Thoughts on Minny

MrBigShot · Post #81 » by **MrBigShot** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 12:59 am

They are good enough to compete but not good enough to go all the way as currently constructed.

bonita_the_frog · Post #82 » by **bonita_the_frog** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 2:57 am

Wolves are good enough to beat OKC, as they were good enough to be 2-2 in the Western Finals but got unlucky with the clock in Game 4.
Plus OKC will be less hungry, and facing more pressure now, that's why nobody repeats...

Wolves beat OKC 143-101 in Game 3, and that was despite OKC having only 15 turnovers (to Minnesota's 10).
And OKC beat Wolves 128-126 in Game 4, and Wolves were only given 0.3 to attempt a final shot, despite a fan catching the ball with 0.6 left on the clock.

3toheadmelo · Post #83 » by **3toheadmelo** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 1:02 pm

JohnnyKILLroy wrote:Is Dante going to have a bounce back season ? Last season was kind of disappointing

He might be one of those role players that looked really good under Thibs but regressed once they left him

bonita_the_frog · Post #84 » by **bonita_the_frog** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 1:15 pm

After the all-star break Donte DiVincenzo shot .464 field, .447 threes but only 12.9 points, because there just aren't enough shots to go around I guess.
Had a really bad playoffs, .365 field, .318 threes

shrink · Post #85 » by **shrink** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 1:20 pm

3toheadmelo wrote:
JohnnyKILLroy wrote:Is Dante going to have a bounce back season ? Last season was kind of disappointing

He might be one of those role players that looked really good under Thibs but regressed once they left him

I agree that it was disappointing, to fans and to Donte. Both Randle and DDV were stunned to be traded and had a lot of trouble transitioning to a new team. Donte probably felt it worse, thinking he was part of the Knicks core as a Nova Boy, and not being a starter in MIN, which he felt he achieved with a great NYK playoffs. It took a lot of time to figure out how to integrate the two, and both were asked to do things they weren’t comfortable with. Randle/Finch finally figured it out in the second half of the season, but Donte struggled all year to repeat his Knicks’ presence.

I still contend that the KAT trade wasn’t necessarily about Randle - it was about cutting out Towns’ supermax and there was more value in Donte - three years on a value contract. Ironically, Randle and the pick over-performed, and DDV lagged. With NAW gone, Donte has every opportunity to replicate his Knicks’ level of play. If he does, he fits well with Ant. But to me, Donte is still one of the biggest questions for the Wolves this year.

jscott · Post #86 » by **jscott** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 1:41 pm

DDV was hurt for a good portion of last year.

Randle too.

Shaka_Zulu · Post #87 » by **Shaka_Zulu** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 1:56 pm

3toheadmelo wrote:
JohnnyKILLroy wrote:Is Dante going to have a bounce back season ? Last season was kind of disappointing

He might be one of those role players that looked really good under Thibs but regressed once they left him

I dont think that's it. Since he was good in Bucks and Warriors too.

For Wolves first half of the season it was a combination of repetitive injuries, and just over eagerness to prove himself and forcing too much out of rhythm shots.

He figured out his stroke later in season it seems. And started shooting well.

bonita_the_frog · Post #88 » by **bonita_the_frog** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 2:07 pm

Shaka_Zulu wrote:
3toheadmelo wrote:
JohnnyKILLroy wrote:Is Dante going to have a bounce back season ? Last season was kind of disappointing

He might be one of those role players that looked really good under Thibs but regressed once they left him

I dont think that's it. Since he was good in Bucks and Warriors too.

For Wolves first half of the season it was a combination of repetitive injuries, and just over eagerness to prove himself and forcing too much out of rhythm shots.

He figured out his stroke later in season it seems. And started shooting well.

Maybe Donte needs to look into that, he was trying too hard to impress and forced shots before the all-star break, and then shot brilliantly after the all-star break, but then couldn't buy a basket in the playoffs maybe because he made the same mistake as before the all-star break (was trying too hard)...
The more tense a basketball player is, sometimes the worse they shoot, because their body isn't loose enough to make the shooting motion work.

3toheadmelo · Post #89 » by **3toheadmelo** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 2:11 pm

shrink wrote:
3toheadmelo wrote:
JohnnyKILLroy wrote:Is Dante going to have a bounce back season ? Last season was kind of disappointing

He might be one of those role players that looked really good under Thibs but regressed once they left him

I agree that it was disappointing, to fans and to Donte. Both Randle and DDV were stunned to be traded and had a lot of trouble transitioning to a new team. Donte probably felt it worse, thinking he was part of the Knicks core as a Nova Boy, and not being a starter in MIN, which he felt he achieved with a great NYK playoffs. It took a lot of time to figure out how to integrate the two, and both were asked to do things they weren’t comfortable with. Randle/Finch finally figured it out in the second half of the season, but Donte struggled all year to repeat his Knicks’ presence.

I still contend that the KAT trade wasn’t necessarily about Randle - it was about cutting out Towns’ supermax and there was more value in Donte - three years on a value contract. Ironically, Randle and the pick over-performed, and DDV lagged. With NAW gone, Donte has every opportunity to replicate his Knicks’ level of play. If he does, he fits well with Ant. But to me, Donte is still one of the biggest questions for the Wolves this year.

