Wolves vs. Bulls Recap: Another One in the Books
by wyn on Jul 19, 2009 10:20 PM CDT
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PrintThey didn't close out Summer League with a win, but today's finale definitely had some positives. Jonny Flynn has been absolutely fearless this weekend. Sometimes that means an errant pass or a temporary loss of control, and sometimes it means a windmill dunk or a string of buried jumpers. But on every single drive Flynn is looking for opportunities to get some contact. He may be 6 feet in sneakers, but Flynn will go toe-to-toe with anyone on the court. It paid off in spades as Jonny got to the line 22 times and made 20 free ones. Flynn's defense, however, was spotty at best today. The most memorable play was when DeMarcus Nelson shook Flynn and Flynn appeared to give up the assignment while Nelson threw down hard.
Flynn found Corey Brewer on an alley-oop late in 4th quarter to cap off Brewer's solid offensive game, one which will hopefully give him some momentum to finish his summer training. After an up and down week, Corey drove hard to the hoop, found his jumper and crashed the boards every minute he was out there.
To wrap it up, I want to put a personal plug in to the Wolves to sign Garrett Siler. They could use a another 5 and Siler, despite his huge frame, can run the floor. His rebounding is above average and he can finish very strong. The only question mark is his level of competition. After playing D-II ball at Augustana and this Summer League, Siler really has yet to prove his skills at a truly high level. The Wolves, though, should give him that shot.
Oh and one more thing, Flynn ended the Summer League with a windmill dunk that got the crowd louder than Nelson did. Not bad for a 5'11" kid from Niagra Falls.
That's it for me from Vegas. I've only been here three days, but I've never watched so much basketball and I'm ready for a nap. I'll have to settle for the red-eye flight home tonight. See you in Minnesota.
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I'm pro-Siler.
He’ll chop off the tops off other players’ heads and steal their superpowers.
I'm fine with that.
As long as he’s aware of the consequences.
I hate Pod Six. I don't even know why we have a Pod Six. Total suck pod.
by Kevin Loves McHale's Navy on Jul 20, 2009 8:05 AM CDT up reply actions
Sign Peter Petrelli Too
We need to sign Petrelli or else the dance team may refuse to work – we need someone to save the cheerleader from Siler.
I'm envisioning a spin-off
show featuring the T-Wolves dancers and Crunch, involving weekly kidnappings, bomb scares, and missed 3 pointers, coach Eric Taylor yelling at Kevin Love, and Peter Petrelli saving the day but never quite getting the girl.
by Eric in Madison on Jul 20, 2009 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions
Not bad for a 5'11" kid from Niagra Falls.
It seems like media people are acting like Niagra Falls is some nowheresville.
I know it's not, heck it's bigger than my hometown.
The phrase just has a ring to it. Plus, I get the feeling that no one else has come to the NBA from there, so maybe that’s a contributing factor.
And although my badge said ‘Media’ this weekend, I hope you don’t consider me media. That’s a disservice to Britt ;)
www.canishoopus.com
Liked Siler but I think we’re about set at the big guys positions. I’d rather see him going somewhere where he can get minutes.
We got Rubio!
what the Wolves have at the "big guys" position
is a bunch of expiring contracts. Except for Etan Thomas, there’s not a genuine center in the bunch — and I am hopeful, but doubtful, that Etan will get meaningful minutes.
Siler looked good against weak, undersized, Summer League players. I will say that helooked a little better this week than this eval might lead you to expect:
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Garret-Siler-5699/
Garret is no savior — but with dedication could become a player in a couple/few years. What you’d have to judge is whether dropping Brown (but still paying him $750K) and picking up Siler is worth the money down the road.
Siler
I agree he may be worth a look. Brown does nothing for me. He needs to just go away, so I’m all for clearing a space for someone else.
Siler has some natural gifts that give him potential. Obviously tremendous size and length are one, but also really good hands. I don’t think I ever saw him fumble away a pass or rebound. He also showed a pretty soft touch at the FT line. And he uses good discretion with his shot selection, shooting a ridiculous FG%. The one huge area he’s lacking in is our favorite attribute – small area quickness. He will be killed by any big that can face up and take him off the dribble. And he’s often late in getting to the weakside on help defense, getting called for lots of fouls as a result. I think his potential rests in being a spot player off the bench against teams with behemoth big men like Shaq, Oden, Dampier, and Bynum. He certainly filled his role admirably in the SL, and I feel much better about his long-term prospects than Pecherov.
