Game 2 | MIA @ MIN

[Nick K]

Look at Miller come down with that rebound!

[Neeva]

With some of his passes today maybe our future starting pg is Ant?

[FrenchMinnyFan]

With some of his passes today maybe our future starting pg is Ant?

That's the idea. Learn from Mike, limit TO and there is no reason Ant can not be a great PG.

[Dalvin]

Aaaaarrrrrroooooo!!!!! Way to start at home! Glad they dominated and never looked back at the 4th quarter
Hope this starts the momentum. The last game was such a wake up call to stick to passing and less iso ball.

Shake looking like this year's forbes so far. Hope he gets better as the season progresses

[vtime]

Gobert has been who we expected last yr. Noticeably healthy, springy, active, engaged. Defense has allowed 97 or less points through 2 games.

[wolves_89]

That's two games of impressive half-court defense, made even more so because we've done it without Jaden.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

Rudy Ant and jaden are elite defender. Mike is smart too. I'm pretty sure we may have nights where will will struggle offensively but if defense there, we can go far.

[Neeva]

Rudy Ant and jaden are elite defender. Mike is smart too. I'm pretty sure we may have nights where will will struggle offensively but if defense there, we can go far.

NAW is a pretty good defensive player also.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

Rudy Ant and jaden are elite defender. Mike is smart too. I'm pretty sure we may have nights where will will struggle offensively but if defense there, we can go far.

NAW is a pretty good defensive player also.

Yes absolutly. Great defense base from the team.

[KGdaBom]

That replay. Without it I think we are all here crying about being 0-2.

[D1SGRUNTL3D]

Gobert has been who we expected last yr. Noticeably healthy, springy, active, engaged. Defense has allowed 97 or less points through 2 games.

Remember that streak we had a year or 2 ago if idk 30,40 straight games of allowing 100? It was something ridiculous

[Note30]

I thought about writing up my thoughts of this game in article format.

Wolves Outsmart Heat in a Display of Strategic Prowess: A Deep Dive into the October 28 Faceoff

On the evening of October 28, 2023, basketball aficionados bore witness to a riveting display of strategic finesse as the Minnesota Timberwolves took on the Miami Heat. The Wolves emerged triumphant with a score of 106-90, but the scoreline merely scratches the surface of a game rich in tactical nuances. This deep dive aims to dissect the various facets that contributed to the Wolves’ victory, providing fans a closer look at the game beyond the box score.

Offensive Strategies:
Breaking Down Miami’s Zone Defense:
The Timberwolves exhibited a systematic approach to disintegrate the zone defense employed by Miami. Key plays like the one at 11:21 in Q2 saw a 2-1-2 formation with Anderson acting as a fulcrum to break the zone, setting up Milton for a shot. Similarly, at 10:31 in Q2, a screen from Gobert against a 3-2 zone created a scoring window for Naz. The relentless exploitation, notably by Naz Reid, nudged Miami to reevaluate their defensive stance. Naz and Anderson who proved to be the best breaks for the zone single handedly changed the flow of the game. They are the perfect bigs to break the zone. KAT also did a good job and dumping to the high post to break the zone twice.

Transition Offense:
The Wolves’ transition offense saw a mix of fortunes. A notable instance at 8:57 in Q2 saw Gobert finding Conley for a three-pointer, albeit missed. The inconsistent transition offense signals an avenue for refining the Wolves’ fast-break executions. It is clear that transition offense is one of the weakest points for the Wolves, and without more athletic younger facilitators and players in the lineup, it's unlikely that Edwards, Walker, and Reid will be enough to improve the transition offense.

Screen Utilization and Off-Ball Movement:
The choreography of screens and off-ball movement orchestrated scoring avenues. At 11:30 in Q1, a screen by Towns for Edwards led to a sequence culminating in a pass to Edwards. Similar screen actions were witnessed throughout, providing glimpses of the Wolves’ off-ball orchestration. While this was better than the game against Toronto, the positioning of Rudy Gobert in the post proved to be a detriment early on for guards. In fact it's one of the biggest things he can focus on is understanding where on the floor he should position himself. Late in the first quarter he anchored himself in the high post leading to an easy finish for his teammates, should he continue this behavior instead of hiding in the paint the teams offense may drastically improve.

Perimeter and Midrange Shooting:
Perimeter woes were evident as guards settled for midrange shots, as seen at 11:12 and 10:48 in Q1. Fostering a sharper shot selection and crafting better looks from beyond the arc could be a focal point moving forward.

Post Plays and Inside Scoring:
The big men, Towns and Gobert, were central to post actions and inside scoring. Their involvement in the paint, as seen at 10:23 in Q1 and 8:23 in Q2, demonstrated the Wolves’ inside scoring prowess. But the show was stolen by Naz Reid who could score out of the low post, high post, from beyond the arc and almost singlehandedly forced Miami out of a zone.

The Wolves showcased their acumen, especially at 10:31 in Q2 and 3:48 in Q2, where they broke through Miami’s zone defense with screens and precise connections, like the McLaughlin to KAT link-up.

