Identity crisis?

[TimberKat]

I don’t understand why the wolves weren’t challenging Luka like Boston is. Make him work on both ends.

Yes, exactly. Celtics just a Smarter team.

[Klomp]

I don’t understand why the wolves weren’t challenging Luka like Boston is. Make him work on both ends.

I think that's more of a personnel issue than anything.

[shrink]

I don’t understand why the wolves weren’t challenging Luka like Boston is. Make him work on both ends.

I think that's more of a personnel issue than anything.

After listening to exit interviews and podcasts, it sounds like the team was just exhausted, mentally and physically, from coming back those last two games against DEN. I think their energy levels vascilated wildly all through the playoffs, being high energy when they were the underdogs, and low energy when they were the favorites. In the high pressure world of the playoffs, this kind of wild changes in performance was probably especially stressing. I just don’t think they has much left after the DEN series.

I’ll go even farther. I think that if MIN played DAL instead of PHX in Round 1, I don’t think DAL wins.

[Klomp]

I don’t understand why the wolves weren’t challenging Luka like Boston is. Make him work on both ends.

I think that's more of a personnel issue than anything.

After listening to exit interviews and podcasts, it sounds like the team was just exhausted, mentally and physically, from coming back this last two games against DEN. I think their energy levels vascilated wildly all through the playoffs, being high energy when they were the underdogs, and low energy when they were the favorites. In the high pressure world of the playoffs, this kind of wild changes in performance was probably especially stressing. I just don’t think they has much left after the DEN series.

I’ll go even farther. I think that if MIN played DAL instead of PHX in Round 1, I don’t think DAL wins.

Not a bad call

[Guest84]

I don’t understand why the wolves weren’t challenging Luka like Boston is. Make him work on both ends.

I think that's more of a personnel issue than anything.

After listening to exit interviews and podcasts, it sounds like the team was just exhausted, mentally and physically, from coming back this last two games against DEN. I think their energy levels vascilated wildly all through the playoffs, being high energy when they were the underdogs, and low energy when they were the favorites. In the high pressure world of the playoffs, this kind of wild changes in performance was probably especially stressing. I just don’t think they has much left after the DEN series.

I’ll go even farther. I think that if MIN played DAL instead of PHX in Round 1, I don’t think DAL wins.

Watching them, it felt like they weren’t fully invested. Could’ve been fatigued as you mentioned. However, they were in almost every game outside the last one. Coaching could’ve done better unless Finch already saw the writing on the wall.

Hopefully they understand what it takes going forward cause I don’t think Dallas is that much better than the wolves.

[minimus]

I think that's more of a personnel issue than anything.

After listening to exit interviews and podcasts, it sounds like the team was just exhausted, mentally and physically, from coming back this last two games against DEN. I think their energy levels vascilated wildly all through the playoffs, being high energy when they were the underdogs, and low energy when they were the favorites. In the high pressure world of the playoffs, this kind of wild changes in performance was probably especially stressing. I just don’t think they has much left after the DEN series.

I’ll go even farther. I think that if MIN played DAL instead of PHX in Round 1, I don’t think DAL wins.

Watching them, it felt like they weren’t fully invested. Could’ve been fatigued as you mentioned. However, they were in almost every game outside the last one. Coaching could’ve done better unless Finch already saw the writing on the wall.

Hopefully they understand what it takes going forward cause I don’t think Dallas is that much better than the wolves.

While I agree that MIN should have attack Luka more, and I agree that we dont have Tatum/Brown/White/Holiday, and I agree Edwards and Co were tired. But it is much easier to attack Luka and Irving when there is no Gafford/Liveley in the paint. BOS use all type of pre-switches to get right matchup PLUS KP/Horford stretch the floor PLUS White/Holiday in dunker spot.

[minimus]

I find it interesting that Brad Stevens upgraded Marcus Smart to Jrue Holiday. Smart was DPOY, was heart and soul of Boston: hustle and effort. But Stevens still "gambled" and brought here Holiday who is 4 years older than Smart. Right now Holiday has in Finals 13 assists and zero turnovers.

[Klomp]

I find it interesting that Brad Stevens upgraded Marcus Smart to Jrue Holiday. Smart was DPOY, was heart and soul of Boston: hustle and effort. But Stevens still "gambled" and brought here Holiday who is 4 years older than Smart. Right now Holiday has in Finals 13 assists and zero turnovers.

