2020-2021 Minnesota Timberwolves In-Season Thread

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tikited said:
Not sure if you had the 1st round pick wrong but the Wolves traded Wiggins and a 1-3 protected pick for Russell and fillers. 100% worth it. Wiggins is still the worst overall player in the league imo.
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Oops, I had it switched around. Wiggins is definitely the worst player for the money in the league.
 

Maybe Taylor ordered Gersson Rosas to try and make the Wolves so bad that nobody would pay to see them play. Then Glen could sell the team to the highest bidder! Who certainly wouldn't keep them in town.

The problem was Taylor didn't count on a 3rd wave of COVID keeping fans out of the stands period?🤔

Right now the Wolves are down by 10 with 8:05 left in the 1st Half.

The main problem? The Wolves can't shoot. Again.

I hope they get better. Hey! It can happen!
 
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Iceland12 said:
Maybe Taylor ordered Gersson Rosas to try and make the Wolves so bad that nobody would pay to see them play. Then Glen could sell the team to the highest bidder! Who certainly wouldn't keep them in town.

The problem was Taylor didn't count on a 3rd wave of COVID keeping fans out of the stands period?🤔

Right now the Wolves are down by 10 with 8:05 left in the 1st Half.

The main problem? The Wolves can't shoot. Again.

I hope they get better. Hey! It can happen!
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And it did! Wolves outscored the Pistons by 15 in the 4th and win 111 to 101.
 


Beasley was on fire, KAT played a very good well-rounded game, Culver with a double-double and Edwards looked solid. We don't have much depth after player #7 or so.

Good to be 1-0.

Howl Wolves!!
 


BleedGopher said:
Beasley was on fire, KAT played a very good well-rounded game, Culver with a double-double and Edwards looked solid. We don't have much depth after player #7 or so.

Good to be 1-0.

Howl Wolves!!
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Also Russell had a very good 2nd Half.
 

Souhan: Why Jarrett Culver and Anthony Edwards are the Timberwolves' two most pivotal players this season

Will Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell become Stockton & Malone, or Pooh & Brew?

(After more than 30 years of woeful franchise history, this is my homage to the Wolves' original pick-and-rollers, Pooh Richardson and Randy Breuer.)

Will the defense evoke memories of Sam Mitchell's elbows, or Isaiah Rider's ole's?

Will Ryan Saunders prove himself? Will the Wolves trade for a power forward? Will Ricky Rubio justify his rock-star status?

As in any team sport, there is not just one key for the 2020-21 Minnesota Timberwolves, but here's one that is being underplayed:

The Wolves' past two first-round draft picks enter the season with relatively low expectations, or at least remarkably little hype. For a still-rebuilding franchise facing low expectations, with a proven inability to attract top free agents, Jarrett Culver and Anthony Edwards rank among the most pivotal individuals in the organization.

They could, immediately or eventually, improve the Wolves in these areas:

Defense. If the Wolves are to improve, they're going to need to give more minutes to quality defensive players. Culver's strength is as a defender at the moment. Edwards has the bulk and explosiveness to match up with quality offensive players. The defense is more likely to improve because of Culver and Edwards being good defenders than from Towns or Russell suddenly becoming better defenders.

Offensive versatility. The Wolves have three gifted, proven offensive players: Towns, Russell and Malik Beasley. To make or contend in the playoffs, they'll need at least one more. Edwards could be that player.

www.startribune.com

Why Jarrett Culver and Anthony Edwards are the Timberwolves' two most pivotal players this season

These two high draft picks need to develop into top players if the Timberwolves want to stop drafting in the top slots.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

Howl Wolves!!
 


Iceland12 said:
Maybe Taylor ordered Gersson Rosas to try and make the Wolves so bad that nobody would pay to see them play. Then Glen could sell the team to the highest bidder! Who certainly wouldn't keep them in town.

