Game 52 Rockets (32-18) @ Wolves (28-23)

[winforlose]

It might be a good time to convert Clark to a regular contract.

Two words… HELL NO!

We have 14 players. If we convert Clark that shortens our control for a year, prevents us from signing a backup C, prevents us from signing another PG, and costs Millions in tax.

Big consideration is that Jaylen Clark is not eligible to play in the Playoffs, as a two-way player. If he continues to be an important part of the rotation, Minnesota will likely move him up to a full-time deal.

If we do that, and I stress the if, I think it happens with us cutting one of Ingles or Garza. I do not see this team going 30 more games without a backup C. If Randle is out and Rudy is down, then Naz is the starting 5 and Jaden is likely his backup. That is insane. It was one thing when we were healthy and could make a trade, but the deadline has passed, the players who will be available are now or will be very soon. This is the time to get another big, not convert an undersized 2/3 hybrid. Besides, we have Clark for all 30 of those games, we don’t have that unspecified big.

[Klomp]

Watching him off-ball, this feels like a great way to use Shannon

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[Guest84]

Nice to see TSJ get some quality minutes. The young guys seem hungry and finch needs to recognize that on a consistent basis. They can help

[Domejandro]

Two words… HELL NO!

We have 14 players. If we convert Clark that shortens our control for a year, prevents us from signing a backup C, prevents us from signing another PG, and costs Millions in tax.

Big consideration is that Jaylen Clark is not eligible to play in the Playoffs, as a two-way player. If he continues to be an important part of the rotation, Minnesota will likely move him up to a full-time deal.

If we do that, and I stress the if, I think it happens with us cutting one of Ingles or Garza. I do not see this team going 30 more games without a backup C. If Randle is out and Rudy is down, then Naz is the starting 5 and Jaden is likely his backup. That is insane. It was one thing when we were healthy and could make a trade, but the deadline has passed, the players who will be available are now or will be very soon. This is the time to get another big, not convert an undersized 2/3 hybrid. Besides, we have Clark for all 30 of those games, we don’t have that unspecified big.

Barring a longer-term injury happening, I think what we see is what we get. Realistically, there are not any options available that will substantially help the team in the Playoffs.

1. 32 year-old Daniel Theis (he’s 6’8”)
2. 32 year-old Bismack Biyombo
3. 37 year-old Javale McGee
4. 36 year-old Robin Lopez
5. 26 year-old Mo Bamba
6. 34 year-old Tristan Thompson (he’s 6’9”)

The truth is that Minnesota will need to be healthy heading into the Playoffs and rely on small-ball when Rudy Gobert is off of the court.

[winforlose]

Big consideration is that Jaylen Clark is not eligible to play in the Playoffs, as a two-way player. If he continues to be an important part of the rotation, Minnesota will likely move him up to a full-time deal.

If we do that, and I stress the if, I think it happens with us cutting one of Ingles or Garza. I do not see this team going 30 more games without a backup C. If Randle is out and Rudy is down, then Naz is the starting 5 and Jaden is likely his backup. That is insane. It was one thing when we were healthy and could make a trade, but the deadline has passed, the players who will be available are now or will be very soon. This is the time to get another big, not convert an undersized 2/3 hybrid. Besides, we have Clark for all 30 of those games, we don’t have that unspecified big.

Barring a longer-term injury happening, I think what we see is what we get. Realistically, there are not any options available that will substantially help the team in the Playoffs.

1. 32 year-old Daniel Theis (he’s 6’8”)
2. 32 year-old Bismack Biyombo
3. 37 year-old Javale McGee
4. 36 year-old Robin Lopez
5. 26 year-old Mo Bamba
6. 34 year-old Tristan Thompson (he’s 6’9”)

The truth is that Minnesota will need to be healthy heading into the Playoffs and rely on small-ball when Rudy Gobert is off of the court.

Tonight we saw foul trouble force Luka again. If Finch won’t use Miller after the prior 3 Luka performances he won’t use him unless every other player is dying or dead (an exaggeration, but only slightly .) We need depth, and that depth might be the 6’8 Theis, or some other waived big who can help. Either way better to bring in a big than to be forced to play super small. BTW, the Rockets also went small against, plenty of other teams like Dallas, Memphis, Denver, and OKC won’t.

