Timberwolves Post Game Thoughts. At Pelicans.

[Klomp]

Last year, Minnesota cleared the way at the deadline for Naz Reid at C. This year, I can't decide if it's going to be McDaniels or Nowell (or both?) who they make room for.

[winforlose]

Last year, Minnesota cleared the way at the deadline for Naz Reid at C. This year, I can't decide if it's going to be McDaniels or Nowell (or both?) who they make room for.

I disagree. There is plenty of room for both as is. If anything the issue is moving Naz to starting PF, moving MCD to starting 3, moving Ant to the bench to play second unit leader alongside Nowell who would be that units Beasley. The issue is getting a legit big to play backup center and one more second unit shooter.

[NebWolvesFan]

I have been saying all year that Ryan's unwillingness to play forwards hurt the Wolves. He should have been playing Layman more at SF and Vando/McDaniel at PF. There were so many games early in the season where Minnesota would have Russell/Rubio/Beasley and Okogie on the floor at important moments. You can't play four guards at the same time in the NBA. I know Russell and Beasley are out, so that makes it harder to play four guards, but seeing Layman, Reid and McDaniels on the floor together made me happy.

I love Okogie and I can still see him as a guy to get a late quarter/late game stop on defense, but Okogie starting or Okogie playing PF - those need to stop.

[Klomp]

Last year, Minnesota cleared the way at the deadline for Naz Reid at C. This year, I can't decide if it's going to be McDaniels or Nowell (or both?) who they make room for.

I disagree. There is plenty of room for both as is. If anything the issue is moving Naz to starting PF, moving MCD to starting 3, moving Ant to the bench to play second unit leader alongside Nowell who would be that units Beasley. The issue is getting a legit big to play backup center and one more second unit shooter.

Sure, and I guess by your reasoning you could say there was room for Naz as is last year too, right? Just bury Dieng and Vonleh to the end of the bench and leave it at that. That's essentially what you (and others) want to do to the likes of Culver, Hernangomez, Okogie, etc. But why not just use them to add more talent to the team elsewhere?

[winforlose]

Last year, Minnesota cleared the way at the deadline for Naz Reid at C. This year, I can't decide if it's going to be McDaniels or Nowell (or both?) who they make room for.

I disagree. There is plenty of room for both as is. If anything the issue is moving Naz to starting PF, moving MCD to starting 3, moving Ant to the bench to play second unit leader alongside Nowell who would be that units Beasley. The issue is getting a legit big to play backup center and one more second unit shooter.

Sure, and I guess by your reasoning you could say there was room for Naz as is last year too, right? Just bury Dieng and Vonleh to the end of the bench and leave it at that. That's essentially what you (and others) want to do to the likes of Culver, Hernangomez, Okogie, etc. But why not just use them to add more talent to the team elsewhere?

On the contrary, I wanted Naz to play with Dieng. I want to move Hernangomez because we cannot find him minutes. His defense is not good enough that he can easily replace Vando, in the rotation. Hernangomez regressed and we needed him to improve to earn his money. If we are serious about dumping small ball I don’t see a place for Juancho on this team.

As for Culver, we always knew he would be a project. His injury setbacks have slowed the process. If we had done right be him last season and put him in the G with a decent coach he would be better this year. Alas he is not. He could and probably should get some rehab time on our rotation during this lost season, but if he cannot improve by next year then yes he should be buried on the bench.

My vision of our rotations before trades and assuming everyone is healthy is as follows. Dlo, Beasley, MCD, Reid, KAT. Second unit Rubio, Nowell, Ant, Vando/Layman, new center picked up via trade. Davis cannot fill the roll and we need more size. Okogie is first man up when injuries happen and next man up is Culver. Now, we both know injuries are going to happen and we both know this roster is going to change this season. I don’t envision huge changes but I do except Juancho, Rubio, and Davis to be moved.

[TheZachAttack]

This is the Nowell that I thought we'd see based on his G league play. I really like him with the ball in his hands in the half court off the bench as 6th man type. It seems like he's more dangerous when he has a 2 way go and he seems like he's a rhythm shooter who benefits from the ball in his hands. His handle is better than I realized.

I'm fine with a "break-starter" as Finch calls them not being Nowell, but it's important that the PG playing with Nowell can play off ball, hit open shots, and make quick decisions. I think McLaughlin is really good at that. Rubio not as much.

I like the idea of Naz/McLaughlin/Big Mac/Wing (Hopefully a Culver/Okogie/Layman upgrade) running around and spacing the floor for Nowell.

