The Wolves played like crap.
Yeah, the Warriors are the Warriors, but I really did not like what I saw. I shut the game off when Thibs took out Wiggins to start the 4th, knowing he and Towns would get the rest of the night off (they lead the league in minutes, I believe). The Wolves need two things in a major way this offseason -- a bench playmaker for the backcourt, and an athletic big who provides active defense...and knows how to box out. Seriously. If I have to watch Dieng allow another guard to fly through the lane and grab a rebound, I may destroy the TV. Our biggest loss this year wasn't Zach Lavine...it was Beijca (bad spelling on his name), who is a stretch 4 that plays smart defense that was a major reason why the Wolves had that big winning run that put them close to the 8 seed a month ago. We lost him, and not surprisingly, the losses came...
Dieng is talented, but his shot is very slow, he pump fakes too much, and he's just not a very active, heady defender. And the Wolves can't afford to have him playing major minutes next year. I'm hoping someone bites on him as trade bait, given his solid stats, and the team brings in a better defensive presence.
I know this is a pipe dream, but given his knee injury, I'm hoping Derrick Rose can be had for peanuts this fall, and would accept a 6th man role. I know he probably won't, but based on what I saw this year, if he'd be content coming off the bench and playing 25-30 minutes a night, I could see him being the bench playmaker they need. Dude might average the same points coming off the bench, and be 6th man of the year.
Not sure what defensive minded, active, athletic bigs are out there, but the Wolves need to grab one of those too. Good season of improvement for the Wolves, but they still have a long way to go.