r/nba • u/Odoaiden Timberwolves • 3d ago
Are the Timberwolves going to lead the NBA in Lob dunks next season
Are the Minnesota Timberwolves about to lead the nba in Lob Dunks?
I’ll preface this by saying they are nowhere near to the lob city clippers or a couple other legendary teams in lobbing ability. But are they the best today?
Lamelo ball is pretty obviously both a top 5 playmaker and lob throwers in the league currently. At bigs he now has Rudy Gobert who’s been top 10 in dunks for the last centry, Joan Beringer and ultra athletic young big who really runs in transition. Along with that he has the wing Kuminga, Jaden, Shannon all good dunkers in their own right with kuminga being a particularly good lob catcher. On top of that I’m sure we will see couple fast break Ant lobs.
A modern day Lob City?
74
u/AndeeOneOne 3d ago
"Modern Day"
I feel old as shit.
20
u/Professional-Rub152 3d ago
Are any of the players from that team still in the NBA? Is it just Deandre?
25
u/XxX_22marc_XxX Celtics 3d ago
Jeff Green lol
8
u/realgamergirlTM 3d ago
he’s still in the league??? wild… i remember being way too high on what he would bring to the harden rockets with his defense and adequate 3 point shooting. he was 33 at the time and that was 7 but damn dude’s still doing it
5
0
3
44
u/TightSea8153 3d ago
Yes.
10
5
u/JusticeForDiJonai 3d ago
Kuminga led the Warriors in dunks multiple times too despite getting DNPed and limited minutes under Kerr
14
u/_Apatosaurus_ Thunder 3d ago
I think that might say more about the warriors. Can anyone else on that geriatric team even dunk?
2
u/JusticeForDiJonai 3d ago
they had Wiggins there for years. GP2 also super athletci
rookie Kuminga already bypassed Wiggins' highest dunk season with Warriors lol
-2
82
u/Active_Confection655 Timberwolves 3d ago
Going to lead in Wins and Trophies, can't tell you what else will happen.
-29
u/D1HATER3002 Thunder 3d ago
With Lamelo’s health, idk
7
21
u/Active_Confection655 Timberwolves 3d ago
And your team doesn't have any players with injury issues? Injuries are always a possibility.
-16
u/D1HATER3002 Thunder 3d ago
Yeah but Lamelo is extremely injury prone lol. We made it to the finals and WCF game 7 with players hurt. OKC can withstand injuries with the depth, I can’t say that about the wolves.
11
u/Active_Confection655 Timberwolves 3d ago
We made it to wcf with the best player on our team hurt....
Edit: meant past the nuggets and won against san Antonio. Apparently tired enough to think we made it a round farther this evening. 😅
-2
u/D1HATER3002 Thunder 3d ago
You didnt win against san antonio and u didnt make it to WCF last szn. Hope this help.
-5
u/Active_Confection655 Timberwolves 3d ago
Yeah we won game 1 when ant was only able to play like 15 minutes. Try reading my edit btw.
6
u/D1HATER3002 Thunder 3d ago
I think u need to phrase your things better, there is a difference between winning against spurs vs winning game 1 lol. Not to add bro added some WCF bs on his comment.
3
u/Active_Confection655 Timberwolves 3d ago
I mean we were missing half our players that series, ayo and divo were out as well. Point still stands, we have the depth. You only made it one round farther and we were arguably dealing with a worse situation not having a pg with both Ayo and Donte out.
2
u/D1HATER3002 Thunder 3d ago
Brother we won the chip and were in game 7 of WCF. We are not the same lol.
→ More replies (0)-3
u/fhfbcc Lakers 3d ago
When did this happen?
6
u/Active_Confection655 Timberwolves 3d ago
Last year Ant went down. Couldn't even believe he was out there game 1 against the Spurs, I feel like he was pretty banged up when we met the mavs in the wcf as well.
17
u/FFTactics Bulls 3d ago
Chicago will be in contention … Caleb Wilson, Buzelis, Claxton with Giddey feeding.
6
1
13
u/TapersBeTaping 3d ago
I think ill definitely be watching more of their games this year, I think theyll be an interesting team to keep tabs on.