[Klomp]

I saw a solid point on Twitter.....the Nowell usage isn't a stretch from what we should see from Russell once he returns. It's a fairly similar play style.

[SCTwins]

McDaniels is going to be one of our best picks ever. I love this kid! He's playing like a seasoned vet at 19.

[Shaka_Zulu]

Me throughout the whole 2nd half of the game:

Watch on YouTube

[TheDominator273]

I saw a solid point on Twitter.....the Nowell usage isn't a stretch from what we should see from Russell once he returns. It's a fairly similar play style.

While true, we also saw what having the burst to get to the rim to go with the shooting gets you. DLo can't pressure the rim enough, it's a glaring hole in his offensive game.

[_AIJ_]

Best thing was 5 3point shot attempts for Ant

[Calinks]

Watch on YouTube

It's really bad to get blown out by the Timberwolves right now. Coach lit his team up, rightfully so.

[winforlose]

Watch on YouTube

It's really bad to get blown out by the Timberwolves right now. Coach lit his team up, rightfully so.

Dismiss us at your own peril. We have a new coach and a roster of underperforming youngsters. Any given night they might just decide to perform. I mean, who in the right mind would say KAT could have the worst night of his season, we would be missing Beasley, Dlo, Culver, and JMAC and still win by 30 after being down 16 in the first quarter. Naz, MCD, Nowell, to a lesser degree Ant, Vando, and Okogie all proving they are no joke. Ant still needs to stop jump shooting but other than that we proved we got the potential.

[life_saver]

Nowell either has really good games or absolute stinkers...hope he can become consistent

[winforlose]

Nowell either has really good games or absolute stinkers...hope he can become consistent

That statement is both true and untrue at the same time. While it is true he is inconsistent it is also true that the way our offense involves him is also inconsistent. If we make the effort to get him open shots and catch and shoot opportunities (the two sound similar but are not necessarily the same,) he will likely be much more consistent. Also we know there is a mental component to his struggles (his shooting percentage was so much better in the G then the NBA last year,) and we need Finch and Ricky, and whoever else is taking a leadership role to work with him on that as well.

TLDR we agree he needs to be more consistent but the
team needs to do things to help him be more consistent.

[K4P]

Feel happy for the biggest Nowells stan, Jedzz!

Jedzz has been saying Nowell would be better than Culver since draft day lol. My man deserves his credit.

[Rookie-Mistake]

My thoughts.

Winning is better than losing. More please.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using RealGM mobile app

[packforfreedom]

yeah I know I said I'd stay away from the team till the draft lottery. surprise, it turned out I can't.

This was easily the best game of the season. In games like this, you can just see his immense talent. if he manages to not take 10 threes and attack the basket whenever he can, he's gonna be good.

Having Layman out there was also great. His movement without the ball keeps the defense alert, his lenght helps and his shooting was on last game. Nowell had also obvisouly his best game. I was surprised how well he could bring up the ball. he's gonna have a future in this leage.

McDaniels was such a steal, he's gonna be a starting caliber player soon.

I was also surprised that Naz and KAT together on the floot can work, at least in certain matchups

I know that 3 players having their career nights isn't reproducable, but It think it's safe to say, that extreme small ball is over. I also thought our rotations on defense looked sharper.

[shrink]

Last year, Minnesota cleared the way at the deadline for Naz Reid at C. This year, I can't decide if it's going to be McDaniels or Nowell (or both?) who they make room for.

Good point.

From an overall, team-building perspective, the team needs to increase he value of it’s pieces. The only way that happens is for internal development, by giving prospects minutes. Whether we keep these players or trade them, we need more value.

The big issue here is that without the pick, Rosas is not acting like this is a rebuilding team. Dane Moore says that he’s talked to a few execs from other teams, and Rosa is looking to deal for more “win now” players. Of course, winning is important too, to help our culture and appeal to fans.

Finding minutes, particularly at the guard spot, will be very difficult when the team is healthy, and we have older vets that will demand minutes too. If we have to keep DLo, Malik, and Ant (developing at his best position, SG), and Culver and Okogie’s value will only plummet if they are out of the rotation, then finding minutes for Nowell will be challenging. Personally, I think Rubio is gone, Culver or Okogie are gone for any reasonable offer, and perhaps they sell high on Malik as well, for value and to get Nowell playing time.

[Jedzz]

Sit D'Lo rest of year and play Rubio. Trade Rubio in offseason.

Somewhere deep in the recesss of actual human brains, things like this exist. Sometimes they let it out. Record breaking level astounding. But, there it is.

One question for you post0115. Do you believe this win against the 16-22 Pelicans was because Rubio started it?