The Gauntlet: Biker Gang - Thunder at Wolves GDT

[DNatagal]

Not to rain on everyone's parade, but the Thunder were missing Cason Wallace, who usually gives us fits. And they don't usually miss so many 3s, especially in the 4th quarter where they grew stone cold.

But dang! We'll take the win AND enjoy it! .500 ball half way through the Gauntlet. .500 ball in the next 4 games would clearly be a win.

I will point out that the Wolves don't miss that many 3s either! Wolves are 3rd best percentage wise.

OKC had their entire lineup, with the exception of Wallace...I see what you did there!

This brand of Wolves basketball is fun to watch, but it isn't playoff basketball historically. Pace and space works until it doesn't. I hate Randle on this team, but he is built for the playoffs, whether he can improve on his bad results in the past trips will be the big question.

[FNG]

I couldn't have enjoyed this win any more...such an essential outcome going into the break!

But that's the NBA...the talent level is so close in this league that the winner is often just the team that wants it more. I mean, just look at our last two games. Should we have lost to a Bucks team missing it's two best players? And should we have beaten the best team in the West while missing 4 key rotation players? Of course not! But anybody on an NBA roster is talented, and if they want it more, anything can happen! Have you ever seen us rebound or gather 50/50 balls better than we did tonight? That's all due to intensity...we had it, and the Thunder didn't.

All that said, I never would have predicted this win. I would have predicted us coming out strong and leading big in the half, but then watching OkC come back strong in the second half. And it looked like that was the blueprint when OkC came back to tie us at 68-68. But then Naz and NAW made arguable the most important 3-pointers of the season in the next minute (2 by NAW), and we never looked back. That 3 for 3 on threes was the ONLY good shooting of the night, because we were 9 for 33 (21%) the rest of the night.

So, let's not lose sight of the fact that we beat the best team in the Association despite missing 4 key rotation players and Ant shooting 28% (25% on threes). Not to mention nobody over the age of 26 played for us tonight.

Closed circuit to Abe: Glad you were able to see such a terrific win...any chance you can score some tickets for yourself for the 2/23 rematch? Also, nice job leading the "free throw merchant" chant with SGA at the line in the second half. Funny moment, and kudos to SGA for getting a kick out of it!

[AbeVigodaLive]

Abe's "I saw the first 3 quarters live and the last one on DVR review" Review:

- This team...


- Very nice win, especially because they (1) were shorthanded (2) beat a top team (3) threw out all sorts of unique lineups (4) the youngsters showed promise (5) needed it after last night's disaster. The Wolves played like a team that was desperate for a win.

- CAVEAT: OKC also played last night... they were down 21 but outscored the Heat 32 - 8 in the 4th quarter. Then, the team got on a plane to travel to Minnesota for one night before everyone gets back on other plans to go on their ASG vacations. AND... let's not forget that OKC is 8 games up on the #2 seed. This was a bit of a scheduled loss for OKC even with the Wolves on a back-to-back, too.

- SGA gets an incredibly soft whistle. There's no doubt about that. I don't know his secret... but Edwards needs to take notes. It's worth several points EVERY game. As for the chant... my kid was also at the game with his buddies in another section. He claimed the chant started there and his crew were among the first to join in. He was quite pleased about that.

- The young players bring a certain kind of energy most nights. They're hungry, and that's very necessary, especially on a veteran team like the Wolves with a bunch of guys who've been through it many, many times (even Edwards). The grind hasn't hit them yet.

The eager energy is palpable and fun.

- Anthony Edwards shot 10 - 44 (23%) over a 6-quarter stretch over the past two games... just a fluke, the hip stuff is real, he's tired, et al? But it's been rough.

- The Wolves are 22 - 90 (24%) on three pointers the past two nights... and 34 - 129 (26.3%) over the past 3 games.

- I'm intrigued by OKC's double-big look with both Holmgren and Hartenstein out there. Will they just overwhelm opponents with their size (and relative skill)? Or, will it muck things up a bit?

- McDaniels is averaging 17.5 ppg / 7.8 reb / 3 ast over his past 8 games. THIS guy is impressive.

- I knew Naz was having a good game, but every time I looked, he just kept compiling stats. Once again, the seemingly newfound passing skills were on display.

- I mentioned how awkward it was watching Garza play himself out of the league a couple games ago. Good to seem him with a solid game.

- Finch mentioned it. Others mentioned it here. 28 assists (higher than normal). And only 10 TOs (lower than normal). That's the difference.

- Refresh. Make a mini-run and stay out of the play-in.

[DNatagal]

Garza hedging out on defense to force the ball into rotation, then everyone behind him going into Xout coverage was fun to watch. His rebounding and hustle, getting back to basics and scoring around the post should help him reset.

[Q-is-here]

Abe's "I saw the first 3 quarters live and the last one on DVR review" Review:

- This team...


- Very nice win, especially because they (1) were shorthanded (2) beat a top team (3) threw out all sorts of unique lineups (4) the youngsters showed promise (5) needed it after last night's disaster. The Wolves played like a team that was desperate for a win.

