Game 1: Timberwolves at Blazers (10/22, 9 pm)

[Araxen]

They better let TSJ play a little PG this season now. He did it at Illinois.

[Domejandro]

Starting Donte DiVincenzo over Mike Conley was an extraordinarily necessary change.

[BlacJacMac]

DDV at PG is terrible! It's a waste of his skill set.

I guess it'll be Ant and Randle running offense.

[Klomp]

They better let TSJ play a little PG this season now. He did it at Illinois.

When you look at how the offense runs and how they use him, TJ will essentially be the PG when he's out there unless playing next to Ant. Yes, even if Mike is out there. If you don't like calling him a PG, call him a high-usage playmaker.

Go back to summer league where he averaged 5 assists per game.
Go back to preseason where he put up 21 assists in 5 games (in 22.8 minutes per game).
That's .184 assists per minute. By comparison, last year's backup PG Nickeil Alexander-Walker put up .107 assists per minute during the season.

[Klomp]

They better let TSJ play a little PG this season now. He did it at Illinois.

When you look at how the offense runs and how they use him, TJ will essentially be the PG when he's out there unless playing next to Ant. Yes, even if Mike is out there. If you don't like calling him a PG, call him a high-usage playmaker.

Go back to summer league where he averaged 5 assists per game.
Go back to preseason where he put up 21 assists in 5 games (in 22.8 minutes per game).
That's .184 assists per minute. By comparison, last year's backup PG Nickeil Alexander-Walker put up .107 assists per minute during the season.

I know this is a waste of a game against a horrible team, but this early-game set is what I'm talking about. In Finch's system, the high-usage players are the traditional SG and PF, with spacing around them. This is a very common set we see, whether in real action with starters or in preseason against scrubs.

Read on Twitter

This is TJ the "PG". TJ the high-usage playmaker. With the second unit, I can very easily envision this set being run tonight for him to make plays like this.

[Danimals]

Love this!

This is has been my preferred depth chart for the start of the year.

DiVincenzo- Conley- Dillingham
Edwards- Clark- Hyland
McDaniels- Shannon- Ingles
Randle- Reid- Miller
Gobert- Behringer- Rocco

[winforlose]

I just hope Joan gets some run tonight. It can be as short as 10 minutes, but if he could handle 15 that would be better.

[younggunsmn]

They better let TSJ play a little PG this season now. He did it at Illinois.

When you look at how the offense runs and how they use him, TJ will essentially be the PG when he's out there unless playing next to Ant. Yes, even if Mike is out there. If you don't like calling him a PG, call him a high-usage playmaker.

Go back to summer league where he averaged 5 assists per game.
Go back to preseason where he put up 21 assists in 5 games (in 22.8 minutes per game).
That's .184 assists per minute. By comparison, last year's backup PG Nickeil Alexander-Walker put up .107 assists per minute during the season.

I know this is a waste of a game against a horrible team, but this early-game set is what I'm talking about. In Finch's system, the high-usage players are the traditional SG and PF, with spacing around them. This is a very common set we see, whether in real action with starters or in preseason against scrubs.

Read on Twitter

This is TJ the "PG". TJ the high-usage playmaker. With the second unit, I can very easily envision this set being run tonight for him to make plays like this.

Just to pump the brakes a bit Portland is not the bottom feeder they have been.
They are very young but still capable of beating us if we don't play well.
And given that they stomped us at home twice in November of last year, combined with how rusty we looked in the preseason, I would not be surprised to see us lose tonight.

My excitement early in the season is going to be looking to see if TJ Shannon can break out this year because I love his talent and the way he plays the game.

I don't expect big leaps from the rest of the team, most of those guys are going to be looking to maintain their level of play from last year.

Intrigued by Beringer but I don't think this is the year he pushes his way into the main rotation barring a serious injury.

[KGdaBom]

Wolves it's time to be Taking Care of Business. HOOWWWLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!

[FrenchMinnyFan]

DDV starting make sense. Mike when play with Julius and ANT has a very limited role as ANT and Julius carry the ball ( sometimes way too long). As a result, Mikee mostly sit in the corner. Playing in the second unit will allow him to play real PG which is where he is great.
I'm not convinced with DDV as a PG but the is probably the best option until Rob can take the role.

[TimberKat]

DDV was allergic to the rim last year. I hope we see better results this year.

[Movics]

AROOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

We’re going 82-0.
wish we had TJ McConnell

[KGdaBom]

Love this!

This is has been my preferred depth chart for the start of the year.

DiVincenzo- Conley- Dillingham
Edwards- Clark- Hyland
McDaniels- Shannon- Ingles
Randle- Reid- Miller
Gobert- Behringer- Rocco

How can you have Naz backing up Randle only? Even if Randle only plays 30 that's only 18 for Naz.

[Araxen]

DDV was allergic to the rim last year. I hope we see better results this year.

He was allergic because he was playing PG. His shooting tanks when he has to play the role. The times he wasn't the PG he was lights out shooting wise.

[Klomp]

Just to pump the brakes a bit Portland is not the bottom feeder they have been.

(I was talking about the team in the video from the tweet, the Chinese team)

[Klomp]

Withstand the early punch. We have the better depth.

[Movics]

Anyone has a good stream for the game?

[Klomp]

Anyone has a good stream for the game?

Allstream has been pretty good for me lately.

[_AIJ_]

I miss Julius pounding the ball for 15 seconds and your classic Naz defense

[TimberKat]

I wish Wolves can play without Gobert but 3 or 4 straight drives to the basket by POR. Naz and Randle just can't seem to stay in front of their guy.