Game Report - First Playoff Win in 14 Years

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

I think you may be right about the leadership thing.

Jimmy might be our captain, but Taj, Crawford and now maybe Rose are the voices in the locker room.

Great quote by TAJ:

Taj on Wiggins: "He's just starting to really take the game to a new level as far as just taking his matchup serious. He's starting to really dislike the guy in the other jersey. They're not smacking 5s before the game. He's really into the hunt of the game and I'm loving it."

If these guys can get Wiggs to buy in, then the skies the limit for this team. I dislike Crawford on the floor, but I cant discount the positive influence he probably provides behind the scenes.

Thats where having good insight from seat holders can provide a different perspective on team dynamics.

[Lipoli390]

This was more of the offense I envisioned when this team was put together. Drive and kick and 3's with efficiency more than really volume. Now 56% isn't sustainable from behind the arc, but if we can hang in the ball park from behind the arc it's just over. We hang with all these guys giving up big double digit deficits from behind the arc. If that number is single digits or even, I don't care who we are playing we're winning that game and last night was a perfect example. We blew out a team who made 15 3's which traditionally would have been about a +18 margin for them because we hit 15 efficiently. Keep being aggressive. Keep driving and kicking and hopefully we can keep that margin low so we give ourselves a real chance. We have more talent than them which is crazy to say, but we simply do when Jeff, Wiggins, Butler and Towns show up. This can still be a series, but game 4 is critical. If you hold home court the notorious playoff chokers will start to feel the pressure again.

I'm glad you made the point that we're actually more talented than the Rockets (or at least ast talented) when Butler, KAT, Wiggins and Teague all show up. What's particularly intriguing is that, although KAT played well last night, he can play better against this team. He was missing layups and little jump hooks he usually makes. We haven't seen his best game yet in this series. And we haven't gotten much from Gibson or Belly yet either. I still don't see us winning the series, but we can push it to 6 games with a win on Monday night. To win game 4, we're going to need the Wiggins and Teague we saw last night. And everyone on the Wolves will have to take their intensity up another notch or two to handle what will be intense physical play from the Rockets tomorrow night.

[Monster]

This was more of the offense I envisioned when this team was put together. Drive and kick and 3's with efficiency more than really volume. Now 56% isn't sustainable from behind the arc, but if we can hang in the ball park from behind the arc it's just over. We hang with all these guys giving up big double digit deficits from behind the arc. If that number is single digits or even, I don't care who we are playing we're winning that game and last night was a perfect example. We blew out a team who made 15 3's which traditionally would have been about a +18 margin for them because we hit 15 efficiently. Keep being aggressive. Keep driving and kicking and hopefully we can keep that margin low so we give ourselves a real chance. We have more talent than them which is crazy to say, but we simply do when Jeff, Wiggins, Butler and Towns show up. This can still be a series, but game 4 is critical. If you hold home court the notorious playoff chokers will start to feel the pressure again.

I'm glad you made the point that we're actually more talented than the Rockets (or at least ast talented) when Butler, KAT, Wiggins and Teague all show up. What's particularly intriguing is that, although KAT played well last night, he can play better against this team. He was missing layups and little jump hooks he usually makes. We haven't seen his best game yet in this series. And we haven't gotten much from Gibson or Belly yet either. I still don't see us winning the series, but we can push it to 6 games with a win on Monday night. To win game 4, we're going to need the Wiggins and Teague we saw last night. And everyone on the Wolves will have to take their intensity up another notch or two to handle what will be intense physical play from the Rockets tomorrow night.

There are a bunch of reasons to force this series to a game 6 and this isn't at the top of my list but it sure wouldn't hurt the finacials if the Wolves had another home game.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Abe's very late DVR recap post:

- Great win. Everybody did good things. KAT is still struggling a bit offensively, but he seems to be figuring out how to wall up better defensively with that verticality thing. Teague was pretty damn good... because he was more decisive. I don't care if he passes more or shoots more... just be decisive about it. Butler was Butler. Gibson was Gibson. Rose was energetic and hit enough shots to offset the bad takes he's bound to have.

- Wiggins was good. As noted by others, in part it's because he stayed in his wheelhouse. And he shot when open or when going to the basket and I don't remember any turnaround contested long twos.

- The Wolves STILL pass up a lot of open shots (usually three pointers) or opportunities to get the ball to favorable matchups like Towns in the post... only to settle for much worse shots. A team like Houston that plays the odds as THE very fabric of its organization knows this. Over time, those missed opportunities will add up and cost the Wolves if not resolved.

- I've mentioned it before... but PJ Tucker fouls on EVERY play. But is that a bad thing? Not for Houston if he gets away with it. The Wolves have to learn the savvy part of the game and how to sell fouls. (PJ Tucker definitely would get a thumbs up from Bruce Bowen for his defensive style. And the similarities with both men fighting to get/stay in the league are not by accident.)

- Fun game tonight -- because now there is legit reason(s) for optimism. If the Wolves win, they most certainly put pressure on Houston and Game 6 back in MN is going to be a zoo.... and so much fun. And I think everybody goes into the offseason at least sorta positive after taking the league's clear best team to a longer series.

A loss... and the series is over in 5. And like we've seen over the past few months... there's going to be a wide disparity of opinion over where this team stands.

[Lipoli390]

Abe's very late DVR recap post:


- The Wolves STILL pass up a lot of open shots (usually three pointers) or opportunities to get the ball to favorable matchups like Towns in the post... only to settle for much worse shots. A team like Houston that plays the odds as THE very fabric of its organization knows this. Over time, those missed opportunities will add up and cost the Wolves if not resolved.
.

