[valentine]

 This guy’s killing it in Europe right now. He just outplayed the Gasol brothers.

He’s really looking like this year’s Mirotic. That’s the kind of rookie that can make a Smart like difference on a team.

Rubio

Wiggins

Tayshaun Prince

Bjelica

Towns

Looks pretty legit to me. I think Wiggins is a better defender against SGs, and Wiggins/Prince actually works better than Kevin Martin/Wiggins.

decent bench of LaVine, Martin, Shabbaz, Dieng, and Pekovic.

Not the best balanced roster, and seems to lack defense off the bench and rebounding in the starting unit, but certainly a high scoring team with tons of scorers around Rubio.

Any chance they sneak into the playoffs, thus forfeiting their first round pick to my Celtics?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TheTruth86Participant]

 Probably not but I like the way theyve been developing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TheTruth86Participant]

 Probably not but I like the way theyve been developing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 reading a scouting report on Bjelica from 2010, he sounds a lot like Dario Saric. 6’10 point guard. Now he’s a lights out shooter? Could make Rubio very tradeable. Surround him with shooters like LaVine, Martin, Prince, Muhammad, Towns. 

I suppose he’d make a great backup point forward of sorts, but he’ll probably start.

 

[T Rex]

 reading a scouting report on Bjelica from 2010, he sounds a lot like Dario Saric. 6’10 point guard. Now he’s a lights out shooter? Could make Rubio very tradeable. Surround him with shooters like LaVine, Martin, Prince, Muhammad, Towns. 

I suppose he’d make a great backup point forward of sorts, but he’ll probably start.

 

[ExumInfernoParticipant]

 Not that it matters, as he won’t have big minutes so there will be time for others to play there, but Kevin Garnett will start the games for Minnesota.

As an older player, after the pregame warmup he is loose and ready to go so it is better to use him then than off the bench when he is cold and sore.  The coach also says he is someone who will start, as he gives leadership and defense plus he is always a starter.

So Garnett will get 15 to 20 minutes a game.  Plenty of minutes for Towns, and then Bjelica, Dieng and Petkovic split the minutes at center and power forward.  No time for Bennett or Payne unless injuries hit, which does happen there.

If Bjelica can play some small forward, he could be an impact rookie.

Minnesota is now deep, if healthy, and if it all comes together and Wiggins is an unstoppable player and Towns blocks shots and hits 3s they can make the playoffs.

Their 1st rounder is top 12 protected, so there is a chance they miss the playoffs and lose the pick.  But if they are out of the playoff running late in the season, they probably sit some players who are sore and make sure they keep the pick.

Everyone talks about the youth there, and all the top overall picks, but if they make the playoffs it might be due to veterans Garnett, Andre Miller and Tayshaun Prince who combine for nearly 50 years of NBA experience.

 

 

[ExumInfernoParticipant]

 Not that it matters, as he won’t have big minutes so there will be time for others to play there, but Kevin Garnett will start the games for Minnesota.

As an older player, after the pregame warmup he is loose and ready to go so it is better to use him then than off the bench when he is cold and sore.  The coach also says he is someone who will start, as he gives leadership and defense plus he is always a starter.

So Garnett will get 15 to 20 minutes a game.  Plenty of minutes for Towns, and then Bjelica, Dieng and Petkovic split the minutes at center and power forward.  No time for Bennett or Payne unless injuries hit, which does happen there.

If Bjelica can play some small forward, he could be an impact rookie.

Minnesota is now deep, if healthy, and if it all comes together and Wiggins is an unstoppable player and Towns blocks shots and hits 3s they can make the playoffs.

Their 1st rounder is top 12 protected, so there is a chance they miss the playoffs and lose the pick.  But if they are out of the playoff running late in the season, they probably sit some players who are sore and make sure they keep the pick.

Everyone talks about the youth there, and all the top overall picks, but if they make the playoffs it might be due to veterans Garnett, Andre Miller and Tayshaun Prince who combine for nearly 50 years of NBA experience.

 

 

[T Rex]

 Great post. I didn’t realize they had Andre Miller, and forgot about KG obviously.

Prince was awesome for the Celtics last year, but he was only there a month before basically demanding a trade to a playoff team. Then we made the playoffs without him, and got a hidden gem in Jonas Jerebko.

This Serb looks like he can play a key role for them. He might even start over Towns at first. 

Rubio Martin Prince Bjelica KG that’s an awesomely veteran look, even if KG and Prince play 20 mpg. Towns comes in after 5 minutes and dominates, hopefully. With Andre Miller, LaVine, Muhammad, and Dieng/Pek.

They remind me of the Knicks as a sleeper playoff contender.

Thanks for reminding me the pick is only top 12 protected. That could make all the difference.

