T-Wolves Regular Season Thread

[bluechipper]

 

Word. I was thinking about it last nigh, man. How does this team GIVE AWAY one of the best defensive PGs in the league like that? What would you give up to bring him back?

For how much Thibs is known for defense, I don't get his need to have a scoring point guard. Rubio was seemingly on the block the moment Thibs came in. This team doesn't need a pg who is looking to score.

 

I'd love to have that trade back. It sure doesn't feel the same without Ricky leading the team.

[Deduno Abides]

Are the POBO and the coach on the same page? POBO signs Dieng to a big contract, then coach buries him. Also, and I don’t know much about basketball, but isn’t defense in basketball something that a coach can influence through schemes, knowledge and effort? Maybe the POBO needs to get a coach who can make more impact on defense.

[kab21]

 

He was not perfect for this team, come on. Rubio had plenty of flaws too. And, these are the same issues we had last year, with Rubio, same issues.

That said, when they moved Rubio, I assumed it would be for an actual improvement. They must have thought they could get better and panicked when they couldn't, because this Teague dude doesn't look like a good player to me.

The problem with Rubio is that he was another ball dominant player even though he didn't actually take the final shot. Teague was a slight improvement there but not much. And this is the overall problem throughout the lineup. Only Dieng/Gibson don't require the ball to be effective. KAT does pretty well without but he should have it the most though.

The perfect player would have been Patrick Beverly. Last year Houston put Harden at the point guard and Beverly was literally a 3 and D guy only. Butler/Wiggins could kind of fill that same role to an extent.

[bluechipper]

At least when Ricky was ball-dominant, the offense had some sort of direction. This year's team has no idea how to play together yet. Obviously they need time to gel, so I'm trying not to overreact. I just miss Ricky.

[kab21]

 

At least when Ricky was ball-dominant, the offense had some sort of direction. This year's team has no idea how to play together yet. Obviously they need time to gel, so I'm trying not to overreact. I just miss Ricky.

I think I was the biggest Rubio defender on the board so I would agree. This is an example of the grass not always being greener. And this is the situation where the Wolves got a legit average PG (some might disagree) to replace him. There were numerous times when people just wanted him gone and didn't care who replaced him.

[Mr. Brooks]

I think I was the biggest Rubio defender on the board so I would agree. This is an example of the grass not always being greener. And this is the situation where the Wolves got a legit average PG (some might disagree) to replace him. There were numerous times when people just wanted him gone and didn't care who replaced him.

Admittedly, I don't follow basketball near as close as the other big 3 sports, so maybe you are right about Teague and he's just had a rough start. Because what I've seen so far from him has been awful.

Then again, the NBA has a really shallow talent pool, relatively speaking, when a guy like Wiggins- good but completely one dimensional, and nowhere need elite, is a max contract guy.

[kab21]

 

Admittedly, I don't follow basketball near as close as the other big 3 sports, so maybe you are right about Teague and he's just had a rough start. Because what I've seen so far from him has been awful.
Then again, the NBA has a really shallow talent pool, relatively speaking, when a guy like Wiggins- good but completely one dimensional, and nowhere need elite, is a max contract guy.

I think your 1st and 2nd paragraphs are related. Teague might look awful because the fall off from a good PG happens fast. After look at all of the negative comments about Rubio over the years. Teague and Rubio are probably average PG and there are some teams which have some truly awful PG's that are starting.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Rubio is not an average PG. He's not on par with the best of the best, but his defense alone puts him closer to them than the alternative. His vision, passing, and defense would look really, really good on this team. He can't shoot, I get it. Plenty of guys on the Wolves are willing to shoot the ball all night. 

[kab21]

 

Rubio is not an average PG. He's not on par with the best of the best, but his defense alone puts him closer to them than the alternative. His vision, passing, and defense would look really, really good on this team. He can't shoot, I get it. Plenty of guys on the Wolves are willing to shoot the ball all night. 

But if you based your opinion of him on Internet comments you would think he was one of the worst ever. Rubio isn't better than the 10th best (probably) and Teague probably isn't worse than the 15th.

