Identity crisis?

[Klomp]

One thing that can really make MIN offense is transition game.

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I dont fully agree with a statement, I'd say that team offense/defense is PRE-defined by your TRANSITION philosophy.

Let me explain: MIN most dangerous play for Towns in transition was Trailer, when he was basically last in transition and shot threes when opponent defense line was too low. This action is epitome of our transition offense, because:

- Towns at PF is one of the slowest stretch fours
- Towns-Gobert is one of the slowest froncourts in the league
- neither Towns nor Gobert can grab-and-go in fastbreak
- Towns is our best shooter, but he is not a wing or guard to run in transition and fill corners

Now TC has added Randle, DDV and TJ. Here are list of things that MIGHT change in our transition offense:

First, is whole new level of matchup hunting and attacking defense that is not set:

- Randle can grab-and-go and initiate fastbreaks
- Randle is actually a natural aggressive scorer in the paint, he can play through contact he knows how to explore favourable matchups. It means that he can explore ANY early cross match created by "simply"running hard and fast

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Second, three point shooting. Three point shooting and transition offense ALWAYS comes hand to hand. Without 3pt shooter willing to take a three, semi transition opportunities often becomes a wasted money:

- DDV is our best 3pt shooter, he will have plenty of opportunities to rain threes transition. He can pull up from above the break, he can fill corners. But DDV brings more than only elite shooting

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Finally, I mentioned only Randle and DDV as main actors. Because Randle can rebound, dribble and pass. DDV is also a pretty solid rebounder for guard, he is an elite shooter and can pass AND he one of the top NBA players in hustle stats, for instance in deflections (3.0), for reference Alex Caruso had 3.7 deflection per game last season. Plus we already have Reid who can rebound, dribble, loves attacking of the catch, we have TJ who might be our best wing in transition, and obviously Edwards, McDaniels and NAW. I even think that Gobert can benefit from it as well. I can see here a big potential or better, change of mentality.

P.S. I think that especially young players can benefit from it. I am thinking about Jaylen Clarke when he will blow up his first opponent DHO and MIN will start fastbreak with TJ

Perfect embodiment of this philosophy here.

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[younggunsmn]

When talking about spacing the floor, yes KAT is an incredible shooter, but he doesn't move much.
He can stand there and bend the defense a little bit with his gravity, but he doesn't MOVE the defense or get them into rotation when he's standing out there.

Now when you've got a movement shooter like DDV or Klay or Steph or PG13 or Luka or Kyrie that you have to chase all over the floor, that can cause a lot more chaos for your defense.

Maybe the biggest problem in the Dallas series was that we never really got them out of their base defense and let them get incredibly comfortable in it.

[minimus]

When talking about spacing the floor, yes KAT is an incredible shooter, but he doesn't move much.
He can stand there and bend the defense a little bit with his gravity, but he doesn't MOVE the defense or get them into rotation when he's standing out there.

Now when you've got a movement shooter like DDV or Klay or Steph or PG13 or Luka or Kyrie that you have to chase all over the floor, that can cause a lot more chaos for your defense.

Maybe the biggest problem in the Dallas series was that we never really got them out of their base defense and let them get incredibly comfortable in it.

Yes. Elite teams actively CREATE and use space in offense and take away space in defense. The most used way to take away space is to double team, the most efficient way to create space is to pass the ball. Towns at PF has been struggling with double teams, he completely abandoned post ups. For a bigman it is critical to develop passing out of double team, I am even ok with mediocre three point shooting (see Dom Sabonis example), but passing is crucial.

[Klomp]

When talking about spacing the floor, yes KAT is an incredible shooter, but he doesn't move much.
He can stand there and bend the defense a little bit with his gravity, but he doesn't MOVE the defense or get them into rotation when he's standing out there.

Now when you've got a movement shooter like DDV or Klay or Steph or PG13 or Luka or Kyrie that you have to chase all over the floor, that can cause a lot more chaos for your defense.

Maybe the biggest problem in the Dallas series was that we never really got them out of their base defense and let them get incredibly comfortable in it.

Yes. Elite teams actively CREATE and use space in offense and take away space in defense. The most used way to take away space is to double team, the most efficient way to create space is to pass the ball. Towns at PF has been struggling with double teams, he completely abandoned post ups. For a bigman it is critical to develop passing out of double team, I am even ok with mediocre three point shooting (see Dom Sabonis example), but passing is crucial.

Something I heard brought up this week is how DiVincenzo can help create more spacing by being a threat to shoot from out to 30 feet from the basket. That creates vertical spacing, and more room for Ant and Randle to drive.

[minimus]

If someone missed latest podcast with Finch:

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For me it was interesting to hear this statement: if you run modern efficient offense (read shots at rim and threes) it creates rebound opportunities that are rebounded with +5% higher probability. More threes, more misses with +5 rebound probability. That's why MIN should absolutely crash offensive glass this season. And this is also one of the reasons why Minott should be in rotation

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Interesting fact: NYK were the best in offensive rebounding last season while playing the SLOWEST pace in whole NBA! Again SLOWEST pace (low amount of shot attempts and misses) and BEST on offensive glass in terms of OREB% and total offensive rebounds. It was part of their offensive tactic.

