Wolves Blown Out at the Warriors

The Wolves are in a state of complete disarray. A few weeks ago, KG said the team was in search of an identity. Each game it becomes clearer that he's right. Coach Casey has put an emphasis on defense this season. But tonight, they gave up 107 points to the Warriors, a sub-500 team which had lost its last several games. The offense continues to be atrocious. I suspect the postgame comments to include "still learning the sets" and "getting used to the system". Although it's getting a little annoying, it probably is true. I'm just losing hope in the season. I feel like the new objective is to keep KG with the team next year.

One note about KG and shooting more. It seems to be the consensus among basketball people that KG needs to take more shots because he's the team's best offensive option. It's generally assumed that he can create his own shot whenever he wants. I generally believe this also. But I watched him force a shot twice in tonight's game, and he looked really uncomfortable. The first occasion, he caught the ball at the tope of the circle. He pump-faked twice and then dribbled to his left, and shot a jumper from the free throw line that missed. On the other occasion, he had the ball on the left block. He was double-teamed and split the double but shot awkwardly from the paint -- there was at least one more defender in there to contend with. So I think while it's generally correct that the team would do better if KG shot more, I think his shot selection is pretty good on the whole. Nobody else seems to understand or agree with that. If KG took more shots just to take more shots, he'd be taking more difficult shots. I think you can count on one hand the number of times in a game he passes up a good shot. He takes almost all of the good shots he gets. But good shots for him aren't as easy to come by as they are for guards. Tim Duncan is in the same position. Both KG and TD have to work hard for position on the block or be open or work to setup a defender for a jump shot. Every game, KG tries to get as many easy baskets as he can, by running the floor and setting up foul calls. So when he doesn't shoot the ball "enough", I think it's the passing of teammates and the play-calling of Coach Casey that should come into question mostly. He's not going to just run out to the 3-point line and drive all the way in for a layup. He's got to work hard to get position, then have a guard recognize that he's open, and then have a reasonable pass made to get the ball. And if the defender plays him well, he may need to pass out and get the ball back. This rarely ever happens for KG but happens all the time for Duncan with the Spurs. So I think that categorically, KG shooting more is not the answer to the Wolves problems. Now, if we can just figure out what is...