Minnesota (29 - 20)

Expert Pick
100% ····················>< 0%

Atlanta (14 - 33)

Crossroads - Hopeful V Rebuild


Week 11 and the flurry of trades has occurred. Time to see what some of the new look teams now are settling into. However, the game we’re highlighting today is two teams on different racks that each didn’t make a splash at the Free Agent trade release period, and might not make too many boat rocking moves down the stretch. The hopeful Minnesota Timberwolves take on the rebuilding Hawks. The Wolves: The Wolves got a new GM in the offseason and often with that comes the “I must trade everyone” type moves of the GM finding a voice and making a new identity for the team. The GM didn’t work out, they got another new GM, and again the new GM took a steady approach. The team still has both it’s star guys and retained key free agent Jonas Valanciunas, and if anything, the new GM hasn’t had his voice heard enough in the NSL landscape thus far. They made a solid trade at the start of the season to get the roster filled out, while alleviating the log jam of the Knicks in the process also, which to be fair was more heavily instigated by the more experienced GM, but other than that, they have made a couple signings, had a couple chats, and just waited for the Jimmy Butler saga to play out while winning as many games as possible around the suspensions of Butler. Just when you thought the storm was weathered, Davis has now gone down and will probably start missing time next week for the NSL. The team is a solid bunch of vets mostly, and they are a remnant of the well built contender of the previous GM, Ethan, and winning games because of it. How far will they go if they can only get 1 star on the court at a time, however? A Butler-less Wolves facing a plucky rebuilder in the Hawks might be a solid judge of that. The Hawks: The Hawks have gone the full drat pick route in their rebuild which is both smart, because of nice sized rookie deals and same time line ages, but also means you give up solid trade assets and salary flexibility for trading as things sort out. There’s no right or wrong way, though, but the Hawks have definitely demonstrated a penchant for “picks are best” mentality. They’ve had high picks, and strong choices though thus far allowing them to grab talent that looks like it should land and stick in guys like Sarr, Clingan, Dick and Hendricks (despite the injury). Less kudos goes for the guys they managed to target away from other drafting teams, like Podz and Jaime, but they still highlighted that they knew where they wanted to go when making big name trades. Add that to a solid core of young guys who have foot holds in Bane, White, Pritchard, Stewart and Quickley, and the team is going to go forward quicker than expected once they flip the “let’s try get the team to win” settings switch. Amazingly they’re already pushing the lux and that could begin to be a thing in the coming years as the rookie deals expire. Do they want to win now? Not particularly, but talent is talent, and wins can follow the talent. Will they upset and hopeful Wolves team missing a wing? The Projected Match-Ups: C: Jonas Valanciunas Vs Donovan Clingan Val was a key free agent over the summer and people were circling in their desire to get an elite 2k big man on a 3 year super friendly deal, but the Wolves put the work in to keep him and did so. He’s started every game and 11 points, 14 rebounds and 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks is a really nice return from your big man anchoring next to one of the best big man in the league. He shouldn’t have too much issue besting the rookie, Clingan, in this one. Clingan has a nice future ahead but he’s not quite at that Val level here yet. As a starter he’s been rock solid averaging 9 points and 10 rebounds with 1.1 steals and 1.9 blocks, but this position is just going to be a comparative stalemate overall and not the match decider. PF: Anthony Davis Vs Isaiah Stewart Anthony Davis has been a model of health this year, comparative to his previous years, and he’s been the ever elite 2way big man destroying teams for 28 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.2 steals and 2 blocks per game on great efficiency and impacting the other end more than the stat sheet. He’s your perfect anchor and he’s a top 3 NSL guy. He’s got only Isaiah Stewart to match up with today, and Stewart has been in and out of the starting line up for a reason. His biggest asset is his strength and hustle and at PF this year he’s averaged 7 points, 8 rebounds and a block on horrible efficiency. He’s a lot better and better suited, at the C spot, but he’ll try and slow Davis in this one. I feel it will be a non-factor though, as Davis will dominate. SF: Dorian Finney-Smith Vs Desmond Bane DFS has started all but one of his healthy weeks this year and plays the consummate off ball, hard nose defensive role that every team needs from at least one of their starters. His shot has evaded him a bit this year, but he’s still filling that defensive role and will need to focus on that side of things to slow the breaking out Desmond Bane. Bane is trying a new role this week with the Hawks finally welcoming back Quickley to the line up. He’s played SG al year thus far, and he’s been excelling and breaking out doing so. How will his lack of size and athleticism fair at the SF spot? At least he won’t have to play much defence against his opponent who will be locking down on him and not much else. SG: Cam Reddish Vs Coby White Reddish was brought in to play a role last year and he’s stuck around doing so this year starting all but one of the weeks. As a starter at SG he’s averaged 9 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists but mostly playing offside to Butler. He had more freedom off the bench in that lone week where he averaged 13 points on much better efficiency too. Alas with Butler out they can’t keep testing that theory and need him to step up this week. His size will hopefully bother his opponent, Coby White, who like bane is trying out a new position for the first time this season with Quickley healthy. As a PG he’s been rock solid averaging 18 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, but playing against bigger guys suddenly, like Reddish, might stifle him a little? PG: Cole Anthony Vs Immanuel Quickley Cole has had an up and down, career, really, let alone season but he’s been much more productive as a starter which is interesting because his type in reserve roles have been strong in this engine. 14 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists as a starter but on average efficiency. He can explode though, and no Butler means a lot of opportunities for him. He’s got the freshly healthy Quickley who despite all his past 2k success seems to have been stifled in his first hit outs on his new deal. He has averaged on 9 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in his lone healthy week on positively putrid shooting, so he really needs to turn that around and establish himself as the PG of the future his GM believed him to be when trading for him, and signing him to big cash. This will be an interesting match up. Bench V Bench: Delon Wright, Andre Jackson Jr, Landry Shamet, Ousmane Dieng Vs Payton Pritchard, Jaime Jaquez Jr, Gradey Dick, Brandin Podziemski The benches are polar opposites in terms of direction, pretty much. The Wolves relying on savvy vets of Wright and Shamet, while getting some time into the raw Dieng and Jackson, while the Hawks have a super young but super talented bench, but it’s tiny. The Hawks going to be running small ball anytime Clingan or Stewart sit? Could be a problem against a team that thrives with size.

