Rotation for 21-22

[wolves_89]

One thing I really hope is that with Rosas gone the organization will move away from the strategy of devaluing size. It's not a problem that can be solved quickly, but hopefully Gupta can make a move at some point to add one or two additional guys that can compete against traditionally sized NBA bigs. I'm tired of seeing the Wolves failing to get defensive rebounds and being dominated in the paint.

[Mamba4Goat]

I’ve came to expect a fluid rotation but something like…

Russell (15-20)/Beverly (20-25)/McLaughlin (5-15)
Ant (5-10)/Beasley (25-30)/Russell (10-15)
McDaniels (5-10)/Ant (25-30)/Prince(5-15)/Okogie (leftovers)
Vando (20 or so)/McDaniels (25-30)/KAT(leftovers)
KAT (30-35)/Naz (10-20)

With matchups occasionally calling for more of one (or more) of Vando, Prince, McLaughlin and Okogie at the expense of the others in the list. Their minutes are probably the shakiest.

[Krapinsky]

I’ve came to expect a fluid rotation but something like…

Russell (15-20)/Beverly (20-25)/McLaughlin (5-15)
Ant (5-10)/Beasley (25-30)/Russell (10-15)
McDaniels (5-10)/Ant (25-30)/Prince(5-15)/Okogie (leftovers)
Vando (20 or so)/McDaniels (25-30)/KAT(leftovers)
KAT (30-35)/Naz (10-20)

With matchups occasionally calling for more of one (or more) of Vando, Prince, McLaughlin and Okogie at the expense of the others in the list. Their minutes are probably the shakiest.

I think McLaughlin likely gets ‘leftovers’ and no more sans injury/rest.

I also think Prince gets more minutes than McDaniels out of the gate.

[Slim Tubby]

Beasley needs more minutes

Agreed.

I agree with both of you guys about Beasley's minutes and I just don't see Vando getting 20+ minutes a game. The easiest way to bump Beasley's minutes is the smaller lineup as others have suggested:

C KAT
PF McDaniels or Prince
SF Edwards
SG Beasley
PG Russell

Offensively, we should be able to score with any team in the league. Can we improve defensively as individuals, and as a team, will be true difference with how the season plays out. Anything short of 45 wins this year will be a disappointment to me personally. Stay healthy, stay off the weed, stay away from guns and for the love of God...stay away from Kardashians.

[KGdaBom]

Beasley needs more minutes

Agreed.

I agree with both of you guys about Beasley's minutes and I just don't see Vando getting 20+ minutes a game. The easiest way to bump Beasley's minutes is the smaller lineup as others have suggested:

C KAT
PF McDaniels or Prince
SF Edwards
SG Beasley
PG Russell

Offensively, we should be able to score with any team in the league. Can we improve defensively as individuals, and as a team, will be true difference with how the season plays out. Anything short of 45 wins this year will be a disappointment to me personally. Stay healthy, stay off the weed, stay away from guns and for the love of God...stay away from Kardashians.

Is KAT still a couple with Jordyn Woods? If so we might agree to stay away from Kardashians, but I doubt that KAT does.

[Krapinsky]

Beasley needs more minutes

Agreed.

I agree with both of you guys about Beasley's minutes and I just don't see Vando getting 20+ minutes a game. The easiest way to bump Beasley's minutes is the smaller lineup as others have suggested:

C KAT
PF McDaniels or Prince
SF Edwards
SG Beasley
PG Russell

Offensively, we should be able to score with any team in the league. Can we improve defensively as individuals, and as a team, will be true difference with how the season plays out. Anything short of 45 wins this year will be a disappointment to me personally. Stay healthy, stay off the weed, stay away from guns and for the love of God...stay away from Kardashians.

It seems everyone expects immense improvement from McDaniels but none from Vanderbilt. Wouldn’t be surprised if Vanderbilt comes in and earns starting PF spot next season. He hustles back on D and rebounds—two of our biggest team weaknesses. I hope he gets 20 plus minutes and then some.

[minimus]

I really want Layman to have a solid season. He started strong before he hurt his toe and has never showed consistency after that. He had good steals, blocks %s, he is a good cutter, rim runner and can get hot from outside. Last year he and Juancho played the same position SF/PF, also Culver got some minutes at SF. I really hope he can earn some minutes playing a comboforward next to Vando/Prince/MCD/Reid. At SF he brings size, athleticism, off ball movement. The off-ball movement is particularly important because Finch installed an offensive system, where more aggressive KAT functions as offensive hub. I also can see how Russell with his passing can involve high energy, athletic players such as Beasley, Edwards, Layman, MCD

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[packforfreedom]

Layman is really a curious case. I was mildly exicted when we signed him and in many games he played, I think he looked really good. Especially with his dynamic cutting. But still he never seemed to get off the end of the bench. I hope Finch finds a way to utilize him better.

[KGdaBom]

I really want Layman to have a solid season. He started strong before he hurt his toe and has never showed consistency after that. He had good steals, blocks %s, he is a good cutter, rim runner and can get hot from outside. Last year he and Juancho played the same position SF/PF, also Culver got some minutes at SF. I really hope he can earn some minutes playing a comboforward next to Vando/Prince/MCD/Reid. At SF he brings size, athleticism, off ball movement. The off-ball movement is particularly important because Finch installed an offensive system, where more aggressive KAT functions as offensive hub. I also can see how Russell with his passing can involve high energy, athletic players such as Beasley, Edwards, Layman, MCD

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I'm with you Minimus. I don't think Layman is a lost cause.

[winforlose]

Layman is really a curious case. I was mildly exicted when we signed him and in many games he played, I think he looked really good. Especially with his dynamic cutting. But still he never seemed to get off the end of the bench. I hope Finch finds a way to utilize him better.