[ILC]

Just watched the full replay, what a game. When Ant attacks no one can stop him. I said all season - this team has no excuse to not be one of the best transition offenses and they're finally improving. Coupled with better Orebounding they're a top 10 offense now since Christmas.

So the Wolves have 34 games left. 27-21 record right now. To be the 4th seed I'm guessing it will take 50 wins minimum and I also want 50 because it sounds/looks better. Can't go from 56 last year to under 50 this year

With 34 games left they need to go 23-11 at least to win 50. These next 11 will be crucial. WW, Sac, Bulls, Rockets 2x, OKC 3x, Portland and Bucks. Go 7-4 here that's 34-25 record on Feb 25th. Schedule really eases up after that and a 16-7 finish should be really doable by just beating up on bad teams to end the season.

Dropped the WW and Kings, but won the Rockets one where I was counting a loss. Also had losses 2x against OKC and 1x vs Cavs/Bucks for this 7-4 record I mentioned. Have to make up one win there and we'll be on track.

[ILC]

If we do that, and I stress the if, I think it happens with us cutting one of Ingles or Garza. I do not see this team going 30 more games without a backup C. If Randle is out and Rudy is down, then Naz is the starting 5 and Jaden is likely his backup. That is insane. It was one thing when we were healthy and could make a trade, but the deadline has passed, the players who will be available are now or will be very soon. This is the time to get another big, not convert an undersized 2/3 hybrid. Besides, we have Clark for all 30 of those games, we don’t have that unspecified big.

Barring a longer-term injury happening, I think what we see is what we get. Realistically, there are not any options available that will substantially help the team in the Playoffs.

1. 32 year-old Daniel Theis (he’s 6’8”)
2. 32 year-old Bismack Biyombo
3. 37 year-old Javale McGee
4. 36 year-old Robin Lopez
5. 26 year-old Mo Bamba
6. 34 year-old Tristan Thompson (he’s 6’9”)

The truth is that Minnesota will need to be healthy heading into the Playoffs and rely on small-ball when Rudy Gobert is off of the court.

Tonight we saw foul trouble force Luka again. If Finch won’t use Miller after the prior 3 Luka performances he won’t use him unless every other player is dying or dead (an exaggeration, but only slightly .) We need depth, and that depth might be the 6’8 Theis, or some other waived big who can help. Either way better to bring in a big than to be forced to play super small. BTW, the Rockets also went small against, plenty of other teams like Dallas, Memphis, Denver, and OKC won’t.

In a playoff setting none of those bigs are saving you from those teams. None of them are even playing if Rudy is out. You'll have to force others to adjust to you with a smaller lineup with Naz and Randle. You have enough size there to be a good enough rebounding team and definitely more than enough offense to punish them for going bigger.

Double, scramble, gang rebound, get in transition.

[shrink]

Top 6 now!

[Calinks]

Team looks like they are figuring some things out. Still unlikely to reach last years heights but I can see a path to finding a new path to being a top 3 team in the conference the next season or two again.

[Klomp]

I loved everything about this!

Watch on YouTube

"I like those kind of games. I grew up in those kinds of games. I'm never going to shy away from those moments." -Naz Reid

[Klomp]

Team looks like they are figuring some things out. Still unlikely to reach last years heights but I can see a path to finding a new path to being a top 3 team in the conference the next season or two again.

If we can get on the side of the bracket opposite of OKC, I absolutely think we can still make it back to the WCF. I'm not scared of Houston. I'm not scared of Memphis. I'm not scared of Denver. I'm not really scared of the Lakers. I'm not scared of Dallas. I'm not scared of the Clippers. I'm not scared of Phoenix. I'm not scared of Sacramento. I'm not scared of Golden State. I'm not scared of San Antonio.

As a fan base, we've been so worried about the regular season. So worried about matching last year. So worried about squeeze any drop you can from the group. Last year, we saw a No. 5 seed make it to the Finals.