Week 11 and the flurry of trades has occurred. Time to see what some of the new look teams now are settling into. However, the game we’re highlighting today is two teams on different racks that each didn’t make a splash at the Free Agent trade release period, and might not make too many boat rocking moves down the stretch. The hopeful Minnesota Timberwolves take on the rebuilding Hawks.

The Wolves:

The Wolves got a new GM in the offseason and often with that comes the “I must trade everyone” type moves of the GM finding a voice and making a new identity for the team. The GM didn’t work out, they got another new GM, and again the new GM took a steady approach. The team still has both it’s star guys and retained key free agent Jonas Valanciunas, and if anything, the new GM hasn’t had his voice heard enough in the NSL landscape thus far. They made a solid trade at the start of the season to get the roster filled out, while alleviating the log jam of the Knicks in the process also, which to be fair was more heavily instigated by the more experienced GM, but other than that, they have made a couple signings, had a couple chats, and just waited for the Jimmy Butler saga to play out while winning as many games as possible around the suspensions of Butler. Just when you thought the storm was weathered, Davis has now gone down and will probably start missing time next week for the NSL. The team is a solid bunch of vets mostly, and they are a remnant of the well built contender of the previous GM, Ethan, and winning games because of it. How far will they go if they can only get 1 star on the court at a time, however? A Butler-less Wolves facing a plucky rebuilder in the Hawks might be a solid judge of that.

