Playoffs discussion

[Phenom]

Did SGA just get away with a push off and a travel? #charmedlife

[Lipoli390]

Great game tonight! By the middle of the 2nd quarter I was convinced the Pacers would win. My take didn’t change until the last few minutes of the game when OKC took the lead. It was a tremendous win on the road for OKC. The Pacers were the better team until the very end. Somehow, OKC held on until they could finally get over the hump. Some great defense by Holmgren on Haliburton out on the perimeter - another reminder that your bigs have to be able to guard the perimeter from time to time. Jalen Williams was tremendous going to the hole. SGA struggled most of the game but came through late.

These are two really good teams and they play a really fun brand of basketball. I’m convinced the Wolves could be the same kind of team with similar success moving forward with Ant, Jaden, Naz, Donte, TSJ, Clark, and Dilly. Rather than trade any of those players or other assets for Durant, we could use Randle, Rudy, Minott, Miller to trade for players that fit the OKC/Pacers style. In the meantime, it’s fun to watch these two teams play. I’m glad OKC won only because it will likely lengthen the series.

[Q-is-here]

Great game tonight! By the middle of the 2nd quarter I was convinced the Pacers would win. My take didn’t change until the last few minutes of the game when OKC took the lead. It was a tremendous win on the road for OKC. The Pacers were the better team until the very end. Somehow, OKC held on until they could finally get over the hump. Some great defense by Holmgren on Haliburton out on the perimeter - another reminder that your bigs have to be able to guard the perimeter from time to time. Jalen Williams was tremendous going to the hole. SGA struggled most of the game but came through late.

These are two really good teams and they play a really fun brand of basketball. I’m convinced the Wolves could be the same kind of team with similar success moving forward with Ant, Jaden, Naz, Donte, TSJ, Clark, and Dilly. Rather than trade any of those players or other assets for Durant, we could use Randle, Rudy, Minott, Miller for players that fit the OKC/Pacers style. In the meantime, it’s fun to watch these two teams play. I’m glad OKC won only because it will likely lengthen the series.

Siakam is putting up similar numbers to Randle during this playoff run, but Pascal just moves and makes decisions so much quicker that it enhances the overall offensive flow better. Plus he's a more engaged defender.

Looks like Haliburton couldn't dial-up the clutch time heroics tonight. That defense up top of Dort and Caruso might be the most physical and ferocious pair of perimeter defenders I've ever seen.

[Lipoli390]

Great game tonight! By the middle of the 2nd quarter I was convinced the Pacers would win. My take didn’t change until the last few minutes of the game when OKC took the lead. It was a tremendous win on the road for OKC. The Pacers were the better team until the very end. Somehow, OKC held on until they could finally get over the hump. Some great defense by Holmgren on Haliburton out on the perimeter - another reminder that your bigs have to be able to guard the perimeter from time to time. Jalen Williams was tremendous going to the hole. SGA struggled most of the game but came through late.

These are two really good teams and they play a really fun brand of basketball. I’m convinced the Wolves could be the same kind of team with similar success moving forward with Ant, Jaden, Naz, Donte, TSJ, Clark, and Dilly. Rather than trade any of those players or other assets for Durant, we could use Randle, Rudy, Minott, Miller for players that fit the OKC/Pacers style. In the meantime, it’s fun to watch these two teams play. I’m glad OKC won only because it will likely lengthen the series.

Siakam is putting up similar numbers to Randle during this playoff run, but Pascal just moves and makes decisions so much quicker that it enhances the overall offensive flow better. Plus he's a more engaged defender.

Looks like Haliburton couldn't dial-up the clutch time heroics tonight. That defense up top of Dort and Caruso might be the most physical and ferocious pair of perimeter defenders I've ever seen.

Great point about Siakam. The NBA game is so fast with so many great athletes. That means all your players need to process the game quickly in their heads and then be decisive. You don’t necessarily have to be super quick or athletic physically, although it helps a lot. Larry Bird was a great example of a player whose mind processed so quickly he didn’t have to be particularly fast to be great. One of the things I love about Naz is that he seems to process quickly and act decisively. You rarely see him hold the ball long. Jaden is similar. I see Clark and TSJ having the same fast mental processor and both are also physically fast as well - especially TSJ. I’m inclined to say the same about Dilly but I want to see more. It’s clear that he’s super quick and very athletic physically. Ant needs to process faster and I think he’s made progress in that regard this past season. Rudy processes quickly as well; he just doesn’t have the skill set you need in a modern NBA big. But as I’ve said, I’m comfortable moving forward with Rudy because of his defense as long as we replace Randle.

[FNG]

I had the same feeling as Lip as I watched the game. Indy looked like the better team (not what I expected coming into this series...I predicted a 4-1 OkC victory), and although it wasn't a blowout, it felt like an Indy win until very late in the game. Shae was brilliant, scoring 11 of their final 13 points. And while Haliburton wasn't able to repeat his late game heroics, his ability to get to the basket and score with those high arcing layups (3 of them in the 4th quarter!) was impressive.

Indy's pressure defense in this series has been a big surprise to me. We expected it from the Thunder, but the Pacers have been almost as impressive. Seems like there are always 2 guys waiting at midcourt to meet the guy bringing the ball up. It sure looked like Indy in 6 for most of the game, but now I'm back to thinking OkC will survive. Terrific series!

[Q-is-here]

It sure is fun watching an NBA team full court press an entire game. It's the only way Indiana has a shot though. Not sure the Wolves could beat Indiana tbh.

[AussieWolf3]

It sure is fun watching an NBA team full court press an entire game. It's the only way Indiana has a shot though. Not sure the Wolves could beat Indiana tbh.

Indiana has really proven to me that they would have whupped Minnesota.

What is crazy to me is how little star power there is in this series. There is SGA and rising stars in Haliburton and Jdub. Siakam is an established player and pretty underrated imo, but outside of those guys there just a lot players who know their roles and play fast and hard.

Minny is honestly so close to being similar in their makeup but really have to make some big decisions about whether people like Rudy and Randle can fit long-term

[Lipoli390]

It sure is fun watching an NBA team full court press an entire game. It's the only way Indiana has a shot though. Not sure the Wolves could beat Indiana tbh.

Indiana has really proven to me that they would have whupped Minnesota.

What is crazy to me is how little star power there is in this series. There is SGA and rising stars in Haliburton and Jdub. Siakam is an established player and pretty underrated imo, but outside of those guys there just a lot players who know their roles and play fast and hard.

Minny is honestly so close to being similar in their makeup but really have to make some big decisions about whether people like Rudy and Randle can fit long-term

Exactly, Aussie. And you don’t get closer by trading for Durant. The KD of 10 years ago at age 27 could have fit. But not the KD of today at age 37 with a repaired Achilles coming off a season with a 119 defensive rating. As I’ve noted, we have the makings of the sort of team that can compete with the likes of OKC and Indiana with Ant, Jaden, Naz, TSJ, Clark and Dilly. Donte can fit that mold as well and is still young enough to be in his prime when our top players (Ant and Jaden) enter their prime.

[KG4Ever]

In playoffs, Nembhard is shooting better than 46% from 3 and last year was better than 48% from 3. Efficient scorer and good assist to turnover numbers. He also is averaging 1.6 steals these playoffs and is a decent defender. Why did TC pass on Nembhard for Wendell Moore? I had Nembhard ranked ahead of WM, but I guess genius boy can't miss. LOL

[AussieWolf3]

I've always liked Siakam, and man he is just balling right now. Just a winning player, very underrated