GT: Spurs vs. Timberwolves

[Nolan]

When: 6:00 PM MT, Dec 6th 2016
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis MN

Second night of a back to back on the road. If we're going to win this one we're going to have to up the intensity level on both ends and we have to keep it up for four quarters.

The T-Wolves have struggled so far this year but they are a extremely talented young team with 2 or 3 guys capable of taking over.

Go Spurs!!

[Nolan]

No Parker tonight, knee again. I'm expecting Lapro to start in his place.

[ducler]

[inDe_eD]

Such a good vibes game. Kawhi definitely looked much more engaged on both ends.

[Phreak50]

Our rebounding and defense is so bad at times. The starters have been hammered on the boards so much this year.

[perempe20]

Town was 3 from 16. how did you defend him?

[Nolan]

Town was 3 from 16. how did you defend him?

He kinda took himself out of the game. LMA and Dedmon did a good job contesting his shots, he missed a couple early then he started forcing things and it went downhill for him.

[Nolan]

Overall a solid win. We came out slow once again but once Kawhi got going we slowly took over and just overwhelmed them in the 2nd half.

The good:
- Kawhi. Monster game from him. He worked over Wiggins (on both ends), got to his spots at will and as usual played some outstanding defense.
-The defense. First quarter was a little messy at times but we really put the clamps on the T-Wolves and did a good job switching and protecting the paint.
- The PG's. Both Lapro and Mills were excellent, Mills more so. Patty had an amazing all around game and Lapro shot the ball well and did a nice job of setting up the offense and getting everyone involved.
-Anderson. Still was a little hesitant to shoot it at times but excellent game from him. Made some shots, played outstanding defense and did an amazing job switching onto bigs and keeping them off the glass. He can do this every night just needs to be a little more assertive.
-The rest of the bench. Simmons made some nice plays, stayed under control and had a positive impact. Dedmon played great man to man defense, rebounded well (fought for a lot offensive boards didn't get many though) and got a couple buckets around the rim.

The bad:
-Once again a slow start from the starters put us in a hole early. Pop's had to pull the full on hockey switch early and while it worked and lit a fire under us we can't keep relying on the bench to bail us out the starters should be our best unit and they need to play like it or else we're going to have to change up the starting unit.
-Pau and LMA. They had okay games, LMA defended Towns well and Pau hit a couple big shots that helped get us back into the game. But they both failed miserably to take advantage of a very young and inexperienced frontline.

[Nolan]

Some thoughts on the T-Wolves:

I didn't miss watching a game coached by Thibs, don't know how the players put up with his constant screaming. All I heard all game was him yelling "take it" "take him". No **** Tom.

LaVine is going to be dangerous in a year or two. The kid clearly puts in work and with his athletic ability the sky is the limit for him.

I like Kris Dunn. Still a work in progress on the offensive end but man can he defend. Got so many deflections and played so hard.

Towns is super talented but he needs to learn to let the game come to him. He seems to get frustrated way too easily. Maybe a little too much pressure has been put on him a little too early.

[inDe_eD]

Our rebounding and defense is so bad at times. The starters have been hammered on the boards so much this year.

Overall a solid win. We came out slow once again but once Kawhi got going we slowly took over and just overwhelmed them in the 2nd half.

The bad:
-Once again a slow start from the starters put us in a hole early. Pop's had to pull the full on hockey switch early and while it worked and lit a fire under us we can't keep relying on the bench to bail us out the starters should be our best unit and they need to play like it or else we're going to have to change up the starting unit.
-Pau and LMA. They had okay games, LMA defended Towns well and Pau hit a couple big shots that helped get us back into the game. But they both failed miserably to take advantage of a very young and inexperienced frontline.

Good points. I'll try not to be too negative, because we did a lot of things right tonight, but I really think the Pau/LMA things needs to be examined. Typically when you start two giant bigs like that, you'd hope you excel at defense, rebounding, or post scoring, and right now we aren't really good at any of that. Not to mention that playing two slower guys is probably contributing to our lethargic starting unit. I think it's pretty clear that it's time to stagger the two.

