lipoli390 wrote:In game 3, Giannis imposed his will on the game and carried his team to victory. Tonight, Booker is imposing his will and has the Suns up by 6 at the end of the 3rd quarter. Trae Young did it a number of times for the Hawks. The question for Wolves fans is, who (if anyone) on the current roster could emerge as that guy for the Wolves. Right now, I think the best candidate to become that guy is Anthony Edwards. DLO and KAT will have their moments in that role, but Edwards is the key. He can become our Booker.
The thing I find interesting is how critical the mid-range game is for these shot makers. Middleton and Booker time and time again were forced to take and make shots from 6-20 feet. Edwards was NOT good pulling up off the dribble when going down hill. He's going to need to develop that shot. He may not need to get as good as Middleton or Booker, but he needs to get better in the mid-range off the bounce. He may already be better than both guys at getting all the way to the rack, but defenses will certainly play drop coverage on him in a playoff scenario.
I was thinking the same thing Q. The mid-range game has been critical for Middleton and Booker this series and throughout the playoffs. It's actually been critical for all the great players in just about every playoff game this year. Booker, Middleton, Chris Paul, Kawhi Leonard, Trae Young -- all those guys have depended a lot on mid-range jumpers off the bounce and floaters throughout the playoffs. And yes, that's an area of Ant's game that hasn't yet developed. I agree it will be key to his success, no matter how good he is at getting to the rack.
Cam Johnson and Mikel Bridges have successfully used those jumpers in this playoffs too. They are role players but it's been a key to their scoring.
Meanwhile Chris Paul was terrible in this game. Holiday and the Bucks had a lot to do with that but he wasn't good overall I expect much better from him. It's not all on him and Bucks deserve credit but if Paul has a solid game the Suns probably win. This is a fun series to watch though with 2 teams that move the ball and play defense.
lipoli390 wrote:In game 3, Giannis imposed his will on the game and carried his team to victory. Tonight, Booker is imposing his will and has the Suns up by 6 at the end of the 3rd quarter. Trae Young did it a number of times for the Hawks. The question for Wolves fans is, who (if anyone) on the current roster could emerge as that guy for the Wolves. Right now, I think the best candidate to become that guy is Anthony Edwards. DLO and KAT will have their moments in that role, but Edwards is the key. He can become our Booker.
The thing I find interesting is how critical the mid-range game is for these shot makers. Middleton and Booker time and time again were forced to take and make shots from 6-20 feet. Edwards was NOT good pulling up off the dribble when going down hill. He's going to need to develop that shot. He may not need to get as good as Middleton or Booker, but he needs to get better in the mid-range off the bounce. He may already be better than both guys at getting all the way to the rack, but defenses will certainly play drop coverage on him in a playoff scenario.
I was thinking the same thing Q. The mid-range game has been critical for Middleton and Booker this series and throughout the playoffs. It's actually been critical for all the great players in just about every playoff game this year. Booker, Middleton, Chris Paul, Kawhi Leonard, Trae Young -- all those guys have depended a lot on mid-range jumpers off the bounce and floaters throughout the playoffs. And yes, that's an area of Ant's game that hasn't yet developed. I agree it will be key to his success, no matter how good he is at getting to the rack.
Cam Johnson and Mikel Bridges have successfully used those jumpers in this playoffs too. They are role players but it's been a key to their scoring.
Meanwhile Chris Paul was terrible in this game. Holiday and the Bucks had a lot to do with that but he wasn't good overall I expect much better from him. It's not all on him and Bucks deserve credit but if Paul has a solid game the Suns probably win. This is a fun series to watch though with 2 teams that move the ball and play defense.
Yeah, I am constantly impressed with the number of guys that can make shots on the Suns. Cam Johnson and Bridges not only can stand in a corner and hit the catch-and-shoot 3, but they can create a shot if they have to. I mean, they have done a brilliant job with that roster...virtually zero weaknesses on that squad and nearly every guy in the rotation is a legit 2-way player. I still think they are the better team than Milwaukee even though I'm rooting for the Bucks.
The Wolves are a loooooooong ways off. Quite humbling.
I love Devin Booker's intensity, but does anyone else think he got away with at least 7 fouls last night? I appreciate that referees call the game differently in the playoffs, but some of the calls they missed on Booker last night were unacceptable. On the other hand, I really like it when a player whines about a call, and Van Gundy says matter of factly "that's a foul".