The problem was Taylor didn't count on a 3rd wave of COVID keeping fans out of the stands period?🤔

Right now the Wolves are down by 10 with 8:05 left in the 1st Half.

The main problem? The Wolves can't shoot. Again.

I hope they get better. Hey! It can happen!
Click to expand...
Time to move 'em to Seattle! ;)
 



Nice win last night. Not sure how often they can get away with playing JO at PF. The only reason they pulled it off is that Blake Griffin isn't that interested in being Blake Griffin anymore. Five years ago Griffin would have scored 40 against that interior defense.

The subdued version of KAT will save him fouls and get him to the free throw line more frequently. The refs aren't going to be so disrespectful on both ends because he's not whining and screaming.

Ant is strong and athletic. He could be very good.
 

jamiche said:
Nice win last night. Not sure how often they can get away with playing JO at PF. The only reason they pulled it off is that Blake Griffin isn't that interested in being Blake Griffin anymore. Five years ago Griffin would have scored 40 against that interior defense.

The subdued version of KAT will save him fouls and get him to the free throw line more frequently. The refs aren't going to be so disrespectful on both ends because he's not whining and screaming.

Ant is strong and athletic. He could be very good.
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Hmm? Time to sell 'em and move 'em to Seattle?:p
 


jamiche said:
You've finally won me over. You've been saying it for years. They won last night, so get 'em out of here! Makes sense. ;)
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That sounds insincere. 🤔

This sounds more like it.

Nice win last night. Not sure how often they can get away with playing JO at PF. The only reason they pulled it off is that Blake Griffin isn't that interested in being Blake Griffin anymore. Five years ago Griffin would have scored 40 against that interior defense.

Now that sounds more like it! 🤭
 



2021 League Pass Rankings From ESPN:

21. Minnesota Timberwolves (28.5)
Karl-Anthony Towns is at least a little slept on. Everyone is aware on some level that he is a great offensive player, but he is more than that. Towns is already in the conversation for most versatile scoring big man ever.

Just one example: There were three guys leaguewide last season who shot 38% or better on five-plus 3s per game and averaged at least one point per possession on post-ups (minimum 50 post touches): Towns, Jaylen Brown, and Danilo Gallinari. Brown barely met the criteria.

Towns shattered all of it: 41% from deep on 7.9 attempts per game, and almost 1.14 points per possession when he shot out of the post or passed to a teammate who fired -- eighth among all players, per Second Spectrum. He has hit between 79.6% and 85.8% of his free throws every season, and that is the only thing separating Towns from becoming the second traditional big man -- after Dirk Nowitzki -- in the 50/40/90 club.

He flies through the lane on offense with an uncommon combination of grace and explosion.

That agility has not translated to defense. Towns looks creaky and lead-footed there, and opponents will torture the D'Angelo Russell/Towns combination in the pick-and-roll. If you enjoy offense, flip to a Wolves game.

One caveat: Minnesota last season had the fattest negative discrepancy between the effective field goal percentage an average team "would" have recorded given the Wolves' shot distribution and the miserable number they actually posted. In other words: Minnesota takes analytics-friendly shots and misses them. That is some early Process-era Sixers energy.

It's optimal in theory but often miserable to watch. I vividly remember one possession when Robert Covington dribbled up the left wing with a defender in front of him and no teammates nearby, and flung up a triple for the hell of it. I wanted to puke.

Ricky Rubio is back to throw the most gorgeous no-look passes outside of Denver, Josh Okogie does obscene things on defense, the No. 1 pick is here, and the broadcast team is first-rate. So they've got that going for them, which is nice.

www.espn.com

Lowe: Ranking the most fun NBA teams, from No. 30 to No. 1

Here is our look at the best teams to watch this season and what makes them special.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 

Perhaps that’s why Wolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas noted Wednesday, ahead of the season opener, that things could be “rough” early on for this team.

And they were. Minnesota struggled on both ends for much of the night at Target Center. But the Wolves walked out with a win. That’s what matters.

