All Things Minnesota Timberwolves 2022-2023 In-Season Thread

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A few observations:

1. I don't care how many rebounds Rudy gets, he's really slow and he has bad hands. Utah was using him correctly. He has no business touching the ball out on the perimeter. He can only set screens out there.
2. The wolves still play way too much iso ball. Rudy makes the problem worse because he can't pass. The best teams move the ball.
3. The wolves don't guard the three point line.
4. Walker Kessler is going to be a fine NBA player. He's fluid, smart, strong and versatile. Now that I've seen him play, I'd take Walker at $2M/year at 21 years old over Rudy at $40M/year at age 30 all day every day.
5. I know Utah came in with something to prove and these games happen in the NBA. However, watching Rudy and Kessler and then thinking about those draft picks can lead to only one conclusion: Danny f--ked us again.
 



There was one play last night when Kessler blocked Karl and then he blocked Rudy. (Ant eventually scored on the deflection off of the second block.) Both blocks were clean, well timed, body straight up in the air and athletic. Kessler is going to have some rough rookie nights and the refs will treat him with disrespect this year, but he can play. Who knows if he's a future all star. However, at approx $2M/year under team control for five years he's a steal and would have given the wolves a ton of roster flexibility.

Last year Gupta didn't make a move at the trade deadline and that was beneficial. Connelly comes in and four weeks later makes a deal that will impact the franchise, positively or negatively, for a decade. He made the move before he really knew his roster, his coaching staff, before his FO was finalized and before he had seen Kessler play against NBA competition. The only thing he knew was his new bosses (20% owners) wanted something splashy.

I wonder if Gupta would have made that trade. Sometimes the best moves are the ones you don't make.
 

Sinikyn on the air breaking down the Bucks and providing IU basketball projections.
 


Don't want to be dropping games against teams that have set themselves up to flop this year. Fortunately it's a long season.....but definite concerns through the first two games. Wolves simply don't look sharp....and even with Goldberg.....our defense is still a problem.
 



HitMeAgainIAmStillMoving said:
OK, I will give it ten games. Sadly the wolves went with dialup when the world moved to broadband.
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I think the vision is length at many positions with players capable of playing in many places on the court regardless of where their positions 'should' play. I see this as an evolution from small ball if successful.

Towns and Gobert have barely practiced together and only played in 3 total games together. KAT is coming off an illness AND learning a new position. Let's give it a little time to see if it comes together. If it doesn't, they will likely return to a more 'old school' brand of basketball.
 



One thing I noted - it does appear that Ant is making an effort to get to the basket more often instead of settling for 3-pointers. But, he needs to finish at the rim more often, or find a way to draw fouls. at this point, too many 'empty' drives that result in nothing.

and, I'm coming to the point of view that KAT is who he is - a talented player who is his own worst enemy. when he gets mad or starts sulking, Finch should sit his butt on the bench. "hero ball" is not going to get it done. (and every time he gets called for the "kick-out" foul, he should sit for the rest of the quarter).
 

short ornery norwegian said:
One thing I noted - it does appear that Ant is making an effort to get to the basket more often instead of settling for 3-pointers. But, he needs to finish at the rim more often, or find a way to draw fouls. at this point, too many 'empty' drives that result in nothing.

and, I'm coming to the point of view that KAT is who he is - a talented player who is his own worst enemy. when he gets mad or starts sulking, Finch should sit his butt on the bench. "hero ball" is not going to get it done. (and every time he gets called for the "kick-out" foul, he should sit for the rest of the quarter).
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Agree. Kat is a massive baby on the court. Very annoying.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
One thing I noted - it does appear that Ant is making an effort to get to the basket more often instead of settling for 3-pointers. But, he needs to finish at the rim more often, or find a way to draw fouls. at this point, too many 'empty' drives that result in nothing.

