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Post by Nick K on Nov 29, 2018 11:13:55 GMT -6
Has anyone noticed that over the last handful of games KAT hasn't been arguing refs calls? He's made an about face. Can it continue? I'm thinking it will. This has had to come from his new role as leader of the team. Yep, Towns is firmly in place as the one and only leader.
With leadership goes responsibility so KAT can't criticize players for things he's doing himself as KG commented. Maybe that's part of it. He can't get on guys for lax defense if he's lazy there. All part of being the leader. It's coming at the perfect time for him too.
With Jimmy gone there seems to be joy in that locker room for the first time since Flip. Even Thibs has lightened up both on the sidelines and in the locker room, it has been reported.
Johnny K had a teriffic piece in the Athletic which talks about Garnett AND Rose both talking to KAT about leadership and what goes along with it. You can see he is taking to it beautifully.
A quote from the piece: "“KAT’s going through the process of not trying to piss everybody off or being everybody’s friend,” said Garnett, who now hosts “Area 21” on TNT. “At the same time, you can’t have someone do something that you’re not willing to do. You can’t get on someone, if you’re not doing those same things.”
"“We just need to stay on the right path and stay focused,” Towns said. “I’ve got great vets with me. Taj, obviously, is one that I lean on for advice and guidance. Sometimes when maybe I don’t know the exact right answer, some second opinion on something. Derrick as well. AT. These guys works tremendously hard. It’s always great to have people around.”
Great success could be around the corner. Look at the teams bunch up in the West. It appears so competitive that teams are knocking off each other and no team is immune. Denver and the Clippers will not continue to win at that pace so anything can happen. Houston has all sorts of problems. Even Golden State has issues. We're in this thing big time!
The only thing that stands between us and great success is our coach. But just maybe Thibs pulls back with the micromanaging and let these guys just go out and play. You all know I'm a wishful thinker. I can only hope. Damn, it feels good being optimistic about the Wolves again.
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Post by Bonecrusher on Nov 29, 2018 16:09:25 GMT -6
I don't think Tibbs changing his style but I do think winning makes everyone happy.
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Post by The Country Club on Nov 30, 2018 5:44:53 GMT -6
I think the Butler fiasco and KAT's "handling" of it (quiet, professional) was really a big maturation process for KAT in taking the leadership role on and for his teammates to respect him more by simply not being a d-bag.
I've thought KAT could be the alpha on this team since day 1. Teammates definitely respect him. Now we just need the coach to feed him more.
Given Taj's mentorship of KAT, I'm not opposed to him coming back for a couple of additional seasons at a discount to be a mentor and "glue guy" in a diminishing role.
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Post by cory on Nov 30, 2018 8:33:12 GMT -6
I haven't noticed the complaining stuff but if so, that's great. It was always a huge pet peeve watching Duncan give his face every game when he was going up against KG and I think KAT was heading towards that path. Complaining is one thing but you can't get distracted and hurt the team.
I think KAT is a bit eccentric in the NBA and a guy like Jimmy probably took that as him being soft. RoCo seems to walk the right line of being a respected veteran who does everything that this team needs without complaining and KAT seems much more receptive to his brand of leadership and play. For all my negativity on Rose too, him embracing his role and taking on leadership in ways that Butler was never able to is really great to see. You can tell that the locker room responds to him.
I don't know if Wiggins is anything more than an average NBA wing outside of his extreme physical gifts but if he doesn't respond to this roster setup around him, he needs to be moved to the bench and have Okogie start because he will never get it. Okogie will be the saving grace as his rookie deal will run the length of Wiggins contract and will at least give us a cheap option while we are robbed blind over the next 5 seasons.
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Post by Nick K on Nov 30, 2018 8:39:09 GMT -6
I think the Butler fiasco and KAT's "handling" of it (quiet, professional) was really a big maturation process for KAT in taking the leadership role on and for his teammates to respect him more by simply not being a d-bag. I've thought KAT could be the alpha on this team since day 1. Teammates definitely respect him. Now we just need the coach to feed him more. Given Taj's mentorship of KAT, I'm not opposed to him coming back for a couple of additional seasons at a discount to be a mentor and "glue guy" in a diminishing role. With Jimmy gone our style of play seems to have changed to a lot to more ball movement, better spacing and more touches for KAT. I hope it continues. I'll be ticked if it doesn't.
They had a great game on last night between the Clips and Kings. Talk about ball movement, up tempo, fun basketball. Each team uses all 5 guys. Best coaching job from Doc in a long time. Joerger too.