MIN were 21st and 23rd. Now MIN got two high energy players for NYK: Randle and DDV. I believe that there is no reason why MIN cannot be in Top10 in offensive rebounding this season. But it should be really a team mindset, collective effort.

[minimus]

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I believe this Elbow action with Randle as passer should be staple for Randle/Edwards/DDV chemistry as well, especially when Gobert is not on the floor. Randle gets the ball at the Elbow, DDV set back screen to Edwards (or vice versa). Then it is either cut or pop up three.

[minimus]

Today three players had 5 assists: Randle, DDV and McDaniels. Edwards had 3 assists, Rob - 4 assists. Ingles had 3, Conley and NAW both 2. It is not Finch flow offense, since Randle is clearly out of sync, but I like raw concept.

[Klomp]

Today three players had 5 assists: Randle, DDV and McDaniels. Edwards had 3 assists, Rob - 4 assists. Ingles had 3, Conley and NAW both 2. It is not Finch flow offense, since Randle is clearly out of sync, but I like raw concept.

This is what I expect to see all season long

[Klomp]

Fun little watch

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[minimus]

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First, someone must be a defensive coordinator within this small ball lineup. Second, either McDaniels or Minott (read a full sized wing) must play next to Reid and Randle. Otherwise it will be recipe for disaster

[cmoss84]

Last night's game just always felt uneasy...like too many cooks in the kitchen at all times.

[Klomp]

I think a key difference between Randle and Anderson as facilitators is that Anderson is more likely to probe the defense while Randle is likely to stay stationary. This team was static. There was a possession where Donte cut baseline and Julius fed him...only problem was, Davis was waiting at the rim and blocked the shot.

[minimus]

I think a key difference between Randle and Anderson as facilitators is that Anderson is more likely to probe the defense while Randle is likely to stay stationary. This team was static. There was a possession where Donte cut baseline and Julius fed him...only problem was, Davis was waiting at the rim and blocked the shot.

IMO it is not correct. Randle attacks defense and make pass, while Anderson is more static executor like Monte Morris, Tyus Jones etc. Anderson has more feel for the game, more IQ, but less talent as scorer. The big difference for is whether our perimeter players improve off ball movement around Randle, whether they cut or relocate to create spacing and passing lanes. Yesterday only DDV (and NAW at some degree) was moving without the ball. I think particularly MCD has a lot of room for improvement as off ball scorer. His wingspan and mobility allow him to be an easy target for kick out passes, and he can attack closeouts all game long.

P.S. It was Edwards, not Randle.

[Colbinii]

I think this team is going to be in trouble if the straw that stirs the drink--Mike Conley--has taken a step back.

[TheZachAttack]

I can solve what the Wolves need to do offensively. The Wolves should run offense through Randle at the elbow in the triple threat position. Randle is a threat from this range to jab and make jump shots, or use his physicality to get into the defender, make tough shots, and get to the rim. Randle doesn't mind playing in traffic. Rudy should be in the dunker spot holding the big down low. Ant, Conley, and Jaden should be spacing at the top of the floor and in the corners. Ant should be on the strong side with Randle. If they help off of Ant, you leverage Ant's catch and shoot game, and/or allow him to attack off the catch. Ant has to play at his own pace and be able to get into the middle of the floor and hit in rhythm mid range shots (not the pivot pivot or the last resort fadeaway shot). If they help off of Rudy, Rudy gets drop off dunks. This can also get the defense in rotation and if they help back to Ant he can make the pass to Jaden or Conley. An alternative of this, is to get the switch from Randle to a small and he backs them in and forces the help.

That offense can be a top 5 offense but Ant will need to be willing to play like he did in the Olympics -- and Ant wants to be the superstar. I think this can get Ant into a rhythm and there are other lineups and to close the game he can go into superstar mode at the top of the key spreading around him and coming off of hand offs. Will Ant trust this enough and does this mean he sacrifices? Or are these easier shots and Ant leverages his game as a jump shooter?

I think you can even get into this using Ant as the screener and Randle as the ball handler to get the switch or Ant cutting.

[minimus]

I can solve what the Wolves need to do offensively. The Wolves should run offense through Randle at the elbow in the triple threat position.

The main one problem is not his offense. It is his defense, rebounding and lack of effort.

[TheZachAttack]

I can solve what the Wolves need to do offensively. The Wolves should run offense through Randle at the elbow in the triple threat position.

The main one problem is not his offense. It is his defense, rebounding and lack of effort.

I didn't say I could solve that. I will start with solving the offense and then make a decision on the cost is around defense, effort, and rebounding.

[minimus]

I wonder if that is kind of lowest starting point of the season:

- Randle did not play 9 months and has a new role/team
- Ant and Gobert are learning how to play next to Randle
- DDV has new role/team
- Reid has new role
- rookies needs to adapt to NBA game

[Klomp]

This is the kind of two-man game that we NEVER saw between Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns

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[Klomp]

Trading away Towns allows more creativity with small-ball lineups, including time for Jaden McDaniels at the 4. I sad it over the offseason somewhere on this board that I thought this was an important key to unlocking his offense a bit more.

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By the way, this was actually the best lineup last night, when looking at net rating. In 2:42, it had an offensive rating of 200(!) and a defensive rating of 150, for a +50 net rating. The Wolves outscored the Mavs 10-6 in that small stretch.