The Hawks:

The Hawks have gone the full drat pick route in their rebuild which is both smart, because of nice sized rookie deals and same time line ages, but also means you give up solid trade assets and salary flexibility for trading as things sort out. There’s no right or wrong way, though, but the Hawks have definitely demonstrated a penchant for “picks are best” mentality. They’ve had high picks, and strong choices though thus far allowing them to grab talent that looks like it should land and stick in guys like Sarr, Clingan, Dick and Hendricks (despite the injury). Less kudos goes for the guys they managed to target away from other drafting teams, like Podz and Jaime, but they still highlighted that they knew where they wanted to go when making big name trades. Add that to a solid core of young guys who have foot holds in Bane, White, Pritchard, Stewart and Quickley, and the team is going to go forward quicker than expected once they flip the “let’s try get the team to win” settings switch. Amazingly they’re already pushing the lux and that could begin to be a thing in the coming years as the rookie deals expire. Do they want to win now? Not particularly, but talent is talent, and wins can follow the talent. Will they upset and hopeful Wolves team missing a wing?

The Projected Match-Ups:

C: Jonas Valanciunas Vs Donovan Clingan

Val was a key free agent over the summer and people were circling in their desire to get an elite 2k big man on a 3 year super friendly deal, but the Wolves put the work in to keep him and did so. He’s started every game and 11 points, 14 rebounds and 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks is a really nice return from your big man anchoring next to one of the best big man in the league. He shouldn’t have too much issue besting the rookie, Clingan, in this one. Clingan has a nice future ahead but he’s not quite at that Val level here yet. As a starter he’s been rock solid averaging 9 points and 10 rebounds with 1.1 steals and 1.9 blocks, but this position is just going to be a comparative stalemate overall and not the match decider.

PF: Anthony Davis Vs Isaiah Stewart

Anthony Davis has been a model of health this year, comparative to his previous years, and he’s been the ever elite 2way big man destroying teams for 28 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.2 steals and 2 blocks per game on great efficiency and impacting the other end more than the stat sheet. He’s your perfect anchor and he’s a top 3 NSL guy. He’s got only Isaiah Stewart to match up with today, and Stewart has been in and out of the starting line up for a reason. His biggest asset is his strength and hustle and at PF this year he’s averaged 7 points, 8 rebounds and a block on horrible efficiency. He’s a lot better and better suited, at the C spot, but he’ll try and slow Davis in this one. I feel it will be a non-factor though, as Davis will dominate.

SF: Dorian Finney-Smith Vs Desmond Bane

DFS has started all but one of his healthy weeks this year and plays the consummate off ball, hard nose defensive role that every team needs from at least one of their starters. His shot has evaded him a bit this year, but he’s still filling that defensive role and will need to focus on that side of things to slow the breaking out Desmond Bane. Bane is trying a new role this week with the Hawks finally welcoming back Quickley to the line up. He’s played SG al year thus far, and he’s been excelling and breaking out doing so. How will his lack of size and athleticism fair at the SF spot? At least he won’t have to play much defence against his opponent who will be locking down on him and not much else.

SG: Cam Reddish Vs Coby White

Reddish was brought in to play a role last year and he’s stuck around doing so this year starting all but one of the weeks. As a starter at SG he’s averaged 9 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists but mostly playing offside to Butler. He had more freedom off the bench in that lone week where he averaged 13 points on much better efficiency too. Alas with Butler out they can’t keep testing that theory and need him to step up this week. His size will hopefully bother his opponent, Coby White, who like bane is trying out a new position for the first time this season with Quickley healthy. As a PG he’s been rock solid averaging 18 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, but playing against bigger guys suddenly, like Reddish, might stifle him a little?

PG: Cole Anthony Vs Immanuel Quickley

Cole has had an up and down, career, really, let alone season but he’s been much more productive as a starter which is interesting because his type in reserve roles have been strong in this engine. 14 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists as a starter but on average efficiency. He can explode though, and no Butler means a lot of opportunities for him. He’s got the freshly healthy Quickley who despite all his past 2k success seems to have been stifled in his first hit outs on his new deal. He has averaged on 9 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in his lone healthy week on positively putrid shooting, so he really needs to turn that around and establish himself as the PG of the future his GM believed him to be when trading for him, and signing him to big cash. This will be an interesting match up.

