Official Utah/Minnesota/Philadelphia Pick Watch

[Saint Cy of JFC]

When I watch the Wolves I get a feeling the Towns/Gobert combo could work really well if they just had a better PG than D'Lo. Towns is actually a great passer to Rudy when the offense is flowing, but their offense just isnt flowing all that often.

Edwards is a fantastic scorer, but not a great playmaker. He's not looking to pass and it's not ideal, but he's such a great scorer it's workable.

But they need someone who can really penetrate a defense and make plays for others, and that's just not Russell. Dude plays way too slowly mentally and physically despite having high level passing placement ability.

I'm also interested to see when they start giving Wendell Moore some run. Dude has been killing it in the G-League along with Minott. Nowell has kind of been stinking it up and I dont think his game is really all that necessary for them. Moore could provide some extra ball-movement and defense and bring the same level of spot up shooting (potentially).

 

[fishonjazz]

He was 69% last year and last year he made a noticeable form improvement.

This year he started the season pretty badly, but he's shooting 82% in November and they all look clean. I think he's probably a 73-ish% shooter this year.

Ya his free throw shooting was always improving. I felt pretty good about his free throw shooting the last couple years. Plus he seemed to be even better in the 4th quarters.

 

[FrenchJazzFa]

When I watch the Wolves I get a feeling the Towns/Gobert combo could work really well if they just had a better PG than D'Lo. Towns is actually a great passer to Rudy when the offense is flowing, but their offense just isnt flowing all that often.

Edwards is a fantastic scorer, but not a great playmaker. He's not looking to pass and it's not ideal, but he's such a great scorer it's workable.

But they need someone who can really penetrate a defense and make plays for others, and that's just not Russell. Dude plays way too slowly mentally and physically despite having high level passing placement ability.

I'm also interested to see when they start giving Wendell Moore some run. Dude has been killing it in the G-League along with Minott. Nowell has kind of been stinking it up and I dont think his game is really all that necessary for them. Moore could provide some extra ball-movement and defense and bring the same level of spot up shooting (potentially).

Agree with that. If Dlo can improve his game, no doubt that NMinny will be a top 4-6 team. Rudy is doing great job ( as Don in Cavs), shooting well and still providing his defense ability. Wait and see but i'm not sure they will struggle that much..

 

[HermanG]

Agree with that. If Dlo can improve his game, no doubt that NMinny will be a top 4-6 team. Rudy is doing great job ( as Don in Cavs), shooting well and still providing his defense ability. Wait and see but i'm not sure they will struggle that much..

They have more problems than just DLo. People have expected KAT to take the step towards the elite of the league (especially after that 1 year where he averaged 26+). He really hasn't. That might have been the peak of his career, and he might run it out as a solid 24 point scorer. Ant was supposed to be the other guy that makes them a dangerous team, but he is just a streaky scoring guard and I dont even think he is as good this year as he was last year.

Fun fact about Ant:
He averages 45.7 FG% this year, the best of his career. However, he does not have a single game where he shot between 40 and 50% from the field. He has 7 under 40 games (2 of which are under 30) and 8 over 50 games (2 of which are over 60). He is as inconsistent as they come.

I compare them to Memphis, Phoenix, GSW and Denver as the top 4 favourites (assuming Kawhi does not suddenly make a triumphant return). Every team on that list has a clear All-NBA or MVP caliber guy. Add in Dallas with Luka and Blazers with Dame and they got WAY better #1 guys as well. Even Zion + Ingram combo looks better to me than KAT + Ant, and Pels even have CJ McCollum as the #3. Then there is us, as the superstarless underdog bullies who might also be able to mix the ranks. Also, all these teams except GSW have started off way better and looked way better than Minny.... but my point is they are not top 4 on paper either.

No way Minny is going to be dominant with that tandem leading their offense. I do trust they can defend if they buy in, but still not top 4 in west. I dont see 6 either, especially if Kawhi comes back and looks good. Maybe 7-8.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

They have more problems than just DLo. People have expected KAT to take the step towards the elite of the league (especially after that 1 year where he averaged 26+). He really hasn't. That might have been the peak of his career, and he might run it out as a solid 24 point scorer. Ant was supposed to be the other guy that makes them a dangerous team, but he is just a streaky scoring guard and I dont even think he is as good this year as he was last year.

Fun fact about Ant:
He averages 45.7 FG% this year, the best of his career. However, he does not have a single game where he shot between 40 and 50% from the field. He has 7 under 40 games (2 of which are under 30) and 8 over 50 games (2 of which are over 60). He is as inconsistent as they come.

I compare them to Memphis, Phoenix, GSW and Denver as the top 4 favourites (assuming Kawhi does not suddenly make a triumphant return). Every team on that list has a clear All-NBA or MVP caliber guy. Add in Dallas with Luka and Blazers with Dame and they got WAY better #1 guys as well. Even Zion + Ingram combo looks better to me than KAT + Ant, and Pels even have CJ McCollum as the #3. Then there is us, as the superstarless underdog bullies who might also be able to mix the ranks. Also, all these teams except GSW have started off way better and looked way better than Minny.... but my point is they are not top 4 on paper either.

No way Minny is going to be dominant with that tandem leading their offense. I do trust they can defend if they buy in, but still not top 4 in west. I dont see 6 either, especially if Kawhi comes back and looks good. Maybe 7-8.

I think the reality is that there is a learning curve to playing with Gobert. We saw it with Conley.

 

[framer]

Wolves have had the most candy *** schedule to start the year as is statistically possible. Put them on a road trip like we just saw Cleveland take, or anything close to what the Jazz have done and watch them fall on their face all over again.

 

[HermanG]

Wolves have had the most candy *** schedule to start the year as is statistically possible. Put them on a road trip like we just saw Cleveland take, or anything close to what the Jazz have done and watch them fall on their face all over again.

Yeah and aside from their Cleveland win (who played without DM), they have lost every other game against .500 team (0-4 home, 1-2 away).

 

[Elizah Huge]

Wolves have had the most candy *** schedule to start the year as is statistically possible. Put them on a road trip like we just saw Cleveland take, or anything close to what the Jazz have done and watch them fall on their face all over again.

Exactly. Hyping them up after beating a **** Magic team without Banchero is hilarious. They should have started 12-3 and instead they are 7-8.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Exactly. Hyping them up after beating a **** Magic team without Banchero is hilarious. They should have started 12-3 and instead they are 7-8.

Don’t think Carter jr played either… that team would be good with some guards but they are bottom of the league with the group they played last night.

 

[sip]

I really hope that these last couple wins are because they are playing trash teams but I think they may actually be figuring some stuff out. Not to the point of being a really good team but being a solid team.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I really hope that these last couple wins are because they are playing trash teams but I think they may actually be figuring some stuff out. Not to the point of being a really good team but being a solid team.

Without a Rudy or Ant injury they will without a doubt at least be a play in team. Only way we get a lotto pick this year from them is if Rudy misses a bunch of time or they have an injury in the play in and lose.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

T'wolves beat the Cavs without Mitchell and Jarrett Allen. Then they beat the Magic. I'm not convinced they've fixed anything yet.

Suns, Nuggets, Grizzlies, Clippers, Mavs, Pels, Warriors, Blazers could keep the T'wolves in the 9 - 10 seed range. Then the question is whether the Kings can keep rolling. T'wolves' pick could potentially be as nice as #12 or #13.