Game 1: Timberwolves at Blazers (10/22, 9 pm)

[HMFFL]

Nice job by the Wolves frontcourt against the Blazers. As many of you may know, I can be a critic of the T Wolves, but it's because I want to see them win.

All working parts did an excellent job.

[Klomp]

I think one other very important factor needs to be remembered

Bones Hyland is 25
TJ Shannon is 25
Jaylen Clark is 24
-
Rob Dillingham is 20
Joan Beringer is 19

They all play like it, too. In intense close-game situations in difficult environments, you don't turn to the most inexperienced, youthful players on the team. That's coaching career suicide.

The young guys will get a chance. It just wasn't last night.

Shannon did, he was in there in crunch time. Pretty surprising actually because he was far from perfect this game. He was missing some shots at the rim, overplaying on defense a bit like that end of quarter 3 that Holiday hit. But I suspect Finch loves his physicality. Sometimes it seems like he can hang with strong wings a little better than Jaden or Clark. He's a big help in games where you gotta go up against Camara, Avdija, and Grant, and then he's versatile enough to play down on Holiday too. He definitely seems like the guy they're zoned in on the most as far as getting more minutes and opportunities. And while his handle is suspect at times, teams are gonna get hesitant to pressure him way out past the 3 point line with what he can do once he gets an open lane to the rim.

I was moreso differentiating between the five, referencing the difference between the older young guys and the younger young guys. I added a separation above to better show what I was trying to convey with my post.

[BlacJacMac]

That's why we needed to play Dilly. He can bring the ball up no problem at all.

Based on what?

[winforlose]

What hero ball are we talking about exactly?

A last shot iso on the wing for your best player is perfectly normal. Other than that Ant played in the flow of the game and didn't have a single decision like last year where I would rewind the play 5 times to see what was he even trying to do.

Would like a little more focus on getting Rudy a few lobs/dump off passes tho, from the whole team.

One way I define hero ball is any possession where the ball does not move and the player who starts with it takes the shot. Ant had at least 2 (the flop by holiday and the step back dagger,) maybe more no pass shots late in the fourth. They went in so we are happy. They miss, and the conversation is why is Ant not passing late in game. Not that Ant shouldn’t be shooting eventually, but we should be running our offense and keeping people involved all game, especially late game.

[Klomp]

What hero ball are we talking about exactly?

A last shot iso on the wing for your best player is perfectly normal. Other than that Ant played in the flow of the game and didn't have a single decision like last year where I would rewind the play 5 times to see what was he even trying to do.

Would like a little more focus on getting Rudy a few lobs/dump off passes tho, from the whole team.

One way I define hero ball is any possession where the ball does not move and the player who starts with it takes the shot. Ant had at least 2 (the flop by holiday and the step back dagger,) maybe more no pass shots late in the fourth. They went in so we are happy. They miss, and the conversation is why is Ant not passing late in game. Not that Ant shouldn’t be shooting eventually, but we should be running our offense and keeping people involved all game, especially late game.

Trying a cross-sport analogy, is it hero ball when a QB breaks the pocket to avoid the pass rush because no one's open and gets a big 3rd down conversion?

Sometimes, you have to trust that even keeping the ball was a smart decision.

[winforlose]

What hero ball are we talking about exactly?

A last shot iso on the wing for your best player is perfectly normal. Other than that Ant played in the flow of the game and didn't have a single decision like last year where I would rewind the play 5 times to see what was he even trying to do.

Would like a little more focus on getting Rudy a few lobs/dump off passes tho, from the whole team.

One way I define hero ball is any possession where the ball does not move and the player who starts with it takes the shot. Ant had at least 2 (the flop by holiday and the step back dagger,) maybe more no pass shots late in the fourth. They went in so we are happy. They miss, and the conversation is why is Ant not passing late in game. Not that Ant shouldn’t be shooting eventually, but we should be running our offense and keeping people involved all game, especially late game.

Trying a cross-sport analogy, is it hero ball when a QB breaks the pocket to avoid the pass rush because no one's open and gets a big 3rd down conversion?

Sometimes, you have to trust that even keeping the ball was a smart decision.

True. But when the coach call run, and the QB tells him sorry BIT** I only hand it off when I feel like it, that is a different conversation. Smart isn’t the standard in that case, and it is not the standard in our case.

[Note30]

What hero ball are we talking about exactly?

A last shot iso on the wing for your best player is perfectly normal. Other than that Ant played in the flow of the game and didn't have a single decision like last year where I would rewind the play 5 times to see what was he even trying to do.

Would like a little more focus on getting Rudy a few lobs/dump off passes tho, from the whole team.