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Post by Nick K on Nov 30, 2018 8:45:39 GMT -6
I haven't noticed the complaining stuff but if so, that's great. It was always a huge pet peeve watching Duncan give his face every game when he was going up against KG and I think KAT was heading towards that path. Complaining is one thing but you can't get distracted and hurt the team. I think KAT is a bit eccentric in the NBA and a guy like Jimmy probably took that as him being soft. RoCo seems to walk the right line of being a respected veteran who does everything that this team needs without complaining and KAT seems much more receptive to his brand of leadership and play. For all my negativity on Rose too, him embracing his role and taking on leadership in ways that Butler was never able to is really great to see. You can tell that the locker room responds to him. I don't know if Wiggins is anything more than an average NBA wing outside of his extreme physical gifts but if he doesn't respond to this roster setup around him, he needs to be moved to the bench and have Okogie start because he will never get it. Okogie will be the saving grace as his rookie deal will run the length of Wiggins contract and will at least give us a cheap option while we are robbed blind over the next 5 seasons.I'd trade him before moving him to the bench. Benching him lowers his already low trade value.
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Post by quinn on Nov 30, 2018 8:51:15 GMT -6
I think the Butler fiasco and KAT's "handling" of it (quiet, professional) was really a big maturation process for KAT in taking the leadership role on and for his teammates to respect him more by simply not being a d-bag. I've thought KAT could be the alpha on this team since day 1. Teammates definitely respect him. Now we just need the coach to feed him more. Given Taj's mentorship of KAT, I'm not opposed to him coming back for a couple of additional seasons at a discount to be a mentor and "glue guy" in a diminishing role. With Jimmy gone our style of play seems to have changed to a lot to more ball movement, better spacing and more touches for KAT. I hope it continues. I'll be ticked if it doesn't.
They had a great game on last night between the Clips and Kings. Talk about ball movement, up tempo, fun basketball. Each team uses all 5 guys. Best coaching job from Doc in a long time. Joerger too.
Too bad the Kings are a mess internally and Joerger could be on the hot seat.
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Post by cory on Nov 30, 2018 8:55:14 GMT -6
I haven't noticed the complaining stuff but if so, that's great. It was always a huge pet peeve watching Duncan give his face every game when he was going up against KG and I think KAT was heading towards that path. Complaining is one thing but you can't get distracted and hurt the team. I think KAT is a bit eccentric in the NBA and a guy like Jimmy probably took that as him being soft. RoCo seems to walk the right line of being a respected veteran who does everything that this team needs without complaining and KAT seems much more receptive to his brand of leadership and play. For all my negativity on Rose too, him embracing his role and taking on leadership in ways that Butler was never able to is really great to see. You can tell that the locker room responds to him. I don't know if Wiggins is anything more than an average NBA wing outside of his extreme physical gifts but if he doesn't respond to this roster setup around him, he needs to be moved to the bench and have Okogie start because he will never get it. Okogie will be the saving grace as his rookie deal will run the length of Wiggins contract and will at least give us a cheap option while we are robbed blind over the next 5 seasons.I'd trade him before moving him to the bench. Benching him lowers his already low trade value. I would too but now we are at the point where Glen's perceived value of him and what we can actually get in return likely aren't going to line up. I can't see a single trade that would be offered that Glen would say yes too at this point. It's likely going to take attaching assets to Wiggins to complete any move at this point, be it Okogie or a first rounder.
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Post by Nick K on Nov 30, 2018 9:11:32 GMT -6
With Jimmy gone our style of play seems to have changed to a lot to more ball movement, better spacing and more touches for KAT. I hope it continues. I'll be ticked if it doesn't.
They had a great game on last night between the Clips and Kings. Talk about ball movement, up tempo, fun basketball. Each team uses all 5 guys. Best coaching job from Doc in a long time. Joerger too.
Too bad the Kings are a mess internally and Joerger could be on the hot seat. Yep, and how much sense does that make? Sac is playing beter than they have in 10 years!
Apparently the Joerger criticism is coming from the assisstant GM. I think that asst. GM is being told to keep quiet.
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Post by quinn on Nov 30, 2018 11:39:29 GMT -6
Too bad the Kings are a mess internally and Joerger could be on the hot seat. Yep, and how much sense does that make? Sac is playing beter than they have in 10 years!
Apparently the Joerger criticism is coming from the assisstant GM. I think that asst. GM is being told to keep quiet.
"Fans have called for Williams’ dismissal, but it’s clear he still has a measure of support within the organization. If not, moves to make changes to the team’s training staff, which were driven by Williams, would not have been allowed to happen." - Jason Jones of the Athletic This just reflects so poorly on Vlade. This is the second time he's had serious issues of coach vs. FO (i.e. George Karl and the Demarcus Cousins saga). Cousins isn't around this time. There has been one common denominator through all of this – Vlade. I can't believe that he has a job. Absolutely a mess. You can't have your assistant GM do this to you and the organization.
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Post by The Country Club on Nov 30, 2018 12:46:52 GMT -6
With SAC, the owner is also a big time nutjob and that does not help matters one iota.
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Post by Nick K on Nov 30, 2018 12:59:32 GMT -6
With SAC, the owner is also a big time nutjob and that does not help matters one iota. Yep, by comparison, thank god for Glen Taylor.
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