and, I'm coming to the point of view that KAT is who he is - a talented player who is his own worst enemy. when he gets mad or starts sulking, Finch should sit his butt on the bench. "hero ball" is not going to get it done. (and every time he gets called for the "kick-out" foul, he should sit for the rest of the quarter).
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KAT is super talented and super immature. I listen to a lot of pods about the wolves. (Dane Moore when Britt Robson is his guest is the best.) For years when the topic of team leadership comes up, across all pods, KAT's name never comes up. Jimmy was an asshole and he wasn't the answer, but he had KAT figured out on day one.
 

jamiche said:
KAT is super talented and super immature. I listen to a lot of pods about the wolves. (Dane Moore when Britt Robson is his guest is the best.) For years when the topic of team leadership comes up, across all pods, KAT's name never comes up. Jimmy was an asshole and he wasn't the answer, but he had KAT figured out on day one.
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They said he left the floor last night when called for the foul, because he was so pissed he had to go to the locker room and let off some steam. UNREAL if true.
 



kg21 said:
They said he left the floor last night when called for the foul, because he was so pissed he had to go to the locker room and let off some steam. UNREAL if true.
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Amazing. He is gonna be pouty when he is option 3 on the floor.
 

kg21 said:
They said he left the floor last night when called for the foul, because he was so pissed he had to go to the locker room and let off some steam. UNREAL if true.
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Who is "they" and which foul?
 

Spaulding!No! said:
Amazing. He is gonna be pouty when he is option 3 on the floor.
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He's not going to be option three. He and Ant are one and two. That doesn't mean he won't be pouty about a dozen other things.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
One thing I noted - it does appear that Ant is making an effort to get to the basket more often instead of settling for 3-pointers. But, he needs to finish at the rim more often, or find a way to draw fouls. at this point, too many 'empty' drives that result in nothing.

and, I'm coming to the point of view that KAT is who he is - a talented player who is his own worst enemy. when he gets mad or starts sulking, Finch should sit his butt on the bench. "hero ball" is not going to get it done. (and every time he gets called for the "kick-out" foul, he should sit for the rest of the quarter).
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Ant needs to incorporate his good mid-range game! Now his game is either shoot the three or force his way into traffic on his way to the rim. Use your mid-range game Ant. Use the whole court. Can't agree with the current style of play in all of basketball that eliminates most of the midrange game.....use the whole court, that is why it is there! Also, I agree, too much one on one.....pass the ball, make the d work!
 

jamiche said:
Who is "they" and which foul?
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Sinykin and Tucker.

The foul I believe was where he stuck his foot out. Him walking off the floor to the locker room was shown on BSN. It was whichever foul he committed, whined, was pulled to the bench and kept right on walking to the locker room.
 

kg21 said:
Sinykin and Tucker.

The foul I believe was where he stuck his foot out. Him walking off the floor to the locker room was shown on BSN. It was whichever foul he committed, whined, was pulled to the bench and kept right on walking to the locker room.
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It is baffling that Kat still doesn't believe he kicks his leg out. He does it just about every game and every time he complains.
 

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To hell with the "chase the ball" defense. It does nothing but leave guys open.
 

Nowell decides he should take a shot and then nothing can stop him from taking it.

He's now 2 for 10. Make that 11.

Luckily the starters as a group are shooting well.
 

Wolves 104 OKC 84 with 7:00 to go in the 4th.
 

Wolves win 116 to 104

11-1 for the in the last 2:14 of the game after Finch emptied the bench made it closer. Even Knight and Moore got in there.

OKC also made a runs in the 2nd and, yeah the 3rd, but combined the outscored the Wolves by 5 points.

The Wolves host the 2-1 Spurs tomorrow night.
 


Iceland12 said:
Nowell decides he should take a shot and then nothing can stop him from taking it.

He's now 2 for 10. Make that 11.

Luckily the starters as a group are shooting well.
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He ended up getting 14 points, but for a while it looked like he was trying to give OKC the game.
 


tikited said:
Too bad he can't get a bucket once in a while.
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Fair point. He doesn't shoot much, focusing much more on moving the ball. The +/- stat has limitations because it's so dependent on the other players on the floor. However, J-Mac is +34 for the first three games. The offense runs really well when he's out there.
 



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