GameThread: Wolves @ Nets
by wyn on Dec 5, 2008 12:39 PM CST
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PrintMinnesota Timberwolves at New Jersey Nets, Dec 5, 2008 6:30 PM CST
Timberwolves.com | Star Tribune Preview | Yahoo Preview | Nets Daily
Broadcast: FSN North, KFAN
The Good
- Al Jefferson ate the Nets' lunch last year. When the Wolves hosted New Jersey on January 27, 2008 Al scored 40 points on 62% shooting, grabbed 19 rebounds, shot 17 free throws (made 14) and got a pair of blocks. Getting front court minutes in that game for the Nets were Josh Boone, Sean Williams, Malik Allen and ... wait for it ... Jason Collins! A matchup with Brook Lopez, Boone or Williams should pose no problems for Big Al. Williams' minutes and production have dropped, Boone is out with a bone bruise, and Lopez is known for his offense, not his defense.
- Nets' last few games, record, home record
The Bad
- When the Wolves faced the Nets at the IZOD Center, Al's line was less inspiring.
- Devin Harris and Vince Carter will cause problems for our perimeter defense. Not only can our guards apparently not stay in front of average NBA slashers, but Harris is playing out of his mind this season and Half Man/Half a Season is apparently picking the first 41 games this year (23ppg, 47.7% FG, 40.8% 3PT). Odds are both will see a lot of time at the line tonight.
- Mike Miller will be a gametime decision after spraining his ankle against Orlando. He taped his ankle for shootaround and put in some extra time before saying he feels ready to play. But the call is up to Randy Wittman. Despite New Jersey playing better than expected this year, this game is winnable for the Wolves (where have I heard that before...), so it will be interesting to see if Witt plays Miller to improve the chances of winning, or sits him to prevent aggravating the injury.
UPDATE: Nate here. Just a reminder that our Tis the Season donation post for underprivileged kids to go to a NBA game will close tomorrow. If you would like to give a young boy or girl the opportunity to go see the greatest game on earth, click here for more details. Tickets are $22 apiece.
1st Quarter UPDATE:
| Pace (Poss) | Eff | eFG | FT/FG | OREB% | TOr | |
| MIN | NaN (20) | 85.0 | 31.3% | 43.8 | 10.0 | 5.0 |
| NJN | 155.0 | 58.7% | 17.4 | 33.3 | 5.0 |
It's a good thing starting point guard Kevin Ollie got a whole 2 minutes of action. That was some solid perimeter d he exhibited. My initial guess is that this is Witt's last game. This is going poorly.
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Devin Harris...
….is going to torture the Wolves’ backcourt. It’s going to be ugly.
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www.canishoopus.com
I have to say,
I’ve actually thought the Wolves’ backcourt has been the bright spot of their defence so far (if such a thing can be said to exist). I think Ollie, Foye (with the exception of occasional brainfarts, e.g. going under screens against guys like Billups at crucial moments…), and Telfair have all played pretty good D, and at times they’ve even been really good. Telfair in particular has been fun to watch on the defensive end sometimes, what with the havoc he can create, though he is at times overpowered. I’ve found the most glaring defensive liabilities so far to be on the wing, where guys have been blowing by Miller, really through no fault of his own (the effort is there, he’s just not quick enough), and, surprisingly, Brewer, who I actually thought had been subpar so far this year on D before his injury. As for the frontcourt, I think they’ve been good at guarding other frontcourts, but deficient at rotating and at helping on penetration – only Collins has been OK at this in my view.
That said, I think Telfair is the best guy to guard Harris; he’s exactly the kind of player – a little guy who relies almost entirely on quickness and ability to penetrate, like Rondo – who can give Foye and Ollie trouble.
by plinytheelder on Dec 5, 2008 1:47 PM CST up reply actions
My jabs at the perimeter D
were mostly intended for Miller and Shaddy. Miller for being a matador and Shaddy for being a gambling matador.
