What can be learned from the playoffs?
by pagingstanleyroberts on Jun 8, 2009 12:42 AM CDT
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PrintI don't think the Wolves should necessarily copy what the good teams are doing because there are a lot of ways to win and because having the best players and a balanced roster are the most important things. But it seems like there are some things that could be learned from how the best teams structure their teams and their style of play
- Offensively, there need to be at least two guys who are skilled scorers against any opponent. Right now, each team has roughly two, but the #2 on each team varies depending on the game and matchup. Kobe is obviously the Lakers' guy here, but Hedo is also a very difficult guy to cover when he's on. Gasol/Odom and Lewis/Howard also have their share of good/great games offensively. For the Wolves, they might have this player, which is why it's difficult for me to justify trading Al Jefferson unless they have another, better option in this area. Besides Yao, he's the most difficult guy to cover in the low post in the NBA (admittedly Tim Duncan in his prime was tougher).
- One of the other main scorers needs to be a guy who can impact the game in other ways. Howard and Odom/Gasol fill these roles for their teams. Not having another guy like this hurt Cleveland in the Orlando series. I don't know who fits this role for the Wolves; the closest guy is Love, but he'll have to become a more productive offensive player in creating shots for teammates and consistently making outside shots while becoming a better one-on-one defender.
- 1-2 of the main guys has to be an above-average to great athlete by NBA standards. Kobe and Howard fill these roles, while Gasol, Lewis, and Odom aren't slouches, either. Denver was hurt by this, but Anthony's physical strength and Nene's strength and agility for a big guy helped fill in the gaps, as did the team's very-athletic supporting cast. For the Wolves, this is their biggest deficit, but their guys aren't without athletic ability. If it doesn't come from their best players (though Jefferson is really strong for a PF or C), it would have to come from role players.
- Their "average athletes" have to be good team defenders who can contribute offensively. Maybe not all of them can hit a jump shot or 3, but they should at least be able to cut to the hoop at the appropriate time to get offensive rebounds and make layups/dunks while not turning the ball over. The Wolves have guys who could become those types of players with a better system and better teammates.
- If all other things are equal, when picking players, pick the strongest/longest/quickest players. One reason the Lakers have been successful over the years is because they go for the role players who give them a physical advantage. It doesn't always work (Caron Butler for Kwame Brown), but it's partially why they're giving Orlando more of a problem than Cleveland did and partially why Orlando's in the finals to begin with.
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Great Post. I think we can accomplish all of your points if we draft Curry @ 6 and get G. Wallace (it’s my understanding Charlotte is willing to trade him). With Curry, Wallace and Big Al we have 3 guys who can score. With a starting lineup of Curry, Brewer, Wallace, Love, and Big Al, the Wolves have two altheltic defenders in Brewer, and Wallace, Curry can spread the floor, Love and Al can clean the glass and Al obviously can score in the paint. As far as who to trade for Wallace, I don’t care as long as it doesn’t affect the guys in the starting lineup. The biggest need then would be a shot blocking back up center, maybe the Birdman.
Lesson #6: Dwight Howard..
…is a man child in physical stature and child man in mental makeup. Good lord, stop whining at the refs and run up the court with the Lakers’ bigs.
Good stuff BTW.
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I am both in awe and disappointed by Howard
watching him for several games, his strength and agility is like something I’ve never seen before. But although I love the drop-step dunks and put-backs, it sure would be nice if he actually had another way to put the ball in the basket.
For real.
Howard wastes way too much time complaining to the ref after he turns the ball over. Get back, young man! Defend!
by princelyfrank on Jun 9, 2009 6:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Fantasic points...
I’d put Amare in the discussion for point #1. He comes with a baggage but he is an interior scoring dynamo.
agreed!
First time I’ve heard this here, but it’s got my vote. And I’m not overlooking the need to upgrade the perimeter.
Although I very much doubt that Big Al will EVER be able to outlet when double or triple teamed, he’s just such a monster of quickness and power that the extra attention doesn’t seem to bother him. However, sometimes when he’s already got his man faked out he makes one feint more and bungles things up. He’s really racking his brain in there close to the basket, so having him also consider whether he should pass out to the arc or look around for an open man would be REAL tough on him. Better if the T-Wolves work on having that that outside pass happen immediately upon the defence taking their first shift of weight to commit to covering him.
Who, then, would be a good player(s) at his side? In other words, what kind of player do we want beside Big Al and K-Love during crunch time (IMO, not Thabeet, but maybe Chris Wilcox of the Knicks. Others??); and secondly, would Amare be in the least bit interested, even if it’s only for one year to see what happens?
Point #1
Needs to be figured out first, then worry about the other stuff. Jefferson needs an equal on the perimeter, plain and simple. This team was at its best when both Jefferson and Foye were equivalent threats to score and put pressure on the defense. Since Foye is a classic ’tweener, he needs to be coming off the bench as a 3rd guard. The question is whether Harden, Curry, Evans, Jennings, Flynn or any of the other guys we may get at #6 can eventually pan out to be a legit 20PPG threat.
Yup
I think the best options (in the draft) for what you are say are:
1. Harden
2. Curry (maybe not 20 ppg, but a solid 16 ppg)
3. a haystack.
I’m sure in hindsight we’ll all realize that so and so had consistent scorer written all over them (for example, I thought Eric Gordon was going to do terribly in the NBA), but for outside scoring there are really only two names the Wolves should consider (strictly in terms of outside scoring potential, not other stuff too).
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
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I don’t see Jennings or Flynn as 20 PPG scorers. I’m afraid of what 20 PPG from Tyreke Evans might look like.
There's also the (smaller) chance...
That someone from the Lawson/Maynor/Teague combo (with #18) becomes a potent scorer, as they showed as much or more in this area as Flynn/Evans. There are always guys who don’t measure out physically or statistically at first glance but become better players than prior belief. If nothing else, these guys might be able to contribute at an Aaron Brooks level (not a consistent threat but potent in streaks), and that might be enough to make a difference depending on the surrounding talent. I’m looking forward to seeing who’ll be there at #18 because that pick is lower risk and higher reward than #6.
by pagingstanleyroberts on Jun 8, 2009 10:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Like 25 from Iverson
Sometimes the obvious is hidden.
by frankenhoops on Jun 10, 2009 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions
I like Teague at 18.
That dude has octopus arms. Guys who are physical mutants like that have a big advantage over non-mutants. It’s like when that regular human tried to box Wolverine in the first X-Men movie.
He's rising
He’s moving up draft boards of late, similar to Holiday earlier. His numbers were stellar as a lead guard at Wake Forest and he should absolutely be someone we look at if he’s there at #18. We may have a harder time trying to figure out what to do with #18 than #6. Teague, Lawson, Blair, Mullens, Daye, Maynor, Johnson….there could be some really intriguing prospects at multiple positions.
by Rascal Flatts on Jun 9, 2009 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions
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