Play-In Game: MIN @LAL

[Dalvin]

I just hope they come out strong and hold sway all throughout the game, so the zebras can't alter the outcome at the end. Like be up by 30points by halftime strong and dominate them by 3rd quarter and be up by 50 points when 4th quarter starts

[younggunsmn]

Read on Twitter

"Word from Utah was not a leader. Not a malicious, bad guy, but not someone teammates gravitate towards."
We knew this and traded all that for him anyway.

He didn't have to be a leader, he needed to anchor the defense and give us a foundation we could build around. I Rudy was playing at his peak self and it fit, no one would give a crap if he was mute.

When you are anchoring the defense as a big you have to be vocal and a leader on that side of the ball.
Slo-mo had to take on an oversized leadership role this year partly because of the huge vacuum left by Gobert (and KAT).
Beverly was that guy last year.
This guy was supposed to be a former defensive player of the year, if you can't be a leader with those credentials what gives?

Statistically, Rudy was not that far off from what he has been previously other than a big drop in blocks.
It's his chemistry with basically every teammate outside of Mike Conley that has been rotten.
We wasted a large part of the season throwing ugly sacrificial lobs to him.
He willingly played high wall scheme for all of one whole game.
A good leader has two important traits:
1. Sacrifice
2. Accountability

We didn't need Rudy to be DPOY year Rudy to take a leap.
We needed him to be 80% of DPOY year Rudy so his teammates could be 110% of what they could be without him.
Instead we got 85% of DPOY year Rudy and his teammates were 85% of what they could be without him.
We needed him to adjust to what we do best and meld his skills to his teammates, and minimize his own weaknesses.
He either refused or failed at that.

And accountability is why he got called the B word.
We don't know exactly what was all said, but it started with Rudy not coming back to the ball to catch an inbounds pass which led to a steal and and-1. When Finch was asked at halftime he said "missed assignments".

Chemistry is why this trade has failed so hard. I hated the trade on value from the beginning,
I did not feel it would make us this much worse in the short term or the team would ever be this dysfunctional.
And chemistry comes from character.
When a guy is "not someone teammates gravitate toward" and you are making this big an investment and giving him this big a role, you are taking a colossal risk.

[Folklore]

This is going to be a revenge game from Van, Beasley and Dlo. Expect a lot of ice in the veins, laughing at our bench, shimmying and a 3pt shot by Dlo seconds before the game is over.

[shrink]

We need professionals and grown man on this team. Maybe it's time to bring KG back again.

I’m going to say something that most fans will think is heresy. For much of his career in MIN, KG wasn’t a leader.

This is not an indictment of Garnett, the player, and being a leader, and being the best player, are two very different things. Our three best players, KG, Love and KAT, weren’t leaders, and I worry that we are pushing that role on Ant when he may, or may not, be ready for it.

Back to KG - it’s not really a surprise that Garnett wasn’t comfortable being a leader. He joined the team straight out of high school, at a time when everyone at least played college ball. He was a 19 year old kid with no NBA experience, when the rest of the team were adult men who were pro’s. His time with Marbury, he never stepped up to lead, and even when the team added Cassell and Sprewell, KG was always more comfortable talking about the three of them, when he was clearly the best player among them. In those years, he deferred team leadership to Cassell.

Moreover, if Rudy is a bad teammate and leader for punching SloMo in the shoulder, KG’s emotionalism led to him punching Szczerbiak and Rick Rickert in the face - Rickert needed six stitches and the punch chipped his tooth. Garnett’s drive came from emotionalism and his own personal need to prove himself. He became an expert at reading offenses, but other leadership activities, like getting contracts for his friends, never worked. Finally, Garnett’s emotionalism and grudge-holding is why he refuses to let his number get hung in the rafters.

The leaders on this team lately weren’t the more talented Towns or DLo. Being good at basketball alone doesn’t make you a leader. The team has recently been led by guys like Rubio, Taurean Prince and Naz Reid - guys that often have come off the bench. Now, I would say Kyle Anderson has assumed a lot of the leadership role (not for the better yesterday), and Ant is thankfully still in listening mode, improving his game, rather than telling his teammates what to do. Like Garnett, Ant is the team’s heart, maybe even the inspiration, for but he has not stepped up to take on the responsibilities of leading the entire team. And at 21, I’m perfectly happy with that.

[TimberKat]

We need professionals and grown man on this team. Maybe it's time to bring KG back again.

I’m going to say something that most fans will think is heresy. For much of his career in MIN, KG wasn’t a leader.

This is not an indictment of Garnett, the player, and being a leader, and being the best player, are two very different things. Our three best players, KG, Love and KAT, weren’t leaders, and I worry that we are pushing that role on Ant when he may, or may not, be ready for it.

Back to KG - it’s not really a surprise that Garnett wasn’t comfortable being a leader. He joined the team straight out of high school, at a time when everyone at least played college ball. He was a 19 year old kid with no NBA experience, when the rest of the team were adult men who were pro’s. His time with Marbury, he never stepped up to lead, and even when the team added Cassell and Sprewell, KG was always more comfortable talking about the three of them, when he was clearly the best player among them. In those years, he deferred team leadership to Cassell.

