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ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

We scored only 16 points in the 4th qtr....

This was suppose to be a gimme get right game. This team keeps getting worse and not sure if last night was even rock bottom yet.

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ORIGINAL: David Levine

More:

After Lillard drew plenty of fouls in a switch-heavy defense, Finch reverted to the strategy he used in Monday’s win over the Denver Nuggets. Anderson guarded Nurkić while Gobert roamed as a free safety low man on the back line of the defense. When Nurkić would come to set a screen for Lillard, Minnesota showed hard and brought two to the ball to get it out of Lillard’s hands.

Simply put, Gobert dominated the paint defensively down the stretch. In the fourth quarter, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year collected five defensive rebounds, blocked two shots, and helped hold the Blazers to shoot just 4/11 (36.4%) in the paint.

Although it’s a small sample size, this defense (similar to last year’s high wall, in a way) maximizes Gobert’s defensive impact with the Wolves better than any other scheme Finch has deployed so far this season. It unlocks Gobert more as a playmaker while also keeping him near the rim to fight on the glass for rebounds. It also helps wings stay attached to the corners, which works to prevent catch-and-shoot opportunities.

But when offenses do get those catch-and-shoot looks, the Wolves wings can x-out with their close-outs, just like they did last year.

“It’s dope because most of the time, like last year, we like, ‘We got to rotate. Low man, X out.’ Now, we just like we just got to X out because we know he’s the low man. He’s got the rim,” Edwards told Canis Hoopus in the locker room. “So, it’s kind of fun to have him out there, for real, especially when he’s playing at his best.”

quote:

ORIGINAL: Karl Juhnke

Solid analysis (last two posts). Example of why I think Finch may be the best coach the Wolves have had, Flip included. He gets things figured out. Isn't afraid to make changes. And most importantly gets the players to buy in. That's important because the best X & O strategist is useless if the players don't follow it.

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ORIGINAL: David Levine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Karl Juhnke

Solid analysis (last two posts). Example of why I think Finch may be the best coach the Wolves have had, Flip included. He gets things figured out. Isn't afraid to make changes. And most importantly gets the players to buy in. That's important because the best X & O strategist is useless if the players don't follow it.

It's a low bar.

Flip really was just an average coach at best. He rode KG's coattails as long as he could here and then tanked a Championship Detroit team.

Mussleman did the most with the least, but I don't think his coaching style would've translated to more talented teams.

Best Wolves coach is still probably Adelman, but even then we never got 100% of his because of his wife's illness.

Finch is probably #2 with a pretty easy chance of taking the Top spot.

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ORIGINAL: wrh

Aways more enjoyable when the Wolvies are playing well. Enjoying some of the analysis here. Intriguing watching ANT's growth. Find myself wondering about some of the player dynamics that may or maynot be changing. ANT becoming leader while KAT is out? How does KAT really feel about that? I hope he can see the positives and accept perhaps a somewhat lessor role. How does DLo's freeagency, inconsistentance, close friendship with KAT play out? How does that impact KAT?

Finally, does DLo really have a future here between his salary and his expectations? Hope Wolves can find an acceptable/good outcome for both parties.

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ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: wrh

Aways more enjoyable when the Wolvies are playing well. Enjoying some of the analysis here. Intriguing watching ANT's growth. Find myself wondering about some of the player dynamics that may or maynot be changing. ANT becoming leader while KAT is out? How does KAT really feel about that? I hope he can see the positives and accept perhaps a somewhat lessor role. How does DLo's freeagency, inconsistentance, close friendship with KAT play out? How does that impact KAT?

Finally, does DLo really have a future here between his salary and his expectations? Hope Wolves can find an acceptable/good outcome for both parties.

No. D-Lo has absolutely no future here. The question is whether Connelly can move him. We would really like to preserve that salary slot. Letting him walk after the season isn't going to put us under the cap.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: wrh

Aways more enjoyable when the Wolvies are playing well. Enjoying some of the analysis here. Intriguing watching ANT's growth. Find myself wondering about some of the player dynamics that may or maynot be changing. ANT becoming leader while KAT is out? How does KAT really feel about that? I hope he can see the positives and accept perhaps a somewhat lessor role. How does DLo's freeagency, inconsistentance, close friendship with KAT play out? How does that impact KAT?

Finally, does DLo really have a future here between his salary and his expectations? Hope Wolves can find an acceptable/good outcome for both parties.

No. D-Lo has absolutely no future here. The question is whether Connelly can move him. We would really like to preserve that salary slot. Letting him walk after the season isn't going to put us under the cap.

Guess I don't understand the "salary slot". The NBA salary/cap structure seems extremely complicated (to me anyway).

quote:

ORIGINAL: Karl Juhnke

He’s probably unmovable due to his salary.

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ORIGINAL: David Levine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Karl Juhnke

He’s probably unmovable due to his salary.

He's a 30M expiring contract.

Definitely movable.

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What’s been working these past four games?

Over the past few games, Finch has deployed all of his good-news crew together on the court, surrounding Gobert with Slo Mo, Prince, McDaniels and Ant. It is a lineup that allows Rudy to patrol the paint while it flies around the perimeter on defense, large and limber enough to switch assignments easily, intelligent and gritty enough to sustain the flow of coverage and intensity.

On offense, it is a lineup tailored for this new, profound Ant – none of his four teammates need the ball to be effective, but all know how to move so defenders must take notice, and know what to do if the ball does find them. Nobody is a great dribbler but all can quickly move the ball and provide easier targets for the teammate who is dribbling.

The sample size is tiny – a miniscule 13 minutes with all five on the court – but the analytics are as eye-popping as the eye test. On offense, 146.2 points scored per 100 possessions. On defense 69.2 points allowed per possession. Net rating: +76.9.