Game 31: Timberwolves at Mavericks, 7:30 pm CST

[Worm Guts]

This is the kind of game that really undermines the hope that this is legitimate playoff team.

[shrink]

Seems like we can overcome a bad game from KAT (or Ant) but not from Dlo. People like to hate him but he's more important for the team than people will give him credit for.

If you are saying he can lose a winnable game for you, I agree. If you are saying he can put you over the top in a close game, I think that’s true sometimes too. But often his lazy play the first three quarters is what made the game close enough to need fourth quarter heroics. His overall stats are not good.

Russell can play well sometimes, but he’s inconsistent. I think he generally gets more credit here than he deserves. For example, he’s not the “fourth best defender on the team,” he’s a smart, but low impact defender that looks good when Patrick Beverley is out there with him.

On this board, I understand why I get labeled as a DLo “hater,” and I freely admit I am lower on him than many fans. But I come to RealGM rather than fan sites because I want to discuss what our players really are. I try to give him credit when he deserves it, but when I see posts that only isolate the positive attributes, I often step in to give the board a more balanced perspective. Anyway, with a general pro-DLo spin here, I was proud that most of the forum blamed him this game when he deserved blame. That puts the real in RealGM for me. In the end though, I am a Wolves fan, so I hope he helps win us the next one.

[life_saver]

Seems like we can overcome a bad game from KAT (or Ant) but not from Dlo. People like to hate him but he's more important for the team than people will give him credit for.

This feels like wrong conclusion...when KAT has a bad game, he will still score 20+ points on a decent efficiency..not shooting 4/18 from field like how DLo did yesterday...but a bad game from DLo means nights like this where shot 4/18 from field. Wolves will probably lose if even KAT has awful shooting games like DLo had yesterday. DLo has had a similarly terrible game in last 1-2 weeks where he shot 3/18 from field against Wizards...these are just absurdly terrible shooting numbers that you usually see from a rookie guard, not from a 7th year player. DLo's jumper is has always been inconsistent but so far this season, it's been downright terrible

[Nick K]

I also blame KAT for this loss. Taking 14 shots in this game is pathetic. Why not 25? Why is Dlo taking 11 3s compared to KAT’s 4?

I'm not so sure the blame is on Kat for that. He's doing what the coaches want him to do by getting other players involved. I'd like to see him take more shots too. If Dlo made 50% of his shots we'd praise Kat for his assists.

I love Finch but I'd blame him for running an offense that highlights shooting with mostly poor shooters. And not getting enough shots for their best shooter.

Dlo's inconsistency is maddening. Good players don't have so many off nights. It's too bad because when he's good he's really good.

[KGdaBom]

Brunson is an annoying little piece of ****

3 things: death, taxes and AIJ insulting a guy who's having a good game against us in the game thread

Brunson is an annoying POS when he's playing well against us.

[TheProdigy]

This is the kind of game that really undermines the hope that this is legitimate playoff team.

I wasn't expecting us to win this game. Our glue guys (Vando and Bev) are extremely important to our success. Take them off the floor and our tenacity and energy level takes a dive.

[KGdaBom]

You jinxed it

dw, I think I unjinxed it. Hooray.

And then I jinxed it again. Oh well.

Best to NEVER mention a hot streak until it's over.

[Worm Guts]

This is the kind of game that really undermines the hope that this is legitimate playoff team.

I wasn't expecting us to win this game. Our glue guys (Vando and Bev) are extremely important to our success. Take them off the floor and our tenacity and energy level takes a dive.

That’s an indictment of our team. Dallas didn’t have their 3 best players.

[winforlose]

Man i hope Ant comes back this thursday

I read today it is 10 days minimum. When did he officially go in?

That can't be true because Lebron and Westbrook both came back within 48 hours after going into the protocol and then testing negative.

Only way they are out is if all 5 actually have covid.

To answer your question, he went in the protocols last friday, so he'd be back for the Boston game if it was 10 days

That only applies with false positives. If you actually have the virus it is different.

[winforlose]

I also blame KAT for this loss. Taking 14 shots in this game is pathetic. Why not 25? Why is Dlo taking 11 3s compared to KAT’s 4?

I'm not so sure the blame is on Kat for that. He's doing what the coaches want him to do by getting other players involved. I'd like to see him take more shots too. If Dlo made 50% of his shots we'd praise Kat for his assists.

I love Finch but I'd blame him for running an offense that highlights shooting with mostly poor shooters. And not getting enough shots for their best shooter.

Dlo's inconsistency is maddening. Good players don't have so many off nights. It's too bad because when he's good he's really good.

