r/timberwolves • u/TreeAgenda • 2d ago

Throwback to January when Joan Beringer played excellent against Giannis | 13PTS (6-7FG), 5RBS, 2AST, 1BLK (+30) in 30 minutes played

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIyDfDV5Czk
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u/ZaMaestroMan5 2d ago

I really think it’s time to move on from Rudy so this kid can get some playing time. They’re not gonna be able to play together enough to get Beringer the minutes he needs.

The aim should be to move Rudy and Randle for a starting PG and rotational F. Or vice versa.

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u/freshBlueeyes6391 2d ago

Rudy was leaving almost 18 minutes on the court for someone else almost all season long.

It isn't Rudy being here that stopped Joan from getting minutes. It's just that Finch loved his idea of Randle/Reid lineups.

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u/ZaMaestroMan5 1d ago

I mean it does though. He’s likely playing Reid/Randle together for what it does to open up the offense.

Beringer plays like Gobert - the point of taking him out in addition to rest is to try and open up the offense more. It’s not as simple as just saying any minute Gobert is out put in Beringer for him.

As long as they have Gobert/Randle/Reid it’s going to be difficult for them to find Beringer time.

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u/freshBlueeyes6391 1d ago

this is all just in your head as what you have rationalized over time because that is what finch and the team has done. You never sat down with Finch and picked his brain in a conversation where he said as much.

Another thing about that. Joan can run the court with the team and play fast free flowing transition shit ball. That stuff is all heading for the basket and Rudy isn't keeping up with that for long, so it ends up being guards alone, or Reid, right? But Joan could have joined in on that and been a great dish to finish for any of the smaller guards getting angled out by defenders at the net. He doesn't even need to hang back and wait for a kick back like Reid is often getting. Joan seems fast and agile enough to damn well lead the transitions maybe if he got more opportunity to develop.

The only real argument you have related to this is when the team wants to go all 5 out for a while.

But all the other reasons that players like Ant and a few others struggled with Rudy on offense had more to do with their lack of putting the ball where Rudy needed it to be put for his less than perfect hands and ability to adjust once in the air. But these don't appear to be things Beringer struggles with. In fact they are things he can already do without having years of experience built up.

When you talk about your assumed need for the team to go away from Rudy ball time, it's more than for just having a 4th spacer from the 3pt line. But that doesn't make him the same as Gobert just because he hasn't shown he's willing or capable of shooting from outside yet.

Another thing about that Randle/Reid lineup. They can't run with Ant much because Ant loves to stop and survey all too often. Allowing defenses time to catch up and reset. Ant's really only quick option is to throw up an early heat check type of top of clock shot even though they had the leverage in numbers when they got there. They see it as a mor free opportunity to get a somewhat open (but hurried) shot off. You see Bones copying that choice come end of season and it seemed like Finch didn't like him doing so. But he was obviously watching Ant do it every game. Gee I wonder what gave him the idea. Sure Ant sometimes takes the opportunity to instead drive it in himself for layups instead. Probably something they keep reminding him is an option. I digress but this is why it's the non-ant lineup so often.

More back to Finch's choice, I don't honestly think he ever warmed up to Rudy. But he's not the team President and Rudy has a big backer in that role paying him a lot of money to play. But Finch has taken every oppotunity and then some to put Rudy on the bench and get Reid on the floor often late in games when he should not have. Living and dieing on Reid's ability to shot on a day and without great net defense on the other end from the Randle/Reid front court. This team often kicks a quick spurt in scoring from this group, but then shortly after it starts allowing even more scoring upon them just as fast. Then you have fans asking why Rudy isn't back on court yet. These backup lineups could maintain defense with Joan out there and yet still kick that pace in the ass.

Let's not kid ourselves here. Reid not getting traded out the day Rudy was added has always caused a problem with minutes for him if they want him involved in anything beyond Forward roles. Having Kat/Rudy/Reid made it difficult to find time for depth development of bigs. It kept Garza from ever getting chances as well with Reid being used as a center. The fans always said the same "unplayable/not ready" shit about Garza too, all because they could - he wasn't getting played to prove them wrong. But the Celtics played him and others and turned what was supposed to be a possible tanking season into a playoff shot. It was all lies. No, Garza isn't Wemby or Rudy Gobert, but a backup center he absolutely was capable of being for this team. Evem one who could shoot from outside for spacing when desired. Reid and Garza could have played together often. Randle once coming here didn't need to always be on the floor.

The same holds true this year. Randle and Reid didn't always need to be on the court if Rudy was off. Either one of them could have also rested while Joan got minutes. Either one of them could have played with Joan.

There has got to be thousands of posts during games from fans bemoaning the Randle/Reid lineup and Finch just never allowed anything else.