GDT: Knicks at Wolves

[WildWolf2813]

Thibs is notorious for playing starters in garbage time, but Finch is even worse. Ant is a garbage time guy tonight.

He only kept him in there because Brunson was still there

[KG4Ever]

Another nice pass by Shake. Shake has been great passing tonight, hitting Rudy, NAW and Minott with lobs and finding NAW in the corner for wide open shot. He should have gotten even a few more assists had guys not missed. Those who don't think Shake can play point (Lip, I'm talking to you) should watch this game.

[Q-is-here]

Another nice pass by Shake. Shake has been great passing tonight, hitting Rudy, NAW and Minott with lobs and finding NAW in the corner for wide open shot. He should have gotten even a few more assists had guys not missed. Those who don't think Shake can play point (Lip, I'm talking to you) should watch this game.

He was OK-ish tonight, but we need more from him. Not impressed.

NAW on the other hand has really come around after a poor start to the season and has become an X-factor off the bench of late.

[Crazysauce]

Guys..... we are good! We just keep winning. It feels great. Gobert absolutely dominated tonight. Just a well played game.

[KG4Ever]

Another nice pass by Shake. Shake has been great passing tonight, hitting Rudy, NAW and Minott with lobs and finding NAW in the corner for wide open shot. He should have gotten even a few more assists had guys not missed. Those who don't think Shake can play point (Lip, I'm talking to you) should watch this game.

He was OK-ish tonight, but we need more from him. Not impressed.

NAW on the other hand has really come around after a poor start to the season and has become an X-factor off the bench of late.

He was great passing, rebounded well, hit on his drives, got to the free throw line and made those and the only negative was his outside shot didn't fall, but they rimmed out, so he wasn't that off. Shake has a long history of good outside shooting, so with enough shots he should be fine.

NAW has been a mixed bag. I'm not as impressed as you are with NAW. He's really inconsistent, but he played fine tonight.

[Q-is-here]

Good win against a solid Knicks team that had won three straight. They aren't a Tier I NBA team, but they are in that next tier down and it's not like the Wolves got much of a break after the road trip.

It was yet another great team effort, without one guy really dominating the proceedings. Ant played a nice second half after multiple halves of mediocre basketball going back a few games.

[KG4Ever]

If I was a Knicks fan, I would want them to blow it up. They are in perennial purgatory with a team that can sneak into playoffs but not seriously challenge. Thibs will overplay starters and not develop young players. Knicks fans are so desperate for a star player that they manufacture rumors involving KAT and Embiid. I love their mediocrity and Thibs practically guarantees it.

[Jester1534]

Another nice pass by Shake. Shake has been great passing tonight, hitting Rudy, NAW and Minott with lobs and finding NAW in the corner for wide open shot. He should have gotten even a few more assists had guys not missed. Those who don't think Shake can play point (Lip, I'm talking to you) should watch this game.

He was OK-ish tonight, but we need more from him. Not impressed.

NAW on the other hand has really come around after a poor start to the season and has become an X-factor off the bench of late.

He was great passing, rebounded well, hit on his drives, got to the free throw line and made those and the only negative was his outside shot didn't fall, but they rimmed out, so he wasn't that off. Shake has a long history of good outside shooting, so with enough shots he should be fine.

NAW has been a mixed bag. I'm not as impressed as you are with NAW. He's really inconsistent, but he played fine tonight.

KG no offense but every time you talk about Shake
Milton this clip is all I can think of. But I do agree with you Shake for your 8th/9th guy is pretty damn good.

https://youtu.be/FGD0lb-RC2I?si=a64PPKYR3xHzzNe9

[FNG]

I just started watching with the 2nd half. From what I have seen, how did we only have a 2-point lead at the half?!?

I just finished the replay, Tim, and I can answer your question. We played well in the first half, but we essentially played without Ant who was mostly invisible. But Ant came out hot right from the start of the 3rd quarter, and everything changed.

Here's my overly-simplistic analysis of where the Wolves are right now. When Ant doesn't show up, as he didn't for 4 1/2 games prior to his brilliant second half tonight, we are still good enough to barely win games. But when Ant plays at the level we all know he can, we are an elite team able to beat any team in the league. As some of us have said, we don't really know if this is Ant's or KAT's team. But we do know that we need tonight's second half Ant to compete for a championship.

Welcome back, Ant!

[Q-is-here]

I just started watching with the 2nd half. From what I have seen, how did we only have a 2-point lead at the half?!?

I just finished the replay, Tim, and I can answer your question. We played well in the first half, but we essentially played without Ant who was mostly invisible. But Ant came out hot right from the start of the 3rd quarter, and everything changed.

Here's my overly-simplistic analysis of where the Wolves are right now. When Ant doesn't show up, as he didn't for 4 1/2 games prior to his brilliant second half tonight, we are still good enough to barely win games. But when Ant plays at the level we all know he can, we are an elite team able to beat any team in the league. As some of us have said, we don't really know if this is Ant's or KAT's team. But we do know that we need tonight's second half Ant to compete for a championship.

Welcome back, Ant!

The good news is we saw what Ant can do in the playoffs last year. He seems to rise to the occasion in the bright lights, but goes into these multi-game lulls during the regular season. To your point, we finally have an ensemble of players that can compete and win without being overly reliant on one guy, but it just feels like Ant is underachieving a bit versus expectations coming into the season.

I still question whether he is in top physical shape. He has been coming up short on a lot of his jumpers of late and that tells me his legs are a bit tired. I'd be willing to bet his diet hasn't changed much since he was a rookie....