At some point getting other players involved becomes unwilling to take over a game. The second half showed have been the KAT show, instead it was about everyone else. Dlo is the one who needs to defer more. Nowell taking 8 shots so Dlo can take 18 is losing basketball. Beasley meanwhile was 5 of 8 from 3 in the first half and 1 of 6 in the second half. He should have realized he cooled off and stopped shooting. Guys with KAT’s level of efficiency need to shoot the most shots in any given game. Instead Ant or Dlo take more shots and it almost always hurts us.

[MN7725]

Seems like we can overcome a bad game from KAT (or Ant) but not from Dlo. People like to hate him but he's more important for the team than people will give him credit for.

it's more about how about the other guards/wings and what they can't do

Bev/Beasley/McDaniels/Prince/Okogie/Layman can't create at all
Bolmaro might eventually be able to, but so far has struggled
Mclaughlin only looks good when its a blow out where he's playing harder than everyone else

Nowell can do stuff but wasn't get much run earlier in year

so the Wolves are pretty much hopeless when Russell misses a game because no one besides Nowell can really step into a primary ball handler role. If Wolves had Rubio instead of Prince, wouldn't be in such tough shape when Russell struggles or misses time

[Wolf_Cry]

I think the sooner we can accept that KAT can't take over a game, the better the franchise will be. KAT is just too limited by his lack of quickness and court IQ. He is talented in other areas- notably shooting, driving to the rim, and occasionally post up scoring. But he just isn't very quick. If he isn't given time to launch, his air time on shots is barely 3 inches off the ground. He's unique in that way, but it also prevents him from ever taking over. It makes sense really, why he doesn't take more shots. If you guard him well and don't give him space to maneuver, he isn't going to hoist the shot because he's scared it will get blocked- and it probably will. Add in his lack of strength and he's quite the specific player impact-wise.

As for DLo, I've already voiced my opinion on him many times. In fact, of all our guards the only one worth keeping is Beverly and Ant (purely for potential). Everyone else is a negative asset and I would get rid of them asap. I would give them away FOR FREE if I could just to get rid of their awful contracts. Getting outplay by Brunson is not surprised to me. And if KAT is unhappy his buddy is getting this treatment, **** it, trade his ass too.

[Calinks]

This is the kind of game that really undermines the hope that this is legitimate playoff team.

I wasn't expecting us to win this game. Our glue guys (Vando and Bev) are extremely important to our success. Take them off the floor and our tenacity and energy level takes a dive.

That’s an indictment of our team. Dallas didn’t have their 3 best players.

I don't think it's as bad as it sounds. Our team simply isn't a good team yet, we are trying to find our way and we are learning how to be good. We have excelled at some things this season but we have had huge failings in other areas, namely our offense. I also felt this could be a tough game, we are still awkward, our chemistry isn't refined, losing several of our key guys in key roles could hurt us bad.

Dlo had a horrible shooting night, guys like Jaden, Nowell, Beasley, Jmac, Knight, Balmaro are young and have been inconsistent. It's not that crazy to me that several could have bad games and the other team can capitalize. Dallas was playing harder and their guards in particular had way more poise.

As for KAT, he had a great game. He just didn't dominate on offense and will us to a win. That's harder to do as a center than a guard and even as a center, KAT struggles with that. He should have gotten more shots but he has to be in better position and the team has to help him get those looks too. Its something Finch will have to refine and improve over the coming season and future.

That said we lost because Dallas players showed up a lot harder than our guys. We aren't very deep with consistent talent. Guys like Layman, Jmac, Balmaro, Nowell, etc. needed to step up on both ends and they didn't. Guys on Dallas did. Doesn't mean they would do that 10/10 times if we played again but they did the other night.

I wouldn't read too much into it, bad loss, both teams were crippled, Dallas reserves showed up way better than ours. Dlo was really bad, Dallas hit a lot of their good looks, we missed to many of ours, and the defense was not where it needed to be.

[winforlose]

I wasn't expecting us to win this game. Our glue guys (Vando and Bev) are extremely important to our success. Take them off the floor and our tenacity and energy level takes a dive.

That’s an indictment of our team. Dallas didn’t have their 3 best players.

I don't think it's as bad as it sounds. Our team simply isn't a good team yet, we are trying to find our way and we are learning how to be good. We have excelled at some things this season but we have had huge failings in other areas, namely our offense. I also felt this could be a tough game, we are still awkward, our chemistry isn't refined, losing several of our key guys in key roles could hurt us bad.

Dlo had a horrible shooting night, guys like Jaden, Nowell, Beasley, Jmac, Knight, Balmaro are young and have been inconsistent. It's not that crazy to me that several could have bad games and the other team can capitalize. Dallas was playing harder and their guards in particular had way more poise.