I’ll agree that Ollie and Telfair have looked alright, but Foye I’m not so sure about. Maybe it’s when he’s playing at the 2, but he seems to get blown by as much as Miller.
And I’d definitely agree that Telfair is our best shot at guarding Harris. He’s just too quick.
by wyn on Dec 5, 2008 1:55 PM CST up reply actions
oh sorry I forgot McCants -
yeah good point about him. I frankly find him perplexing: I’ve seen him play excellent man D from time to time. (I say man D because I don’t think I know enough to talk about what kind of help defender he is…although…didn’t he have a really nice help block on Duncan earlier this year? Was it Duncan? I remember that it was a very good 4, and McCants came down to help Jefferson. It was a beautiful block.) He really has all the tools. I remember a game against Denver last year where I thought he guarded Anthony quite well in spurts. The whole McCants thing is strange, I feel particularly unqualified to say anything about it, I can’t tell if the off season he’s having so far is down to him, or Wittman, or both…
by plinytheelder on Dec 5, 2008 2:02 PM CST up reply actions
Wolves are gonna win tonight. You heard it here first. Randy Foye will match Harris and Big Al and Love are gonna finally get the chance to team up!
Only Wittman can stop that from happening by starting the twin towers:
Booth & Collins
lol
now that would be an awesome starting frontcourt!
by plinytheelder on Dec 5, 2008 1:37 PM CST up reply actions
Harris...
…I’ve never seen a player improve more from one season to the next as Harris did from last season to this. His entire NBA season prior to this one was pretty unspectacular. Dallas fans probably would’ve called it disappointing (just as most Wolves fans view Foye’s career so far as disappointing). I had written Harris off as lost cause/role player, but this year he looks like a star. I don’t know if Frank has done something different with him or if something has just clicked for him, but he’s now a real handful to guard.
I hate to even suggest this, but I could imagine that there is some small probability that Foye could have a similar turnaround this year or next. To me, Foye’s game actually looks a bit like Harris’ (Harris is more athletic and Foye is a better shooter, but some of their penetration moves are similar). We’d get a huge lift if Foye actually did do a 180 like Harris has.
On Shaddy: has any perimeter scorer who relies largely on jumpers ever moved less without the ball? In this way, Shaddy is the anti-Rip Hamilton. He’ll go many straight possessions where he just stands on a wing or in the corner and waits for the ball to come to him. It isn’t hard to guard a guy who never moves. I think Shaddy could become a potent offensive player if he’d move without the ball, because he can really finish when he gets a good shot. But that might require more effort than Shaddy wants to give.
These are really interesting points.
Wish I could see more of Harris. I’m going to miss tonight’s game too. I saw him at Dallas, of course; what I remember best was that nice move where he would split double teams on the dribble; not many guys in the league would have the quickness and change of pace/direction to be able to do that.
I don’t know about Foye/Harris but it’s an interesting comparison. Foye did have some really nice moves to the basket the other night against Charlotte. His offence was one of the few bright spots that game; he got to the line 8 times and looked like a poor man’s Dwayne Wade on a few occasions. I think those drives were why Wittman wanted to start him at the 2 last game.
That’s an excellent comment about McCants I think. Does Hamilton run a summer basketball camp? And if so can McCants attend?
by plinytheelder on Dec 5, 2008 4:29 PM CST up reply actions
I don't know if Rip runs a camp...
…but I think Rashad could learn a lot by watching film and trying to emulate what Rip is doing. Wittman would have to watch as well, so he could install the sets, and Sichting (sp?) would probably have to watch also, because someone would have to be there to explain to Wittman what is happening on the tape. But it could be done.
Witt reading for the night:
http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/80216-t-wolves-at-wits-end-with-wittman
The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com
Boy did Wittman seem defensive in Zgoda’s article—especially to the question of whether Love will continue to see extended minutes.