Randle and Donte had a really fun 2 game on the Knicks. I hope it happens again this year on the Timberwolves.

Anderson Hunt · Post #90 » by **Anderson Hunt** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 2:59 pm

Anthony Edwards needs a Scottie Pippen-like sidekick, an unselfish, defensive ball-handler.

An exalted Ben Simmons would be an ideal fit next to Edwards. Also, a healthy Lonzo Ball is a great fit too.

Randle, as Edwards sidekick and second in command, won't be fruitful deep into the playoffs.

I know it would've been very controversial, but I would've let Randle walk this past off-season. I think the cap space (however minimal) is more valuable for building next to Edwards than Randle's presence, IMO.

bonita_the_frog · Post #91 » by **bonita_the_frog** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 3:51 pm

In the 2025 Playoffs, Randle averaged 21.7 points, .502 field, .385 threes
Western Conf Finals vs OKC, Randle averaged 17.4 points, .483 field, .478 threes

Jailblazers7 · Post #92 » by **Jailblazers7** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 3:53 pm

Ant needs to take the leap as a playmaker before they’re a legit title contender. They just stagnate a little too often because Ant’s ability to problem solve is a bit too slow.

Billl · Post #93 » by **Billl** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 4:12 pm

Obviously, the wolves are a really good team. They are going to need some luck to take another step though since they cant count as much on filling roles with draft picks. And whiffing on that dillingham pick/trade really hurts.

Post #94 » by **og15** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 4:23 pm

3toheadmelo wrote:
JohnnyKILLroy wrote:Is Dante going to have a bounce back season ? Last season was kind of disappointing

He might be one of those role players that looked really good under Thibs but regressed once they left him

He also did get to start a lot with New York, sometimes that affects production for some guys.

New York:
Starter 63 games: 60.7 TS%, 120 Ortg, 45/40/77
Bench 18 games: 53.2 TS%, 103 Ortg, 38/39/68

Maybe to some extent staring helped him in New York, of course there are also factors like who he is playing with starting vs bench, but he definitely got a boost

Minnesota:
Starter 10 games: 61.4 TS%, 118 Ortg, 44/43/78
Bench 52 games: 57.5 TS%, 112 Ortg, 42/39/78

Small sample size for starting here, so harder to take too much, but he did perform better too. Just speculating, maybe that had some effect.

AbeVigodaLive · Post #95 » by **AbeVigodaLive** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 5:30 pm

Shaka_Zulu wrote:
3toheadmelo wrote:
JohnnyKILLroy wrote:Is Dante going to have a bounce back season ? Last season was kind of disappointing

He might be one of those role players that looked really good under Thibs but regressed once they left him

I dont think that's it. Since he was good in Bucks and Warriors too.

DiVincenzo was basically the same guy in MN that he was in Golden State and Milwaukee. (Arguably better via stats.)

His 2024 season in NY seems like the outlier in his 7-year career.

3toheadmelo · Post #96 » by **3toheadmelo** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 6:00 pm

og15 wrote:
3toheadmelo wrote:
JohnnyKILLroy wrote:Is Dante going to have a bounce back season ? Last season was kind of disappointing

He might be one of those role players that looked really good under Thibs but regressed once they left him

He also did get to start a lot with New York, sometimes that affects production for some guys.

New York:
Starter 63 games: 60.7 TS%, 120 Ortg, 45/40/77
Bench 18 games: 53.2 TS%, 103 Ortg, 38/39/68

Maybe to some extent staring helped him in New York, of course there are also factors like who he is playing with starting vs bench, but he definitely got a boost

Minnesota:
Starter 10 games: 61.4 TS%, 118 Ortg, 44/43/78
Bench 52 games: 57.5 TS%, 112 Ortg, 42/39/78

Small sample size for starting here, so harder to take too much, but he did perform better too. Just speculating, maybe that had some effect.

That's a good point too. Donte started off the season poorly for us and he was coming off the bench. Had us thinking we overpaid for him lol

prophet_of_rage · Post #97 » by **prophet_of_rage** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 6:24 pm

Never bet against Julius Randle in his second year with a team. That's usually when he gets comfortable and assertive.

tamaraw08 · Post #98 » by **tamaraw08** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 7:36 pm

LarsV8 wrote:Controversial take, I don't think Anthony Edwards can be a best player on a championship team.

I actually hate this guy, mostly because of his cocky behavior but the kid is not even 24 yet.
I will not be shocked if he actually matures into a complete player in 2 years.

shrink · Post #99 » by **shrink** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 7:40 pm

Read on Twitter

tamaraw08 · Post #100 » by **tamaraw08** » Tue Oct 21, 2025 7:45 pm

Their coach is probably top 5,
JMD top 10 role player, Ant, Top 12?
having said that, I cringe everytime fans kept bringing up their WCF appearance.
They beat up a very flawed Lakers roster.
They eliminated that GSW without Steph then got clobbered by OKC, Same team that had more trouble against Denver and Indiana, let that sink in.