This year's iteration of the Wolves has really given me an appreciation for how hard it is to play consistent solid D in the NBA. I feel like most teams are pretty content to run the score up to 120 and then start playing D with 2 minutes left in the game. Completely unfounded take, but most of the games this season it's just felt like the opposing team has to claw their way towards 100 points, so that even in the close games their top scorers are gassed and can't trade shots with Ant or Kat
Being bigger and taller are the only ways to legally play good and effective defense with the rules now. Offensive players can push, shove, carry, travel, bulldoze, etc. Only way to negate that is to just be bigger.
@@tajiri7 They call travel plenty of times this season, also shoving, pushing and bull dozing started in the early 2000's especially with Shaq for example, and back then the NBA didn't have the offensive tactical arsenal nor the space and pace nor the offensive talent that he has today. That's why it feels like that, the thing is it's tough to defend in the NBA, even if you can see that the refs don't call (basically NEVER call) on the many hand checking violation happening in the game, or don't even call the lot of Defensive 3 seconds rules violation that advantage defense. Just nowadays you can just play 1vs1 defense on just inside the close midrange/ paint area, you need to defend your whole half of the court every time and move every time, because there's way more ball movement and off ball movement nowadays compared to the 90's or 00's ( especially the 00's which is one of the worst offensive era ever tactically outside of 2 teams)
from a lifelong wolves fan its feel great to see our team playing consistently great basketball. a solid product night in and night out, really makes me happy.
As a longtime Denver fan whose team was largely built during the Tim Connelly era, I was really hoping (against all evidence) that his success in the 303 was a fluke. If it wasn't, then the Gobert trade could be scary. Looking a lot like the man knew what he was doing
@@theholiday2384 we aint the twolves buddy. Whens the last time yall city won ANYTHING?? Maybe a play in tourney championship 😂😂😂 Y'all still celebrating that one huh?
Really interested to see how KAT and Gobert hold up defensively come playoff time. Will either make it impossible for teams to attack the rim or they’ll be a liability guarding in space.
I'm going to lean into them problems having teams attacking space like many Gobert Playoff teams. Those teams also never had a Jaden McDaniels so, this could be different 🤷🏿♂️
@@blakelarson5005 I think the issue is not having teams go small but having great iso players like Luka/Brunson/Harden attack space created from switching and bring Rudy out the paint. You didn't have to go small to do it. The Twolves definitely have better wing defenders tho
@@BrothaGoneBasedif they do space out we have elite perimeter defenders we go zone and shut it down thunder tried and nothing worked our zone defense is top tier to shutdown those 5 outs
Rudy was always good for a big guy on the perimeter. But ppl like to hold that Mann performance against him. But in reality, Mann only scored so much because utah players. Bogdan d mitch and ingles couldn't stop anybody and rudy would have to rotate. But nobody would rotate for him. In the corner He would.try play helps identify defence. But would have to run back out to man in the corner too.
@@brendanhunter389lol yes he is. Imma Rockets fan but I’ve been lowkey rooting for the TWolves ever since they drafted him. KAT’s rookie year was the start of the “stretch big era” he was one of the main catalysts that ended 1-dimensional big men. Now, he finally has help
@@davywavy3724I bet he’s referring to KAT’s propensity for getting into foul trouble and complaining to refs even after he committed a clear foul. Idk, but it’s definitely something he’s known for and why some ppl don’t like him. Which is fair. But if you watch his game and see how dominant he can be and often is, or know about the personal tragedies he’s endured over the last few years, then he’s absolutely very likable.
6. Number of times MIN has shot 50% or better while holding their opponent < 40% FG in the same game. The rest of the NBA has combined to do it 10x. 20 teams have yet to do it. Last season MEM & CLE led the NBA doing it 6x in 82g. MIN has done it 6x in 16g.
Of course. He isn’t a shooter. He is a defensive beast that can catch lobs and set screens. Thats all you need from him. Crazy it too so long for people and t wolves to realize
Everyone knew that - it’s just the entire defensive system wasn’t working with him and KAT on the floor. Glad they’ve figured it out but don’t act like anyone expected Gobert’s role to involve a good amount of scoring.
Guess I was wrong. Fully expected KAT to have to be traded for this team to get to be a contender. Still early in the season but we'll see how this squad performs come playoff time.
@@mduar1000 I didn't think KAT and Gobert would work together and KAT would get them more assets to build around Ant. No way they'd get back what they gave up for Gobert if they moved him.
@@CrazyxEnigma Gobert was a huge reason why the Jazz were really good in the years prior. Him and Mitchell were tearing it up w conley as their PG. However thats all they had. Now put rudy w Ant , Kat and McDaniels , and youll get this. They did bad last season bc Kat missed a huge part of the season w Illness. And You had DSnitch as their starting PG. They get conley and you saw their playstyle change immediately
@@CrazyxEnigma at the end of the reg season Jaden hits a wall and breaks his hand. They make the playoffs w/ o him playing. They face the Nuggets and you got guys like Brown saying that the wolves were the hardest team they faced. Everyone said wtf? Why you cappin.
