Game 47: Minnesota (25-21) at Phoenix (24-21)

[wolves_89]

That was a really good win for the Wolves. NAW with a huge 35 minutes and Randle with one of his better games were probably the difference tonight. I also thought the Ant/Clark/NAW/Jaden/Rudy lineup could be something going forward as a shutdown defensive group.

[winforlose]

Frustrated as we all are the important thing to remember is that we beat the refs… I mean the Suns.

[Loaf_of_bread]

Like that Randle is passing the ball out sooner.. too many times in previous games where he passes out with little time left on the shot clock.

[wolves_89]

Jaylen Clark with his first non-garbage time NBA minutes and he gets to guard Booker/Beal in isolation a number of times. He showed pretty clearly that the defense is NBA ready, now he just needs to prove he can contribute something on the offensive end (it doesn't have to be much, but he can't be Josh Okogie).

[FrenchMinnyFan]

Like that Randle is passing the ball out sooner.. too many times in previous games where he passes out with little time left on the shot clock.

I agree and it make a huge difference. ANT still too sticky with the ball but we can live with that as he is providing all the others things. Randle was good tonight, really good. Play defense, pass the ball faster, shoot well. Got also the feeling that him and Mike find a way to play more together.

[Klomp]

1. Glad to see the board hasn't devolved into "Fire Finch because clearly the team responds better to Micah" yet. There's hope for the forum!
2. Josh Minott....I know some people are frustrated because they feel Finch is messing with his confidence, but that 10-second stint showed there is a lack of an attention to detail. When you are barely hanging on to a potential role player slot as it is, that's a deal-breaker for any coach.
3. Definitely happy for Jaylen...the defense with all three of Jaylen, Nickeil and Jaden on the floor was fun to watch as they made a comeback.
4. Ant really loves playing against Phoenix!
5. The six main guys played 30-plus minutes on the front half of a back-to-back. I know Utah is depleted, so it will be interesting to see how quickly we can put that game away.

[winforlose]

1. Glad to see the board hasn't devolved into "Fire Finch because clearly the team responds better to Micah" yet. There's hope for the forum!
2. Josh Minott....I know some people are frustrated because they feel Finch is messing with his confidence, but that 10-second stint showed there is a lack of an attention to detail. When you are barely hanging on to a potential role player slot as it is, that's a deal-breaker for any coach.
3. Definitely happy for Jaylen...the defense with all three of Jaylen, Nickeil and Jaden on the floor was fun to watch as they made a comeback.
4. Ant really loves playing against Phoenix!
5. The six main guys played 30-plus minutes on the front half of a back-to-back. I know Utah is depleted, so it will be interesting to see how quickly we can put that game away.

You don’t bench a guy 12 seconds in, especially after a bad game. You are doing more than killing his confidence, you are undermining his development. You are denying him the chance to learn and improve. At this point the relationship between Minott and Finch cannot be good. Don’t be surprised if we trade him at his request this year or next.

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

[TimberKat]

1. Glad to see the board hasn't devolved into "Fire Finch because clearly the team responds better to Micah" yet. There's hope for the forum!
2. Josh Minott....I know some people are frustrated because they feel Finch is messing with his confidence, but that 10-second stint showed there is a lack of an attention to detail. When you are barely hanging on to a potential role player slot as it is, that's a deal-breaker for any coach.
3. Definitely happy for Jaylen...the defense with all three of Jaylen, Nickeil and Jaden on the floor was fun to watch as they made a comeback.
4. Ant really loves playing against Phoenix!
5. The six main guys played 30-plus minutes on the front half of a back-to-back. I know Utah is depleted, so it will be interesting to see how quickly we can put that game away.

You don’t bench a guy 12 seconds in, especially after a bad game. You are doing more than killing his confidence, you are undermining his development. You are denying him the chance to learn and improve. At this point the relationship between Minott and Finch cannot be good. Don’t be surprised if we trade him at his request this year or next.

How long he's been on the team? I don't think his assignment was to score 15 points. I think it more like sticky to KD or stay in front of the guy you are guarding. He looked loss the last few games. It won't be fair to the guys behind him either.