Transition Defense:
The transition defense was pivotal in curtailing Miami’s fast-break scoring, showcasing the Wolves’ ability to retreat and set defensively.

Player Performance and Adjustments:
Naz Reid:
Reid’s stellar performance against Miami’s zone defense instigated a strategic shift, underscoring his critical role in the game.

The true MVP of this game.

Rudy Gobert:
While Gobert’s defensive stance was notable, there were offensive instances, like at 10:20 in Q1, where his paint presence hindered the offensive flow, forcing NAW into a challenging floater.

However, without his significant presence on defense, this game would have changed significantly. This victory may not have happened. It is good to see the former DPOY returning to his old form. I hope to continue to see his defensive presence help the team.

Guards:
The guards faced hurdles in converting perimeter shots and in managing transition plays, impacting the game flow and necessitating a heavier reliance on the bigs.

Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT):
KAT showcased his versatility through screen-setting and post actions. However, his struggle against the zone defense and in transitioning swiftly to exploit offensive chances highlight areas ripe for refinement.

Team Adjustments and Game Flow:
Early Struggles and Adjustments:
Initial offensive bottlenecks due to player positioning and lack of action saw adjustments that capitalized on Miami’s zone defense, leading to a surge in offensive efficiency.

Defensive Shifts:
The Wolves’ defensive fortitude, manifested through transition defense and individual efforts, was instrumental in clinching the win.

Outcome:
The Wolves’ victory, with a scoreline of 106-90, was an outcome of strategic adjustments, notable player performances, and a detailed breakdown of key plays.

Conclusion:
The Wolves-Heat faceoff on October 28, 2023, was a canvas of strategic adaptability, offensive diversity, and defensive resilience. The Timberwolves showcased their ability to dissect Miami’s zone defense, with a commendable performance from their big men, especially Naz Reid. The game also underscored the importance of a diversified offensive arsenal to dismantle rigid defensive structures.

The Heat played several variations of their zone defense in a 2-3 arrangement, 3-2 arrangement, and even a 3-1-1 arrangement. The Wolves dismantled all of them through their bigs. Why the Heat thought playing the zone especially with the talent of of the Wolves bigs was a good idea is beyond me.

The Wolves’ victory illustrated their capacity to adapt, exploit defensive frailties, and capitalize on their roster’s strengths. While challenges linger, especially in enhancing guard play and fostering offensive fluidity, the game laid a blueprint for confronting future adversities on the hardwood, painting a hopeful picture for the Wolves’ trajectory in the season ahead.

[casteral]

Naz Reid

[Nick K]

Rudy moving around like its 2017

night and day difference from last season

Rudy looked really good tonight. Mostly because he didn't try to do too much. He let the game come to him and got plenty of easy baskets. He focused on what he does best. Defend and rebound while getting his at the basket.

[Nick K]

That replay. Without it I think we are all here crying about being 0-2.

Yes! I love that new rule change where you don't lose a T.O. if you are right. Great call by Finch. That replay was clear his heel was on the semi-circle. Plus he didn't have position. Huge call.

[Murphs56]

So next we have the Hawks on the road but they are on a back to back. If we have Jaden and the Hawks continue to struggle, that could be another great defensive game.

[Calinks]

Rudy was fantstic. He looks way more like his old self. Naz was phenomenal. Towns struggled again, he really seems to have a hard time finding his role with Rudy in offense. That said, we know he's capable as he was ballin in Fiba. If it clicks for him, we will be very dangerous.

Half court defense is pretty good, transition and perimiter still needs some work.

[KGdaBom]

I thought about writing up my thoughts of this game in article format.

Wolves Outsmart Heat in a Display of Strategic Prowess: A Deep Dive into the October 28 Faceoff

I normally don't have the attention span to read novels like this one, but it was well written and I made it almost all the way through. Thanks.

[shrink]

So next we have the Hawks on the road but they are on a back to back. If we have Jaden and the Hawks continue to struggle, that could be another great defensive game.

I was thinking the same thing. I know that Jaden was close to returning for the Heat game, but maybe they sat him to be extra careful after bring JMac back from a calf injury too early, and wanting Jaden 100% to guard Trae?

[shrink]

I actually was ready to predict Jimmy not playing yesterday. Great opportunity to win a game. Despite everyone said how great Bam is, he never scare me. I hope we rack up a few wins quickly because I don't want to see a Harden for Towns mid-season trade.

KAT for Harden. Interesting. I'm not saying I'd do it, but I'd only do it if Harden was extended at a reasonable rate say $30 million per year for the next 3 years.

Harden (plus Simmons and Kyrie) were all given big contracts, all chose to miss games for personal reasons, and all demanded trades. I don’t want any of them anywhere near Ant, who will soon have enough player empowerment to force a trade if he wants.

Someone posted this elsewhere, and I found it educational. It doesn’t deserve to be posted in more than a game thread, but since Simmons (and Harden, lately) trades keep popping up for the last couple years, I thought I’d bring it over.

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