This whole business about Ollie being able to press was just absurd. Bassy has been doing that all year. Where he falls short is against bigger guards who can post him up. Devin Harris will feast on Ollie and Foye tonight.
If the Wolves lose to NJ and then to the Clips at home, I think that’ll do it for Witt. He is a dope.
Congrats...
…you’re now eligible for military service and you can smoke and gamble but don’t you dare think about drinking. ;) What a country!!!
The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com
lol
Don’t you live on the range? Time for a road trip to T-Bay or Fort Frances! ;)
Who is that dude anyways?
by plinytheelder on Dec 5, 2008 6:24 PM CST up reply actions
oh I meant Thunder Bay (where you can drink hehe)...
…is that what you meant?
Actually now that I think about it, Ontario might be the only province where the legal age is 19…bummer!
by plinytheelder on Dec 5, 2008 6:31 PM CST up reply actions
Somewhat...
… but to be really honest I love watching the Blazers. Yes Roy, but all around too.
And Rondo is one of the most fun players to watch when he’s on.
PLUS it’s a great test of how good the Blazers really are.
by wyn on Dec 5, 2008 6:42 PM CST up reply actions
no he's been to the line a bit
nice to see
Man, this is already rough – 3s and offensive boards.
by plinytheelder on Dec 5, 2008 7:07 PM CST up reply actions
Wow...this is fugly
I’m off to the gym to watch the rest of the game. Have a good night gents.
The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com
the Grinnel college-Northern Iowa game? ;)
by plinytheelder on Dec 5, 2008 7:11 PM CST up reply actions
No kidding...
…who knows what will be on the local radio station instead of the Wolves. When they play on 45 I have to watch from the gym.
The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com
Very ugly game....
and pliny, I agree – it’s nice to see Foye be as aggressive as possible.
Girlfriend just left and saw a 5-2 scoreboard so i thought, what the hey, lets watch another game. Connected at the end of the first … seems like a nice game again :s
Beater of the early Thabeet drum
happy Saturday!
nice to have you on board!
by plinytheelder on Dec 5, 2008 7:14 PM CST up reply actions
Hi Guys
I see we are dreadfully behind already.
Did Ollie actually start? I doubt there would another NBA team that would consider it.
And happy birthday Tony_O. Ignore the drinking age – you’re 18, your a MAN.
howdy
Ollie picked up 2 quick fouls.
at least we’re drawing a lot of fouls, could come in handy later
by plinytheelder on Dec 5, 2008 7:20 PM CST up reply actions
BULLLSHEEEETTTTT
I see Harris is starting to get Roy/Wade calls, that’s at least 2 bad calls in his favour
man I hate that
stupid refs are going to shorten Telfair’s game when they should be rewarding him for great D
by plinytheelder on Dec 5, 2008 7:24 PM CST up reply actions
idd, though he didn’t seem “set” when he got the ball.
Beater of the early Thabeet drum
by Wim (Belgium) on Dec 5, 2008 7:34 PM CST up reply actions
That was a nice outlet...
…I wish Brewer were still around to catch it.
clearly the nets watched the tape from the Golden State game
can we trade coaches with them? I always liked Frank.
by plinytheelder on Dec 5, 2008 8:08 PM CST up reply actions
just logged on
to say I think Wittman is gone…but saw S/P beat me to it in his update. Anyways it’s the end of the 3rd and they’re down 17 and looking clueless. Meanwhile it’s target practise for the Nets. Surely this has to be it.
nets
I think the Nets really stepped it up this year. Last year this match was won in the front court, but now the Nets are playing two 7 footers in the paint (Lopez, Swift/williams) + Yi who is a 7 foot SF. Love/Big Al cant deal with that
me too, but granted, it was already 3:00 AM and I was already halfly falling asleep before I started watching the game :p
Beater of the early Thabeet drum
by Wim (Belgium) on Dec 6, 2008 2:44 AM CST up reply actions
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