Official Utah/Minnesota/Philadelphia Pick Watch

[LogGrad98]

The Wolves have been one of the worst franchises in the league for a decade outside of last season. KAT has been paired with stars throughout his career and hasn't played winning basketball, Edwards hasn't really shown that he can consistently play winning basketball, and DLo is pretty mediocre as well. Their team has always been known to be soft and they added another cry baby that's soft in Rudy.

McDaniels is basically useless with their starting 5 while Ant/KAT's games are both negatively impacted by Rudy as well. KAT has to be a spot up shooter and Ant can't really drive because their spacing is terrible.

Everyone really under valued the amount of effort that Quin and the front office did to build a team that complimented Rudy. I mean really what other player in the league had a roster crafted around their strengths to the same capacity Rudy did here?

And it showed with one of the best offenses, if not the best, for years running, and even with Rudy at the top of the league for ORTG for years as well. If only we had a single other player give a single **** about defense we could be looking at a totally different story right now with our stars still here and a banner to boot. Woulda coulda shoulda.

 

[HermanG]

It's almost as if a lot of players find it hard to play with Rudy

I always thought Rudy is tough to fit in most modern offensive schemes. He would be a freaking monster in the early 90s, but in this era where outside shooting is so important and iso ball is played a lot, you just leave him unguarded in the corner without a worry. That means he isn't tying up a defender or creating an off ball impact for those schemes. It really limits what they can do offensively.

 

[LogGrad98]

I always thought Rudy is tough to fit in most modern offensive schemes. He would be a freaking monster in the early 90s, but in this era where outside shooting is so important and iso ball is played a lot, you just leave him unguarded in the corner without a worry. That means he isn't tying up a defender or creating an off ball impact for those schemes. It really limits what they can do offensively.

Which is why our motion offense, the "blender" if you will, that used a Rudy screen and roll as the catalyst was so highly effective. Everyone moving and Rudy pulling 2-3 defenders in his wake. When we ignored the key cog in the offense of course it stalled out. But use him as that roll player with his dunking threat at the rim and good things happened. To the tune of league-leading team offense and individual ORTG for Rudy at the top of the league for several seasons. But as soon as we settled for iso ball and ignoring Rudy it all fell apart. The offense has to be geared to take advantage of what he brings, and if it doesn't, then it falters.

 

[HermanG]

Which is why our motion offense, the "blender" if you will, that used a Rudy screen and roll as the catalyst was so highly effective. Everyone moving and Rudy pulling 2-3 defenders in his wake. When we ignored the key cog in the offense of course it stalled out. But use him as that roll player with his dunking threat at the rim and good things happened. To the tune of league-leading team offense and individual ORTG for Rudy at the top of the league for several seasons. But as soon as we settled for iso ball and ignoring Rudy it all fell apart. The offense has to be geared to take advantage of what he brings, and if it doesn't, then it falters.

Just for the record, I'm not saying he cannot be effective offensively. I'm saying he reduces the options, and requires more scheming.

This is one reason I love our current top 3 bigs. If we go 5 out with our triple tower lineup, its impossible to defend perfectly. We got too many guys (our guards + Lauri) who can drive to the open paint if you spread out the entire defense (especially if we get some good switches and mismatches), and if you collapse we can all hit open shots... even Vando.

 

[YoungJefe]

And it showed with one of the best offenses, if not the best, for years running, and even with Rudy at the top of the league for ORTG for years as well. If only we had a single other player give a single **** about defense we could be looking at a totally different story right now with our stars still here and a banner to boot. Woulda coulda shoulda.

We needed guys that could score and shot at high clips. They have a name for guys that do that and defend at a high level, All-NBA players.

 

[YoungJefe]

I always thought Rudy is tough to fit in most modern offensive schemes. He would be a freaking monster in the early 90s, but in this era where outside shooting is so important and iso ball is played a lot, you just leave him unguarded in the corner without a worry. That means he isn't tying up a defender or creating an off ball impact for those schemes. It really limits what they can do offensively.

You need 4 good shooters around him for it to work and it's difficult when you have him alongside another center and a wing that can't shoot or create.

 

[Elizah Huge]

What about this Minnesota team screamed they were ready? Lmao the play-in win against a team missing their best player?

Edwards and KAT are 21 and 26. Not sure I understand the urgency they felt. Just a horrific trade on their end.

I posted this months ago after the trade happened and it feels extremely relevant now.

 

[LogGrad98]

We needed guys that could score and shot at high clips. They have a name for guys that do that and defend at a high level, All-NBA players.

Yep, agreed. DM not a single time. Yet...

 

[HermanG]

Nets hired Jacque Vaughn as HC. Very conservative move, when they had a perfect chance to implode completely.

Well I guess we can still hope for Lakers and Nets trading your problem for my problem, to cause further disarray.

 

[Avery]

Nets hired Jacque Vaughn as HC. Very conservative move, when they had a perfect chance to implode completely.

Well I guess we can still hope for Lakers and Nets trading your problem for my problem, to cause further disarray.

If not for the Kyrie drama, Udoka would have been the guy.

 

[infection]

Wait, Brooklyn didn’t hire Udoka?

 

[framer]

I think they'll figure it out and get better.

When people talk about "winning culture" the Wolves are on the losing culture poster. They thought you could just parachute in a star and BAM! You got winning culture. It really doesn't work that way. Expect them to continue to struggle.