After 14 years, ladies and gentlemen...the playoffs

[kekgeek]

While I agree we will probably go inside a bunch against Houston, I honestly think they could care less. They will gladly play a game where we're shooting a bunch of 2's against their blitzkrieg of 3's any day. The math significantly favors them with the opportunity to get 50% more points per shot attempted.

Realistically, only Golden State can hang with these guys. We simply don't have the firepower, but hey, may be we steal a game.

Ya rockets could care less. They have had harden guard Taj this season.

I like your suggestion on defense.

I also think it huge to very capela in foul trouble. Big difference in capela rolling then nene

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Still feeling a little mixed about the Wolves going to the playoffs...can't help but be a little excited about the first postseason in 14 years, but also fearful of a mismatch against the Rockets and unhappy about now the near certainty of at least one more year of the Barking Ogre. I just checked the playoff schedule and my calendar, and felt somewhat of a relief when I saw I have conflicts with games 1 and 3 that will prevent me from watching...I just have a feeling this will be an unsatisfying series.

But if I am looking for any glimmer of hope in this series, I would look at the Rockets' injury situation. Mbah a Moute is out, Ryan Anderson has missed the last four games with a sprained ankle, and Paul, Gordon, Green and Ariza all missed a significant number of games this season (and we all know how injuries can recur)...and even Harden was listed as day to day before D'Antoni gave him the day off yesterday. The Rockets are better than us by double digit points as they proved 4 times this season, but an ankle here and a hammy there could change the complexion of this series in a hurry. I'm not too proud to not secretly hope for a key tweak or two.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Still feeling a little mixed about the Wolves going to the playoffs...can't help but be a little excited about the first postseason in 14 years, but also fearful of a mismatch against the Rockets and unhappy about now the near certainty of at least one more year of the Barking Ogre. I just checked the playoff schedule and my calendar, and felt somewhat of a relief when I saw I have conflicts with games 1 and 3 that will prevent me from watching...I just have a feeling this will be an unsatisfying series.

But if I am looking for any glimmer of hope in this series, I would look at the Rockets' injury situation. Mbah a Moute is out, Ryan Anderson has missed the last four games with a sprained ankle, and Paul, Gordon, Green and Ariza all missed a significant number of games this season (and we all know how injuries can recur)...and even Harden was listed as day to day before D'Antoni gave him the day off yesterday. The Rockets are better than us by double digit points as they proved 4 times this season, but an ankle here and a hammy there could change the complexion of this series in a hurry. I'm not too proud to not secretly hope for a key tweak or two.

You would think after matching up with these guys for four games we might kind of figure out some things defensively (i.e. Thibs, your scheme didn't freakin' work - try something different!). I would just like us to keep a couple games competitive, that's all.

[AbeVigodaLive]

How long until we can start the "Harden is flopping" posts?

How long after that until we can start the "Chris Paul is a real asshole" threads?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Still feeling a little mixed about the Wolves going to the playoffs...can't help but be a little excited about the first postseason in 14 years, but also fearful of a mismatch against the Rockets and unhappy about now the near certainty of at least one more year of the Barking Ogre. I just checked the playoff schedule and my calendar, and felt somewhat of a relief when I saw I have conflicts with games 1 and 3 that will prevent me from watching...I just have a feeling this will be an unsatisfying series.

But if I am looking for any glimmer of hope in this series, I would look at the Rockets' injury situation. Mbah a Moute is out, Ryan Anderson has missed the last four games with a sprained ankle, and Paul, Gordon, Green and Ariza all missed a significant number of games this season (and we all know how injuries can recur)...and even Harden was listed as day to day before D'Antoni gave him the day off yesterday. The Rockets are better than us by double digit points as they proved 4 times this season, but an ankle here and a hammy there could change the complexion of this series in a hurry. I'm not too proud to not secretly hope for a key tweak or two.

You would think after matching up with these guys for four games we might kind of figure out some things defensively (i.e. Thibs, your scheme didn't freakin' work - try something different!). I would just like us to keep a couple games competitive, that's all.

Yeah, you would think so, wouldn't ya? But then again, give me your three favorite examples of Thibs' showing great flexibility to adjust to an obvious situation. Thibs' one-size-fits-all coaching philosophy brought some success earlier this decade with the Bulls, but the sad truth is that the league has migrated in style and he hasn't. And that phenomenon will be on vivid display in this series.

That said, basketball is far from just x's and o's. There is an emotional element too, and that could also be on display. After coasting to four blowout victories over us this season, Houston has to be looking past us and already game planning OkC (or Utah). Conversely the Wolves have nothing to lose and will be loose, and warriors like Butler, Gibson and KAT are not going to go quietly. Add to that a playoff-hungry local fan base, and we should at least win one of the 2 home games. But we'll need some help from the injury fairy to hope for any more than that.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

How long until we can start the "Harden is flopping" posts?

How long after that until we can start the "Chris Paul is a real asshole" threads?

If Thibs were to make a list of objectives as it relates to this series (besides the obvious one of winning games), one of the first ones should be "Get ejected in Game 1". He needs to go absolutely ape shit the second the refs start allowing any Paul/Harden shenanigans.

Over the last year or so, I have noticed a bit more balance in how the refs call Harden. I have seen him get called a number of times for offensive fouls when he shoves his arms into people's bodies looking to draw a foul. Granted, he still gets away with it a lot.....

[TAFKASP]

The Wild are down

How long until we can start the "Harden is flopping" posts?

How long after that until we can start the "Chris Paul is a real asshole" threads?

I'm still upset the Wolves have still never moved their draft position up in the lottery and now they won't even have any chance of doing so. I guess if we have to look for a silver lining it'd be they won't drop down this year.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Not sure why Belly shot zero 3s last game. Cant he be our Ryan Anderson?

We're in the playoffs. Woo hoo!!!

[Lipoli390]

Correct me if I'm wrong... but you're not a big Thibs fan?




[Note: 16.5 more per game isn't even that bad. It might be worse in the next 4 games. Overall... Houston averages 20 more three pointers than MN on the season. I get the criticism in the antiquated offense... but it's slightly disingenuous to use the league's outlier team to rip a specific thing. For example, Houston takes nearly 14 more three pointers than GSW... "Steve Kerr is just giving them 14 more! Popovich is giving them 18 more!"]

Lol. I would never correct you, Abe, even if you were wrong. :). I'm not sure who was using Houston's 3-point volume for comparison. I was just comparing the Wolves to the entire League and noted that the Wolves are dead last in 3-pointers made. That's not a laudable distinction in today's NBA.

[Lipoli390]

As for our defense, I'd do something really unconventional....Put Teague on Tucker or Ariza and KAT on the other. Is Houston really going to ask Tucker or Ariza to post up or iso against Teague or KAT? That's not who they want creating offense.....Then put Butler on Harden, Wiggins on Paul, and Gibson on Capella and absolutely switch everything between these three.

I like your thinking, Q. But you're way outside the box. And as we all know, Thibodeau won't stray from the center of the box.