Around the league 2016-2017

[Kolkmania]

After watching Wiggins play in KAnsas I wasn't a big fan and I really wanted Embiid (thank you BBall Gods) but, Wiggins can't be the only reason they are 4-11? I really thought, before the season the Wolves would make a push for the 6th spot in the West.

I'm not the biggest fan of Wiggins either, he's a volume scorer without a reliable jump shot. Besides that he doesn't have anything else to offer since his defense is horrible, he doesn't grab a rebound and his playmaking skills are bad.

But no, Wiggins is not the reason they're 4-11. They played really decent the first ~10 games, but blew quite a few +10 point leads. Not uncommon for a young squad, we should know that haha. Ricky Rubio had an injury which really hurt them since Dunn is a fine defender so far, but a pretty terrible playmaker/shot creator in the NBA right now.

Most surprising thing is that the Wolves defense has been quite terrible this year and the offense above expected, especially since Thibodeau is their coach now. They've played better than their record suggests though.

[OleSchool]

Can someone please explain to me HOW the Wolves are this bad???

At some point they're going to win just based on how much talent they've acquired.

That's what I thought was going to happen to them this year. How much more talent do they need? They have a good coach, foundational pieces in the front and back court (Wiggins/Towns, even though I'm not a huge fan of Wiggins), and a nice complimentary pieces in Lavine, Rubio, Dunn. They should be better than this almost by accident

[eagereyez]

Can someone please explain to me HOW the Wolves are this bad???

At some point they're going to win just based on how much talent they've acquired.

That's what I thought was going to happen to them this year. How much more talent do they need? They have a good coach, foundational pieces in the front and back court (Wiggins/Towns, even though I'm not a huge fan of Wiggins), and a nice complimentary pieces in Lavine, Rubio, Dunn. They should be better than this almost by accident

Well I think they're better than their record. Thibs needs to bench LaVine and start Bjelica at SF. LaVine and Wiggins are giving up too much defensively to be starting together. They actually blew the Lakers out when they did that.

[Sixerscan]

Can someone please explain to me HOW the Wolves are this bad???

They have no bench and their vets kinda suck. It's basically the opposite of the Lakers, who are winning on the backs of Nick Young and Lou Williams. Even the Sixers are getting big contributions from Rodriguez, Ersan, and Henderson. I actually think what the Wolves are doing is sneakily brilliant. Let the young players figure out how to win on their own, and tank for another top 5 pick. Imagine Lonzo Ball or Josh Jackson on that team. At some point they're going to win just based on how much talent they've acquired.

Knowing what we know about thibodeau, I don't think that's what he's is trying to do...

[eagereyez]

Can someone please explain to me HOW the Wolves are this bad???

They have no bench and their vets kinda suck. It's basically the opposite of the Lakers, who are winning on the backs of Nick Young and Lou Williams. Even the Sixers are getting big contributions from Rodriguez, Ersan, and Henderson. I actually think what the Wolves are doing is sneakily brilliant. Let the young players figure out how to win on their own, and tank for another top 5 pick. Imagine Lonzo Ball or Josh Jackson on that team. At some point they're going to win just based on how much talent they've acquired.

Knowing what we know about thibodeau, I don't think that's what he's is trying to do...

Well then lets call it unintentional brilliance.

[Sportfan73]

They have no bench and their vets kinda suck. It's basically the opposite of the Lakers, who are winning on the backs of Nick Young and Lou Williams. Even the Sixers are getting big contributions from Rodriguez, Ersan, and Henderson. I actually think what the Wolves are doing is sneakily brilliant. Let the young players figure out how to win on their own, and tank for another top 5 pick. Imagine Lonzo Ball or Josh Jackson on that team. At some point they're going to win just based on how much talent they've acquired.

Knowing what we know about thibodeau, I don't think that's what he's is trying to do...

Well then lets call it unintentional brilliance.

The thing is that Biid already has more of an impact on games and winning than towns does. I honestly think we are just as close as the Twolves to being competitive. If it wasn't for the minutes restriction, Bayless Noel and Simmons being hurt we would be too good

[eagereyez]

Knowing what we know about thibodeau, I don't think that's what he's is trying to do...

Well then lets call it unintentional brilliance.

The thing is that Biid already has more of an impact on games and winning than towns does. I honestly think we are just as close as the Twolves to being competitive. If it wasn't for the minutes restriction, Bayless Noel and Simmons being hurt we would be too good

For sure.. Noel alone would add another 2-3 wins. I'm hoping he's moved before he ruins the tank.

[cksdayoff]

Well then lets call it unintentional brilliance.

The thing is that Biid already has more of an impact on games and winning than towns does. I honestly think we are just as close as the Twolves to being competitive. If it wasn't for the minutes restriction, Bayless Noel and Simmons being hurt we would be too good

For sure.. Noel alone would add another 2-3 wins. I'm hoping he's moved before he ruins the tank.

if it werent for a couple of hendo hero balls and embiid minute restrictions, this team right now could be close to .500

which is crazy

[Kobblehead]

The Wolves suck because there is little to no veteran experience on their team. There are 7 players on their team 26 or older. Those guys are:

John Lucas - Who's played less than 3000 minutes in his career and isn't in their rotation.

