Playoffs discussion

[FNG]

I like seeing Boston bounce back to likely win at home tonight (although we know in this series it's never over until it's over). I really think they are a far better team than the Knicks, but the Knicks have staged some unbelievable comebacks. I don't feel bad for the Celtics because they won last year, but it would be fun to see how far they can extend this series without Tatum.

Brown and Tatum are somewhat redundant so just crank up the usage for Brown and then hope a few others can step up a bit. They closed the game decisively tonight.

Good point, and boy did he step up. One of my favorite guys in the league. And they are so deep. We always talk about the Wolves bench superiority, but the shooting the Celtics can bring off the bench is exceptional. It will be a tall order for them to win 3 in a row without their top scorer, but it's not out of the question. But if i had to predict, I think the Knicks close things out tonight. I also see the Nuggets pushing their series to a 7th game.

[FNG]

We don't have a Knicks/Pacers thread, so I'll leave this here. Wow, what a difference in conference finals. After watching the relentless defense of the two teams last night, tonight's game looks quite different...no defense. I think either the Wolves or Thunder would destroy either of these teams.

[DNatagal]

Holy Halliburton!

[60WinTim]

Holy Halliburton!

And it wasted one of KAT’s “good games”…

[FNG]

Holy Halliburton!

And it wasted one of KAT’s “good games”…

So I'm the dummy who turned this game off with the Knicks up double digits and not much time left...I guess I'm just not getting that no lead seems to be safe in this bizarre NBA year. Happy for Karl and his good game, but I'm team Pacers all the way in this series. And I continue to be astonished at the difference in defense in the respective conference finals. I think either OkC or the Wolves wins the finals fairly easily.

[FNG]

There has been a narrative that the Kat for Ju/Donte trade was one that helped both teams, and with both teams making the conference finals, there is evidence to support that. But the almost total absence of all three of them in the 4th quarter of their respective game 2's was notable. Ju and Donte were terrible in the first three quarters, and if I'm not mistaken, were both on the bench for the entire 4th quarter. And Thibs got tired of seeing Indiana screen to target KAT over and over again, and yanked him with the Knicks down 9 with 9 minutes left. Thibs put him back in with 2 minutes left, but KAT had no shots and no rebounds in those final 2 minutes, and was no better on defense.

Both teams find themselves down 2-0, with the Knicks also having to go on the road now, and the poor play of the three players in the trade in Game 2 had a lot to do with that. The Wolves are going to need a lot more from Ju and Donte if they are going to be competitive. And I expect Indy to continue to frustrate Thibs by repeatedly targeting Kat on defense.

[60WinTim]

There has been a narrative that the Kat for Ju/Donte trade was one that helped both teams, and with both teams making the conference finals, there is evidence to support that. But the almost total absence of all three of them in the 4th quarter of their respective game 2's was notable. Ju and Donte were terrible in the first three quarters, and if I'm not mistaken, were both on the bench for the entire 4th quarter. And Thibs got tired of seeing Indiana screen to target KAT over and over again, and yanked him with the Knicks down 9 with 9 minutes left. Thibs put him back in with 2 minutes left, but KAT had no shots and no rebounds in those final 2 minutes, and was no better on defense.

Both teams find themselves down 2-0, with the Knicks also having to go on the road now, and the poor play of the three players in the trade in Game 2 had a lot to do with that. The Wolves are going to need a lot more from Ju and Donte if they are going to be competitive. And I expect Indy to continue to frustrate Thibs by repeatedly targeting Kat on defense.

One difference between the two scenarios -- NY just lost 2 games at home to a lower seed (but not by much). The Wolves lost 2 games on the road against one of the best teams we have seen in many years.

[FNG]

There has been a narrative that the Kat for Ju/Donte trade was one that helped both teams, and with both teams making the conference finals, there is evidence to support that. But the almost total absence of all three of them in the 4th quarter of their respective game 2's was notable. Ju and Donte were terrible in the first three quarters, and if I'm not mistaken, were both on the bench for the entire 4th quarter. And Thibs got tired of seeing Indiana screen to target KAT over and over again, and yanked him with the Knicks down 9 with 9 minutes left. Thibs put him back in with 2 minutes left, but KAT had no shots and no rebounds in those final 2 minutes, and was no better on defense.

Both teams find themselves down 2-0, with the Knicks also having to go on the road now, and the poor play of the three players in the trade in Game 2 had a lot to do with that. The Wolves are going to need a lot more from Ju and Donte if they are going to be competitive. And I expect Indy to continue to frustrate Thibs by repeatedly targeting Kat on defense.

One difference between the two scenarios -- NY just lost 2 games at home to a lower seed (but not by much). The Wolves lost 2 games on the road against one of the best teams we have seen in many years.

Very true, Tim, and that's why our Wolves are in a better position than the Knicks. I'm comfortable the Wolves will win one of the next two home games, hopefully tonight.

[BloopOracle]

I do not miss KAT

[60WinTim]

I do not miss KAT

Yup! Yet another offensive foul.