by Rascal Flatts on Jul 20, 2009 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions
A Siller/Jefferson Front-Court
The problem with assuming Al’s a 4 is where do you play him on Offense. He becomes less effective on this end of the court paired with a low-block dominant center. The reason being that all you’re doing is clogging the paint thereby drawing more defenders to Al. On D 4’s have to play a bit more in space- clearly not the strength of Al’s defensive game either- Love’s more capable since he moves a lot better off-the ball. You can assume Al’s a 4 except than you have to pair him with a "High Post Capable Big with passing skills who is a rangy help-side defender on D. "
by Jose Cordoba on Jul 20, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions
Pecherov
Is probably a bit player. It might have some appeal to pair Al with an extreme perimeter 4 with the hope of occassionally opening up the interior. You could also play him with Love to open up the paint for Flynn/Rubio to slash. He actually has shown an ability to rebound a bit.
by Jose Cordoba on Jul 20, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't like
relying on a “give the ball to Jefferson in the low post” as the default Timberwolves offense. And having a long-shooting PF (use Pecherov as a model) means that Jefferson is left alone under the basket for rebounding. Over the long haul, I believe that lonly one guy rebounding is a losing proposition.
Of Course- this wasn't the point at all
1. Jefferson’s Offensive game is most effective in the low-post. This is a pretty hard propostion with which to argue.
2. You need as a rebounder someone that moves quite well away from the basket. Look at Kevin Love’s January Stats if you want an example of a rebounding compliment to AL. You don’t need someone with limited mobility like Siller who clogs the lane. A Jefferson/Love Front-Court is clearly not rebounding deficient.
3. You’re right in that extreme perimeter 4’s aren’t going to be great Offensive rebounders (Rashard Lewis). On the other hand- a Perimeter 4 draws long-defenders away from the basket (Giving Al 1 on 1 Match-Ups) or creates open looks for shooters (Orlando vs Cleveland Series). So they’re a bit of a trade of right there. The problem with this idea that we need to move “Al” or “Kevin” to the bench is it’s based on the premise that we should try to compliment Al’s weakness rather than enhance his strengths.
by Jose Cordoba on Jul 20, 2009 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions
Excellent
Speak the truth! Al and Love are great complements.
Although if Siler actually became an effective 5 who could rebound and block shots, his clogging of the lane for Big Al would be a “nice problem to have.”
by littleboxes on Jul 20, 2009 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Any young Marcus Camby’s sitting around anywhere? He’s pretty much the absolute ideal complement to Big Al. Ridiculous weakside D, quick enough that he’s not exposed on pick and rolls, nice jumpshot and a solid passer to top it off.
Jennings: F*** the Knicks, them n***** is always going to be weak.
The ideal would be Joakim Noah...
But my guess is that his value has spiked. Maybe fans don’t like him, but I think the Bulls coaches/FO like him a lot.
by pagingstanleyroberts on Jul 20, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions
I like Noah and all, but I meant literal ideal complement. Like, if you could choose anyone of recent memory… Prime Camby or prime KG, actually. Oh, the irony..
And yeah, with Noah’s excellent playoff showing I doubt he’s available, unfortunately. He’d be great (though not prime Camby great).
Jennings: F*** the Knicks, them n***** is always going to be weak.
Brewer
It’s great to hear that Brewer had a better game, and your point about rebounding brings up one of his strengths when he has played well in the past. It seems to me that Brewer chases down lots of long rebounds around the circle that border on loose balls, making him complimentary to the glass-cleaning Love. This also puts him in position ahead of the pack to get out in transition. If he could get that aspect of his game up to what it was in the past, the easy buckets fed by Rubio and Flynn could further boost his confidence.
Flynn's Windmill
Now I am a homer so get over it but for those who saw Flynn’s windmill…..is all I have to say. I know the kid is athletic and I know I have seen some athletes in the NBA but I don’t ever remember a PG with Flynn’s height complete a dunk like that. Honestly, outside of Rose and a very few PGs, Flynn is the only one that I have seen pull off this dunk at this level. Now for people saying big deal just a windmill….this was a Nique like FULL Windmill, after seeing the replays it still doesn’t make sense that he pulled this off. If Flynn gets more dunks even close to that he is going to All Star weekend (not that I like the idea – outside of the exposure aspect) and will be a fan favorite in MN.
Not to be all giddy over a dunk but damn Flynn…..it looks like he jumped, paused and THEN started the windmill. Kahn I called your bluff on the whole 6 feet consistenly looking bigger than Shaddy’s 6’4 but I see it as well.
http://www.nba.com/video/games/bulls/2009/07/19/nba_min_chi_1520900051_recap.nba/
Around the 1:26 mark. sick.
Thanks, that is sick.
Though I would like to see it in traffic this year. Saw him dunk on a big on the draft highlights.
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