[inDe_eD]

Some thoughts on the T-Wolves:

I didn't miss watching a game coached by Thibs, don't know how the players put up with his constant screaming. All I heard all game was him yelling "take it" "take him". No **** Tom.

LaVine is going to be dangerous in a year or two. The kid clearly puts in work and with his athletic ability the sky is the limit for him.

I like Kris Dunn. Still a work in progress on the offensive end but man can he defend. Got so many deflections and played so hard.

Towns is super talented but he needs to learn to let the game come to him. He seems to get frustrated way too easily. Maybe a little too much pressure has been put on him a little too early.

So agreed on Lavine. I see a flashes of Russell Westbrook in his game. He's going to be a monster. I hope they keep this team together, because it's going to be fun for a very long time.

[Nolan]

Our rebounding and defense is so bad at times. The starters have been hammered on the boards so much this year.

Overall a solid win. We came out slow once again but once Kawhi got going we slowly took over and just overwhelmed them in the 2nd half.

The bad:
-Once again a slow start from the starters put us in a hole early. Pop's had to pull the full on hockey switch early and while it worked and lit a fire under us we can't keep relying on the bench to bail us out the starters should be our best unit and they need to play like it or else we're going to have to change up the starting unit.
-Pau and LMA. They had okay games, LMA defended Towns well and Pau hit a couple big shots that helped get us back into the game. But they both failed miserably to take advantage of a very young and inexperienced frontline.

Good points. I'll try not to be too negative, because we did a lot of things right tonight, but I really think the Pau/LMA things needs to be examined. Typically when you start two giant bigs like that, you'd hope you excel at defense, rebounding, or post scoring, and right now we aren't really good at any of that. Not to mention that playing two slower guys is probably contributing to our lethargic starting unit. I think it's pretty clear that it's time to stagger the two.

That's a very good point too. We're so slow getting into our sets and that's definitely a part of it.

Should we start some sort of campaign for Dedmon to start? I know we're 18-4 and I know it sounds crazy that we should make a major change to our starting lineup but we could be so much better with him in the starting five.

[Nolan]

So agreed on Lavine. I see a flashes of Russell Westbrook in his game. He's going to be a monster. I hope they keep this team together, because it's going to be fun for a very long time.

I can see a bit of it too. He's just so damn explosive.

The Wolves have the pieces (Towns, LaVine, Dunn, Wiggins) to build something special but they really really really need to add some guys that fit to their supporting cast.

[inDe_eD]

Our rebounding and defense is so bad at times. The starters have been hammered on the boards so much this year.

Overall a solid win. We came out slow once again but once Kawhi got going we slowly took over and just overwhelmed them in the 2nd half.

The bad:
-Once again a slow start from the starters put us in a hole early. Pop's had to pull the full on hockey switch early and while it worked and lit a fire under us we can't keep relying on the bench to bail us out the starters should be our best unit and they need to play like it or else we're going to have to change up the starting unit.
-Pau and LMA. They had okay games, LMA defended Towns well and Pau hit a couple big shots that helped get us back into the game. But they both failed miserably to take advantage of a very young and inexperienced frontline.

Good points. I'll try not to be too negative, because we did a lot of things right tonight, but I really think the Pau/LMA things needs to be examined. Typically when you start two giant bigs like that, you'd hope you excel at defense, rebounding, or post scoring, and right now we aren't really good at any of that. Not to mention that playing two slower guys is probably contributing to our lethargic starting unit. I think it's pretty clear that it's time to stagger the two.

That's a very good point too. We're so slow getting into our sets and that's definitely a part of it.

Should we start some sort of campaign for Dedmon to start? I know we're 18-4 and I know it sounds crazy that we should make a major change to our starting lineup but we could be so much better with him in the starting five.

I'll jump on that campaign train!