As for KAT, he had a great game. He just didn't dominate on offense and will us to a win. That's harder to do as a center than a guard and even as a center, KAT struggles with that. He should have gotten more shots but he has to be in better position and the team has to help him get those looks too. Its something Finch will have to refine and improve over the coming season and future.

That said we lost because Dallas players showed up a lot harder than our guys. We aren't very deep with consistent talent. Guys like Layman, Jmac, Balmaro, Nowell, etc. needed to step up on both ends and they didn't. Guys on Dallas did. Doesn't mean they would do that 10/10 times if we played again but they did the other night.

I wouldn't read too much into it, bad loss, both teams were crippled, Dallas reserves showed up way better than ours. Dlo was really bad, Dallas hit a lot of their good looks, we missed to many of ours, and the defense was not where it needed to be.

1. This was a big game for our season, and our players not showing up motivated is a big deal and a bad omen.

2. Most of our payroll was available and most of the Mavs was not. That is an indictment of both KAT and Dlo (our max stats.)

3. The use of JMAC over Wright and Layman over Knight was mind blowing. Neither player should ever see the floor.

[Calinks]

That’s an indictment of our team. Dallas didn’t have their 3 best players.

I don't think it's as bad as it sounds. Our team simply isn't a good team yet, we are trying to find our way and we are learning how to be good. We have excelled at some things this season but we have had huge failings in other areas, namely our offense. I also felt this could be a tough game, we are still awkward, our chemistry isn't refined, losing several of our key guys in key roles could hurt us bad.

Dlo had a horrible shooting night, guys like Jaden, Nowell, Beasley, Jmac, Knight, Balmaro are young and have been inconsistent. It's not that crazy to me that several could have bad games and the other team can capitalize. Dallas was playing harder and their guards in particular had way more poise.

As for KAT, he had a great game. He just didn't dominate on offense and will us to a win. That's harder to do as a center than a guard and even as a center, KAT struggles with that. He should have gotten more shots but he has to be in better position and the team has to help him get those looks too. Its something Finch will have to refine and improve over the coming season and future.

That said we lost because Dallas players showed up a lot harder than our guys. We aren't very deep with consistent talent. Guys like Layman, Jmac, Balmaro, Nowell, etc. needed to step up on both ends and they didn't. Guys on Dallas did. Doesn't mean they would do that 10/10 times if we played again but they did the other night.

I wouldn't read too much into it, bad loss, both teams were crippled, Dallas reserves showed up way better than ours. Dlo was really bad, Dallas hit a lot of their good looks, we missed to many of ours, and the defense was not where it needed to be.

1. This was a big game for our season, and our players not showing up motivated is a big deal and a bad omen.

2. Most of our payroll was available and most of the Mavs was not. That is an indictment of both KAT and Dlo (our max stats.)

3. The use of JMAC over Wright and Layman over Knight was mind blowing. Neither player should ever see the floor.

KAT showed up, he had a really good game, just didn't go Kobe Bryant and take over but that's hard for him to do.We are going to have bad games and off nights. Defense is very much a team thing and yea we were slipping, not on one guy but as a whole they were messing up.

Not crazy seeing how we had lineups that aren't used to playing together. It was a bad game, there will be more, it's where we are at in our development. We aren't the Suns or Warriors who can be damn near flawless for 10+ games. We are a team that has had two 5 game losing streaks and lost to some really awful teams, we are inconsistent and figuring things out, we will be all season on some level.

[Nick K]

I also blame KAT for this loss. Taking 14 shots in this game is pathetic. Why not 25? Why is Dlo taking 11 3s compared to KAT’s 4?

I'm not so sure the blame is on Kat for that. He's doing what the coaches want him to do by getting other players involved. I'd like to see him take more shots too. If Dlo made 50% of his shots we'd praise Kat for his assists.

I love Finch but I'd blame him for running an offense that highlights shooting with mostly poor shooters. And not getting enough shots for their best shooter.

Dlo's inconsistency is maddening. Good players don't have so many off nights. It's too bad because when he's good he's really good.

At some point getting other players involved becomes unwilling to take over a game. The second half showed have been the KAT show, instead it was about everyone else. Dlo is the one who needs to defer more. Nowell taking 8 shots so Dlo can take 18 is losing basketball. Beasley meanwhile was 5 of 8 from 3 in the first half and 1 of 6 in the second half. He should have realized he cooled off and stopped shooting. Guys with KAT’s level of efficiency need to shoot the most shots in any given game. Instead Ant or Dlo take more shots and it almost always hurts us.

I don't disagree with you a bit on Kat but he doesn't call the shots. I'd blame Dlo for taking too many shots when he knows he's cold. He could always pass it back to Kat and tell Kat to take the shot. Dlo thinks he can make every one even if he's 2-12. The coach needs to step in I think.