Separate deals. Smart trade was what got Porzingis to Boston.

[shrink]

I find it interesting that Brad Stevens upgraded Marcus Smart to Jrue Holiday. Smart was DPOY, was heart and soul of Boston: hustle and effort. But Stevens still "gambled" and brought here Holiday who is 4 years older than Smart. Right now Holiday has in Finals 13 assists and zero turnovers.

This is a really good point, and if our goal is winning a championship, it might make it more likely we trade some of our “very good but not great” players, still looking for upgrades.

[Klomp]

I find it interesting that Brad Stevens upgraded Marcus Smart to Jrue Holiday. Smart was DPOY, was heart and soul of Boston: hustle and effort. But Stevens still "gambled" and brought here Holiday who is 4 years older than Smart. Right now Holiday has in Finals 13 assists and zero turnovers.

This is a really good point, and if our goal is winning a championship, it might make it more likely we trade some of our “very good but not great” players, still looking for upgrades.

Yeah I'm not sure now is the time to rest on our laurels. It signals to our star player that pretty good is good enough.

Memphis and Sacramento are two teams that settled for being pretty good, and it didn't take much for them to plummet down the standings.

[minimus]

Read on Twitter

Just wondering who from young player can develop into Holiday archetype guard? I mean physical comboguard with post game. Am I remember correctly that Holiday at the beginning of was criticized for lack playmaking skills? Can Jalen Suggs follow his steps?

[minimus]

Read on Twitter

From what we saw in playoffs, DAL "77" play is probably the most similar thing to our offense, that can be used by MIN. Double drag screens, spain pick-n-roll, horns should be bread and butter for Gobert, Towns and Edwards. However, it requires to big improvements:

1) Obviously Towns and Edwards needs to improve significantly as decision makers in order to elevate team offense. It requires Towns to be make another big adjustment, i.e. play more as playmaker and be a big ballhandler/passer/shooter. While Edwards will grow naturally in this role, Towns should be "educated"

2) Both Towns and Edwards should learn a lot how to play without ball. As example Kyrie did spectacular job as second option in these playoffs. Both Towns and Edwards tend to either be passive or force things, playing out of rhythm. How many empty possessions had MIN when our players did not shoot open shots?

[shrink]

So far, there seems to be a growing consensus among team strategists that championship-contending teams will be willing to go into the second apron for two years of that total five-year window — the first season in the second apron, and then the next four cap years after that. If you’re competing for championships and generating the revenue that comes with it, deep-pocketed owners will likely be willing to pay the tax increments, and front offices will be willing to sacrifice that future draft capital in order to do so. But there’s a school of thought shaping around the league that teams might have just two years over a half-decade to go all-in before jumping back below the second apron, especially if that team has not reached its lofty expectations.

It doesn’t seem to be a coincidence that Minnesota signed Mike Conley Jr. to a two-year extension this spring that takes the Timberwolves point guard through the 2025-26 season. That could very well mark the second straight year Minnesota goes past the second apron to fund a contending team behind rising superstar Anthony Edwards — and 2025-26 also marks the last year of Rudy Gobert’s huge contract if the three-time Defensive Player of the Year picks up his player option. Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid also has a player option for that season. Only Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaden McDaniels have guaranteed money on the books for the Wolves beyond ’25-26, presenting Minnesota with some flexibility to evade the penalties of the second apron should it choose to do so.

From Jake Fischer

[Klomp]

Anyone here subscribe to 247 Sports? I would love to get the full scoop on this:

Read on Twitter

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

[Guest84]

Watch on YouTube

[minimus]

We were a weird team this year because our best decision makers (Conley and SloMo) were not our main scorers.

I can't find a clearer and more precise definition of our problems in offense: our best decision makers (Conley and SloMo) were not our main scorers.

I still don't trust Ant to "figure out" defenses in the playoffs, and Kat's decision tree is randomly generated every night.

Agree on this as well.

But, BOS have just won NBA Finals by putting around questionable decision makers Tatum-Brown a very solid supporting cast that shared offensive load. I think here there is one very important factor: if all you players on the floor are at least willing to shoot open threes it makes much easier for offense to generate points. Let me explain: with non shooters Gobert, Slo-M and partially with other players who shoot only open threes such as McLaughlin, NAW, McDaniels, often we have seen the ball going back and forth between players without any shot attempt. Add here Towns slow thinking and Edwards inexperience and we have receipt for bad offense.