Moreover, if Rudy is a bad teammate and leader for punching SloMo in the shoulder, KG’s emotionalism led to him punching Szczerbiak and Rick Rickert in the face - Rickert needed six stitches and the punch chipped his tooth. Garnett’s drive came from emotionalism and his own personal need to prove himself. He became an expert at reading offenses, but other leadership activities, like getting contracts for his friends, never worked. Finally, Garnett’s emotionalism and grudge-holding is why he refuses to let his number get hung in the rafters.

The leaders on this team lately weren’t the more talented Towns or DLo. Being good at basketball alone doesn’t make you a leader. The team has recently been led by guys like Rubio, Taurean Prince and Naz Reid - guys that often have come off the bench. Now, I would say Kyle Anderson has assumed a lot of the leadership role (not for the better yesterday), and Ant is thankfully still in listening mode, improving his game, rather than telling his teammates what to do. Like Garnett, Ant is the team’s heart, maybe even the inspiration, for but he has not stepped up to take on the responsibilities of leading the entire team. And at 21, I’m perfectly happy with that.

I think you are right about KG's take and about not push leadership on Ant (I hate those no pass 3s he puts up once a while). I think KG could be a good leader now with his experiences on the court, post playing career, and older/wiser.

I don't see SloMo as a leader. If he is, he should lead the band wagon of bring Gobert back into the fold. Assume what we heard about the incident was true and there is no other layer to it.

[TimberKat]

Chemistry is why this trade has failed so hard. I hated the trade on value from the beginning,
I did not feel it would make us this much worse in the short term or the team would ever be this dysfunctional.
And chemistry comes from character.
When a guy is "not someone teammates gravitate toward" and you are making this big an investment and giving him this big a role, you are taking a colossal risk.

We are not that bad. We were just 3 wins against bad teams away from having the second best season in terms of play-off seeding. There is so much s*t that we pile on top of ourselves. People could correct me here - I don't think players gravitated to Kareem, Wilt, and Moses Malone. On some level it's chemistry but I think the chemistry comes from everyone buy into playing a certain style. I am more into the traditional style than the 5 out no D run until you drop style.

[PharmD]

I'm pretty sure KAT will be in foul trouble the entire game. Especially if we're winning. It's Lakers whistle combined with Lebron-team whistle combined with timberwolves whistle.

[Mattya]

We need professionals and grown man on this team. Maybe it's time to bring KG back again.

I’m going to say something that most fans will think is heresy. For much of his career in MIN, KG wasn’t a leader.

This is not an indictment of Garnett, the player, and being a leader, and being the best player, are two very different things. Our three best players, KG, Love and KAT, weren’t leaders, and I worry that we are pushing that role on Ant when he may, or may not, be ready for it.

Back to KG - it’s not really a surprise that Garnett wasn’t comfortable being a leader. He joined the team straight out of high school, at a time when everyone at least played college ball. He was a 19 year old kid with no NBA experience, when the rest of the team were adult men who were pro’s. His time with Marbury, he never stepped up to lead, and even when the team added Cassell and Sprewell, KG was always more comfortable talking about the three of them, when he was clearly the best player among them. In those years, he deferred team leadership to Cassell.

Moreover, if Rudy is a bad teammate and leader for punching SloMo in the shoulder, KG’s emotionalism led to him punching Szczerbiak and Rick Rickert in the face - Rickert needed six stitches and the punch chipped his tooth. Garnett’s drive came from emotionalism and his own personal need to prove himself. He became an expert at reading offenses, but other leadership activities, like getting contracts for his friends, never worked. Finally, Garnett’s emotionalism and grudge-holding is why he refuses to let his number get hung in the rafters.

The leaders on this team lately weren’t the more talented Towns or DLo. Being good at basketball alone doesn’t make you a leader. The team has recently been led by guys like Rubio, Taurean Prince and Naz Reid - guys that often have come off the bench. Now, I would say Kyle Anderson has assumed a lot of the leadership role (not for the better yesterday), and Ant is thankfully still in listening mode, improving his game, rather than telling his teammates what to do. Like Garnett, Ant is the team’s heart, maybe even the inspiration, for but he has not stepped up to take on the responsibilities of leading the entire team. And at 21, I’m perfectly happy with that.

I think you are right about KG's take and about not push leadership on Ant (I hate those no pass 3s he puts up once a while). I think KG could be a good leader now with his experiences on the court, post playing career, and older/wiser.

I don't see SloMo as a leader. If he is, he should lead the band wagon of bring Gobert back into the fold. Assume what we heard about the incident was true and there is no other layer to it.

By all reports Slowmo is one of the main leaders in the locker room.

[mcscotty]

I'm honestly worried for the Lakers. With all the drama surrounding the team(Wolves), this is going to be a statement game. The Wolves are going to be fired up.

[minimus]

I'm pretty sure KAT will be in foul trouble the entire game. Especially if we're winning. It's Lakers whistle combined with Lebron-team whistle combined with timberwolves whistle.

triple teamed

[Colbinii]

I'm honestly worried for the Lakers. With all the drama surrounding the team(Wolves), this is going to be a statement game. The Wolves are going to be fired up.