I don’t know what happened this past offseason, but it really hurt his game. I truly believe he can be effective rotation player somewhere, but only if he can revert back to 2019/20 mode and recover from the 20/21 offseason calamity that befell him.

[Klomp]

Layman is really a curious case. I was mildly exicted when we signed him and in many games he played, I think he looked really good. Especially with his dynamic cutting. But still he never seemed to get off the end of the bench. I hope Finch finds a way to utilize him better.

I don’t know what happened this past offseason, but it really hurt his game. I truly believe he can be effective rotation player somewhere, but only if he can revert back to 2019/20 mode and recover from the 20/21 offseason calamity that befell him.

Well, he got married last offseason....

[winforlose]

Layman is really a curious case. I was mildly exicted when we signed him and in many games he played, I think he looked really good. Especially with his dynamic cutting. But still he never seemed to get off the end of the bench. I hope Finch finds a way to utilize him better.

I don’t know what happened this past offseason, but it really hurt his game. I truly believe he can be effective rotation player somewhere, but only if he can revert back to 2019/20 mode and recover from the 20/21 offseason calamity that befell him.

Well, he got married last offseason....

Unless we are assuming some modern day Samson and Delilah where she cut his hair to steal his game, I must assume the two aren’t quite related per se. It may be true that she distracted him from basketball and thus had an impact, but it is more likely that the Covid shortened 19-20 season combined with missing the bubble had a lot to do with it as well. Layman was unable to work out in the manner he was accustomed to, and had less opportunity to play and train. A lot of guys handled this well, Layman and Juancho did not. Even some guys like Ricky who made it into the bubble were showing signs of the unusual circumstances. All in all it seems likely if Layman is vaccinated he should be able to have a quasi normal offseason and get back to his game. I HOPE.

[Klomp]

It looks like you have one power forward on the roster (Jarred Vanderbilt). So how, if at all, does that affect the number of options that you can go to defensively?

Finch: “I look at it the other way. In the league, what power forwards are out there that you really have to struggle with? OK, Giannis, that’s the most obvious one. But most of the people playing at the four (position) are kind of these combo forwards, anyway. I think we have enough options there, whether it be Vando, Jaden or Taurean (Prince). There might even be some opportunities for Ant to play some four defensively.”

https://www.twincities.com/2021/09/24/timberwolves-coach-chris-finch-on-anthony-edwards-karl-anthony-towns-leadership-and-expectations/

[TaylorTag]

This is what my 11-mat rotation would look like:

5: KAT (34 minutes), Naz (14 minutes)
4: Vando (20 minutes), Prince (20 minutes), McDaniels (8 minutes)
SF: McDaniels (22 minutes), Ant (14 minutes), Okogie (6 minutes), Bolmaro (6 minutes)
SG: Ant (20 minutes), Beasely (24 minutes), D'Lo (4 minutes)
PG: D'Lo (28 minutes), Beverley (12 minutes), McLaughlin (8 minutes)

[Klomp]

I think there are three possible starting lineup combinations going into camp

Russell / Edwards / McDaniels / Vanderbilt / Towns
Russell / Edwards / McDaniels / Prince / Towns
Russell / Beasley / Edwards / McDaniels / Towns

If you polled the fan base, I'm guessing most would like to see the first one. I think the last one might be close behind.

But I actually think the one in the middle might be the best one for the whole team. First of all, I think pairing Vando with Reid is important. Reid isn't as good of a rebounder as Towns is, so that's where Jarred can provide a boost. I can go either way on starting Prince or Beasley, but I think a little extra size would help.

Beverley / Beasley / Vanderbilt / Reid would be the main second unit, with a 10th man rotating in based on situations.

[wolves_89]

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In terms of weight, I would guess the Wolves have the smallest team in the NBA by a good margin.

[Baseline81]

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In terms of weight, I would guess the Wolves have the smallest team in the NBA by a good margin.

That's not a good thing, especially when you have the likes of Layman and Prince working with the bigs.

Let's see if Gupta can fix what Rosas wasn't able to do during his tenure -- find a starting PF.

[Neeva]

Maybe KAT should be the starting pf at that weight.

[winforlose]

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In terms of weight, I would guess the Wolves have the smallest team in the NBA by a good margin.

That's not a good thing, especially when you have the likes of Layman and Prince working with the bigs.

Let's see if Gupta can fix what Rosas wasn't able to do during his tenure -- find a starting PF.

I am not so sure. KAT gaining muscle and losing fat will make him faster and potentially stronger. While I agree bulk is nice for a center, strength is the far more important feature. KAT announced he was working his core this summer. I suspect that the weight loss came from excess pounds there. This is all guesswork on my part, but I suspect he will be faster and stronger at this new weight. Maybe he can even jump higher for boards without the excess weight.

[wolves_89]

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In terms of weight, I would guess the Wolves have the smallest team in the NBA by a good margin.

That's not a good thing, especially when you have the likes of Layman and Prince working with the bigs.

Let's see if Gupta can fix what Rosas wasn't able to do during his tenure -- find a starting PF.

I am not so sure. KAT gaining muscle and losing fat will make him faster and potentially stronger. While I agree bulk is nice for a center, strength is the far more important feature. KAT announced he was working his core this summer. I suspect that the weight loss came from excess pounds there. This is all guesswork on my part, but I suspect he will be faster and stronger at this new weight. Maybe he can even jump higher for boards without the excess weight.

KAT is a fairly minor part of the overall issue. My main concern is that Vanderbilt, McDaniels, Prince, and Layman are all under 220 lbs. The team just doesn't have many good matchup options when going against teams who play very large guys at both PF and C. One of the things I wanted the team to do this off-season was to add at least one really big player (in both height and weight) to come off the bench. Adding a larger starting PF would also have helped.