I also endorse Q's comment above that these playoffs are showing us just how far our Wolves are from these two teams. I can only hope that Rosas is watching closely and making the same observation, and planning on how he can revise this roster to make us competitive.
FNG, On Booker's fouls, I thought he was unfairly called for one or two earlier and then once he had 5 fouls the refs blatantly swallowed their whistles on two obvious fouls by Booker late in the game. So I'd almost call it a wash.
Speaking of Booker though, what a show he and Middleton put on with their shot making. Just an incredibly gritty performance by both guys with defenses draped all over them. When was the last time a guy put up 42 without a single made 3? That was Booker last night.
I will also say this....no way are the Bucks at this point without Middleton. Both he and Giannis are indispensable. You have got to have guys that can hit tough shots and Giannis isn't capable of doing that unless he gets all the way to the rim. Time and again it was Middelton taking the big shots.
So the Giannis block... We've seen that same play by Wolves opponents hundreds/thousands of times by now. And I'm often left wondering "well, there was nothing Towns could have done there to stop it. He was stuck either way."
Maybe not. That was a phenomenal play by Giannis. We all know he's not the best shooter. And we know he relies on size + athleticism a lot. But I think his toughness is incredibly underrated. Not just the type of toughness to return with a knee injury. The mental toughness. The will. The drive.
I've discussed it numerous times... but the moment he launched Mike Dunleavy on a cheap shot in a playoff game... I became a fan. Usually, it would have just been a cheap shot and I'd rip the offender. But in the moment, after all the dirty tricks Dunleavy was pulling on Giannis and his teammates, basically kicking sand in their faces in a blowout... it was justly deserved.
I saw it as a sign of a leader. Giannis is quietly, unassumingly, becoming arguably the game's greatest team leader. I find it hard not to root for the guy and his team.
AbeVigodaLive wrote:So the Giannis block... We've seen that same play by Wolves opponents hundreds/thousands of times by now. And I'm often left wondering "well, there was nothing Towns could have done there to stop it. He was stuck either way."
Maybe not. That was a phenomenal play by Giannis. We all know he's not the best shooter. And we know he relies on size + athleticism a lot. But I think his toughness is incredibly underrated. Not just the type of toughness to return with a knee injury. The mental toughness. The will. The drive.
I've discussed it numerous times... but the moment he launched Mike Dunleavy on a cheap shot in a playoff game... I became a fan. Usually, it would have just been a cheap shot and I'd rip the offender. But in the moment, after all the dirty tricks Dunleavy was pulling on Giannis and his teammates, basically kicking sand in their faces in a blowout... it was justly deserved.
I saw it as a sign of a leader. Giannis is quietly, unassumingly, becoming arguably the game's greatest team leader. I find it hard not to root for the guy and his team.
Q12543 wrote:FNG, On Booker's fouls, I thought he was unfairly called for one or two earlier and then once he had 5 fouls the refs blatantly swallowed their whistles on two obvious fouls by Booker late in the game. So I'd almost call it a wash.
Speaking of Booker though, what a show he and Middleton put on with their shot making. Just an incredibly gritty performance by both guys with defenses draped all over them. When was the last time a guy put up 42 without a single made 3? That was Booker last night.
I will also say this....no way are the Bucks at this point without Middleton. Both he and Giannis are indispensable. You have got to have guys that can hit tough shots and Giannis isn't capable of doing that unless he gets all the way to the rim. Time and again it was Middelton taking the big shots.
Earlier in the game the refs missed 2 back to back calls that went against the Suns and there was another fairly obvious call they missed in the 3rd quarter I believes I some of these things sometimes even out. I'm not asking for perfection from those guys. Overall this series I think has been fun and I haven't felt the refs have gotten in the way of the games.
I think the Bucks need another guy that just flat out score the ball. That's not exactly easy to add. As they mentioned in the broadcast during this game losing Donte D and was a big loss that isn't brought up as much. Pat C has been a big contributor for them in this finals. I think both teams have guys giving championship efforts throughout their rosters.
It's clear that the Bucks have two stars - Giannis and Middleton. The latter isn't generally referred to as a star, but he has clearly been one throughout this year's playoffs and last night was a great example. As others have pointed out, he carried the Bucks to victory last night - although Giannis was also a key along with Holiday's defense.
