Offensive changes?

Post #1 » by **revprodeji** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:15 am

I was going to put this in the game thread, but I did not want to hijack. I have noticed two different things with the offense tonight.

1.) Wes has been featured in the post more times tonight then I have noticed all season. Scoring, getting to the FT line and making plays.

2.) We are using flex cuts. The baseline and the elbow cut. I have never seen this before, but have been hoping for this.

Am I off? What do you think?

(*still cant play defense or avoid TO)

Devilzsidewalk · Post #2 » by **Devilzsidewalk** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:19 am

nice to see him handling the ball decisively. He worked Martin easily in that first post play though and they haven't done it a 2nd time for some reason. Same thing w/ Pekovic, he was having his way w/ Jordan Hill, but they seem so robotic in running their offense, they never seem to try to go back to what worked

Krapinsky · Post #3 » by **Krapinsky** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:38 am

revprodeji wrote:I was going to put this in the game thread, but I did not want to hijack. I have noticed two different things with the offense tonight.

1.) Wes has been featured in the post more times tonight then I have noticed all season. Scoring, getting to the FT line and making plays.

2.) We are using flex cuts. The baseline and the elbow cut. I have never seen this before, but have been hoping for this.

Am I off? What do you think?

(*still cant play defense or avoid TO)

Development might be a better word than changes. We saw Beasley with a turnaround too. It's nice to see us take advantage of our size their for a change.

Devilzsidewalk · Post #4 » by **Devilzsidewalk** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 4:23 am

Beasley never backs anybody down, he always takes the turnaroun J which isn't so bad because his J is BUTTAH Krapinsky, just absolute BUTTAH. But dude is what, 6'8 230 some? Should be nary a SF that can stop that guy from taking it to them in the post. He's very finesse for his size.

Piecake · Post #5 » by **Piecake** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 4:25 am

Yea, I really liked when they Posted up Wesley for the first time like a month ago. I was wondering why I havent really seen it since, so its nice that he is getting more touches in the post

Devilzsidewalk · Post #6 » by **Devilzsidewalk** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 4:27 am

SG and SF post ups should be an offensive staple. Webster goes down there a bit, and Beas does his turnaround stuff, but more Wes

Ice32 · Post #7 » by **Ice32** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:54 am

My main concern is - Wes had a great game offensively...took charge, stepped up, posted up, shot FTs, looked great....however....

Does that mean hes gets thrown back into the Starting 5, or will he stay as the primary scoring option off the bench? Webster has sucked big time lately, and I dont think Brewer can bring the same type of scoring off the bench as what Wes can (based on what we saw today)....

I would hate to think he gets promoted again, and then plays bad again....

Ice32 · Post #8 » by **Ice32** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:33 am

Wes recap from Rambis:

-- Two games after his first career DNP-CD, Johnson trailed only Love with more than 33 minutes of game action against the Rockets. In addition to just his second double-digit scoring game of January, Johnson also managed a career-high three steals to go with four assists and two blocked shots.

"He has learned an awful lot in his rookie season so far," Rambis said. "I see an extremely versatile player that is going to be able at some point in time in my vision be able to fill up a stat sheet.

"I don't see a whole lot of limitations."

Johnson took over as the starting shooting guard just five games into the season, but a handful of rough outings ultimately led him back to the bench, where he's been for four of Minnesota's last six opening tip-offs.

Still, the Wolves are in short supply of solid perimeter defenders, so continued growth on defense should keep him on the court during the second half of the season. Johnson wouldn't go as far to say defense would be the No. 1 area where he can earn minutes back from Brewer, but it's no stretch to reach that conclusion.

"That's on (the coaching staff)," Johnson said. "I just listen and get on the court when I'm asked to and keep working hard in practice."

horaceworthy · Post #9 » by **horaceworthy** » Tue Jan 25, 2011 7:11 am

Devilzsidewalk wrote:SG and SF post ups should be an offensive staple. Webster goes down there a bit, and Beas does his turnaround stuff, but more Wes

Especially since that was part of what both Wes and Beasley were successful at in college. One of them is going to have a size advantage on their matchup most of the time. The only other guy on the team that can be said about is Darko, but his tendency toward spasticism makes it tough to count on him on the block.

shangrila · Post #10 » by **shangrila** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 3:14 am

Devilzsidewalk wrote:SG and SF post ups should be an offensive staple. Webster goes down there a bit, and Beas does his turnaround stuff, but more Wes

Definitely and with guys like Love and Tolliver preferring the perimeter anyway there shouldn't be much overlap.

eyeteeth · Post #11 » by **eyeteeth** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 6:02 pm

Yeah, I do think there have been some adjustments made. Rambis seems to take his time reaching a decision, but it looks like he has tweaked the playbook a little here. The post-ups are a welcome change. Wes should have some skills to use here. Would eventually like to see Beasley do more drive-and-dish stuff, too.

Wes is doing great. This is a complicated game and he has had a ton to learn. I bet he stays coming off the bench for now and hopefully plays his way into more crunchtime minutes.

Post #12 » by **revprodeji** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 6:14 pm

Beasley has had some drive-dish situations. Catching the ball in the high post and either P/R or hitting the cutter. He draws defensive attention and should look to pass.

Giving wes the freedom off the bench is huge.