 year old, not natural PG, to play 40 minutes and put the team on his back every night. His defense (barring that late 28 footer from Lamelo) was also a big reason we held them to 49 in the 2nd half after getting unexcusably shredded for 70 in the first half.
The continued lack of offensive creativity/playcalling at the end of games from Finch is killing us.
Hornets got a quality shot each time down the floor the last 3 minutes but they also had a heady veteran secondary shot creator out there in Hayward.

We went on a run with Naz in to whittle down a double digit deficit and take the lead, and then Rudy comes back in and the offense goes ice cold the rest of the game.
There is good stuff he does that doesnt show up in the box score, but there is also bad stuff like the drag he has on the team on the offensive end that has to be readily apparent to anyone who's been paying close attention.
If KAT coming back doesn't change that, this team is going to have to move on from Rudy in the summer.
I just love having traded away 5 1st round picks, a swap, and beasley/beverly/vanderbilt for a glorified Steven Adams.

Oh, and glad we didnt trade D-Lo for Rozier, he's hot garbage.
Hayward, on the other hand, showed why he would've been a great fit here.

Lots of unfortunate truths here.

[deepestblue]

They could use D-Lo's offensive potency right now.

Once again, Finchy chalked another loss up to effort. There seems to be something structurally within the organization where for years they have not got up for teams that are in the lower end of the standings.

Remember the KG teams? In the NBA, you have to bring it Every Night.

[Nick K]

Good thing from last night was NAW will get Nowells minutes moving forward

I thought Finchy should have gone with NAW over Slomo down the stretch.

Slo-Mo has had several tough games in a row. One moment he's so good the next he's hurting you.

[Nick K]

At this point, I think I have to ask if Ant is a clutch player.

What is he supposed to do out there surrounded by Kyle Anderson, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels and a 35 year old Mike Conley?
I mean seriously not one player the opponent has to worry about guarding.
I was not a D-Lo fan but at least the opponent had to respect his outside shot and ability to get to it.
Teams have been very successfully deploying some variant of a box and one defense on Ant in crunch time and it's been very successful because we have no other threat and a 7'2 oaf clogging the paint.

Not excusing some of the other poor decisions, but its a lot to ask of a 21 year old, not natural PG, to play 40 minutes and put the team on his back every night. His defense (barring that late 28 footer from Lamelo) was also a big reason we held them to 49 in the 2nd half after getting unexcusably shredded for 70 in the first half.
The continued lack of offensive creativity/playcalling at the end of games from Finch is killing us.
Hornets got a quality shot each time down the floor the last 3 minutes but they also had a heady veteran secondary shot creator out there in Hayward.

We went on a run with Naz in to whittle down a double digit deficit and take the lead, and then Rudy comes back in and the offense goes ice cold the rest of the game.
There is good stuff he does that doesnt show up in the box score, but there is also bad stuff like the drag he has on the team on the offensive end that has to be readily apparent to anyone who's been paying close attention.
If KAT coming back doesn't change that, this team is going to have to move on from Rudy in the summer.
I just love having traded away 5 1st round picks, a swap, and beasley/beverly/vanderbilt for a glorified Steven Adams.

Oh, and glad we didnt trade D-Lo for Rozier, he's hot garbage.
Hayward, on the other hand, showed why he would've been a great fit here.

Good stuff. Many good points.

I'm not sold on getting rid of Rudy quite yet. Ultimately, that might have to happen. Admitting a mistake is almost always better sooner than later.

[KGdaBom]

That was one of the most pathetic losses ever when we needed a home win against a HORRIBLE team. That loss was inexcusable and possibly the straw that broke the camel's back for this season.

[Nick K]

That was one of the most pathetic losses ever when we needed a home win against a HORRIBLE team. That loss was inexcusable and possibly the straw that broke the camel's back for this season.

I could not agree more. Most of us feel exactly that way.

I hate to go there but maybe Finch is a big part of the problem. Is he tough enough on the guys?