[ALessKosherScott]

 

I think I was the biggest Rubio defender on the board so I would agree. This is an example of the grass not always being greener. And this is the situation where the Wolves got a legit average PG (some might disagree) to replace him. There were numerous times when people just wanted him gone and didn't care who replaced him.

 

I believe I'm the biggest Rubio defender, but I got it. If the big offseason splash were bringing back Kevin Love, you keep Ricky Rubio around. When you're bringing in a ball dominant 3 like Jimmy Butler though, you need a three and D point guard. The problem with Teague is that he's a little more 3 and not that much D. 

[kab21]

 

I believe I'm the biggest Rubio defender, but I got it. If the big offseason splash were bringing back Kevin Love, you keep Ricky Rubio around. When you're bringing in a ball dominant 3 like Jimmy Butler though, you need a three and D point guard. The problem with Teague is that he's a little more 3 and not that much D. 

I thought of you when I made that comment. Maybe I am 2nd. Teague was like a lateral step with different issues but not as bad as this thread is making him out as. The Wolves do need to figure out how to play together though. The pieces don't fit well yet.

[ALessKosherScott]

 

I thought of you when I made that comment. Maybe I am 2nd. Teague was like a lateral step with different issues but not as bad as this thread is making him out as. The Wolves do need to figure out how to play together though. The pieces don't fit well yet.

 

Most pieces in the NBA are flawed pieces. It's simply a matter of how you put those flawed pieces together to create a team. I like Rubio more than Teague in a vacuum, and the reality is Teague is a poor man's Lillard/Walker/Kyrie who in turn are poor men's Steph Currys. And maybe the games against Detroit and Indiana are more competitive with Rubio on the roster over Teague. But maybe you drop OKC and Miami because Rubio doesn't share the floor well with Jimmy Buckets. And the moment Butler was traded to Minnesota, the question became how do you build a team around what he can do?

 

Teague isn't perfect. He can't defend. But he can hang at the three-point line and knock down an open look.

 

 

[Pardon My Dinger]

Most pieces in the NBA are flawed pieces. It's simply a matter of how you put those flawed pieces together to create a team. I like Rubio more than Teague in a vacuum, and the reality is Teague is a poor man's Lillard/Walker/Kyrie who in turn are poor men's Steph Currys. And maybe the games against Detroit and Indiana are more competitive with Rubio on the roster over Teague. But maybe you drop OKC and Miami because Rubio doesn't share the floor well with Jimmy Buckets. And the moment Butler was traded to Minnesota, the question became how do you build a team around what he can do?

 

Teague isn't perfect. He can't defend. But he can hang at the three-point line and knock down an open look.

Yes, or the problem is thinking too much about individual pieces, instead of focusing on a team identity. Thibs' philosophy is clearly at odds with many of the pieces on this roster.

[Pardon My Dinger]

On the other side of that coin, it's perfectly possible that Thibs does not belong in this era of basketball.

[kab21]

 

Most pieces in the NBA are flawed pieces. It's simply a matter of how you put those flawed pieces together to create a team. I like Rubio more than Teague in a vacuum, and the reality is Teague is a poor man's Lillard/Walker/Kyrie who in turn are poor men's Steph Currys. And maybe the games against Detroit and Indiana are more competitive with Rubio on the roster over Teague. But maybe you drop OKC and Miami because Rubio doesn't share the floor well with Jimmy Buckets. And the moment Butler was traded to Minnesota, the question became how do you build a team around what he can do?

 

Teague isn't perfect. He can't defend. But he can hang at the three-point line and knock down an open look.

the problem isn't that the Wolves have flawed pieces but that these pieces don't together at all yet (you do allude to this). Almost every wing and PG creates his own offense. The good news is that the Wolves do have multiple options that can knock down 3's but they need to start moving the ball around to get those shots instead of going one on one all the time.

 

And yes that was exactly the issue with Rubio. He creates on offense even if he doesn't score and reduces the wings to spot up shooters. Great if you have Kyle Korver.