We can hope so.

I said it a week or two ago, I have been a huge LeBron Stan since I was 10 years old when he was at St. Mary's. I am super pumped for this game.

[Nick K]

Need TP to have a really good night on both ends, Luka and Nate and probably going to get run and we know they can be instant sparks for us. KAT needs to stay out of foul trouble for us to win, but that's a huge ask.

Either way, we still have a chance friday and I like our chances vs either of those teams...but I really want to see the Wolves play the Grizz again in a rematch

Luka being a two-way player is out.

[Nick K]

I was just listening to a MIN pod where they were shocked that Gobert threw a punch at Anderson, because they hadn’t seen or even heard of any bad blood between the two. In fact, they went on to say the only minor bad blood anyone had with Gobert was Russell, and obviously, he’s gone.

I think there are many people, here and around the world, who are trying to make Gobert seem like a longterm behavior problem. I don’t think they are intentionally lying, but I think they believe unsubstantiated drama because it fits other reasons they don’t like Gobert. None of us posters are in the locker room

EDIT: this was a Lock’d On podcast with Ben Beeckon.

I always thought much of that too. Not true.

I was listening to Jon Krawsznsky? yesterday afternoon and he said Utah had multiple problems with Rudy and players hating him. Around the league he is disliked for his poor offensive skills. He just doesn't get the respect I thought he did.

How the Wolves management didn't know this is beyond me. And trying to make him an offensive star with all the P&R BS and hands of stone is beyond me too. Of course a lot of things Wolves wise is beyond me.

[Nick K]

Read on Twitter

"Word from Utah was not a leader. Not a malicious, bad guy, but not someone teammates gravitate towards."
We knew this and traded all that for him anyway.

He didn't have to be a leader, he needed to anchor the defense and give us a foundation we could build around. I Rudy was playing at his peak self and it fit, no one would give a crap if he was mute.

When you are anchoring the defense as a big you have to be vocal and a leader on that side of the ball.
Slo-mo had to take on an oversized leadership role this year partly because of the huge vacuum left by Gobert (and KAT).
Beverly was that guy last year.
This guy was supposed to be a former defensive player of the year, if you can't be a leader with those credentials what gives?

Statistically, Rudy was not that far off from what he has been previously other than a big drop in blocks.
It's his chemistry with basically every teammate outside of Mike Conley that has been rotten.
We wasted a large part of the season throwing ugly sacrificial lobs to him.
He willingly played high wall scheme for all of one whole game.
A good leader has two important traits:
1. Sacrifice
2. Accountability

We didn't need Rudy to be DPOY year Rudy to take a leap.
We needed him to be 80% of DPOY year Rudy so his teammates could be 110% of what they could be without him.
Instead we got 85% of DPOY year Rudy and his teammates were 85% of what they could be without him.
We needed him to adjust to what we do best and meld his skills to his teammates, and minimize his own weaknesses.
He either refused or failed at that.

And accountability is why he got called the B word.
We don't know exactly what was all said, but it started with Rudy not coming back to the ball to catch an inbounds pass which led to a steal and and-1. When Finch was asked at halftime he said "missed assignments".

Chemistry is why this trade has failed so hard. I hated the trade on value from the beginning,
I did not feel it would make us this much worse in the short term or the team would ever be this dysfunctional.
And chemistry comes from character.
When a guy is "not someone teammates gravitate toward" and you are making this big an investment and giving him this big a role, you are taking a colossal risk.

Nailed it. Really good stuff.

[moss_is_1]

Bench + Prince need to play really well in this one. Need to play smart and hard tonight.

[minimus]

Bench + Prince need to play really well in this one. Need to play smart and hard tonight.

Yeah, we need multiple effort from all players:

Read on Twitter

Knight fights for position and rebound, Moore gets the ball and scores

Read on Twitter

After Edwards turnover Conley attacks CJ and Edwards gets steal and scores

Read on Twitter

NAW fights against Valanciunas, while KA blocks shot from behind

[Guest84]

Listening to Locked on Wolves, it sounds like Garza and Knight are available depending if Finch wants to play them. Not sure if it's accurate or not though.

[bluethunder0005]

Bench will be super thin with no Gobert, Jaden, and Naz. Wish we could use Garza but sadly we can't. He's not been great for much of the year but having Nowell back tonight would be nice, just on the off chance he catches lightning in a bottle. Otherwise the second unit is JMac, NAW, and some barely used player like Knight or the rookies. Really hope Finch doesn't give Rivers the vacated minutes. Rather try the rookies.

[BlacJacMac]

Listening to Locked on Wolves, it sounds like Garza and Knight are available depending if Finch wants to play them. Not sure if it's accurate or not though.

Knight is on a regular contract. He's available through the Playoffs - if we get that far.

[minimus]

Listening to Locked on Wolves, it sounds like Garza and Knight are available depending if Finch wants to play them. Not sure if it's accurate or not though.

Garza can't play unless they waive Rivers and sign him to standard NBA deal. But even then I don't see how he can be effective against LAL or NOP without MCD defending PoA