So my theory is that: first, one more year for Towns and Edwards playing with Gobert and Conley will help. Edwards have improved a lot as decision maker this year. Towns also has shown signs of willing passer, however Karl is often tends to go in other direction becoming passive. So it is combination of two things: balance between own offense and offensive flow plus actual scoring and passing skills.

Second, adding three guys such as Joe Ingles, Rob Dillingham and Shannon should only help. All three are either quick decision makers (Ingles, Dilly) or aggressive scorers (Dilly and Shannon). It will give us more options in offense creating more fluid movement. I mean even if Dilly and Shannon struggle, shoot below average, it still should be beneficial for our offense.

Third, go back to this statement our best decision makers (Conley and SloMo) were not our main scorers

I really hope that it is what happens over time with MIN offense: by developing Edwards, Dilly, Reid, Shannon we will see how their decision making will multiply scoring efficiency. It is something that DAL have showed when Luka and Irving carried whole team.

[TimberKat]

We were a weird team this year because our best decision makers (Conley and SloMo) were not our main scorers.

I can't find a clearer and more precise definition of our problems in offense: our best decision makers (Conley and SloMo) were not our main scorers.

I think that is a good way to describe our problem. I don't think we did enough in the off season to address that. We can learn from DAL's offense with Luka handling the ball. Assume we keep the same cast, I like to see more pick and 'X' between Gobert and Towns. Or Towns and Ant.

[cupcakesnake]

We were a weird team this year because our best decision makers (Conley and SloMo) were not our main scorers.

I can't find a clearer and more precise definition of our problems in offense: our best decision makers (Conley and SloMo) were not our main scorers.

I still don't trust Ant to "figure out" defenses in the playoffs, and Kat's decision tree is randomly generated every night.

Agree on this as well.

But, BOS have just won NBA Finals by putting around questionable decision makers Tatum-Brown a very solid supporting cast that shared offensive load. I think here there is one very important factor: if all you players on the floor are at least willing to shoot open threes it makes much easier for offense to generate points. Let me explain: with non shooters Gobert, Slo-M and partially with other players who shoot only open threes such as McLaughlin, NAW, McDaniels, often we have seen the ball going back and forth between players without any shot attempt. Add here Towns slow thinking and Edwards inexperience and we have receipt for bad offense.

So my theory is that: first, one more year for Towns and Edwards playing with Gobert and Conley will help. Edwards have improved a lot as decision maker this year. Towns also has shown signs of willing passer, however Karl is often tends to go in other direction becoming passive. So it is combination of two things: balance between own offense and offensive flow plus actual scoring and passing skills.

Second, adding three guys such as Joe Ingles, Rob Dillingham and Shannon should only help. All three are either quick decision makers (Ingles, Dilly) or aggressive scorers (Dilly and Shannon). It will give us more options in offense creating more fluid movement. I mean even if Dilly and Shannon struggle, shoot below average, it still should be beneficial for our offense.

Third, go back to this statement our best decision makers (Conley and SloMo) were not our main scorers

I really hope that it is what happens over time with MIN offense: by developing Edwards, Dilly, Reid, Shannon we will see how their decision making will multiply scoring efficiency. It is something that DAL have showed when Luka and Irving carried whole team.

I'd say Towns' problem is being too fast a thinker! Really rushes and forces things, especially in iso and as a passer. He's a super talented passer, and every couple of games he looks relaxed and plays a fantastic brand of normal basketball. Then the next game he goes completely haywire, throws passes out of bounds, drives into offensive fouls, passes up open shots to drive into traffic, forces a post-up against a bad matchup. (But yeah I think we mean the same thing here)

Boston is an interesting example, with the biggest difference being: Jrue Holiday and Derrick White can play much bigger minutes than Conley and SloMo could, without giving up any advantage. If we had 2 borderline all-stars playing heavy minute roles next to Ant and Kat, we'd be winning championships. We spent our money on a one-man monster defensive advantage (Gobert) who makes Ant and Kat's decision making tree slightly more difficult. Now Kat loves to throw lobs to Gobert, but really struggles to identify when to drive/post based on where Gobert is on the floor. Ant loved tearing apart Phoenix and Denver with their lack of paint protection, but the decisions got too difficult when Dallas shrunk the floor on him.