[Guest84]

I loved everything about this!

Watch on YouTube

"I like those kind of games. I grew up in those kinds of games. I'm never going to shy away from those moments." -Naz Reid

Honestly, I second this. I feel like it's one of the few times where team actually backed each other and got physical with the other team. While I don't condone violence, it was good to see Rudy stick up for Naz. I think this iteration of the team may need a bit more nasty to them as it seems to really spark them. Gives them a reason to be engaged.

[Klomp]

I loved everything about this!

Watch on YouTube

"I like those kind of games. I grew up in those kinds of games. I'm never going to shy away from those moments." -Naz Reid

Honestly, I second this. I feel like it's one of the few times where team actually backed each other and got physical with the other team. While I don't condone violence, it was good to see Rudy stick up for Naz. I think this iteration of the team may need a bit more nasty to them as it seems to really spark them. Gives them a reason to be engaged.

It might not have been an intentional "hey we are going to add some nasty" but I do think a byproduct of the Towns trade is a shift into a lineup that has quite a bit more "nasty" to it. That really seems to fit most of our best players right now.

[shrink]

Team looks like they are figuring some things out. Still unlikely to reach last years heights but I can see a path to finding a new path to being a top 3 team in the conference the next season or two again.

If we can get on the side of the bracket opposite of OKC, I absolutely think we can still make it back to the WCF. I'm not scared of Houston. I'm not scared of Memphis. I'm not scared of Denver. I'm not really scared of the Lakers. I'm not scared of Dallas. I'm not scared of the Clippers. I'm not scared of Phoenix. I'm not scared of Sacramento. I'm not scared of Golden State. I'm not scared of San Antonio.

As a fan base, we've been so worried about the regular season. So worried about matching last year. So worried about squeeze any drop you can from the group. Last year, we saw a No. 5 seed make it to the Finals.

If I was OKC, I’d be a little scared of MIN. There Achilles heel is still opponents with size, and NAW knows how to defend his cousin.

[Klomp]

Team looks like they are figuring some things out. Still unlikely to reach last years heights but I can see a path to finding a new path to being a top 3 team in the conference the next season or two again.

If we can get on the side of the bracket opposite of OKC, I absolutely think we can still make it back to the WCF. I'm not scared of Houston. I'm not scared of Memphis. I'm not scared of Denver. I'm not really scared of the Lakers. I'm not scared of Dallas. I'm not scared of the Clippers. I'm not scared of Phoenix. I'm not scared of Sacramento. I'm not scared of Golden State. I'm not scared of San Antonio.

As a fan base, we've been so worried about the regular season. So worried about matching last year. So worried about squeeze any drop you can from the group. Last year, we saw a No. 5 seed make it to the Finals.

If I was OKC, I’d be a little scared of MIN. There Achilles heel is still opponents with size, and NAW knows how to defend his cousin.

I will say, I don't completely disagree. It's just hard to say with so little sample size, especially without Chet Holmgren in that one game played so far. We'll soon find out though, with him supposedly getting healthy and with the final three games in the season series coming starting next week, straddling the all-star break (with Houston being the other game) in a four-game stretch Feb. 13-24.

[Calinks]

Eh. I think we got a long way to go as far as proving we got enough depth to make a big run. I love what I have seen in the last couple of weeks and if we can build on this and progress for the second half of the season, we are talking for sure but right now I think several teams are ahead of us on the reliability scale.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

Eh. I think we got a long way to go as far as proving we got enough depth to make a big run. I love what I have seen in the last couple of weeks and if we can build on this and progress for the second half of the season, we are talking for sure but right now I think several teams are ahead of us on the reliability scale.

I agree with you. Not too excited but happy to see we improve a lot. For example Mike, the supposed wash player score 11ppg , 6 assists/0.9TO since DVV and Randle out.

I'm concerned about 2 things :
- We have to remain healthy. ANT or Rudy goes down and we are down too...
- We have to find a way to put back DDV and Randle once they healthy without hurting the current chemistry... not easy to do.

I like what i see now from the starters and also the young guys contributing a lot.