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 Great post. I didn’t realize they had Andre Miller, and forgot about KG obviously.

Prince was awesome for the Celtics last year, but he was only there a month before basically demanding a trade to a playoff team. Then we made the playoffs without him, and got a hidden gem in Jonas Jerebko.

This Serb looks like he can play a key role for them. He might even start over Towns at first. 

Rubio Martin Prince Bjelica KG that’s an awesomely veteran look, even if KG and Prince play 20 mpg. Towns comes in after 5 minutes and dominates, hopefully. With Andre Miller, LaVine, Muhammad, and Dieng/Pek.

They remind me of the Knicks as a sleeper playoff contender.

Thanks for reminding me the pick is only top 12 protected. That could make all the difference.

 

 

 

[WarblingSpamalopeParticipant]

 I think everyone gets too excited about young guys and forgets there are growing pains.  I still think they won’t be in the playoff hunt untilnext year. laughed pretty hard seeing prince in the starting lineup. Bjelica will get plenty of playing time. Just nice to see another weapon and somebody with a reputation in the clutch.   

[WarblingSpamalopeParticipant]

 I think everyone gets too excited about young guys and forgets there are growing pains.  I still think they won’t be in the playoff hunt untilnext year. laughed pretty hard seeing prince in the starting lineup. Bjelica will get plenty of playing time. Just nice to see another weapon and somebody with a reputation in the clutch.   

[slepchorParticipant]

 Well guys I’m from Europe so I’ve seen him play quite a lot. He is not on my team but as a euroleague fanatic you can’t miss. So here’s the deal.. Bjelica has the mind of a pg, the body of a pf, he snatches rebounds like a center, plays and moves like a sg and his natural position is the 3. He always was a good shooter and a smart player. The major change to his game that elevated his status is that he used to be soft but now he actually seeks contact and finishes with great accuracy. He will have no problem whatsoever covering any  of the F positions. Very reliable player that reads the game the way only few players -let alone forwards- do. As for the playoffs, I’m rooting for Utah, so as long as they don’t get our spot.. lol anyway I hope Wiggins kills it this season 

[slepchorParticipant]

 Well guys I’m from Europe so I’ve seen him play quite a lot. He is not on my team but as a euroleague fanatic you can’t miss. So here’s the deal.. Bjelica has the mind of a pg, the body of a pf, he snatches rebounds like a center, plays and moves like a sg and his natural position is the 3. He always was a good shooter and a smart player. The major change to his game that elevated his status is that he used to be soft but now he actually seeks contact and finishes with great accuracy. He will have no problem whatsoever covering any  of the F positions. Very reliable player that reads the game the way only few players -let alone forwards- do. As for the playoffs, I’m rooting for Utah, so as long as they don’t get our spot.. lol anyway I hope Wiggins kills it this season 

[omphalosParticipant]

Wow, looks really impressive based off the Spain game. Was outplaying Mirotic seemingly.

Great pick-up for the Wolves, but I think the team will be at the Suns level this season, going over .500 but not making the playoffs.

If they are healthy and stay that way they are very deep even though they are young with just enough leadership.

 

 

 

[omphalosParticipant]

Wow, looks really impressive based off the Spain game. Was outplaying Mirotic seemingly.

Great pick-up for the Wolves, but I think the team will be at the Suns level this season, going over .500 but not making the playoffs.

If they are healthy and stay that way they are very deep even though they are young with just enough leadership.

 

 

 

[oogellsParticipant]

I know its the offseason and people are bored but lets not be ridiculous here. Rubio isnt a top 15 pg, Prince isnt even a top 30 wing player, they lack wing depth, and their best 3 defenders are old as fuck, a rookie, and a 2nd year player. Wiggins will need another season to work on creating offense before he is a legit #1 option. And they are in the west. GS, Houston, LAC, Memphis, SA, NO, OKC are all much better teams, with Utah and Phx also better on paper. Also i can’t remember a Euro coming over and making such a huge contribution in his first year if he wasnt just previously drafted. The mental gymnastics people use to talk themselves into stuff is quite amusing.

[oogellsParticipant]

I know its the offseason and people are bored but lets not be ridiculous here. Rubio isnt a top 15 pg, Prince isnt even a top 30 wing player, they lack wing depth, and their best 3 defenders are old as fuck, a rookie, and a 2nd year player. Wiggins will need another season to work on creating offense before he is a legit #1 option. And they are in the west. GS, Houston, LAC, Memphis, SA, NO, OKC are all much better teams, with Utah and Phx also better on paper. Also i can’t remember a Euro coming over and making such a huge contribution in his first year if he wasnt just previously drafted. The mental gymnastics people use to talk themselves into stuff is quite amusing.

[Author]

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