Yea it doesn't go over well when I complain to a non-Spurs fan because we are on pace to match our record last year, but the thing is, we could be so much better

Crazy enough, I think we would be better with DLee starting over Gasol (not better than starting Dedmon, but better than nothing). You'd have never caught me saying that at the start of the season.

[inDe_eD]

So agreed on Lavine. I see a flashes of Russell Westbrook in his game. He's going to be a monster. I hope they keep this team together, because it's going to be fun for a very long time.

I can see a bit of it too. He's just so damn explosive.

The Wolves have the pieces (Towns, LaVine, Dunn, Wiggins) to build something special but they really really really need to add some guys that fit to their supporting cast.

Quite honestly, they could really use a guy like Danny Green. I'm not sure how I feel about trading DG for Rubio or w/e, but the fit couldn't be better for the Wolves.

[Nolan]

I'll jump on that campaign train!

Yea it doesn't go over well when I complain to a non-Spurs fan because we are on pace to match our record last year, but the thing is, we could be so much better

Crazy enough, I think we would be better with DLee starting over Gasol (not better than starting Dedmon, but better than nothing). You'd have never caught me saying that at the start of the season.

I would be fine with Lee as well too. Just someone a little more mobile and more apt at playing off the ball.

It's also crazy that we're one win away from tying the Warriors record for consecutive road wins to start a season as well.

I really don't know what to think about this team, I don't think we're as good as our record suggests but I also think we're more than capable of being that good.

The one big positive that I've noticed this year is our play in crunch time, we've been almost flawless in the clutch whereas last year it was basically the complete opposite. We usually played well in the first 3 quarters then threw games away late.

[Nolan]

So agreed on Lavine. I see a flashes of Russell Westbrook in his game. He's going to be a monster. I hope they keep this team together, because it's going to be fun for a very long time.

I can see a bit of it too. He's just so damn explosive.

The Wolves have the pieces (Towns, LaVine, Dunn, Wiggins) to build something special but they really really really need to add some guys that fit to their supporting cast.

Quite honestly, they could really use a guy like Danny Green. I'm not sure how I feel about trading DG for Rubio or w/e, but the fit couldn't be better for the Wolves.

He would work well there. They need shooters, a legit SF and a legit PF. They have too many guys playing out of position.

[inDe_eD]

I'll jump on that campaign train!

Yea it doesn't go over well when I complain to a non-Spurs fan because we are on pace to match our record last year, but the thing is, we could be so much better

Crazy enough, I think we would be better with DLee starting over Gasol (not better than starting Dedmon, but better than nothing). You'd have never caught me saying that at the start of the season.

I would be fine with Lee as well too. Just someone a little more mobile and more apt at playing off the ball.

It's also crazy that we're one win away from tying the Warriors record for consecutive road wins to start a season as well.

I really don't know what to think about this team, I don't think we're as good as our record suggests but I also think we're more than capable of being that good.

The one big positive that I've noticed this year is our play in crunch time, we've been almost flawless in the clutch whereas last year it was basically the complete opposite. We usually played well in the first 3 quarters then threw games away late.

I'd say you've got the pulse of the team. We're just weird this year. I agree that we probably have a higher ceiling than last year. If Dedmon can give us 25-30 solid minutes of defense and rim-running in the playoffs, and the defense can get back to top 5-ish, we can beat anybody. We're one of the best 3 shooting teams, we play well in the clutch, we got a closer in Kawhi, we're deep, etc.

[inDe_eD]

He would work well there. They need shooters, a legit SF and a legit PF. They have too many guys playing out of position.

Yep, and quite honestly, every team in the league could use another 3&D wing, they just really need one more than most.

When they really start putting it all together, they have a potential lineup with Towns at the 5, and wiggins at the 4 that can match up with Golden State. But to do that, they need a few good wings. Towns/Wiggins/Green/Lavine/Dunn looks like a pretty elite crunch time lineup to me. Shooting/potentially Defense/Length everywhere.