One way I define hero ball is any possession where the ball does not move and the player who starts with it takes the shot. Ant had at least 2 (the flop by holiday and the step back dagger,) maybe more no pass shots late in the fourth. They went in so we are happy. They miss, and the conversation is why is Ant not passing late in game. Not that Ant shouldn’t be shooting eventually, but we should be running our offense and keeping people involved all game, especially late game.

I don't agree with this. As the game winds down the defensive intensity increases, I don't want anyone trying to take that shot except Ant.

He scored 41 last night. He is without a doubt the best player on this team and in my opinion the only player worth his salt on this roster.

Every team has their best player take the last shot. That's just the way it's been done forever.

Ant really is starting to feel like a top 5 player in this league. I don't know if he's there yet, but I want him running the show.

[KGdaBom]

That's why we needed to play Dilly. He can bring the ball up no problem at all.

Based on what?

His ball handling ability.

[KGdaBom]

I think one other very important factor needs to be remembered

Bones Hyland is 25
TJ Shannon is 25
Jaylen Clark is 24
Rob Dillingham is 20
Joan Beringer is 19

They all play like it, too. In intense close-game situations in difficult environments, you don't turn to the most inexperienced, youthful players on the team. That's coaching career suicide.

The young guys will get a chance. It just wasn't last night.

Maybe, but not showing trust in them can snowball into them losing trust in themselves.

[Klomp]

True. But when the coach call run, and the QB tells him sorry BIT** I only hand it off when I feel like it, that is a different conversation. Smart isn’t the standard in that case, and it is not the standard in our case.

Do you really think NBA coaches are drawing up plays like we are in middle school, telling these players exactly where to go, exactly where to pass the ball, exactly where to shoot on every part of every possession?

Of course not. Every play at this level has options. Off of a pick and roll, it's not like the only option is to hit the roller. The guy can hit the roller, but he can also hit the guy in the slot, hit the guy in one of the corners, or take the ball himself, whether that's driving to the rim or pulling up for a jumper. That's how plays work in the NBA.

Coaches certainly encourage guys to trust the process of letting the play run through rather than putting fate in your own hands, but also in late-game situations, you trust your best player to make a choice that will bring home the win. Ant did that last night over and over.

[Klomp]

I think one other very important factor needs to be remembered

Bones Hyland is 25
TJ Shannon is 25
Jaylen Clark is 24
Rob Dillingham is 20
Joan Beringer is 19

They all play like it, too. In intense close-game situations in difficult environments, you don't turn to the most inexperienced, youthful players on the team. That's coaching career suicide.

The young guys will get a chance. It just wasn't last night.

Maybe, but not showing trust in them can snowball into them losing trust in themselves.

So we need to placate the mentally weak, even if it's to the team's detriment in critical situations?

[KGdaBom]

What hero ball are we talking about exactly?

A last shot iso on the wing for your best player is perfectly normal. Other than that Ant played in the flow of the game and didn't have a single decision like last year where I would rewind the play 5 times to see what was he even trying to do.

Would like a little more focus on getting Rudy a few lobs/dump off passes tho, from the whole team.

One way I define hero ball is any possession where the ball does not move and the player who starts with it takes the shot. Ant had at least 2 (the flop by holiday and the step back dagger,) maybe more no pass shots late in the fourth. They went in so we are happy. They miss, and the conversation is why is Ant not passing late in game. Not that Ant shouldn’t be shooting eventually, but we should be running our offense and keeping people involved all game, especially late game.

I don't agree with this. As the game winds down the defensive intensity increases, I don't want anyone trying to take that shot except Ant.

He scored 41 last night. He is without a doubt the best player on this team and in my opinion the only player worth his salt on this roster.

Every team has their best player take the last shot. That's just the way it's been done forever.

Ant really is starting to feel like a top 5 player in this league. I don't know if he's there yet, but I want him running the show.

The Bulls with Michael Jordan put great shooters around him and Jordan trusted them to make the clutch shots. Jordan did not have the KoMe mentality about the last shots and the Bulls were more successful because of it.

[KGdaBom]

I think one other very important factor needs to be remembered

Bones Hyland is 25
TJ Shannon is 25
Jaylen Clark is 24
Rob Dillingham is 20
Joan Beringer is 19

They all play like it, too. In intense close-game situations in difficult environments, you don't turn to the most inexperienced, youthful players on the team. That's coaching career suicide.

The young guys will get a chance. It just wasn't last night.

Maybe, but not showing trust in them can snowball into them losing trust in themselves.

