***Pre-Season Game 2 Thread Wolves vs Mavs Saturday 11CST***

[Murphs56]

I was absolutely thrilled with that first half especially defensively. Rudy and KAT look reenergized and NAW is a total menace on the wing. He made Luka's life quite difficult.

[Folklore]

Finch let them play until the game is over.

[wolves_89]

Matt Ryan 0-6 with 2 TO and poor defense. He's doing his best to play himself out of the last two-way spot.

[wolves_89]

After getting to see the guys competing for the two-way spots, I'd rank them:

1 - Garza
2 - Krejci
3 - Martin
4 - Keels
5 - Ryan
6 - Nix

[shangrila]

After getting to see the guys competing for the two-way spots, I'd rank them:

1 - Garza
2 - Krejci
3 - Martin
4 - Keels
5 - Ryan
6 - Nix

I mostly agree with this, although I'd put Martin about Krejci. I like his competitiveness, giving me some Josh Hart vibes.

And as much as I like the idea of Keels he's not doing anything to live up to it.

[shangrila]

Mavs winning rebounds 27-17. Not good.

Remember it’s only preseason, folks.

Definitely. No freaking out about anything in preseason, good or bad.

That said...we do need to rebound better.

[KATKlownFeet]

Milton looks like exactly who we needed in game one and now look like a Jaylen Nowell imposter in game two.

Shake played well again and he was second best plus minus on team. He was 5 for 6 last game and now 2 of 3 and he made another that was called offensive charging. No defensive fouls given up was a big improvement. His plus/minus swung from worst to second best. Yeah he wasn't scoring as much but he looked solid. I love Shake. He is a huge ugprade over Nowell.

[KATKlownFeet]

Do Wolves have best bench in the league with Shake, NAW, TB, Kyle and Naz? If not, name another team's bench that is better.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

I agree, for me we have the best bench this year. If starter perform as they should, we will be good.

[shrink]

Wolves decided to sit Jaden for this one with left calf soreness, but it was considered very minor and he’s expected to play against the Knicks next Saturday.

[Note30]

Do Wolves have best bench in the league with Shake, NAW, TB, Kyle and Naz? If not, name another team's bench that is better.

I'm trying to think and we definitely have one of the best benches for sure, just matters how we put it together as opposed to just on paper.

I think the Kings have a more lethal duo in Mitchell and Monk. They also have Duarte, Lyles, Len. They also added some European PF that's supposedly really good.

The Cavs depending on Rubes, have Rubio, Strus, LaVert, Niang, Wade, Jones

the Bucks have Payne, Pat Con.,Crowder, Portis, Lopez.

The Clippers have Mann, Powell, Morris, Plumlee, Hyland, Covington.

The Warriors depending on the starting lineup have
Paul, Payton, Moody, Kuminga, Saric

The Grizzlies have with Morant healthy, Smart, Kennard, Clarke and Tillman

The Knicks have
Divencenzo, Quickly, Fournier, Hart, Hartenstein

The Magic will have Anthony, Suggs, Fultz, Ingles, Isaac, Bitazde

[minimus]

I like Krejci as tall PG he moves the ball quickly. Last game he had like three defensive rebounds in consecutive defensive possessions.

[TimberKat]

Do Wolves have best bench in the league with Shake, NAW, TB, Kyle and Naz? If not, name another team's bench that is better.

I'm trying to think and we definitely have one of the best benches for sure, just matters how we put it together as opposed to just on paper.

I think the Kings have a more lethal duo in Mitchell and Monk. They also have Duarte, Lyles, Len. They also added some European PF that's supposedly really good.

The Cavs depending on Rubes, have Rubio, Strus, LaVert, Niang, Wade, Jones

the Bucks have Payne, Pat Con.,Crowder, Portis, Lopez.

The Clippers have Mann, Powell, Morris, Plumlee, Hyland, Covington.