@@mduar1000 He broke his hand the game before the crucial seeding deciding game against the Lakers not that they "made the playoffs without him" that implies he missed a large amount of time. Yes KAT missed a lot of time last season, the little they played together they didn't work at all, so overreaction on my and lots of fans' parts.
Hahaha like OKC? (who is the youngest team in the league and have no good vets, need about 3 years to have their guys all in prime) They were about 4th in the west over the 2023 part of the last season, now they're about as good. They play full small ball a lot, and 4 guards + chet is the starting lineup
Gobert was a huge overpay so these two trades aren't the same. But yeah both Rudy and Sabonis have been good and working, so in the end it makes sense.
Gobert trade is still a huge overpay and its clear Utah got the better end of that trade I wouldn't be surprised if Utah ends up with a minimum of two allstars from the draft picks of that trade. And the Sabonis trade is sort of a win win but still Haliburton is an mvp candidate and still on his rookie deal so Kings probably would have been better off keeping him long term. I think the fans were right about both trades for the most part.
Did they overpay for Rudy? Yeah. But that's how markets work sometimes. You can't dictate costs every instance just like I can't decide what gas costs when I pull of the freeway. Is Minnesota finally getting what they paid for? Lol yeah. It's kind of messed up how everybody piled up on Gobert as being the most one sided trade in years when historic evidence screamed pump the breaks but we all did it. This is all awesome for Rudy, his fans, and especially Minnesota and their prospects. Haven't been discussed this much since Garnett and it's epic. Utah fan watching Minnesota here on out. Hopefully Conley (we only had him a few years but enough to love him) and Gobert help vet up a foundational springboard for Anthony Edwards. Most intriguing team in the West (over OKC) if not the League.
@@ThatGuy0223 oh if he did then I apologize I just looked at his thumbnails and didn't see any magic ones so I assumed he hasn't mentioned their winning streak
This is the reason that people need to stop assuming how a team will turn out immediately after a big FA signing or a trade like Rudy Gobert. People only think in the short-term these days and it's the reason so many takes get proven wrong over time.
Gobert should be in the MVP discussion. Love Naz Reid (offense) and Jaden McDaniels (defense). ANT is coming. KAT can play and now is focus with less pressure on him and his contract yr looming. They can beat anyone in the West
It really doesn’t feel real seeing the team I’ve rooted for play competent basketball I’m just so used to them choking away games and getting blown out
Man. It’s such a bummer. I think they’re the best team in the nba this year and I’m a Nuggets die hard. They are absolutely insane- especially because their bench is great too.
As much as I dislike gobert, I hope this team makes something happen come playoff time. If my lakers don’t have a Cinderella season again like last year, I hope it’s the wolves
How the wolves 1st seed I thought people said they made worst trade in nba history clearly if that was the case they would be mid like the clippers are . Mfs gave away role players & picks that will with Utah draft history not amount to much I'll take the dpoy over role players & draft picks that maybe you hit on but also just as likely you end up drafting a Wendell Moore type guy who never even plays because your trying to win not develop young guys .
I agree. It's still early. But he looks like he doesn't know what his role is. Kyle Anderson has also looked off to start this year. Hope they both prove me wrong
I don't think it's working since they'd be the same team or only slightly worse with WALKER KESSLER. If they started Naz Reid and had Walker Kessler coming of the bench you can argue this team would be even better not to mention all the assets they gave away in that trade.
I will happily eat my words if they somehow make this work. I really like Ant and want him to succeed. But there is no doubt in my mind that when they get to the playoffs Gobert is going to torpedo their team and become unplayable like he always does. It would be nice if I'm wrong, but Gobert's history doesn't lie.
McDaniels and Ant are very good perimeter defenders. It's honestly a crime that McDaniels didn't make an all defensive team last year. Conley isn't what he used to be but he's still a very savvy veteran who understands what its takes to play good defense. KAT has actually played very good defense this year. For as big as he is, he's doing a great job forcing players off the perimeter and to have him as a help defender/rebounder for Rudy is perfect for both of them. We'll see what happens come playoff time. But this is a very good defensive team, it's not just Rudy.
It’s working, but if they waited one year later, all they need give up is one 1st . Instead they gave up like six 1st , Jarret vando and Kessler . Wolves GM Tim Connelly made the 2nd worst trade in nba history behind nets Billy king Celtics trade. Connelly need to go 🥾
The Jazz only kept Walker Kessler and drafted George with the first in 23. They dumped all the other players because they didn’t move the needle. Wolves wanted Gobert and didn’t wanna give up McDaniels. Very smart. Wolves also got Conley, NAW and 3 2nds(used one to get Leonard Miller who is a lottery talent) for DLO. That was a horrible trade for the Jazz.