Great observation, Abe. It seems ingrained in all our guys to hesitate and not take open shots when they're available early in a possession. That has to change for this team to get the most out of its talent in this series and beyond. I also agree that the key to Teague's game Saturday night was quick decision-making. I'm with you in that I don't much care whether he shoots or passes. He just needs to make the decision quickly and act decisively. That's when he's at his best. Of course, keep in mind he has Thibodeau barking at him constantly.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Abe's very late DVR recap post:

- Great win. Everybody did good things. KAT is still struggling a bit offensively, but he seems to be figuring out how to wall up better defensively with that verticality thing. Teague was pretty damn good... because he was more decisive. I don't care if he passes more or shoots more... just be decisive about it. Butler was Butler. Gibson was Gibson. Rose was energetic and hit enough shots to offset the bad takes he's bound to have.

- Wiggins was good. As noted by others, in part it's because he stayed in his wheelhouse. And he shot when open or when going to the basket and I don't remember any turnaround contested long twos.

- The Wolves STILL pass up a lot of open shots (usually three pointers) or opportunities to get the ball to favorable matchups like Towns in the post... only to settle for much worse shots. A team like Houston that plays the odds as THE very fabric of its organization knows this. Over time, those missed opportunities will add up and cost the Wolves if not resolved.

- I've mentioned it before... but PJ Tucker fouls on EVERY play. But is that a bad thing? Not for Houston if he gets away with it. The Wolves have to learn the savvy part of the game and how to sell fouls. (PJ Tucker definitely would get a thumbs up from Bruce Bowen for his defensive style. And the similarities with both men fighting to get/stay in the league are not by accident.)

- Fun game tonight -- because now there is legit reason(s) for optimism. If the Wolves win, they most certainly put pressure on Houston and Game 6 back in MN is going to be a zoo.... and so much fun. And I think everybody goes into the offseason at least sorta positive after taking the league's clear best team to a longer series.

A loss... and the series is over in 5. And like we've seen over the past few months... there's going to be a wide disparity of opinion over where this team stands.

Good thoughts. At this stage, I'm calling the season a success even though I have plenty of beefs once you start peeling the onion back. A) 47 wins beat my prediction; B) Made the playoffs, and C) Playing some solid defense for three games against the league's second best offense and winning one of those games.

The Denver play-in win and the Houston win the other night was nothing but pure joy for season ticket holders like Lip and my parents that got to be there in person after years of losing basketball. That is great stuff, even if we ultimately get bounced in 5 games by Houston.

I agree with you on your Tucker comment. That also applies to anyone guarding Harden when he uses his arm to clear people out. We're going to have to start flopping a bit in order to hopefully draw a call. I mentioned before the series started that one of Thibs' Game One goals should be to get tossed out. Didn't happen....

[Monster]

Abe's very late DVR recap post:

- Great win. Everybody did good things. KAT is still struggling a bit offensively, but he seems to be figuring out how to wall up better defensively with that verticality thing. Teague was pretty damn good... because he was more decisive. I don't care if he passes more or shoots more... just be decisive about it. Butler was Butler. Gibson was Gibson. Rose was energetic and hit enough shots to offset the bad takes he's bound to have.

- Wiggins was good. As noted by others, in part it's because he stayed in his wheelhouse. And he shot when open or when going to the basket and I don't remember any turnaround contested long twos.

- The Wolves STILL pass up a lot of open shots (usually three pointers) or opportunities to get the ball to favorable matchups like Towns in the post... only to settle for much worse shots. A team like Houston that plays the odds as THE very fabric of its organization knows this. Over time, those missed opportunities will add up and cost the Wolves if not resolved.

- I've mentioned it before... but PJ Tucker fouls on EVERY play. But is that a bad thing? Not for Houston if he gets away with it. The Wolves have to learn the savvy part of the game and how to sell fouls. (PJ Tucker definitely would get a thumbs up from Bruce Bowen for his defensive style. And the similarities with both men fighting to get/stay in the league are not by accident.)

- Fun game tonight -- because now there is legit reason(s) for optimism. If the Wolves win, they most certainly put pressure on Houston and Game 6 back in MN is going to be a zoo.... and so much fun. And I think everybody goes into the offseason at least sorta positive after taking the league's clear best team to a longer series.

A loss... and the series is over in 5. And like we've seen over the past few months... there's going to be a wide disparity of opinion over where this team stands.

Good thoughts. At this stage, I'm calling the season a success even though I have plenty of beefs once you start peeling the onion back. A) 47 wins beat my prediction; B) Made the playoffs, and C) Playing some solid defense for three games against the league's second best offense and winning one of those games.

The Denver play-in win and the Houston win the other night was nothing but pure joy for season ticket holders like Lip and my parents that got to be there in person after years of losing basketball. That is great stuff, even if we ultimately get bounced in 5 games by Houston.

I agree with you on your Tucker comment. That also applies to anyone guarding Harden when he uses his arm to clear people out. We're going to have to start flopping a bit in order to hopefully draw a call. I mentioned before the series started that one of Thibs' Game One goals should be to get tossed out. Didn't happen....

Even if Thibs planned to get tossed in game 1 he probably didn't want to give up free points and not be around when the Wolves had a legit chance at winning that game.

How the season is perceived could be shaped by how we lose those games if it ends in 5. For example if Game 5 is a blowout loss...maybe less favorable.