[kab21]

So far they are winning ballgames that they would have lost last year. They don't look great doing it but I will certainly take these wins when things aren't clicking. This team has some crazy talent though. If the offense really starts clicking and they play average offense they could be a contender for 2nd best. I only say contender. Right now they are just trying to get into the top 10.

[ashbury]

Early season being such a sorting-out time, good and bad teams alike, any wins in the bank toward an eventual run toward contention are all to the good.

[kab21]

 

Early season being such a sorting-out time, good and bad teams alike, any wins in the bank toward an eventual run toward contention are all to the good.

Most teams don't have 3 new starters and a new 6th man to sort out. And player's that naturally don't fit well to excel. Almost all of the player's want to be ball dominant but there is only one ball. The good news is that they are starting the season with W's while sorting this out. 

Bjelica you are such a tease. I have had such optimism for your skillset (not much defense though) since you came over but there have been so many injuries or slumps.

KAT is a 7 footer that plays like a wing on offense AND defense. 

[Pardon My Dinger]

I'm calling a big win in Oaktown tomorrow night. Wolves are hot and rested. They've been doing a good enough job lately of protecting the perimeter to keep a few 3's off the board for the warriors. Jimmy's going to clamp down on KD, and Wiggy's going to go off for 30+. Should be a fun one.

[kab21]

 

I'm calling a big win in Oaktown tomorrow night. Wolves are hot and rested. They've been doing a good enough job lately of protecting the perimeter to keep a few 3's off the board for the warriors. Jimmy's going to clamp down on KD, and Wiggy's going to go off for 30+. Should be a fun one.

This was looking good in the first half. So far this team has mostly won games that it was supposed to win (bad teams) and done well against tougher teams (average teams) and lost to the best teams (SAS and GSW so far). 

 

I am not sure what to make of OKC so far. Everybody thought that they would have really bad chemistry and depth problems but this is a really bad start. I guess this is the curse of Carmelo.

[Mr. Brooks]

Is anyone else a tiny bit concerned by KAT disappearing in big time games?

Small sample size, and he still has a ton of progression ahead of him, and I'm a huge KAT fan, but I'm a little concerned by that.

Edited November 9, 2017 by Mr. Brooks

[Pardon My Dinger]

Is anyone else a tiny bit concerned by KAT disappearing in big time games?

Small sample size, and he still has a ton of progression ahead of him, and I'm a huge KAT fan, but I'm a little concerned by that.

I am. Huge KAT fan here as well. Sometimes I think maybe expectations are just impossible for a man as young as he is and as good he's been in a short time, but I do find myself concerned.

 

For me, the big anxiety came against the Pels. They won and all, but going into a game where it's all about KAT vs the NO front court and he fouls himself into a totally worthless showing...not good. The Brow wins again.

 

But, all in all, I think KAT will figure things out in time. His deficiencies (block chasing, poor transition) are things you expect a young guy to be able to overcome with the right teaching.

[Pardon My Dinger]

What the **** just happened?

[Pardon My Dinger]

Jimmy wants to score...great. Hope he does. But, take some reasonable shots, man. JG Buckets does NOT need to put this team on his back to win games. Awful.

[kab21]

This was exactly what I was talking about when I mentioned win games that you are supposed to win (bad teams). Ugh...

[kab21]

Rubio's revenge didn't happen this time as he went 1-7 but the Jazz didn't play any defense with Gobert out. The Wolves shot 50% from the field and from 3 for the game. Hopefully they can keep that up.

[kab21]

I was about to congratulate the Wolves on a big bounce back win but they almost blew a 26 pt lead in the 4th quarter and the bench went 3/20 from the field. It is a win but nothing I can get excited about.

[Thegrin]

Today I am Thankful that I DVR'd the game. When the 4th qtr started I skipped, 5 min @ a time, and missed the gory details, while our lead shrinked.  I am very Thankful that we held on.  

[Pardon My Dinger]

The Tyus revolution is upon us.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Tough loss tonight. I really liked the effort though, considering the early deficit. Offense looked broken. Poor shot selection, indecision throughout. Probably just because Teague got swapped in after being out a week.

 

I would start tyus. Every game. But, that’s just, like, my opinion.