Bench V Bench:

Delon Wright, Andre Jackson Jr, Landry Shamet, Ousmane Dieng
Vs
Payton Pritchard, Jaime Jaquez Jr, Gradey Dick, Brandin Podziemski

The benches are polar opposites in terms of direction, pretty much. The Wolves relying on savvy vets of Wright and Shamet, while getting some time into the raw Dieng and Jackson, while the Hawks have a super young but super talented bench, but it’s tiny. The Hawks going to be running small ball anytime Clingan or Stewart sit? Could be a problem against a team that thrives with size.

Timberwolves Star

Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis is borderline the star of this team any given week no matter who is playing, but with Butler shelved he is the be all and end all for the Wolves. He should top 30 in this one and will need to if they want to get a W. Davis bringing a middling performance will spell a Hawks blow over.

PPG 28.6

RPG 11.7

APG 3.3

SPG 1.2

BPG 1.8

FPG 2.0

TPG 1.8

PPG 24.5

RPG 4.2

APG 2.5

SPG 0.5

BPG 0.3

FPG 1.8

TPG 1.2

Hawks Star

Desmond Bane
Bane has always been on that cusp, but this year, more healthy, he’s come into his own averaging 25 points a night and really helping lead his team. He’s the star, no doubt, and maybe for years as long as he wears this jersey. He will have more help, surprisingly, around him than the Wolves have for Davis though and that should free him up even more.

X-Factor
- Naturally, as a losing team, the Hawks don’t really do much better than their opponents over the course of the season, however the key in this one I think is, who steps up to fill Butler’s shoes? The Wolves have a massive point/bucket getting hole in their line up in this one and Davis can’t always be relied on for this, even in the plus match up like this. The Hawks however have a handful of guys ready to drop buckets and if it turns into a shootout then they probably have that edge.

X-Factor

- Naturally, as a losing team, the Hawks don’t really do much better than their opponents over the course of the season, however the key in this one I think is, who steps up to fill Butler’s shoes? The Wolves have a massive point/bucket getting hole in their line up in this one and Davis can’t always be relied on for this, even in the plus match up like this. The Hawks however have a handful of guys ready to drop buckets and if it turns into a shootout then they probably have that edge.

Injury Report
Injured Players: Alex Sarr (Back/Illness/Ankle) - 9 NBA Games missed this season Taylor Hendricks (Leg) - 46 NBA Games missed this season Returning Players: Immanuel Quickley (returning from Pelvis/Elbow/Hip/Injury Management) - 38 NBA Games missed this season Gabe Vincent (returning from Oblique/Knee) - 6 NBA Games missed this season	Injured Players: Jimmy Butler (Ankle/Knee/Illness) - 21 NBA Games missed this season Returning Players: Anthony Davis (returning from Foot/Ankle/Abdominal) - 7 NBA Games missed this season

Prediction
Head to Head Prediction: In theory this one shouldn’t be too much of edge of your seat battle with the Wolves wanting to win and with the star power up top, while the Hawks time is in the years to come and they’re full of guys hoping to make that name down the track. But there’s something about this that feels dangerous for the Wolves with Butler out, their leading scorer, and Davis needing to hope someone else comes along for the ride of offence. It could be a youth smorgasbord. Hawks by 1.

Prediction

Head to Head Prediction:

In theory this one shouldn’t be too much of edge of your seat battle with the Wolves wanting to win and with the star power up top, while the Hawks time is in the years to come and they’re full of guys hoping to make that name down the track. But there’s something about this that feels dangerous for the Wolves with Butler out, their leading scorer, and Davis needing to hope someone else comes along for the ride of offence. It could be a youth smorgasbord.

Hawks by 1.

		Comments (1)
Bulldog63 02/13 11:07 am	Oh man you were so close, 1 pt in the opposite direction

	MIL	93
	PHI	89

	POR	100
	PHO	113

	MEM	109
	CHA	107

	MIL	109
	MIN	104

	SAC	108
	LAC	120