“It’s important, and it builds confidence,” Wolves head coach Ryan Saunders said. “I think that as we move forward there will be growing pains, but tonight we were able to fight through those and come out feeling good about ourselves.”

The way the Wolves won — trailing for 44 of 48 minutes, only to close strong and pull out the victory — does suggest this team may have a certain grit to it that past versions did not. Late in the game, Wolves associate head coach David Vanterpool pulled the team together and said, “It’s time to grow up. We’ve got to get this win.”

“We grew up,” center Karl-Anthony Towns said. “It started off where it always needs to start off, on the defensive end. We got some stops and, offensively, we made the plays we needed to make to get some baskets and build the lead.”

It’s important a young team learns how to win, and how to close games.

https://www.twincities.com/2020/12/...ck-soon-until-then-they-may-have-to-win-ugly/
 

"For extended minutes in their 111-101 victory over the Pistons on Wednesday, the Timberwolves employed a 2-3 zone defense.

Wolves coach Ryan Saunders was asked after the game if he liked or didn't like the fact that he resorted to a zone defense throughout the game and his answer, with a smile, was "Yes."

Guard Ricky Rubio offered a longer and more sobering take.

"When you go to play zone defense, it's because your defense is not working," Rubio said. "So we've got to be smarter with that and know that we didn't do our job playing man-to-man."

However, after a little prodding, Saunders admitted the zone was "something I've always liked."

"You have to pick and choose" when to use it, Saunders said.."

www.startribune.com

Timberwolves' switch to zone defense was surprisingly effective in opening victory

Fourth-quarter adjustment flustered the Pistons, but Wolves acknowledge their man-to-man defense needs work.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com
 

Probably too early to tell....but I'm happy to be wrong about Edwards. Lack of defense in the NBA plays perfectly for him. He's an iso nightmare.
 

Good first half against the Jazz. I expect The Jazz to come back out and really attack the rim, particularly Mitchell. Let's see how the D responds.
 

Frink said:
Good first half against the Jazz. I expect The Jazz to come back out and really attack the rim, particularly Mitchell. Let's see how the D responds.
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They responded well.

Minnesota 116 Utah 111
 




Stan said:
One more win and we can match our 3-0 start from last year.
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Heard that last night too. Different year, different team. Last year's starters for the 1st 2 games were:

Wiggins
KAT
Trevon Graham
Jeff Teague
Robert Covington.

Only Karl-Anthony is even on the team.

Now if you had posted that the Wolves would be 2-0 before Wednesday? You may have been alone in that. ;)
 
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Iceland12 said:
Hard that last night too. Different year, different team. Last year's starters for the 1st 2 games were:

Wiggins
KAT
Trevon Graham
Jeff Teague
Robert Covington.

Only Karl-Anthony is even on the team.

Now if you had posted that the Wolves would be 2-0 before Wednesday? You may have been alone in that. ;)
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Oof that’s a sad lineup. Rosas has done a nice job of remaking the roster.
 

Despite the stupid pills our pg's took at the end....they won! Culver is winning me over. Didn't see that happening.
 

LOS ANGELES -- Anthony Davis will sit out Sunday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves because of a right calf contusion, Los Angeles Lakerscoach Frank Vogel said after L.A.'s morning shootaround.

"Well, we just want to be responsible with it," Vogel said on a video conference call with reporters. "We want to keep an eye on it."

Vogel said Davis suffered the injury on opening night against the Clippers and then reaggravated it in the third quarter of the Lakers' Christmas Day win over the Dallas Mavericks.