Can't say enough about how this year's playoffs have highlighted the importance of mid-range shooting - even in this era of the 3-point shot.
I still think the Suns will win this series. I just think they have more talent top to bottom. However, if Middleton continues to play the way he's been playing, the series is certainly up for grabs. Just a great series between two teams that are easy to root for.
FNG wrote:I love Devin Booker's intensity, but does anyone else think he got away with at least 7 fouls last night? I appreciate that referees call the game differently in the playoffs, but some of the calls they missed on Booker last night were unacceptable. On the other hand, I really like it when a player whines about a call, and Van Gundy says matter of factly "that's a foul".
I also endorse Q's comment above that these playoffs are showing us just how far our Wolves are from these two teams. I can only hope that Rosas is watching closely and making the same observation, and planning on how he can revise this roster to make us competitive.
The Wolves being competitive...let's remember both the Bucks and Suns have 2 significant contributors they added this season. The Suns added Paul and Crowder (Payne played 8 games in the bubble) and the Bucks added Holiday and Tucker. The Bucks were a good team before they made their moves but I'm not sure they get here without improving their roster like they did with those additions. So yes the Wolves may have some work to do but there is hope for adding to the roster to make some strides. The question is whether or not Towns and even Russell makes a jump like Booker did by being a winning player. It likely helped to have some good players around him too but he should get credit (along with some for Monte Williams) for becoming a much more complete player. I like the potential of the correct roster but I do think that Rosas needs to find some way to add a solid vet contributor to add to the group they have. Like I have been saying for a while I don't think they have to spend big money or assets to do it. I also think Rubio if he is still on the roster can be part of the solid good players around young guys factor I spoke of.
FNG wrote:I love Devin Booker's intensity, but does anyone else think he got away with at least 7 fouls last night? I appreciate that referees call the game differently in the playoffs, but some of the calls they missed on Booker last night were unacceptable. On the other hand, I really like it when a player whines about a call, and Van Gundy says matter of factly "that's a foul".
I also endorse Q's comment above that these playoffs are showing us just how far our Wolves are from these two teams. I can only hope that Rosas is watching closely and making the same observation, and planning on how he can revise this roster to make us competitive.
The Wolves being competitive...let's remember both the Bucks and Suns have 2 significant contributors they added this season. The Suns added Paul and Crowder (Payne played 8 games in the bubble) and the Bucks added Holiday and Tucker. The Bucks were a good team before they made their moves but I'm not sure they get here without improving their roster like they did with those additions. So yes the Wolves may have some work to do but there is hope for adding to the roster to make some strides. The question is whether or not Towns and even Russell makes a jump like Booker did by being a winning player. It likely helped to have some good players around him too but he should get credit (along with some for Monte Williams) for becoming a much more complete player. I like the potential of the correct roster but I do think that Rosas needs to find some way to add a solid vet contributor to add to the group they have. Like I have been saying for a while I don't think they have to spend big money or assets to do it. I also think Rubio if he is still on the roster can be part of the solid good players around young guys factor I spoke of.
I agree, Monster. But no matter who we add, the fate of the Wolves remains tied to our current core of KAT, DLO and Ant, along with McDaniels and Beasley to a lesser extent. Milwaukee had the best record in the East the year before they acquired Holiday and Tucker. The Suns had already taken off with their great bubble performance before acquiring Paul and Crowder. Adding a solid veteran piece or two works if our existing foundation is solid and that remains an open question, although I'm more optimistic than others about the quality/potential of our existing core. I recall how quickly the Suns moved from one of the worst teams to one of the best primarily through the maturation of their existing young core.
I know I'm just restating what you already acknowledged in your post when you noted the question of whether Towns or Russell can make a Booker-like jump. That's an important question. Thankfully, we now have Ant and McDaniels as well. Both have great potential and the opportunity to make big jumps in their play with their rookie seasons under their belts and a full training camp coming up this fall. We have other players with the potential to make significant jumps, including Nowell, Culver, Naz Reid, Vanderbilt and even Beasley. I'll also highlight your point about giving Monte Williams some credit for the Suns turn-around. We saw a similar coaching impact on the Hawks with their coaching change. So I wouldn't underestimate the impact Chris Finch will have on the Wolves next season. I think we already started to see that impact at the end of last season. I think he's a terrific head coach. And remember, the guy he replaced (while a great person by all accounts) wasn't anything close to an NBA-caliber head coach.
