Another thing that worries me about Wesley Johnson...

Post #1 » by **Calinks** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 7:58 am

I think it's evident that Ricky Rubio makes his teammates better. He gets players open looks and sets them up extremely well. He helped Wayne look great tonight for example. Wesley doesn't seem much better when Rubio is on the floor. If you are supposed to be an athletic, shooting wing player and you still can't look good with Rubio setting you up.... what's the deal? I really hope he turns a corner for us soon.

Post #2 » by **The J Rocka** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 8:08 am

Sometimes I like to think Wes will turn that corner but then sometimes I believe he's just a role player and will never have that aggression and drive to improve. I think we should cash in while he still has that "raw high draft pick potential" and let some other team get him before the rest of the league finds out he's not very good and limited. He could blossom, that's could, but I'd rather get a sure thing in a player like Iggy versus waiting another year or two for Wes to "get it", if he ever does.

moss_is_1 · Post #3 » by **moss_is_1** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 8:22 am

I don't really know if he saw much time with Rubio tonight TBH. I think Wes and Luke played basically the same amount of minutes, and Wayne/Rubio as well.

Swish4 · Post #4 » by **Swish4** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 8:30 am

Wes is going to have to find his role in the league. He's a good athlete with long arms and a nice looking shooting stroke. His personality and handle would seem to limit him to a role as a defensive wing (though he still needs lot of work in that area). If he can just get his shot working consistantly to an average NBA level he should be a valuable wing for a team with good scorers at other positions.

Hoopin Harm · Post #5 » by **Hoopin Harm** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 9:58 am

Wes is a 15-20 min role player, playing the 2/3, hitting a 3-pointer at ~35%, and maybe upping his defensive game. There is no upside, IMO, so get a 2/5 for him in a package while you can.

younggunsmn · Post #6 » by **younggunsmn** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 11:40 am

Wes did not play a single minute with Rubio tonight. I would have to check game logs but I'd be very surprised if he played more than 4-5 mins with rubio vs the bucks. and those minutes were all at SF with jj/luke at the 2 and beasley in foul trouble.

The "Rubio doesn't make him better" argument has no basis in reality.....yet.

wayne looked good in the 2nd quarter and AWFUL in the 4th. 11 pts on 13 shots is no better than wes could manage (when was the last time wes ever got 13 shots) and well below average. Rubio was shaking his head after the last shot where he spoonfed Ellington an open 3 perfect in his shot pocket and ellington dribbled and threw up an off-balanced clunker instead.

Tirion · Post #7 » by **Tirion** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 11:52 am

Wes is poo

jade_hippo · Post #8 » by **jade_hippo** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:03 pm

seriously, we need to maybe thinking about bringing in an aged vet like Hassell or Ricky Davis. For all their limitations, they never would have been dumb enough to walk into Wade like that or get pinned as badly on Miami's last play either like he did.

younggunsmn · Post #9 » by **younggunsmn** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:15 pm

jade_hippo wrote:seriously, we need to maybe thinking about bringing in an aged vet like Hassell or Ricky Davis. For all their limitations, they never would have been dumb enough to walk into Wade like that or get pinned as badly on Miami's last play either like he did.

Ellington got pinned on that last play, not wes. ricky davis and hassell are awful. hassell got by mauling players and when they changed the handcheck rules it destroyed his game, and he was always awful offensively. We'll hopefully have that vet when martell webster finally gets healthy.

and never underestimate the stupidity of ricky davis.

jade_hippo · Post #10 » by **jade_hippo** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:23 pm

younggunsmn wrote:
jade_hippo wrote:seriously, we need to maybe thinking about bringing in an aged vet like Hassell or Ricky Davis. For all their limitations, they never would have been dumb enough to walk into Wade like that or get pinned as badly on Miami's last play either like he did.

Ellington got pinned on that last play, not wes. ricky davis and hassell are awful. hassell got by mauling players and when they changed the handcheck rules it destroyed his game, and he was always awful offensively. We'll hopefully have that vet when martell webster finally gets healthy.

and never underestimate the stupidity of ricky davis.

