|
Post by levine on Oct 24, 2018 13:11:02 GMT -6
Alan Horton@WolvesRadio Thibs says Wiggins (thigh) will be a game time decision tonight vs. Raptors.
-----------
I'm guessing he'll play - especially since its the Raptors.
Really hope it doesn't mean the end of Okogie's playing time.
|
|
|
Post by sparlimb on Oct 24, 2018 14:15:35 GMT -6
He said right after the Indiana game he was going to play. Let's hope its like 3 minutes...
|
|
|
Post by Nick K on Oct 24, 2018 14:25:46 GMT -6
This one should be fun tonight. Not expecting a win but hopefully we play them tough all the way through.
Wiggins has shot the ball great in catch and shoot situations. Once he puts it on the floor and pulls up he has trouble.
Regardless of Wigs playing, I hope Thibs comes out with the Jimmy led reserves including Josh and Tyus.
|
|
|
Post by boognish on Oct 24, 2018 14:39:02 GMT -6
FIVE KEYS TO VICTORY FOR THE WOLVES IN TORONTO
by Julian Andrews Posted: Oct 24, 2018
The Wolves are in Toronto tonight to face Kawhi Leonard and the new-look Toronto Raptors. The Raptors are on a tear to start the season and are certainly one of the best teams in the league. Here’s what the Wolves need to do to beat them:
Get another good game from the bench
The Timberwolves bench has been as good as advertised through their first four games, but they will face a real test going against one of the deepest teams in the NBA in Toronto. Fred Van Vleet and Jonas Valanciunas lead a talented and experienced unit that gives Toronto the ability to not only hold leads, but extend them. The Wolves bench has also been excellent though. Tyus Jones and Josh Okogie both played a great game on Monday against the Pacers, Derrick Rose has been hot and Anthony Toliver and Gorgui Dieng have been doing a great job holding down the fort in the middle on defense and stretching teams out on offense. They’ll need to bring their best tonight for Minnesota to have a chance at winning.
Continue to build on KAT’s performance on Monday
Karl-Anthony Towns had one of the best defensive games of his career on Monday, and he needs to keep moving in that direction. If he can make it difficult for Kyle Lowry and Leonard to get inside, the game could quickly turn in the Wolves’ favor. The Raptors are undersized against the Wolves—they’ll start the game with either Pascal Siakam or Serge Ibaka guarding Towns, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Jonas Valanciunas get the nod fairly quickly. Towns matches up well against all those players and he should take advantage for a big night.
Limit Lowry’s assists
Lowry is having himself a year. Through four games he’s averaging a double-double: 21.5 points and 10.0 assists. While Lowry is probably going to find a way to score, it’s critical that the Wolves stop him from getting other people involved. The key to that is keeping Lowry in front of them so that he can’t collapse the defense and find open players when the Wolves come to help. Jeff Teague is a good defender, but he’ll have his work cut out for him tonight. With Jimmy Butler occupied with Leonard, there aren’t really all that many options for Minnesota with Lowry. It’s going to be Teague’s (and maybe Okogie’s) job to keep Lowry in check.
Finish defensive possessions strong
The Wolves were a very good defensive rebounding team last year, but that hasn’t exactly carried over to this year. It was better on Monday, but it’s critical that the Wolves continue to box out and secure rebounds at the end of possessions. Coach Tom Thibodeau talked about how it’s important that the Wolves guards do their share of rebounding—that’s one of the reasons Okogie played so much against the Pacers. The same is true tonight. Danny Green and Leonard are both fantastic rebounders, so keeping them out of the paint will be key.
Keep getting to the line
A great development this season is that the Wolves are at or near the top of the league in both free-throw percentage and attempts. This Raptors team is great on defense, but they send opposing teams to the line quite a bit too. A part of their game plan will definitely be keeping the Wolves off the foul line, so it should be a part of the Wolves’ plan to get to the charity stripe. Getting a few key Toronto contributors in foul trouble wouldn’t hurt either. Toronto is deep on the wings and at the guard spots, but they don’t have a ton of size in the middle. If Minnesota could foul out Valanciunas or Ibaka (both the tallest and the most foul-prone players on the team) they’d have a big chance to get some things going in the middle.
|
|
|
Post by Bonecrusher on Oct 24, 2018 15:07:52 GMT -6
Hopefully Wiggins doesn't see much playing time and if he does he lights up the scoreboard so we can build up his trade value (sarcasm ( I really miss that emoji)).
|
|
|
Post by wunderwolf on Oct 24, 2018 15:13:56 GMT -6
Lineup I'd like to see:
Tyus Wigs OKG Butler Towns
|
|
|
Post by levine on Oct 24, 2018 15:38:11 GMT -6
Have I mentioned I hate Thibs?