- CAVEAT: OKC also played last night... they were down 21 but outscored the Heat 32 - 8 in the 4th quarter. Then, the team got on a plane to travel to Minnesota for one night before everyone gets back on other plans to go on their ASG vacations. AND... let's not forget that OKC is 8 games up on the #2 seed. This was a bit of a scheduled loss for OKC even with the Wolves on a back-to-back, too.

- SGA gets an incredibly soft whistle. There's no doubt about that. I don't know his secret... but Edwards needs to take notes. It's worth several points EVERY game. As for the chant... my kid was also at the game with his buddies in another section. He claimed the chant started there and his crew were among the first to join in. He was quite pleased about that.

- The young players bring a certain kind of energy most nights. They're hungry, and that's very necessary, especially on a veteran team like the Wolves with a bunch of guys who've been through it many, many times (even Edwards). The grind hasn't hit them yet.

The eager energy is palpable and fun.

- Anthony Edwards shot 10 - 44 (23%) over a 6-quarter stretch over the past two games... just a fluke, the hip stuff is real, he's tired, et al? But it's been rough.

- The Wolves are 22 - 90 (24%) on three pointers the past two nights... and 34 - 129 (26.3%) over the past 3 games.

- I'm intrigued by OKC's double-big look with both Holmgren and Hartenstein out there. Will they just overwhelm opponents with their size (and relative skill)? Or, will it muck things up a bit?

- McDaniels is averaging 17.5 ppg / 7.8 reb / 3 ast over his past 8 games. THIS guy is impressive.

- I knew Naz was having a good game, but every time I looked, he just kept compiling stats. Once again, the seemingly newfound passing skills were on display.

- I mentioned how awkward it was watching Garza play himself out of the league a couple games ago. Good to seem him with a solid game.

- Finch mentioned it. Others mentioned it here. 28 assists (higher than normal). And only 10 TOs (lower than normal). That's the difference.

- Refresh. Make a mini-run and stay out of the play-in.

Glad you were able to see such a great game in person Abe!

I was really surprised at how well Naz and Jaden held up against the Chet/Hartenstein combination. Our two guys played big out there and it bodes well to a future where I really think Jaden can play more 4 and make way for our bevy of bigger guards (DDV, Shannon, Clark) to share minutes at the 2 & 3 slots.

I love NAW (more earlier in the season than lately!), but we simply do not need him next year given the aforementioned rostered guys under contract next year. Now if he wants to sign a really cheap deal, then by all means do it.

[FNG]

I recognize I'm an outlier here not buying into the "Rudy and Ju hurt Ant's offense because they clog the lane" narrative, but last night was not a good argument for it. Despite both of them being out, 12 of the 18 shots Ant took were from beyond the arc, and I think he didn't score at the rim after the first quarter (he had two buckets at the rim that I recall, both assisted by Naz). I continue to maintain that Rudy's exceptional screening is a big help in jumpstarting Ant's drives to the bucket, and as great as his game was last night, Naz just isn't a good screener. Ant's had a couple bad games now after his three terrific scoring games, and I'm hoping Rudy's return after the break will bring Ant a little more balance between drives to the basket and threes.

[Sundog]

I agree with you FNG, and Randle wasn’t the ball-stopper in the games before he got hurt that he was early on. He will be critical in those inevitable games when Naz, NAW, Jaden go cold — Julius is the only reliable scorer besides Ant on this team.

[Coolbreeze44]

I think it's paralysis by analysis to say Rudy and Randle inhibit Ant's game. Rudy doesn't have to sit in the low post for the offense to be effective. Kobe never had a problem getting to the tin with Shaq clogging things up. You play with 5 guys and there are a myriad of ways to isolate players for attacking the basket. As for Randle, he's fine with Ant but his style doesn't mesh with what is becoming the teams' identity. High energy defense and a lot of guys who don't need the ball to be effective. Randle needs the ball to be effective. I think we will be better off when we can free ourselves of Ju even though he's a good offensive player.

[Lipoli390]

I think it's paralysis by analysis to say Rudy and Randle inhibit Ant's game. Rudy doesn't have to sit in the low post for the offense to be effective. Kobe never had a problem getting to the tin with Shaq clogging things up. You play with 5 guys and there are a myriad of ways to isolate players for attacking the basket. As for Randle, he's fine with Ant but his style doesn't mesh with what is becoming the teams' identity. High energy defense and a lot of guys who don't need the ball to be effective. Randle needs the ball to be effective. I think we will be better off when we can free ourselves of Ju even though he's a good offensive player.

I think you captured it, Cool. It’s not so much an issue of “clogging” the lane as it taking up space, although I do think there’s an element of that. The issue, as you described, is style of play. Randle needs touches and he slows things down. With Randle out, the ball moves more and faster. Meanwhile, Jaden gets more touches and has a bigger role in the offense. Naz fits that style; Randle doesn’t. Rudy’s not a problem if he’s out there with Naz. Rudy doesn’t need touches, he doesn’t slow down the offense and he sets terrific screens.