The Warriors depending on the starting lineup have
Paul, Payton, Moody, Kuminga, Saric

The Grizzlies have with Morant healthy, Smart, Kennard, Clarke and Tillman

The Knicks have
Divencenzo, Quickly, Fournier, Hart, Hartenstein

The Magic will have Anthony, Suggs, Fultz, Ingles, Isaac, Bitazde

Don't forget Lakers have DLo, Prince, Vanderbilt, and Wood off the bench. Assuming they start Vicent and Hachimura, Raves, LBJ, Davis

[minimus]

I still dont see any comparison for Leonard Miller because he is raw as hell. He is not uberathletic, but he has such a long wingspan and quick hands. One possession he gave up an open three point shot, next possession he blocked three point attempt. He showed discipline and verticality in defense. Interesting that in preseason games he hit those open corner threes, while in SL he was more above the break three point shooter. He finished dead last in the spot-up corner three-pointer drill in Chicago during predraft combine.

https://www.nba.com/stats/draft/combine-spot-up?dir=A&sort=COLLEGE_CORNER_LEFT_PCT

I wonder what will be his development trajectory: he is 210 lbs, he needs to add 10-15 lbs to absorb contact under rim. If he continues to progress as corner three shooter, and will be able to hit over 36% of his wide open threes, then PF spot is his. He needs one-two years to get there, but I hope he will be able to learn from Anderson and Conley.

[Dewey]

I still dont see any comparison for Leonard Miller because he is raw as hell. He is not uberathletic, but he has such a long wingspan and quick hands. One possession he gave up an open three point shot, next possession he blocked three point attempt. He showed discipline and verticality in defense. Interesting that in preseason games he hit those open corner threes, while in SL he was more above the break three point shooter. He finished dead last in the spot-up corner three-pointer drill in Chicago during predraft combine.

https://www.nba.com/stats/draft/combine-spot-up?dir=A&sort=COLLEGE_CORNER_LEFT_PCT

I wonder what will be his development trajectory: he is 210 lbs, he needs to add 10-15 lbs to absorb contact under rim. If he continues to progress as corner three shooter, and will be able to hit over 36% of his wide open threes, then PF spot is his. He needs one-two years to get there, but I hope he will be able to learn from Anderson and Conley.

Long list of NBA players who never gained that 10-15 lbs and were highly successful … You can play and stay healthy or you can’t. It being a critic … just my opinion.

[minimus]

Read on Twitter

Every time I see MIN players executing that skip pass in corner I feel happiness.

[minimus]

I still dont see any comparison for Leonard Miller because he is raw as hell. He is not uberathletic, but he has such a long wingspan and quick hands. One possession he gave up an open three point shot, next possession he blocked three point attempt. He showed discipline and verticality in defense. Interesting that in preseason games he hit those open corner threes, while in SL he was more above the break three point shooter. He finished dead last in the spot-up corner three-pointer drill in Chicago during predraft combine.

https://www.nba.com/stats/draft/combine-spot-up?dir=A&sort=COLLEGE_CORNER_LEFT_PCT

I wonder what will be his development trajectory: he is 210 lbs, he needs to add 10-15 lbs to absorb contact under rim. If he continues to progress as corner three shooter, and will be able to hit over 36% of his wide open threes, then PF spot is his. He needs one-two years to get there, but I hope he will be able to learn from Anderson and Conley.

Long list of NBA players who never gained that 10-15 lbs and were highly successful … You can play and stay healthy or you can’t. It being a critic … just my opinion.

Yeah, but 10-15lbs is not goal itself. I have been thinking about this because Leonard Miller is both active and mobile, but not uberathletic and strong, it is okay, while he is 19yo. The problem is that he often has weird falling under the rim after contact. So getting core muscles, low body strength might preserve his body. I dont expect him gaining these 10-15lbs now, normally it would take at least two full offseason. Look at Evan Mobley photos during Media Day 2023. He does look bigger.

[frankenwolf]

Ant is going God mode this year.

Read on Twitter

?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1710696666989289693%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

IDK about god mode, but he is tapping his inner MJ

[frankenwolf]

Wolves decided to sit Jaden for this one with left calf soreness, but it was considered very minor and he’s expected to play against the Knicks next Saturday.

They are practicing the "Only rest one star a game" rule

[shrink]

Wolves decided to sit Jaden for this one with left calf soreness, but it was considered very minor and he’s expected to play against the Knicks next Saturday.

They are practicing the "Only rest one star a game" rule

Trying to give the other teams a chance.