They need to give Griffin 25+ min/g Every time he plays at least 25 minutes, they've won. The Wolves have some obvious problems and they need to start delegating the minutes differently. What do you guys think?
EG hasn't played well lately to even get that many minutes. I would love to see Trenton starts like most people, but if he starts, then Latrell might make a scene if he comes from the bench.
Griffin definately has cooled off, but he still deserves 15-25 minutes a game. I agree Timberwolf, Hassell starting would be great. Cassell Hassell Szczerbiak Garnett Olowakandi Sprewell on the bench!
Haha, i agree with my co-forum mates Timberwolf and Pure. Spree is too much of a negative team player to be starting. besides, Hassell is undoubtedly as tough as him, only without the negative attitude.
They need to have Spree coming off the bench and KG+McHale need to school Griffin in post play. He can spread the floor from the 3 but is not good in the post IMO.
I started this whole lets bench spree thing, and i still think it makes sense to do if we keep him...but right now i think i want to trade him maybe we could get al harriington from ATL cause they always seem to be looking to cut salary cap room...a trade to atl could also bring us a high draft pick which would be something the TW havnt had in a while. Sam is finally starting to play well...and all be it he is a shot first point guard...he is good...and we do have him locked up through the end of next season for less then 6 million which is a steal for the twovles, If we are going to trade a point guard i think Hudson would be the one to go cause this season he really hasnt done much for us. I would love for us to get a better center but really the only team that might have a decent center avaiable is Denver with nene and marcus camby, but i dont know if they would want to trade with us after last season's playoffs. The other center i would love to get would be Nzar Muhommad from NY but God only knows what isiah would want for him. Right now i am just PRaying that somehting can be done to save this season cause we really should be doing a lot better then this and I hate to say this but we are the most dispointing team in the NBA right now...I would love to hear any ideas you all have to help the tw through trades, benches, or changing playing time cause maybe if we are lucky flip and mchale are reading this and might do something about it. Take care all
I don't see the Hawks dumping Harrington at all, Paulijacks. I think they will build around Harrington. Walker is available though. I would love to see some trades especially if it means addition by substraction, but which team would want Hudson's ridculous contract. Which team would want Latrell and Sam? I think Houston could want Latrell since Van Gundy loves him. Sure it's trading within the conference, but at this point, you dump Latrell for the sake of dumping him as it gives Trenton room for playing time. I am not sure if Flip is going to bench Latrell. If Flip has the guts to do it, I would give him big-time props for having the guts to do it. Of course if he does it, he may have lost Latrell for good and Latrell will pout and be more of a headcase. BTW, welcome to the boards, Paulijacks.
I didn't understand why Eddie didn't play more against Phoenix. Coach Saunders said there are many teams in the league right now that play "small ball". As a result, the Wolves' Olowokandi can't match up against these fast "centers", like for instance Amar?. He had 3 fouls in 3 minutes or so. Wouldn't it have been a great idea to start Eddie at the 4 and move KG to the 5-spot? That way, there wouldn't have been match-up problems and Eddie could have helped to spread the floor in order to give KG some more room to operate. It is something the Wolves could do in the future, but obviously not against teams like Miami...
