Countdown to heartbreak (*Draft thread pt.II)

[big3_8_19_21]

Why has no one argued the point of us being built as a half-court plodding team? While it's understandable that that argument is made, there is a flip-side to every argument. Wasn't one of McHale's main goals as a coach to have a free flowing, up-temp offense? Isn't one of K-Love's most pimped skills outlet passes to ignite the fast break? Sure Jefferson is our go to option in the half-court, but if our big man is making the outlet pass (Love or Jefferson, doesn't matter), why would he also have to run the break? Big men rarely finish the break for any team. Now I'm still not sold on Jennings, though that DX article did help to at least lessen some of my major concerns with him, however: he could be great on the break with guys like Carney and Brewer. You don't have to have a team that is strictly fast break or strictly half-court, I think they seem very clear in their intentions to build a team that can ignite a quick break, but then pull it out/slow it down in a half court setting and execute effectively there as well. Once again, I'm not saying 100% Jennings, and I'm not really even sure how I feel about him at this point, but I just think that his fit on this team is not as terrible as some are saying.

This team does need some more athleticism, though...which is my major concern with picking Harden...another "underrated athleticism" guy. Love supposedly has "underrated athleticism" but that didn't seem to help him when his shot got thrown back in his face (yes I am a Love fan, I'm just making a point).

[wolves_fan_82au]

I'm not really worried that an 18 year old kid got schooled by a savvy HOF vet PG. The question will be how does he respond to that?

He at least has shown he can play good defense against his competition and isn't that basically all we have to go off of for all the prospects? And can Jennings make that same claim?

well u should be,Mills had no trouble at all with any of those hof guards

[wolves_fan_82au]

watching a couple of college games and notice a guy by the name of Alade Aminu what do you guys think of him as a 2nd rounder ???

he seems to be quick up the court and seems like a decent shot blocker ,can score and is a good rebounder

[john2jer]

biggie, I don't think Jennings is the type of player for the Love outlet passes, we need flyers for that, which is where Evans and DeRozan come in. The benefit of Evans, though, is that he can play a halfcourt cet and attack the rim, a la Dwayne Wade. Now, I know Evans isn't in Wade's tier, they just seem to have similar games.

And DeRozan's like Super Carney, and we all drooled for like 5 minutes over the idea of Love to Carney.

[cpfsf]

I know how much this draft pick means to you all, so I won't watch it (no seriously). That's my good luck charm, I close my eyes or turn the channel. The main point is I don't watch. It worked during the 1997 matchup between Clemson and Minnesota which went into double overtime (your welcome). I actually forgot who we played, so I had to look this one up. Sorry though, I was on vacation when they lost later in the tournament.

btw, If your wondering why the Timberwolves haven't won a championship, it's because I live in Iowa where we just won the wrestling title two years in a row.

[PeeDee]

My superpower was better... I moved to Boston in 2003 and then back in 2008. During that span they won 2 World Series, 2 Super Bowls (and went to a 3rd) and an NBA championship. Unfortunately, I seem to have left my powers there.

[Krapinsky]

watching a couple of college games and notice a guy by the name of Alade Aminu what do you guys think of him as a 2nd rounder ???

he seems to be quick up the court and seems like a decent shot blocker ,can score and is a good rebounder

I like Aminu in the 2nd

[Sid the Squid]

What are the wolves going to do if they land the #1? Jefferson-Love-Griffen just doesnt work at all IMO...You guys will need to make a move or two...

[revprodeji]

Couple options sid.

1.) Grab Griffin and either play him with Al/Love as a 3 or just go with a 3 man big rotation (similar to what we would do with Thebeast)
2.) Take Rubio straight up
3.) Move either al/love and go from there.

Too bad we do not have a Gm.

[cpfsf]

My superpower was better... I moved to Boston in 2003 and then back in 2008. During that span they won 2 World Series, 2 Super Bowls (and went to a 3rd) and an NBA championship. Unfortunately, I seem to have left my powers there.

Peedee, everything’s at stake. We must join forces.

http://www.myspace.com/shadow_hare

You can call me Ratchet. Wait while I find some underwear to put over my pants.

[PeeDee]

Lol, OK, I'm in, maybe my alter ego will help the Wolves back to prominence.

http://www.myspace.com/christianhero

[Foye]

I can not wait until Tuesday...and then another month....this is so depressing....

[Worm Guts]

The small section of my point that you decided to take out talks about the style of game he plays which doesn't fit with the Wolves. I also went further into the flaws he has and how I think those flaws happen to be the flaws the Wolves already have, thus compounding an issue that needs to be addressed.

Every team benefits from easy transition baskets. Being "up-tempo" isn't a flaw, and doesn't preclude a player from being good in the half court. Maybe it's nit picky but it bothers me that you try criticize him by citing his strengths. Alot of your other points are valid and I agree with.

[revprodeji]

How is this any different than putting Tony Parker with Duncan?


Also, speed has more effect on a game when a guard and get into the paint in the half-court set than when the guard burns 90ft. We try and push transition, but if the wings/guard cannot then we set-up half court around Jefferson. Sounds like a good idea to me.

[big3_8_19_21]

That's exactly what I was trying to say. I haven't seen enough of Jennings to know if he's good in the half court, but his speed and ability to burn down the court is definitely not a negative just because Love and Jefferson don't also have that speed.

[Esohny]

Jennings obviously is talented on offense, but he looks like he'd be solid on defense if he stops gambling so much for steals. He's certainly quick enough to stay with the speedy point guards in the NBA, and I don't see a whole lot of point guards who post up. So, even though he's a bit risky, he might be the BPA depending where the wolves pick. I'd go Harden or DeRozan if they're available though.

[revprodeji]

I would grab harden ahead, but likely not DeRozan.

The one thing we can have confidence on with jennings is we likely have him scouted better than any other player. With Philo spending so much time with him in europe and Love being on AAU with him.

[john2jer]

The small section of my point that you decided to take out talks about the style of game he plays which doesn't fit with the Wolves. I also went further into the flaws he has and how I think those flaws happen to be the flaws the Wolves already have, thus compounding an issue that needs to be addressed.

Every team benefits from easy transition baskets. Being "up-tempo" isn't a flaw, and doesn't preclude a player from being good in the half court. Maybe it's nit picky but it bothers me that you try criticize him by citing his strengths. Alot of your other points are valid and I agree with.

Sometimes I wonder about you. Like, do you actually not get it, or is it an act?

[Worm Guts]

Sometimes I wonder about you. Like, do you actually not get it, or is it an act?

What do you mean? Unless you're speaking in code, there's nothing to get. I tend to skim, so if I've missed something I apologize, but I'm pretty sure I've seen you make this point before.

[john2jer]

#5 - Jennings
#18 - Blair
#28 - Ellington

Get it done.