I know DRPM is far from a definitive stat, but it seems to be one of the more highly regarded ones for defense. AD at age 21 was the #3 PF in DRPM LINK KAT at 21 was dead last in DRPM at center LINK The year before AD was middle of the pack at 27.

I'll admit the only times I watched him were when AD was abusing him on the court like a little brother he doesn't like very much, but unless you have a good eye test or flaw in the stat reason to tell me why DRPM isn't ranking KAT right, I don't have much faith that he's going to go from worse than everybody to even average in just an offseason. I do think by the end of the year with vets like Butler and Gibson leading the way he might actually start getting it. But I will be really surprised if they start the season doing anything but disappointing all of these people penciling them in as the 5 seed.

quote:
Here's what I see: a Pels fan thinks all the Pels will play better together, but doesn't think that Wolves can have internal improvement or be better after adding Jimmy Butler.

AD/DC got 17 valuable games together last season. And I'm not penciling the Pels in as the 5 seed. I think they'll start hot, then cool off, because of the schedule, and whether the rise and fall will depend on how good they can actually become. It's still a big unknown. The talent is there to be .500, but is the chemistry there to be better than .500?

This post was edited on 10/17/17 at 10:42 am

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Posted by cgrand

HAMMOND

Member since Oct 2009

38937 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 10:50 am to TigerinATL

quote:
I think they'll start hot, then cool off,

last time this team started hot, it was paul/west/chandler/etc

evidence recently points to another slow start (schedule, rondo, weird new pieces, gentry, etc). if they go 5-5 in 1st 10 i'll be overjoyed

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Posted by corndeaux

Member since Sep 2009

9634 posts

Posted on 10/17/17 at 12:03 pm to TigerinATL

quote:
AD at age 21 was the #3 PF in DRPM LINK KAT at 21 was dead last in DRPM at center LINK The year before AD was middle of the pack at 27.

i get the age comp, but it's fair to point out that it is AD in year 3 playing PF v Towns in year 2 playing C. let's see what Towns does this year.

there is a lot of room for Towns to grow on defense, no doubt about it. yet he's talented, has the best defensive mind of the past decade coaching him, and more vets this year who know how to play defense. i wouldn't be so quick to bury him

quote:
AD/DC got 17 valuable games together last season

2 talented 21 year olds in years 2 and 3 got 82 games with Thibs. like the Pels, the results were not always great. the Wolves also added Jimmy freaking Butler

quote:
penciling them in as the 5 seed.

it depends on what you think the 5 seed looks like. the people that thought they would make the playoffs last year were always nuts, same with all the Bucks hype a couple years ago.

the 5 seed this year might not win more than 45 games. and the 8 seed might need 41. i think it's going to be tightly packed. and looking at the Wolves, to get to even 41 is a 10 win jump from last season. that's huge.

that said, the Wolves had the net rating of a 38 win team. they blew some games (youth) and ended up at 31. if you think they are closer to 38 than 31, the jump to the 40s isnt nearly so ridiculous

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