The star-studded Timberwolves have stumbled out of the gate to begin the 2022/23 NBA season, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. The 2-2 Wolves have now dropped games against the Jazz and Spurs in what had been projected as a fairly easy opening stretch for a team that reshaped its roster by adding former Utah All-Star center Rudy Gobert in a blockbuster deal this summer.
Krawczynski observes that, in the Wolves’ third home game of the year against San Antonio, they looked particularly listless defensively, star shooting guard Anthony Edwards appeared disengaged on offense, Gobert struggled to hold onto rebounds, and the club was playing through boos from the Target Center crowd in Minneapolis. Gobert posited after the game that the club needed to improve its communication on the floor.
“It doesn’t take much energy to talk,” Gobert offered. “You just gotta want to do it. We’re not there yet. Hopefully, you know, we’re gonna get there soon, and we’re gonna learn.”
There’s more out of the Northwest Division:
- One big issue for the Timberwolves‘ new jumbo-sized starting lineup has been its transition defense, writes Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. Starting two nominal centers in the frontcourt, Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, could be part of the trouble. Hines notes that the team is permitting opposing clubs to score 21 fast-break points per game, which is the worst such average in the NBA. “We have to understand what our flaws are and how we have to cover them,” head coach Chris Finch acknowledged. “Such as, we may not be the fastest of foot from end line to end line, but we’ve got to make a better effort.”
- A huge sharpshooting night for Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons on Monday serves as an indicator that Portland’s hot 4-0 start to the 2022/23 season has nearly as much to do with the newly-revamped club’s role players as it does with the constant brilliance of point guard Damian Lillard, opines Jason Quick of The Athletic. Simons connected on his first eight straight shots, which included six triples, to help Portland blow out the Nuggets 135-110.
- Lillard has been a big part of the team’s undefeated start. As such, the Trail Blazers guard has taken an early leap in the NBA’s MVP race, per Cole Huff of The Athletic. His odds have risen from +6600 to +2500.
IMO
The most potential player on this year’s draft is
Shaedon Sharpe, Blazers
He is 19
He should be a superstar at 23
So according to Alex, the 2-2 Twolves have “stumbled out of the gate”?
Please. Gobert only played 1 game in the preseason.
FYI, they lost to 2 teams that are 3-1 boating wins over the 76ers, Nuggets, and Pelicans, and the loss to the Spurs was on a B2B.
Way too soon to call this start stumbling IMO.
Agreed, all good points, especially the Rudy only 1 preseason game-
I’d Imagine it’s going to take 25 games for them to all get use to Rudy at C and what he brings/doesn’t so they can alter their own games in that direction as well
I don’t see this 2 Center model panning out. You force one to the perimeter on offense way too much, Gobert has no offensive skillset. Duncan and The Admiral both were extremely skilled. Neither is a perimeter defender nor are they quick enough to be that type of player.
This is going to go more the way of Embiid-Horford than Duncan-Robinson imo.
And Edward’s frustration will only grow.
They should have let the Hawks deal for Gobert, heck Collins would have been a better plan in a 3 team deal w the Jazz for way less draft comp.
True
Jarred Vanderbilt is averaging 10 points, 10 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game in under 25 minutes for Utah. Transition defense wasn’t a problem when Vanderbilt was roaming the floor.
Minnesota gave up an absolute haul for Gobert!
Minnesota made a 2k trade… they went full Simple Jack.
You don’t have to force Towns to the perimeter on offense, he plays there already. He’s a great shooter and ball handler for a big.
Offensively Gobert is an elite roll man. He sets near perfect screens to spring his guards for open jumpers then rolls to the rim where he is a very good lob threat and vertical floor spacer.
Defensively there are concerns. There is the old narrative based on one playoff series where Gobert had to guard two players and the rim at the same time that he can’t guard on the perimeter. No he can’t contain fast guards or wings but he can hold his own against bigs. That takes him away from the paint which would be a mistake because few if any have ever protected the rim like Gobert. The problem on defense is going to be that other than he or McDaniels there is no one in the starting lineup that anyone would consider even decent on defense.
@ philly
2-2 > 1-3
Jokic had 5 fouls in 20 minutes. Like a rookie big. Seemed like refs were out for him. Check the video on his 5th foul…with 9 minutes left in the 4th he dribbles by Nurkic towards the rim…Nurkic bodies him up…fouls Jokic…and the ref calls Jokic for the offensive foul. Lots of lousy calls all night all one way. I don’t pay for the NBA package to watch refs pick winners and losers.
I think is time to get rid of Edwards, dude believes that he is the best player in the team, sadly for him he will never ever be half of a quarter of the player KAT is, when he realizes that & defends more & shoots less, then MIN will be unstoppable!
This team has no identity is the problem. I was afraid of this. Yours truly writes at a much higher level in another fourm that gets out to the whole leauge. I put in a plan for the T Wolves that centers on Rudy G’ MVP. Mr G’ from now on. No more Mr Nice Guy.
Towns made a comment about seeing this set up in nba before. As it just so happens half the leagues coaches played on the teams Karl was referring to.
The best way to attack is to take off and out run them on the break. Teams like Utah and San and precieved lesser teams should be winning against the Wolves.
They don’t know what to do with all that. I do. I know what the coaches said about today’s coaches when they were players back when hoops came on TV for free. I know what they are going to do before they do.
If minny knew what to do that is.
It starts with SLOW DOWN. Run the offense. Not just run while playing offense.
Coach Finch it’s not to late. Your team has no identity and no direction as a result. Your making it to easy for those who played on these types of teams.
Turn me loose. I will get the place howling in no time.
Ok. That got out fast. Pop can’t stop laughing. I just called out the former player coaches for those of you who missed it.
Finch is not in over his head as much as he is that young and knows nothing about the NBA position I write from. Which is when it all came on TV for free perspective.
This a dead split between Don Nelson and Rick Adelman leauge. Every innovation and ideas they bought to the leauge are on full display through out.
Nothing we are seeing is new.