GDT: Minnesota vs. Golden State

[AbeVigodaLive]

Boston seems downright giddy with Derrick White even if the stats could be seen as sort of pedestrian.

Then again, Marcus Smart's stats are pretty meh too and he's been championed as a primary reason for the team's resurgence... there are some similarities with the two players.

[Lipoli390]

I'm not saying we would beat GS in a 7 game series, but KAT is a huge problem for them. Maybe when Wiseman comes back that could change some, but they literally had no one who could guard him last night. He would average 35 against that lineup in a playoff series.

They do have perennial DPOY candidate, Draymond Green, though.

And smaller, savvy, physical defenders who know how to get away with contact have flustered Towns repeatedly in the past.

I'm not so sure Abe. I think Towns does well against smaller defenders, even savvy ones, no matter how physical. KAT has problems against physical defenders his size or bigger - especially those like Embiid who are savvy. Green would certainly make it tougher on KAT than what we saw last night. But I like how the Wolves match up with the Warriors when KAT's on the court.

[Q-is-here]

I don't know Lip, have we really played Golden State at full strength yet this season? I think they pretty easily handle us in a series IF they are fully healthy.

[Lipoli390]

I don't know Lip, have we really played Golden State at full strength yet this season? I think they pretty easily handle us in a series IF they are fully healthy.

Oh, i think Golden State would win a series against the Wolves if they're fully healthy. But I agree with Cool that KAT would be a problem for the Warriors - enough to make it fairly competitive if the Wolves are healthy and Edwards gets back on track.

[Coolbreeze44]

I don't know Lip, have we really played Golden State at full strength yet this season? I think they pretty easily handle us in a series IF they are fully healthy.

Oh, i think Golden State would win a series against the Wolves if they're fully healthy. But I agree with Cool that KAT would be a problem for the Warriors - enough to make it fairly competitive if the Wolves are healthy and Edwards gets back on track.

Yeah, I think KAT is just a matchup nightmare for them. GS would win the series but we could give them a very tough time.

By the way, I think the Wolves are going to win their next 5 games. With the Nuggets losing at home tonight to OKC, the standings could look very interesting after these next 5.

[Lipoli390]

I don't know Lip, have we really played Golden State at full strength yet this season? I think they pretty easily handle us in a series IF they are fully healthy.

Oh, i think Golden State would win a series against the Wolves if they're fully healthy. But I agree with Cool that KAT would be a problem for the Warriors - enough to make it fairly competitive if the Wolves are healthy and Edwards gets back on track.

Yeah, I think KAT is just a matchup nightmare for them. GS would win the series but we could give them a very tough time.

By the way, I think the Wolves are going to win their next 5 games. With the Nuggets losing at home tonight to OKC, the standings could look very interesting after these next 5.

I think the Wolves will win 4 of their next 5, but I wouldn't be surprised if they won all 5. The Nuggets loss tonight is big for the Wolves. It's a game I thought Denver would win. The Wolves are now 2.5 games behind the Nuggets.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

If tonight tells you anything, it's that Minnesota can't afford to expect a win against Oklahoma City on Friday or they will get embarrassed with a bad loss similar to what Denver just experienced. They need to respect every opponent down the stretch. Every game is crucial.

[Monster]

If tonight tells you anything, it's that Minnesota can't afford to expect a win against Oklahoma City on Friday or they will get embarrassed with a bad loss similar to what Denver just experienced. They need to respect every opponent down the stretch. Every game is crucial.

Yeah and the Jazz had to go to OT to beat Houston.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I'm not saying we would beat GS in a 7 game series, but KAT is a huge problem for them. Maybe when Wiseman comes back that could change some, but they literally had no one who could guard him last night. He would average 35 against that lineup in a playoff series.

They do have perennial DPOY candidate, Draymond Green, though.

And smaller, savvy, physical defenders who know how to get away with contact have flustered Towns repeatedly in the past.

I'm not so sure Abe. I think Towns does well against smaller defenders, even savvy ones, no matter how physical. KAT has problems against physical defenders his size or bigger - especially those like Embiid who are savvy. Green would certainly make it tougher on KAT than what we saw last night. But I like how the Wolves match up with the Warriors when KAT's on the court.

Towns has struggled against the likes of Batum for the Clippers. (with doubles) Kerr said after the Wolves game that they didn't send many doubles because the team was in disarray. A healthy Warriors team with smarter, better veterans would be MUCH more adept at throwing doubles and other things at Towns.

I also think you're short-changing a healthy Draymond Green a bit. It's almost incalculable how much better defensively he is than the rookie Kuminga... and the game swung primarily when the rookie was matched up on Towns. Looney, while not flashy and not the best guy to defend Towns, is still pretty solid on defense was actually +2 for the game. Green and Looney are both steady, savvy defenders... who are so much better equipped to match up with Towns than the raw Kuminga or Porter or Tuscano-Anderson that it's difficult to even make a valid comparison.

Remember, the Warriors have the league's best defense when Green is on the court. In fact, they were so far ahead of the pack... that they've maintained the season lead despite an obvious drop in Green's absence.

[Q-is-here]

Green is also an absolute master at bodying up and jostling people without getting called for fouls. Probably the best ever at this. These are the types of defenders that frustrate KAT the most because there is so much physicality and contact without a whistle. Looney is pretty good at it too as Abe says and you can see KAT's frustration boil over at times against Looney. Green is like 3X better and more likely to get away with shit.

This reminds me of one play in the second quarter where McDaniels took the ball to the hoop and had may be a half step on his defender, Damion Lee. Lee stayed pretty walled up and vertical but bumped McDaniels just a hair and got called for the foul. It was very ticky-tack. McDaniels made the layup and got the and-one.

I just shook my head because that sort of bump happens to KAT nearly every damn time he drives to the hoop and he almost NEVER gets the call unless it's pretty blatant contact. Yet 2nd year role player McDaniels gets a more generous whistle.....