Brandon Rush - Has played 9500+ minutes in his career, but is just a deep bench player on their team playing a minute role.

Jordan Hill - Has played a little over 7500 minutes in his career, but he's an afterthought on their team riding the bench.

Nemanja Bjelica - He's 28, but this is just his 2nd year in the NBA.

Cole Aldrich - Has played less than 3000 minutes in his 7 year career, up to this point.

Gorgui Dieng - He's 26, but this is just his just his 4th year in the NBA.

Ricky Rubio - Their only experienced, seasoned veteran in a starting role.

[Kobblehead]

DeMarcus Cousins has career averages of 20 and 10, and yet all his critics and naysayers are still 100% right.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/244091/Kings-Could-Be-Starting-To-Get-Sick-Of-DeMarcus-Cousins

@negrodamus

This guy sucks and will never help an organization, regardless of how talented he is.

[cksdayoff]

DeMarcus Cousins has career averages of 20 and 10, and yet all his critics and naysayers are still 100% right.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/244091/Kings-Could-Be-Starting-To-Get-Sick-Of-DeMarcus-Cousins

@negrodamus

This guy sucks and will never help an organization, regardless of how talented he is.

i have never been a fan of cousins. but its still baffling how all these years with him, the kings have sucked so bad every single season. i think a lot of it has to do with their draft picks, they've bombed on all of them since they drafted cousins, and also not signing the right free agents.

maybe cousins isn't as valuable as his numbers suggest. when embiid comes in, he changes the game on offense and defense. i don't see that from cousins.

obviously, cousins going to an already established playoff team could make that team into a contender, but if you're building from scratch, i don't want him.

[ProcessDoctor]

The more SAC continues to implode, the happier I get because:

1) Pick swap
2) Potential Cousins trade we can get in on

[Kobblehead]

Cousins is an awful teammate and is uncoachable. It's hard to win with a guy that just doesn't care and he's hostile, on-top of that.

[Ericb5]

Cousins is an awful teammate and is uncoachable. It's hard to win with a guy that just doesn't care and he's hostile, on-top of that.

I have always thought that you could win with Cousins. You just can't win if he is your best player.


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[tk76]

Cousins is an awful teammate and is uncoachable. It's hard to win with a guy that just doesn't care and he's hostile, on-top of that.

I have always thought that you could win with Cousins. You just can't win if he is your best player.

Reminds me of Rasheed Wallace before he joined the Pistons. People felt the same way about him.

[Negrodamus]

Cousins is an awful teammate and is uncoachable. It's hard to win with a guy that just doesn't care and he's hostile, on-top of that.

I have always thought that you could win with Cousins. You just can't win if he is your best player.

Reminds me of Rasheed Wallace before he joined the Pistons. People felt the same way about him.

I'm sure when Cousins inevitably gets traded to a successful team, not unlike Garnett and Wallace, Kobblehead will come on here and say "@negrodamus, I was totally wrong".

[Kobblehead]

I think people need to look at Portland's win/loss record during the Rasheed Wallace era. They were incredibly successful.

49 wins
46 wins
35 wins
59 wins
50 wins
49 wins
50 wins

The narrative that Rasheed was a career loser like Cousins that just needed to get traded to a successful organization to finally contribute to winning basketball is a false one. He was always a winner. Cousins is not. He's a loser.

[Kobblehead]

I'm sure when Cousins inevitably gets traded to a successful team, not unlike Garnett and Wallace, Kobblehead will come on here and say "@negrodamus, I was totally wrong".

Any potential crow I'd have to eat regarding Cousins went away around about that time he got suspended for threatening that arena announcer.

The only thing I got wrong was saying he'd eat his way out of the league. He's been in relatively good shape since entering the league.

[Sixerscan]

I think people need to look at Portland's win/loss record during the Rasheed Wallace era. They were incredibly successful.

49 wins
46 wins
35 wins
59 wins
50 wins
49 wins
50 wins

The narrative that Rasheed was a career loser like Cousins that just needed to get traded to a successful organization to finally contribute to winning basketball is a false one. He was always a winner. Cousins is not. He's a loser.

Yeah Sheed won plenty he was just, um, mercurial.

Pretty sure his supporting cast was better than Rudy Gay and Darren Collison though. I'd like to see Boogie with a good roster before I close the book on him.

[Negrodamus]

I'm sure when Cousins inevitably gets traded to a successful team, not unlike Garnett and Wallace, Kobblehead will come on here and say "@negrodamus, I was totally wrong".

Any potential crow I'd have to eat regarding Cousins went away around about that time he got suspended for threatening that arena announcer.

The only thing I got wrong was saying he'd eat his way out of the league. He's been in relatively good shape since entering the league.

Exactly, if he wins an NBA championship, you'll have some excuse. So despite you baiting me into this, it's clearly not worth continuing this conversation.