[Klomp]

Role players have specific tasks when they are in the game. I'm guessing "back-door cuts" was high on the scouting report, and likely talked about in the huddle right before the play.

I know people wish that the same leash was had with Ant or Julius, but I look at it this way.....Josh had one assignment. He went 0/1. An Ant or Julius have probably 10 different areas they contribute to the team. If they fail on one, they are still 9/10 for the game.

[winforlose]

Role players have specific tasks when they are in the game. I'm guessing "back-door cuts" was high on the scouting report, and likely talked about in the huddle right before the play.

I know people wish that the same leash was had with Ant or Julius, but I look at it this way.....Josh had one assignment. He went 0/1. An Ant or Julius have probably 10 different areas they contribute to the team. If they fail on one, they are still 9/10 for the game.

Compare leash with Dilly and Clark, not Ant and JR. Dilly missed a lot of defensive rotations and was being hunted, especially playing with Mike. I am not calling for benching Dilly, but imagine if Finch pulled him the very first time he threw a bad pass or missed a rotation. Part of Finch’s job is to secure the bench depth. Clark is playoff ineligible, Minott might end up being needed if foul trouble or injury or both happen. 12 seconds is just enough leash to let his nerves get worse.

[Klomp]

Role players have specific tasks when they are in the game. I'm guessing "back-door cuts" was high on the scouting report, and likely talked about in the huddle right before the play.

I know people wish that the same leash was had with Ant or Julius, but I look at it this way.....Josh had one assignment. He went 0/1. An Ant or Julius have probably 10 different areas they contribute to the team. If they fail on one, they are still 9/10 for the game.

Compare leash with Dilly and Clark, not Ant and JR. Dilly missed a lot of defensive rotations and was being hunted, especially playing with Mike. I am not calling for benching Dilly, but imagine if Finch pulled him the very first time he threw a bad pass or missed a rotation. Part of Finch’s job is to secure the bench depth. Clark is playoff ineligible, Minott might end up being needed if foul trouble or injury or both happen. 12 seconds is just enough leash to let his nerves get worse.

For now...

[TimberKat]

Role players have specific tasks when they are in the game. I'm guessing "back-door cuts" was high on the scouting report, and likely talked about in the huddle right before the play.

I know people wish that the same leash was had with Ant or Julius, but I look at it this way.....Josh had one assignment. He went 0/1. An Ant or Julius have probably 10 different areas they contribute to the team. If they fail on one, they are still 9/10 for the game.

Compare leash with Dilly and Clark, not Ant and JR. Dilly missed a lot of defensive rotations and was being hunted, especially playing with Mike. I am not calling for benching Dilly, but imagine if Finch pulled him the very first time he threw a bad pass or missed a rotation. Part of Finch’s job is to secure the bench depth. Clark is playoff ineligible, Minott might end up being needed if foul trouble or injury or both happen. 12 seconds is just enough leash to let his nerves get worse.

This is the first time Clark plays meaningful minutes, so I think his leash is shorter. Dilly in his first year probably had more responsibilities. Minott had many opportunities already this year and I haven't seen one game where I say he actually plays well. Dilly had multiple and even Clark had one already.

[winforlose]

Role players have specific tasks when they are in the game. I'm guessing "back-door cuts" was high on the scouting report, and likely talked about in the huddle right before the play.

I know people wish that the same leash was had with Ant or Julius, but I look at it this way.....Josh had one assignment. He went 0/1. An Ant or Julius have probably 10 different areas they contribute to the team. If they fail on one, they are still 9/10 for the game.

Compare leash with Dilly and Clark, not Ant and JR. Dilly missed a lot of defensive rotations and was being hunted, especially playing with Mike. I am not calling for benching Dilly, but imagine if Finch pulled him the very first time he threw a bad pass or missed a rotation. Part of Finch’s job is to secure the bench depth. Clark is playoff ineligible, Minott might end up being needed if foul trouble or injury or both happen. 12 seconds is just enough leash to let his nerves get worse.

For now...

For this year. Remember we had him as a two way last year, we cannot do it again. I have very little doubt we sign him to a 4 year Naz contract (Hinkie special.) But we only have one open roster spot, and barring some crazy **** that spot is likely going to a big. We cannot only have Garza behind Rudy come April.