Chris Hine@ChristopherHine Here in Toronto, Tom Thibodeau said Andrew Wiggins is a game-time decision. As for Josh Okogie’s minutes, Thibs said he wants 9 guys (whether Wiggins plays or not) and a potential 10th player would be situational.
|
|
|
Post by levine on Oct 24, 2018 15:52:18 GMT -6
I'm pretty sure Thibs is always talking about a 9 man rotation solely to justify playing Rose 30 MPG.
|
|
|
Post by levine on Oct 24, 2018 16:22:31 GMT -6
Timberwolves PR@Twolves_PR 18m18 minutes ago Andrew Wiggins is OUT for tonight’s game against Toronto with a right quad contusion. Josh Okogie will get his second career start per Thibs.
|
|
|
Post by boognish on Oct 24, 2018 16:36:15 GMT -6
Timberwolves PR@Twolves_PR 18m18 minutes ago Andrew Wiggins is OUT for tonight’s game against Toronto with a right quad contusion. Josh Okogie will get his second career start per Thibs. Wow, that must be one heck of a bruise; Wigs never misses games, especially if they're being played in Toronto.
|
|
|
Post by BIG BAD WOLF on Oct 24, 2018 16:42:47 GMT -6
Timberwolves PR@Twolves_PR 18m18 minutes ago Andrew Wiggins is OUT for tonight’s game against Toronto with a right quad contusion. Josh Okogie will get his second career start per Thibs. Josh did not start against IND, did he? I feel bad for Wiggs: he is going to miss his only game of the season in front of his countrymen . The only way for him to play in TOR this year is if MIN and TOR play the NBA finals. That might be enough to motivate him to play MVP level ball from here on...
|
|
|
Post by levine on Oct 24, 2018 16:59:36 GMT -6
Timberwolves PR@Twolves_PR 18m18 minutes ago Andrew Wiggins is OUT for tonight’s game against Toronto with a right quad contusion. Josh Okogie will get his second career start per Thibs. Josh did not start against IND, did he? No, Wiggins did. He got hurt after 8 minutes. But he did start against Dallas when Butler was resting. I think even Thibs realizes Rose can't defend Green or Leonard.
|
|
|
Post by levine on Oct 24, 2018 17:08:13 GMT -6
VanVleet is out tonight as well. That helps.
|
|
|
Post by Nick K on Oct 24, 2018 17:24:51 GMT -6
It's been 14 years since we've won in Toronto.....
|
|
|
Post by levine on Oct 24, 2018 17:45:17 GMT -6
Okogie gets embarrassed by Leonard, almost falls down and somehow recovers to block his shot.
|
|
|
Post by levine on Oct 24, 2018 17:48:34 GMT -6
Needs work on his layups...
He just went Moses on that possession - but no basket.
|
|
|
Post by Nick K on Oct 24, 2018 17:49:08 GMT -6
This is just the kind of start Josh doesn't need. Damn..
Thibs has sat and let them play for over 6 minutes now. Overall I like that.
Wolves aren't moving the ball. Lot's of standing around looking to pass.
|
|
|
Post by levine on Oct 24, 2018 17:53:39 GMT -6
We're just being completely outclassed. On both ends.
I think Toronto's bigs are quicker than our smalls.
|
|
|
Post by Nick K on Oct 24, 2018 17:54:07 GMT -6
This Toronto defense is fabulous. We better start shooting some 3's in thythm. Josh 0 for 7.
|
|
|
Post by Bonecrusher on Oct 24, 2018 17:55:13 GMT -6
And funny how defense leads to fast break points and easy scoring.
|
|
|
Post by Bonecrusher on Oct 24, 2018 17:57:35 GMT -6
This is just the kind of start Josh doesn't need. Damn.. Thibs has sat and let them play for over 6 minutes now. Overall I like that. Wolves aren't moving the ball. Lot's of standing around looking to pass. I know but lets put in Derrick Rose to stall our offense even more.
|
|
|
Post by Nick K on Oct 24, 2018 17:59:03 GMT -6
I hate that when Towns argues a clear travel. Just play KAT.
|
|
|
Post by levine on Oct 24, 2018 18:05:59 GMT -6
Wow. JimPete is the worst right now. Regarding Rose:
1. He’s reinvented himself like Vince Carter did. 2. He’s a great human being. 3. He plays harder than any Timberwolf ever – other than KG.
|
|
|
Post by levine on Oct 24, 2018 18:08:27 GMT -6
Jimmy getting killed by Kawhi.
The ref might need to stop this one...
|
|
|
Post by levine on Oct 24, 2018 18:09:04 GMT -6
Tolly coming alive!
Butler with a 3!
|
|