This would be my player rotation, Honestly the Wolves are at just about rock bottom its time for a major over hall. The Starting lineup looks flat. And the Wolves are not putting the emphasis on defense enuff at the start of games, so how can we expect them to put Defense in the for front thru out the rest of the 48 minutes. This will never happen, realistically but here goes... New Starting Lineup PG: Sam Cassell SG: Fred Hoiberg SF: Trenton Hassell PF: Kevin Garnett C: Mark Madsen Why? This lineup puts all the emphasis on KG & Cassell to get the Wolves off to a good start. The Pick & roll works effectively cause you got Fred Hoiberg to spot up along the perimeter, when teams try to bring a 3rd mant to help contain KG/Sammy pick and roll play. But most importantly you guy four pretty solid defense players in Mad Dog, KG, Hassell, & Freddy bring the emphasis back to the defensive end and making the huslte plays to start the game, which can lead to a carry over for the rest of the 48 minutes. Rotation... (Stint 1) 7:00 minute mark 1st quarter Wally checks in for Freddy New Lineup on the floor Cassell Wally Hassell KG Mad Dog 2nd Subsitution 5:00 minute mark Eddie Griffen in Mad Dog 5:00 minute mark 1st quarter Spree in for Hassell New Lineup Cassell Wally Spree KG E-Giff 3rd Substition 3:00 minute mark Anthony Carter checks in for Cassell New Lineup AC Spree Wally KG E-Griff last Substition the 1st quarter/1st Substution of the 2nd quarter Kandiman in for KG. Offical 2nd unit looks something like this Anthony Carter Wally S Spree E-Griff Kandiman Why? This gives Wally & Spree control over the 2nd unit. And a little more freedom to operate cause when KG & Sam have it going in the pick & roll Spree & Wally's roles can become extremely limited. This allows them a little more freedom to have offensive involvement>And you use Anthony Carter not only because of his defense but hisa ablity to never force anything or make silly turn over mistakes. He will keep it simple while Spree & Wally generate their own thing. Guys out of the rotation.. Troy Hudson..Why? Just looking for a little something different in the backup postion at point then someone looking to score everytime. With Wally & Spree controlling the 2nd unit you want those guys to make the plays & shots. Ervin Johnson...Why? love EJ, He gave alot this year. But his body cant go on a consistent basis. And the Wolves need players who can play effectively for 8: 00 minute stretches out there on the court. When you are looking to reduce player rotation somebody got to be the odd man out, he wasnt playing that much this year anyway. Wish he could still go tho.. Some guys maybe offended. But hey the Wolves would still be able to go 10 players deep like Flip loves to do but they would do it in a more balanced fashion, keeping both Offense and defense in mind with the rotation. And guys like Spree and Wally might not like coming off the bench at first but I think they would quickly find out this lineup & rotation actucally gives them more room to operate and more focal point time in the offense. Same rules apply tho..Best 5 players on the court at the end of the game, so Spree & Wally would be on the floor drung money time anyway most nights. Anyway, thats just what I would do.
Why leave Wally out of the starting line-up in favour of Hoiberg? What's the difference between Wally's spot shooting and Fred's? IMO, Wally can bring lots more offensively and is playing fairly well. In addition, Saunders mentioned recently that he has improved defensively.
Heneacy: No way Fred Hoiberg can play that many minutes. He is a guy that comes off the bench and does well for so many minutes. He is a role player not a starter. I think Wally has played well since last month. He is the least of the team's problems. You don't demote a guy who has been very productive. As Sid Hartman (Star-Tribune gossip columinst) said in his column today, Wally is the guy that has produced.
Apparently, coach Saunders may be taking this small line-up thought a bit further than I did: "Saunders said the team likely would take a look at players who are available to fill Madsen's roster spot. He also said he could envision using a smaller lineup at times that included Wally Szczerbiak at power forward." http://www.startribune.com/stories/511/5175684.html
No, I never said Fred had to play extended minutes as a starter. He is just in the starting linup because he brings the shooting that Wally does to stretch the defense. But he is a stronger defensive player. The Wolves need to get back to playing strong defense from the start of games. Just because Hassell & Fred Hoiberg start dont mean they will play as much as Wally & Spree, its just to get the Wolves off to a stronger start on the defensive end, while allowing Cassell & Garnett to be the guys to set the offensive tone without other guys getting in the way. The problem is everybody thinks of coming off the bench as a demotion its not all always that way, sometimes its about fit and feel. Being demoted is, not being on the floor in crunch time continuosly imo, cause that is when the Coach is pretty much telling you he doesnt believe in you to win games for him.