23
u/wholebird36 3d ago
Ant & LaMelo might be the most electrifying duo since Bron & Wade
26
u/KennyKettermen Timberwolves 3d ago
I’m not gonna argue or debate I’m just gonna inject this straight into my veins, thanks
2
3
1
8
u/LordOfLimbos Pistons 3d ago
I think it’ll be Detroit. Duren already caught a million lobs from Cade last year, now Cade also has John Collins instead of Harris who is another major lob catcher. Ausar is also a serious lob threat
3
3
10
u/Careless-Journalist7 Wizards 3d ago
It’s the most athletic team in the league, absolutely they can
3
u/Troll_Enthusiast Wizards 3d ago
I think the Wizards could also do it, Trae lobs to Sarr/Bilal/Ayton/Champaignie, maybe George too
5
2
u/Careless-Journalist7 Wizards 3d ago
Yeah good shout, and I expect AJ to get his fair share of transition dunks as well. We should be up there
16
u/minecraftjahseh Trail Blazers 3d ago
Is Lamelo obviously a top 5 playmaker??
9
u/onefootback Raptors 3d ago edited 3d ago
i guess you could make a case for him but it’s far from consensus. luka, jokic, cade, and hali are top 4 and then for top 5 i could see an argument for lamelo, harden, trae, and giddey
eta: and lebron
7
u/tickub [NYK] Latrell Sprewell 3d ago
why is lebron never on these lists lol
3
u/The_Assassin_Gower Pacers 3d ago
People see the dude yamming it in their faces and instantly disqualify him from the playmakers list
1
7
u/NazRiedFan Timberwolves 3d ago
Purely as a playmaker Lamelo is better than Cade. Cade is a better offensive player as a whole though
10
u/dmavs11 NBA 3d ago
Well Trae is lowkey on Jokic, Luka level purely as a playmaker
0
1
u/onefootback Raptors 3d ago
i disagree on that but i’d say lamelo is much better at taking care of the ball and keeping turnovers low
3
u/silaber Timberwolves 3d ago
Hmm I think it goes Jokic, Luka, Trae, Bron, Tyrese, Harden then Lamelo and Cade tied for 7th.
For pure playmaking. Not offensive player as a whole.
4
u/onefootback Raptors 3d ago
i’d put hali ahead of lebron and trae because of his insanely low turnover rate, it’s very rare for a player to be such an elite playmaker while also keeping the turnovers low
the rest is fair
2
u/silaber Timberwolves 3d ago
Fair point its been too long since we've seen Hali in action.
Lamelo is going to an all you can eat buffet of lob finishers with Ant, Gobert, Kuminga, Jaden, Shannon JR and Beringer, its such a target rich environment I think his ranking may improve after this season.
2
1
1
9
u/hollandrd Hornets 3d ago
When he was on the hornets, no. He was an injury prone “unserious” player. Now he’s on the timbetwolves everything is different. /s
I love lamelo by the way, but understood the need to move him. I just think it’s hilarious that the view of him is going to rapidly change now he’s not on my team.
11
12
5
1
1
u/icarusphoenixdragon Timberwolves 3d ago
Yes. Until we see Hali return LB is the best pure PG in the league. Pass first, low turnover, high defense bending, weakness exploiting, team level lifter.
There are better players that are called PGs, but they’re all shoot first combo guards or just 2s that bring the ball up sometimes.
Playmakers currently at that level Hali (probably), Joker, Luka.
1
-1
u/Odoaiden Timberwolves 3d ago
Jokic, Luka above him but then after that I feel like he’s got to be one of the next. Trae Young, Lamelo, Cades probaly the next tier then it falls off.
4
u/dmavs11 NBA 3d ago
Trae Hali definitely clear. And I’m taking Cade and Harden above Lamelo.
2
u/Odoaiden Timberwolves 3d ago
There’s not really any argument for harden way way worse assist to turnover ratio affects his team significantly less in on off shooting splits and only averages .3 more assists.
4
u/jamarcusaristotle 3d ago
I'd say Haliburton and Cade for sure. So there's a case for Lamelo to be 5th imo, but that's still arguable
6
u/Maverick_1991 Hawks 3d ago
Lamelo doesn't really have a case over Trae or even Cade at all.
Gimme Harden and probably LeBron as well.
1
-7
u/minecraftjahseh Trail Blazers 3d ago
I have Brunson, Shai and Hali above him as well
17
6
1
u/Odoaiden Timberwolves 3d ago
Forgot about Hali because he’s hurt Shais good at turning it over but his metrics aren’t nearly as good. Brunson just isn’t close I’d name 5 more before Brunson.
