Suns v Wolves

[Crazysauce]

Towns with 3 points in second half and one was a technical free throw. After all that talking to not show up.

[Q-is-here]

They needed to be humbled.


I don't think they realize that this can happen to them in the play-in as well and flush everything they've accomplished down the toilet.

Definitely agree. Phoenix absolutely took us apart in that 2nd half and KAT/DLO/Ant were co-conspirators in the cause.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Minnesota was up five to begin the fourth quarter. They proceeded to get outscored 42-28. Still a lot of work to do. The difference between a championship-level team and a team trying to reach the post-season for the second time since 2003-04.

[Wolvesfan21]

Ayton dominated KAT last night. KAT had no answer for him on either end. The issues with KAT about his mediocre defense is still an issue. Now Phoenix is punching everybody in the mouth so you have to credit them as well.

If KAT is going to help the Wolves get to that next level he still has work to do.

Certainly DLO didn't help last night either. He was terrible. Again Phoenix though is elite, the Wolves are very good. We simply saw the difference last night.

I haven't posted much this season, just enjoying the ride.

[FNG]

I watched the replay late last night and had a difficult time getting to sleep afterward...one of the most intense non-playoff games I have ever watched! We know why the Wolves were so intense...we're still battling for the slight chance of moving up from that 7th position, but the Suns' intensity was surprising...they've already clinched home court throughout the playoffs and could be coasting to the finish line.

The Suns are really good, so while a win would have really helped us in the standings, I'm impressed we hung with them. They are so incredibly deep, even while missing 4 players who might be getting regular minutes in our rotation (Paul, Johnson, Kaminsky and Saric)!

DLo was ripped a few times in the GDT, and I agree he didn't shoot well and looked leaky on defense at times. But his PG play has been at an elite level this season. He realized his shot was off last night and with so many scorers on this team limited himself to 9 shots (he averages 15.2 per game). Instead we got 7 assists and only one TO from him, including the most fun no-look assist I have ever seen from him. We will need better shooting and defense from him to win what might be some tough play-in games, but let's at least recognize the steps he has taken this season in becoming an effective PG.

And speaking of effective PGs, JMac had another nice game...I love the energy he and other reserves bring off the bench. I never thought he would be a plus defender...mostly because of his size...but his defensive instincts and quickness seem to create at least one key steal per game. It's not surprising to me he is moving up the on/off ranks on the Wolves...now third behind KAT and DLo.

Also a shout out to the SG formerly known as EyeChart. Monster can probably supply the data, but he seems to be one of the best finishers around the basket on the team...we missed some layups last night, but I'm always confident he's going to score when he gets inside. What an asset off the bench!

Great game, bad finish. It must have been fun there last night, so it would be great to get a game report from Lip.

[AbeVigodaLive]

We can talk about the little things they do/did correctly... but a career backup PG was even better at those things last night vs. the Wolves.

Cam Payne - 13 pts / 9 ast / 1 TO.

Russell has been sorta meh over the past 8 games or so. He's averaging 12.3 ppg on 37% fg and only 17 free throws (some of which are technicals). He's taking fewer attempts and generally been more of a caretaker type. Is that a bad thing? Depends what the expectations are. How much the Wolves are willing to pay for that type of player moving forward... and what other options at what price are out there if they're not.

The Wolves will need him to be more aggressive in the playoffs. Obviously, he's proven capable of carrying the team when on.

[FNG]

Fair comment about DLo above from Abe... I was a little too generous in my analysis of his play last night, because we all know his game hasn't been up to this year's standard the past two weeks.

But as to the question of what do we want from DLo...is caretaker enough? Not likely, if we want to get to the next level. We need his scoring plus the defense he showed the first half of the season to have a better chance in the play-in. That said, if he recognizes his shot is off (like it was early in the season and has been the past 8 games), I don't want him forcing anything. DLo has impressed me with his maturity and grey matter this season, and if his shot is off, he recognizes there is a lot of fire power on this team that can benefit from what is becoming an elite level of passing. But yeah, he needs to score too...we can't have him getting outplayed by Cameron Payne.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Fair comment about DLo above from Abe... I was a little too generous in my analysis of his play last night, because we all know his game hasn't been up to this year's standard the past two weeks.

But as to the question of what do we want from DLo...is caretaker enough? Not likely, if we want to get to the next level. We need his scoring plus the defense he showed the first half of the season to have a better chance in the play-in. That said, if he recognizes his shot is off (like it was early in the season and has been the past 8 games), I don't want him forcing anything. DLo has impressed me with his maturity and grey matter this season, and if his shot is off, he recognizes there is a lot of fire power on this team that can benefit from what is becoming an elite level of passing. But yeah, he needs to score too...we can't have him getting outplayed by Cameron Payne.

A counterpoint could be that he's being paid -- and will demand an extension -- for his shot to be "on" more often.