Jim Mora playoffs thread

[kekgeek]

Just think of this guys. Wolves got to win 2 of their next 3 to be in the playoffs. Simple as that. 3 game season left. Got to win 2

[Coolbreeze44]

Tomorrow's game is the key.

[FNG]

Just think of this guys. Wolves got to win 2 of their next 3 to be in the playoffs. Simple as that. 3 game season left. Got to win 2

Yep. The team I saw this week against Brooklyn and the Spurs, and recently against Atlanta, the Warriors and the Kings (and even against the Lakers and the Suns) win 2 out of three easily. But the team we saw against Portland...nope, no chance.

So who are we...the team we saw against Portland, or the team we saw in 5 other recent games (and even the Lakers and Suns losses)? You know my answer.

[Monster]

Just think of this guys. Wolves got to win 2 of their next 3 to be in the playoffs. Simple as that. 3 game season left. Got to win 2

Yep. The team I saw this week against Brooklyn and the Spurs, and recently against Atlanta, the Warriors and the Kings (and even against the Lakers and the Suns) win 2 out of three easily. But the team we saw against Portland...nope, no chance.

So who are we...the team we saw against Portland, or the team we saw in 5 other recent games (and even the Lakers and Suns losses)? You know my answer.

Denver with their usual starting lineup lost last night to a B/C squad Utah Jazz team.

[Coolbreeze44]

Just think of this guys. Wolves got to win 2 of their next 3 to be in the playoffs. Simple as that. 3 game season left. Got to win 2

Yep. The team I saw this week against Brooklyn and the Spurs, and recently against Atlanta, the Warriors and the Kings (and even against the Lakers and the Suns) win 2 out of three easily. But the team we saw against Portland...nope, no chance.

So who are we...the team we saw against Portland, or the team we saw in 5 other recent games (and even the Lakers and Suns losses)? You know my answer.

Denver with their usual starting lineup lost last night to a B/C squad Utah Jazz team.

They don't scare me at all. Let's line up and play them hard.

[Monster]

Just think of this guys. Wolves got to win 2 of their next 3 to be in the playoffs. Simple as that. 3 game season left. Got to win 2

Yep. The team I saw this week against Brooklyn and the Spurs, and recently against Atlanta, the Warriors and the Kings (and even against the Lakers and the Suns) win 2 out of three easily. But the team we saw against Portland...nope, no chance.

So who are we...the team we saw against Portland, or the team we saw in 5 other recent games (and even the Lakers and Suns losses)? You know my answer.

Denver with their usual starting lineup lost last night to a B/C squad Utah Jazz team.

They don't scare me at all. Let's line up and play them hard.

I'm trying to think of the 10 teams in the west that are moving past the regular season which team it would be shocking if they made the Finals. OKC? I'm not saying EVERYONE has the same chance but it could be very wide open depending on a multitude of factors. Not getting my hopes up for the Wolves making a deep run but it's a reality that it's this wide open IMHO. Personally I think that makes this playoffs quite compelling.

Compared to the east it feels like at least one of the top 3 teams on that conference is gonna be really good and I don't believe as strongly in some of the lower teams in the east like I might some of the WC teams...depending on their health.

[FNG]

As expected, we are in the play in getting ready for the 7/8 game. But we didn't get there in a fashion we would have ever dreamed of. What a bizarre day yesterday. My thoughts:

Gobert/SloMo. It's difficult to know the impact this will have. The positive spin? Any of us who have played sports know how heated things can get out there, especially when your team is not playing well in a big game. There are times I have gotten on a teammate more than I should have, or even wanted to go after a teammate who was dogging me. SloMo and Rudy are competitors and both run hot, so the punch (shove?) didn't bother me too much. Heck, just a couple weeks ago, some of us chuckled after a gleeful SloMo kissed Rudy on the cheek after a perfectly executed pick and roll, and nobody brings out Rudy's offensive game more than SloMo...even Conley. These are not guys who dislike each other. Kevin Garnett even tweeted that this is the kind of event a team needs going into the playoffs.

But on the other side, I'm concerned about Rudy's back. I didn't see yesterday's game, but it sounds like he was limited in his movement...that doesn't bode well for Tuesday. Further, I'm concerned about some comments SloMo made in the locker room at halftime...something to the effect of "you guys are going to have some big decisions to make this summer". Again though, I take what is said in the heat of the moment at an emotional time with a grain of salt. Rudy has already apologized. What's more important to me is what SloMo says today. My guess is he will come out with some conciliatory comments and all will be fine. The best thing would be for them to address the media together with some light comments. Get it done, boys.

But the back spasms though...that's the real problem.

McDaniels: Obviously it is not good to lose our best wing defender before the post-season. And others have talked about the "darkness" of Jaden that he seems to hide behind that placid face. Remember...I think he led the country in technical fouls his one year in college despite coming off the bench in many games. He has a bright future of course, but I really thinks he needs to seek some professional help...if your emotions are only a 1 or a 10 on a 1-10 scale (nothing in between), you're not emotionally healthy.

Fortunately this team is deep, and arguably we are better offensively with SloMo or Prince in the starting lineup. Further, while I didn't watch the game yesterday (I'm on the road again), I assume Jaden was the guy BI lit up in the first quarter when he outscored the Wolves by himself. Not having Jaden seems to inspire Ant on defense, because everything I read says he was brilliant yesterday in the second half.

So, the Lakers are 6 1/2 point favorites, but does anybody really fear them like you might fear the Suns? Schroder killed us last game, but his Achilles might keep him out of the game. LeBron is the King, but he also looks old to me. And he and AD are always an eyelash away from a bad injury. Finally, we only know too well how easy it is to exploit DLo in the playoffs. How are they going to hide him if Schroder can't play?

But ultimately I think we lose to the Lakers if Rudy is slowed by the spasms. If he's not at least 90% healthy Tuesday, I might rest him for the Friday home rematch with the Pelicans (I think they will beat the Thunder). If I had to predict, we are going to fins ourselves in a playoff series with the Nuggets. And I don't like our chances in that one without Jaden.

[Coolbreeze44]

I probably would have waited until halftime, but I think I would have punched Slomo if he said those things to me. I'm guessing similar things have happened behind the curtain with this team. As for Jaden, his injury puts a huge damper on things for me. I think he's a top 3 player on our team, one we are really going to miss. It might not show up in the first game or two, but over a 7 game series his absence is going to hurt big time.

[Carlos Danger]

I probably would have waited until halftime, but I think I would have punched Slomo if he said those things to me. I'm guessing similar things have happened behind the curtain with this team. As for Jaden, his injury puts a huge damper on things for me. I think he's a top 3 player on our team, one we are really going to miss. It might not show up in the first game or two, but over a 7 game series his absence is going to hurt big time.

Yep. I think initially Rudy looked like the bad guy in all of this. But the more I think about it, the more I put this on Anderson. Rudy's back was not right. He suited up and played anyway. You don't "call out" someone who's already playing hurt. Much less using the language Anderson reportedly used. Even Rudy's punch looked weak...with a healthy back, I think he hits much harder than that :-).

It will be interesting to see how they handle this "in-house". Initially, I was thinking Rudy would be suspended for a game by Finch. But we are already so short handed (Naz/McDaniels)...IDK. They may try to find a creative way to discipline him where he can still play (assuming his back makes him available).

On a side note...who wins in a fight between those two? I'd take Rudy.

[Coolbreeze44]

If Kyle also punches in slow motion Rudy would probably win. But I don't see Rudy being much of a fighter. One good shot to the jaw would probably end it.