[Klomp]

Compare leash with Dilly and Clark, not Ant and JR. Dilly missed a lot of defensive rotations and was being hunted, especially playing with Mike. I am not calling for benching Dilly, but imagine if Finch pulled him the very first time he threw a bad pass or missed a rotation. Part of Finch’s job is to secure the bench depth. Clark is playoff ineligible, Minott might end up being needed if foul trouble or injury or both happen. 12 seconds is just enough leash to let his nerves get worse.

For now...

For this year. Remember we had him as a two way last year, we cannot do it again. I have very little doubt we sign him to a 4 year Naz contract (Hinkie special.) But we only have one open roster spot, and barring some crazy **** that spot is likely going to a big. We cannot only have Garza behind Rudy come April.

Tonight is exactly the kind of night that kick-starts a path to a Hinkie. A lot can happen between now and April. I think the chances of him getting a two-way went up considerably. Don't rule it out so quickly....

[winforlose]

For now...

For this year. Remember we had him as a two way last year, we cannot do it again. I have very little doubt we sign him to a 4 year Naz contract (Hinkie special.) But we only have one open roster spot, and barring some crazy **** that spot is likely going to a big. We cannot only have Garza behind Rudy come April.

Tonight is exactly the kind of night that kick-starts a path to a Hinkie. A lot can happen between now and April. I think the chances of him getting a two-way went up considerably. Don't rule it out so quickly....[/quote

Something weird happened here. My response starts below, the above is Klomp.

He is a two way and ineligible for another because you can only be a two way with a team for 2 years. Why would we start the clock on his 2nd contract when we have cheap control this year. The time for the Hinkie is next year.

[Klomp]

Why would we start the clock on his 2nd contract when we have cheap control this year. The time for the Hinkie is next year.

To reward him for contributions to the team and to give him a chance to possibly play in the playoffs. They did the same thing for Luka last year. Not technically a Hinkie, but moved him to a standard deal.

BTW I mistyped....it should've said "the chances of him getting off the two-way went up considerably"

And on the quote issue, you dropped a bracket (]) off the end and then put the [/quote] somewhere else, it appears

[winforlose]

Why would we start the clock on his 2nd contract when we have cheap control this year. The time for the Hinkie is next year.

To reward him for contributions to the team and to give him a chance to possibly play in the playoffs. They did the same thing for Luka last year. Not technically a Hinkie, but moved him to a standard deal.

BTW I mistyped....it should've said "the chances of him getting off the two-way went up considerably"

And on the quote issue, you dropped a bracket (]) off the end and then put the

somewhere else, it appears[/quote]

I didn’t actually intend to touch the quote. I think my curser went to the wrong spot. Anyway my bad on the imperfect quote. It happened again and this time I was careful not to go near your quote.

I understood what you meant about getting off the two way.

Last year Garza was the 3rd big. We didn’t reward him, we literally needed him. This year Clark is in our deepest position. Shannon is likely to get those minutes when he is healthy, which is likely 2-3 weeks. We desperately need another big. If we don’t 2 for 1 trade Randle or move someone for a big, expect us to sign one at #15. Also remember the tax situation. You don’t reward a two way player with 5x multiplier on the owners dime.

[Klomp]

I didn’t actually intend to touch the quote. I think my curser went to the wrong spot. Anyway my bad on the imperfect quote. It happened again and this time I was careful not to go near your quote.

Haha that one was my bad....I put it in the text to explain it, which triggered the mess-up.

[Klomp]

Last year Garza was the 3rd big. We didn’t reward him, we literally needed him. This year Clark is in our deepest position. Shannon is likely to get those minutes when he is healthy, which is likely 2-3 weeks. We desperately need another big. If we don’t 2 for 1 trade Randle or move someone for a big, expect us to sign one at #15. Also remember the tax situation. You don’t reward a two way player with 5x multiplier on the owners dime.

You bring up good points.

I don't think it's likely, I was just saying that the odds went up considerably....like from 5% to 30%. Still not likely though, but I could envision a path.