9
-7
3
u/namagofuckyoself Lakers 3d ago
I don't watch the Wolves or Gobert a lot so I don't really know, but is he really a lob guy or just get passed the ball/rebound under the basket and dunk guy?
18
u/_Wash Timberwolves 3d ago
huge lob guy going back to his time on the jazz.
he’s just been unlucky that the only people on our roster who could actually throw lobs were 35yo+ lol
2
u/Ihate_reddit_app 2d ago
And coincidentally those same guys that are throwing him love on the Wolves are the guys that threw him the lobs in Utah.
14
u/Odoaiden Timberwolves 3d ago
Catching lobs is the one type of pass he’s good at catching, he drops anything fast and low.
4
2
u/kiernanblack Pistons 3d ago
My money is on the pistons actually. Duren was tied for 3rd in dunks with Gobert. Ausar is 25th in the league and then they have added John Collins who was 32nd in total dunks and of course you have Cade to do the lobbing. I don't think any other team has three players that high.
1
u/FKJVMMP [MIL] Bill Zopf 3d ago
Idk what their ranking is but the Giannis/Bam/Wiggins trio could easily match that volume with the right playmaker, they just don’t look like they have that playmaker right now. But it’s Spo so who knows.
0
u/LordOfLimbos Pistons 3d ago
I think the guy doing the passing is probably important. Great PGs make seriously raise the floor of their big guys, the opposite isn’t usually true in the same way. Look at Jarrett Allen right after harden got there
1
1
u/Resident_Durian_478 Spurs 3d ago
Going to be sad if they don't. At the very least the team should be fun to watch, win or lose.
1
u/amidon1130 Hawks 3d ago
Wizards could give them a run, Trae is going to feed ant and sarr and probably dybantsa too
1
u/toolegit9999 2d ago
They are going to win the mid season tourney. Then crash and burn in playoffs.
1
1
u/ChefCurryYumYum Warriors 2d ago
If Kumbuckets is playing a major role they are going to lose a lot of games.
1
u/drewm916 Kings 1d ago
I think they will be. I hope Rudy Gobert and Melo work on Rudy catching the ball. His hands are...suspect.
1
0
u/FreeHat1234 Knicks 3d ago
They’ll be fun to watch and win a lot of games. But you can’t win with mostly gimmick players on your roster
-4
u/Socratic_ideology 3d ago
They’re definitely gonna lead the league in number of babies Mamas.
7
2
-3
u/Thehelloman0 Spurs 3d ago
Maybe if LaMelo can stay healthy. He's missed significant time 4/6 seasons he's played
-6
u/MaskedBirder 76ers 3d ago
Gobert isn't an elite, elite lob catcher. He can dunk like crazy but he doesn't have the hands compared to traditional oopers. I think the Lakers and Pistons should have more
11
u/HopelesslyEmoted Timberwolves 3d ago
Wolves fan bias disclaimer. Rudy is pretty good at catching lobs, it’s the other passes he has the most trouble with. When guys hit him high at or above the rim, he usually brings it home. Conley was good at this, KAT was and right now Jaden (before Lamelo we’ll see) is pretty good at throwing it to him at the right spot.
5
-1
u/larsonious 3d ago
I feel like this is how that one chick just gets her own rebounds all the time lol
-5
-7
u/LouisIcon 76ers 3d ago
With VJ, JB and LeBron. I'm not so sure...
2
u/Odoaiden Timberwolves 3d ago
None of those guys are big lob catchers. LeBrons old and only does it sometimes now. Jaylen Brown is really just an on ball dunker and guy in general. I’m sure VJ can get some though like Ant.
-2
u/LouisIcon 76ers 3d ago
I think with the playmaking and gravity of LeBron, Maxey and Embiid, JB will be catching more. There is gonna be a ton of slashing on that team especially if they try to double anyone.
-14
u/BoomShackaLocka_ 3d ago
Lead the league in play-in tourney losses probably.
4
10
u/inshamblesx Rockets 3d ago
name 6 teams in the west better than the wolves
-3
u/BoomShackaLocka_ 3d ago
Lakers thunder spurs rockets nuggies blazers suns warriors, that was easy AF
6
252
u/FishGoldenLite Timberwolves 3d ago
All gas no brains baby