Game 48: Dallas at Minnesota (33-14)

[KGdaBom]

McD and Rudy 4 fouls each. Lot of game left.

[Domejandro]

Hate how ticky tack the fouls are tonight. This isn't an against Minnesota thing at all, both teams are getting pretty soft fouls.

[KGdaBom]

Have I mentioned I like it when we feed the hot hand? Also have I mentioned I like it when Karl shoots more 3s?

But we haven't been feeding him. He's pretty much taking his shots in the normal flow of the offense.

[KGdaBom]

I heard we were a 13 point favorite. Right on that.

[Domejandro]

Have I mentioned I like it when we feed the hot hand? Also have I mentioned I like it when Karl shoots more 3s?

But we haven't been feeding him. He's pretty much taking his shots in the normal flow of the offense.

This debate feels painfully circular, so just to interject a bit, the strategy of "feeding the hot hand" (that good teams do, not like what we saw with Towns' 62 point game) is involving a player who is scoring well into more play actions to force the defense to overreact. An example of this is how involving Karl-Anthony Towns into play actions has opened Rudy Gobert up inside (because teams have to rotate and double, off of screen action).

"Feeding the hot hand" is garbage when it means "isolate Karl-Anthony Towns at the top of the key every possession", as we are seeing in the past two possessions. In contrast, it is a phenomenal strategy when it means "run Karl-Anthony Towns off of stagger/curl screens with Rudy Gobert" to force the defense to overreact.

[WolfAddict]

Loving the separation now

[Domejandro]

Naz Reid missed Karl-Anthony Towns WIDE open on that offensive rebound. Tunnel vision, right there.

[Klomp]

Ant +20
THJ -21

That's a pretty significant key to this game.

[TimberKat]

I actually like that time out to setup a shot to end the Qtr. Although, I think Finch should call it earlier to calm Towns down.

[KGdaBom]

Have I mentioned I like it when we feed the hot hand? Also have I mentioned I like it when Karl shoots more 3s?

But we haven't been feeding him. He's pretty much taking his shots in the normal flow of the offense.

This debate feels painfully circular, so just to interject a bit, the strategy of "feeding the hot hand" (that good teams do, not like what we saw with Towns' 62 point game) is involving a player who is scoring well into more play actions to force the defense to overreact. An example of this is how involving Karl-Anthony Towns into play actions has opened Rudy Gobert up inside (because teams have to rotate and double, off of screen action).

"Feeding the hot hand" is garbage when it means "isolate Karl-Anthony Towns at the top of the key every possession", as we are seeing in the past two possessions. In contrast, it is a phenomenal strategy when it means "run Karl-Anthony Towns off of stagger/curl screens with Rudy Gobert" to force the defense to overreact.

I just enjoy mocking the Hot Hand. I've tracked the results of hot and cold hands and it seldom works to the teams advantage to feed the hot hand or avoid the cold hand. I get that recognizing somebody is shooting well can work for the best if you can recognize it fast enough and recognize fast enough when the Hot Hand has gone cold. There's a grain of truth in it, but I still feel it is mostly a myth and not a good strategy.

[winforlose]

Did I just see Rudy tell Dallas’s bench to challenge and then say to his own coach it was off him?

[m2002brian]

Is Reid drunk tonight?

[KGdaBom]

I'm putting this one in the win column. ARROOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 34-14.

[Klomp]

Did I just see Rudy tell Dallas’s bench to challenge and then say to his own coach it was off him?

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[_AIJ_]

Mitchell Irvin has blown the most whistle this game

[KGdaBom]

24 point lead. Empty the bench.

[winforlose]

Mike just makes it look so easy!

[Domejandro]

Did I just see Rudy tell Dallas’s bench to challenge and then say to his own coach it was off him?

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For what it is worth, I am 99% sure that Jon is mistaken here. When walking back to Minnesota's bench, Rudy Gobert pointed to himself and said "It was off me."

[Nick K]

Ant is really trying to find his teammate tonight and Towns is getting into the 3pt shooting rhythm sooner. Encouraging signs, learning process or playing with food, that is what young pups do. Just win baby.

I think that is the lesson Finch is trying to teach him. Get him to understand other guys can get it done too. I love it. Ant has been reading his superman press clippings a bit too much lately.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

We take care the job. Great win.