I don't think Ant is that far away from Tatum as a playmaker, and think he might even have better potential in this regard. Boston has simplified the game for Tatum: run pick & roll, collapse the defense as best you can, kick out in any direction to our monstrous 3-point shooting machine. It's kind of an easy job and Tatum is capable of doing it. Ant has to navigate weirder lineups, and still hasnt mastered the art of the interior pass, so there's so many missed opportunities. He's excellent at hitting the corners now so hopefully he can build on that. Ant growing as a primary playmaker will make it much easier to slow in defenders, shooters, and play finishers around him.

Joe Ingles can do some of the things we most needed from SloMo, as long as he can stay healthy. He wont give us emergency shotmaking as a driver like SloMo could, but he can actually shoot, which is wayyyy more valuable for us. Dillingham becoming a playmaker who can get where he wants to with his quicks could also surely open up a new dimension for us. No idea what he'll bring as a rookie, but I'll be keeping an eye on his playmaking. Tiny guards don't often work out, but Dillingham does have that special elite mobility and shooting ability to give himself a chance. I like the idea of Shannon being used in a similar role to Reid, while allowing us to play quicker lineups.

[minimus]

I'd say Towns' problem is being too fast a thinker! Really rushes and forces things, especially in iso and as a passer. He's a super talented passer, and every couple of games he looks relaxed and plays a fantastic brand of normal basketball. Then the next game he goes completely haywire, throws passes out of bounds, drives into offensive fouls, passes up open shots to drive into traffic, forces a post-up against a bad matchup. (But yeah I think we mean the same thing here)

Yeah, agree. I just call it force things. I think the main problem is that Towns does not have a go-to move AND counter move, that allow him to stay calm under pressure. I mean Jokic can always post-up AND/OR pas, play DHO. Karl can go straight line drive going right, but it is to predictable and he gets offensive fouls. Karl can shoot 3s, but his footwork is slow so this option will be taken away by quicker defenders.

I still wonder what happened to Karl in DAL series. I guess after two rim protectors took away his post/slashing game, he his role reduced to a volume 3pt shooter at PF which he never has been, and only then he failed.

Boston is an interesting example, with the biggest difference being: Jrue Holiday and Derrick White can play much bigger minutes than Conley and SloMo could, without giving up any advantage. If we had 2 borderline all-stars playing heavy minute roles next to Ant and Kat, we'd be winning championships. We spent our money on a one-man monster defensive advantage (Gobert) who makes Ant and Kat's decision making tree slightly more difficult. Now Kat loves to throw lobs to Gobert, but really struggles to identify when to drive/post based on where Gobert is on the floor. Ant loved tearing apart Phoenix and Denver with their lack of paint protection, but the decisions got too difficult when Dallas shrunk the floor on him.

I don't think Ant is that far away from Tatum as a playmaker, and think he might even have better potential in this regard. Boston has simplified the game for Tatum: run pick & roll, collapse the defense as best you can, kick out in any direction to our monstrous 3-point shooting machine. It's kind of an easy job and Tatum is capable of doing it. Ant has to navigate weirder lineups, and still hasnt mastered the art of the interior pass, so there's so many missed opportunities. He's excellent at hitting the corners now so hopefully he can build on that. Ant growing as a primary playmaker will make it much easier to slow in defenders, shooters, and play finishers around him.

Yes, before Gobert trade Ant was an ISO scorer in free flow Finch offense. He has improved a lot, he is playing much more under control now. Next step is finally incorporating high level structured plays/reads in his game. Such as double drag play that Doncic used to kill MIN

I like the idea of Shannon being used in a similar role to Reid, while allowing us to play quicker lineups.

I find it very intriguing that Shannon and Reid can be guys who are playing off the catch, who are natural aggressive scorers. My biggest hope is that Shannon brings physicality in second unit. MIN bench is 21st in FTA. Reid as scoring big from bench is particularly bad at earning FTs. For instance, Malik Monk averaged 3.9FTA per36, Reid averaged 2.7FTA per36. Obviously other bench players such NAW, Anderson and Morris/McLaughlin didnt apply any rim pressure neither.

Also MIN bench is 21st in 3PA. This is despite Reid highest 3pt shooting rate. Hopefully it will improve with addition of Rob and Shannon. I really hope that Reid-Shannon-NAW-Dillingham unit can find chemistry and run and attack with league highest pace. The only question I have is who defend big wings? Shannon? Minott? Miller? Clark?

Reid-(Minott/Miller/Clark)-Shannon-NAW-Dillingham