Davis, 27, is averaging 23 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists through the first two games of the season.

www.espn.com

Lakers' Davis out vs. Wolves with calf contusion

Anthony Davis will sit out Sunday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves because of a right calf contusion, Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel said after L.A.'s morning shootaround.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 

  • The Timberwolves barely let Mitchell inbound the ball without having someone pick him up full court. They clearly wanted to keep someone close to him and try to cut him off from being effective as much as possible, and the plan worked through most of the game. Obviously not a high note for the Jazz but a well executed plan is a well executed plan no matter where it comes from.
  • Anthony Edwards is the real deal. I wouldn’t be the only person who had some skepticism about Edwards through the draft process and what his fit would be like with the Timberwolves, but he’s the kind of player who could seemingly fit in anywhere. He’s a bully and strong and has great footwork and nice touch.
www.deseret.com

Instant analysis: Utah Jazz drop home opener to Minnesota Timberwolves

The Utah Jazz dropped their home opener to the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-111 on Saturday in a pretty lackluster performance.
www.deseret.com www.deseret.com
 

It was some random possession Saturday night, not yet midway through the third period: Utah Jazz forward Royce O’Neale was standing out of bounds, looking to simply inbound the ball to teammate Bojan Bogdanovic and struggling to do so.

Bogey was being denied by Minnesota’s Malik Beasley, who was doggedly shadowing him, being physical with him, aggressively denying him. As O’Neale finally hurriedly threw the ball in to beat the five-count, Jarrett Culver jumped in and knocked it back in his face, then vigorously applauded his own dogged effort.

That singular play did not decide Saturday’s outcome, but it sure was emblematic of it, as the Timberwolves took the fight to their hosts, sending the Jazz to a dispiriting 116-111 loss in Utah’s home opener at Vivint Arena.

Coincidentally, another inbound play with 4.2 seconds to play effectively did decide the game, as Bogdanovic was whistled for a five-second violation after Jordan Clarkson slipped to the court with the Jazz down three points and 4.2 seconds remaining.

Minnesota set the tone early, as Beasley, Josh Okogie, Culver and Anthony Edwards all took turns harassing Utah’s ball-handlers all the way up the court, disrupting their sets with physicality, throwing off their rhythm..

www.sltrib.com

Utah Jazz denied in home opener by aggressive Minnesota Timberwolves, 116-111

The Minnesota Timberwolves took the fight to their hosts, sending the Jazz to a dispiriting 116-111 loss in Utah’s home opener at Vivint Arena.
www.sltrib.com www.sltrib.com
 

Iceland12 said:
It was some random possession Saturday night, not yet midway through the third period: Utah Jazz forward Royce O’Neale was standing out of bounds, looking to simply inbound the ball to teammate Bojan Bogdanovic and struggling to do so.

Bogey was being denied by Minnesota’s Malik Beasley, who was doggedly shadowing him, being physical with him, aggressively denying him. As O’Neale finally hurriedly threw the ball in to beat the five-count, Jarrett Culver jumped in and knocked it back in his face, then vigorously applauded his own dogged effort.

That singular play did not decide Saturday’s outcome, but it sure was emblematic of it, as the Timberwolves took the fight to their hosts, sending the Jazz to a dispiriting 116-111 loss in Utah’s home opener at Vivint Arena.

Coincidentally, another inbound play with 4.2 seconds to play effectively did decide the game, as Bogdanovic was whistled for a five-second violation after Jordan Clarkson slipped to the court with the Jazz down three points and 4.2 seconds remaining.

Minnesota set the tone early, as Beasley, Josh Okogie, Culver and Anthony Edwards all took turns harassing Utah’s ball-handlers all the way up the court, disrupting their sets with physicality, throwing off their rhythm..

www.sltrib.com

Utah Jazz denied in home opener by aggressive Minnesota Timberwolves, 116-111

The Minnesota Timberwolves took the fight to their hosts, sending the Jazz to a dispiriting 116-111 loss in Utah’s home opener at Vivint Arena.
www.sltrib.com www.sltrib.com
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I remember thinking Beasley was really doing a good job defending on that last inbound play. He then got rewarded with the 5 second call. Little things turning huge. Didn't see any of that last season.
 


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