So we need to placate the mentally weak, even if it's to the team's detriment in critical situations?

It doesn't mean they are mentally weak. People tend to be a product of how they are treated. I don't think it would have been a detriment to our team if we had played Dilly instead of Bones. I think Beringer would have made a good impact if given some minutes. However, we didn't get a chance to find out. We won and that's mostly all that matters. I think it would have been less exciting if we had played Dilly and Le Berricade.

[KGdaBom]

True. But when the coach call run, and the QB tells him sorry BIT** I only hand it off when I feel like it, that is a different conversation. Smart isn’t the standard in that case, and it is not the standard in our case.

Do you really think NBA coaches are drawing up plays like we are in middle school, telling these players exactly where to go, exactly where to pass the ball, exactly where to shoot on every part of every possession?

Of course not. Every play at this level has options. Off of a pick and roll, it's not like the only option is to hit the roller. The guy can hit the roller, but he can also hit the guy in the slot, hit the guy in one of the corners, or take the ball himself, whether that's driving to the rim or pulling up for a jumper. That's how plays work in the NBA.

Coaches certainly encourage guys to trust the process of letting the play run through rather than putting fate in your own hands, but also in late-game situations, you trust your best player to make a choice that will bring home the win. Ant did that last night over and over.

Ant IMO was about the best I've ever seen him last night. However, he wasn't playing against the OKC Defense. He got away with things against Portland that would not have worked against the OKC defense.

[Klomp]

Maybe, but not showing trust in them can snowball into them losing trust in themselves.

So we need to placate the mentally weak, even if it's to the team's detriment in critical situations?

It doesn't mean they are mentally weak. People tend to be a product of how they are treated. I don't think it would have been a detriment to our team if we had played Dilly instead of Bones. I think Beringer would have made a good impact if given some minutes. However, we didn't get a chance to find out. We won and that's mostly all that matters. I think it would have been less exciting if we had played Dilly and Le Berricade.

OK, mentally young. They don't have the experience. How many big games has Joan played in so far in his basketball life? How about Rob?

The experience thing isn't an automatic lever to pull, but it should be in critical situations during a game, which it certainly was last night.

[Klomp]

Ant put up 41 on the guy who received the fifth-most votes by a non-big in all-defense last year

Daniels
Dort
Thompson
Williams
Camara

[Klomp]

I don't think the inbounds pass was his fault, but the rest were things he needs to clean up

Read on Twitter

[winforlose]

True. But when the coach call run, and the QB tells him sorry BIT** I only hand it off when I feel like it, that is a different conversation. Smart isn’t the standard in that case, and it is not the standard in our case.

Do you really think NBA coaches are drawing up plays like we are in middle school, telling these players exactly where to go, exactly where to pass the ball, exactly where to shoot on every part of every possession?

Of course not. Every play at this level has options. Off of a pick and roll, it's not like the only option is to hit the roller. The guy can hit the roller, but he can also hit the guy in the slot, hit the guy in one of the corners, or take the ball himself, whether that's driving to the rim or pulling up for a jumper. That's how plays work in the NBA.

Coaches certainly encourage guys to trust the process of letting the play run through rather than putting fate in your own hands, but also in late-game situations, you trust your best player to make a choice that will bring home the win. Ant did that last night over and over.

How many times over the years has Finch said we need to move the ball more late in the game. How many playoff losses have been attributed to not moving the ball more late in games. You gave the NFL analogy I gave you the equivalent. I am not saying Ant should not be taking the final shot (sometimes yes, sometimes no,) I am talking about the process of getting the final shot. No pass possession have a tendency to do more harm than good. They are especially bad for teammate morale which translates to defensive issues. If you embrace bad process in favor of good results, then when we get bad results you cannot turn around and say that was bad process. You need to consistently teach Ant to to do it better. Those shots will miss later in the year and everyone will say the ball needs to move more to get better and easier shots. That is my point.

[KGdaBom]

I don't think the inbounds pass was his fault, but the rest were things he needs to clean up

Read on Twitter

He was well on his way to a double double Points/TOs when coach pulled him.

[BlacJacMac]

Maybe, but not showing trust in them can snowball into them losing trust in themselves.

So we need to placate the mentally weak, even if it's to the team's detriment in critical situations?

It doesn't mean they are mentally weak. People tend to be a product of how they are treated. I don't think it would have been a detriment to our team if we had played Dilly instead of Bones. I think Beringer would have made a good impact if given some minutes. However, we didn't get a chance to find out. We won and that's mostly all that matters. I think it would have been less exciting if we had played Dilly and Le Berricade.

Sure.

Losses are never as exciting as wins.