I did make the leap from Wes to Wayne without saying anything yes, but our wings just seem so inept. Our old guards just come to mind from better times, Hassell was also good at only shooting open jumpers and hitting them at a good clip. I'd be happy to even take a flier on an unknown and hope they can push one of our current guys into trying harder if they can't unseat them, bring back Mo Ager, Mario West, Andre Emmett looks like Lebron in the D-League, ANYTHING!?!~?!?!?!!!

Post #11 » by **Basti** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 1:09 pm

Ricky Davis? Yikes. I'd rather see Wes play out his rookie contract, even if he won't improve at all than see Ricky Davis in a Wolves uniform again.

Post #12 » by **Calinks** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 1:46 pm

Corey Brewer>Wes Johnson?
http://gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs2/1567149_o.gif

Foye · Post #13 » by **Foye** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 2:30 pm

Calinks wrote:Corey Brewer>Wes Johnson?
http://gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs2/1567149_o.gif

Yes.

Post #14 » by **C.lupus** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:30 pm

Calinks wrote:Corey Brewer>Wes Johnson?
http://gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs2/1567149_o.gif

LOL. I've had the same thought, though.

Respect My Mind · Post #15 » by **Respect My Mind** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:46 pm

To be fair, if you watched Johnson in college you could tell he was gong to suck in the NBA. So its not his fault at all.

Foye · Post #16 » by **Foye** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 4:11 pm

Respect My Mind wrote:To be fair, if you watched Johnson in college you could tell he was gong to suck in the NBA. So its not his fault at all.

I was in favour of drafting Cousins at draft time. I guess I don't mind that we didn't draft Cousins but passing on Monroe really sucks.

EddyCool · Post #17 » by **EddyCool** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 4:17 pm

Wes's troubles are coming from motor/energy/aggression or whatever you want to call it. I think he's not finding the pace of the game. I was keeping an eye on him while he was on the floor last night and when he made a few nice plays it seemed like he forgot to think and was just reacting. He's jogging on offense and not usually pursuing his man hard if they get behind him on D.

I'm far away from the doom-and-gloomers. I think he, and Beasley/AR15 (and to a lesser extent Derrick) need to have their spots controlled to help them run at the speed that is being dictated.

AR15 wasn't forcing as much last night against MIA. I don't think that's a completed project by any stretch, but to contribute like he did (and work off of Ricky and the offense instead of adjacent to them in his limited minutes prior) suggests that he might be able to pick up different habits in the short-term. Derrick really needed those 3s to fall last night, too; he's been incredible playing in the flow of the game, but looks a little overmatched and out of sync when he tries hesitates with the ball in his hands and makes a decision about what to do with it.

It's a different approach for each player, but I think it will require a similar philosophy for Michael and Wes. As RA gets to a point that he's comfortable changing the starters and building his rotations from that, I'd like to see Wes move to a reserve role and be asked to go at his absolute hardest in less minutes for a time. Maybe he can benefit from watching the tempo establish and enter in from there. I hope Beas responds well to the watching other guys have their numbers called. If he can do his work off the ball, he can get situations coming off off-ball screens where going ISO might be ideal if we can dictate the match-ups and he's able to pass to the open man if help defenders come.

Any good changes should take a lot of time, though. Like every year with this team, a lot to learn with new teammates/system, etc. I can't think of one year that we've done anything to establish chemistry since before Cassell/Spree.

*edit italicized

Devilzsidewalk · Post #18 » by **Devilzsidewalk** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 4:19 pm

Cousins kinda sucks too aside from rebounding. In retrospect I wish that Batum for #4 pick rumor that I hated at the time would've come true.

EddyCool · Post #19 » by **EddyCool** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 4:22 pm

Devilzsidewalk wrote:Cousins kinda sucks too aside from rebounding. In retrospect I wish that Batum for #4 pick rumor that I hated at the time would've come true.

I like Wes but, yea... that would look great.

Post #20 » by **Klomp** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:00 pm

Foye wrote:
Respect My Mind wrote:To be fair, if you watched Johnson in college you could tell he was gong to suck in the NBA. So its not his fault at all.

I was in favour of drafting Cousins at draft time. I guess I don't mind that we didn't draft Cousins but passing on Monroe really sucks.

I've been thinking about this the past couple days. Was Johnson a Rambis pick? Was he the one who wanted Wes over Cousins?