The Wolves have definitely added some actions and bumped up the frequency of their structured halfcourt sets in the preseason compared to last season.
Chin action here into the DHO with Ant and Randle. Love Jaden initiating the set and Ant setting screens.
Thought the process of getting out and running off misses was pretty obvious against the Knicks. Sloppy game overall but certainly felt like a team who has a transition mindset -- led by Shannon, Naz, Ant and Donte.
Some preseason game 1 thoughts:
Wolves have had this split action in their playbook for TJ Shannon for a while now, but seeing him play it with a different cadence and make the corner read is a newer development.
Big development to his game if he's able to make downhill reads.
Since it seems like we're going to see more of Anthony Edwards in the post next season, here's all of the post-up buckets I can find from his career so far:
youtu.be/dHQOVvyQrYo
When Chris Finch says he wants more cutting and movement within the offense, these are the types of plays he's probably envisioning -- especially when teams are really loading up the gaps on Anthony Edwards.
If the Wolves could replicate this possession a ton next season -- TJ Shannon torpedoing downhill past the gap help shading toward Ant -- then having Shannon in the rotation will make a pretty big difference.
They have nobody who's doing this consistently off Ant's gravity.
Random example but a good one for why TJ Shannon is such a tough cover athletically.
Comes off the split action, big body gets the defender off kilter, but then the ability to change direction and burst downhill quickly is super tough to guard.
One of my favorite sets from the Wolves last season.
Twirl action with Ant who then curls back off multiple flex screens and a Gobert pindown. Naz Reid in the corner to freeze the tag defender. Great find from Ant to Gobert rolling.
Eurosteps. Spin Moves. Decels. Step Backs.
Anthony Edwards sharpened his footwork up to a filthy level last season. Here's 13 minutes of his dancing feet and silky buckets:
youtu.be/0-Fv1wewaiY
Wolves ATO
Zipper hi-low action - corner pindown as secondary option.
Flows into an empty side pick-and-roll, perfect corner dive from McDaniels, great short roll read from Gobert.
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