Wolves at Celtics GDT

[Coolbreeze44]

When we are allowed to get up in the opponents face on D, we are tough to beat.

[Q-is-here]

Ayo had several great defensive possessions in the clutch against both Tatum and Brown. Exactly what we need come the playoffs.

Yeah, he has only gotten better as he's assimilated into the team. High IQ player combined with NBA athleticism and body. He's going to be closing a lot of games for us along with Ant and Jaden.

[Q-is-here]

Subtle, but important move by Finch: He went to Clark as his 9th man instead of TJ. Jaylen was a +6 in 12 minutes and part of that first half group that got us back in the game with defense. He got multiple stops against Jaylen Brown guarding him straight up. I wonder if we win if TJ played those minutes instead? TJ was a -13 in only 11 minutes against Portland as he was burned multiple times on defense and missed his only two shots.

(BTW, TJ managed to be a -4 in 1 minute of garbage time tonight. He just bleeds points!).

[Phenom]

One of my season predictions was the Wolves would end the drought in Toronto and Boston this season. Wolves are due for a shorthanded, should-not-win, win. Let's go!

Called it

[Coolbreeze44]

One of my season predictions was the Wolves would end the drought in Toronto and Boston this season. Wolves are due for a shorthanded, should-not-win, win. Let's go!

Called it

Yes you did.

[Coolbreeze44]

TSJ is not in good condition, so I have a hard time getting on him too bad. I think he gets a real shot next year again.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Abe's "Man, I've watched a lot of basketball over the past 48+ hours" DVR Review:

- Won with defense. And grit.

- Edwards isn't even around the team right now. It's gonna be interesting to see how everything flows when he returns... because this is a very different type of team. They're playing hard. They care about the little things defensively. They're playing with force on defense.

- I feel like the Bones Hyland experience is specifically designed to be used without seat belts... so I'll just say I'm enjoying it for now. But I'm looking for something to grab quite a bit of the time still. Fortunately, those guys offer great value off the bench and can win games when they're on.

- Wolves did a great job running the Celtics off the line. They took only 33 attempts. They average 43 attempts. And the Wolves pushed them out so far that a couple were closer to 30 feet during the big run. Just great work from the Wolves defense.

- Big longtime Celtics fan. Bigger Wolves fan. Good to see the streak end.

[FNG]

Abe's "Man, I've watched a lot of basketball over the past 48+ hours" DVR Review:

- Won with defense. And grit.

- Edwards isn't even around the team right now. It's gonna be interesting to see how everything flows when he returns... because this is a very different type of team. They're playing hard. They care about the little things defensively. They're playing with force on defense.

- I feel like the Bones Hyland experience is specifically designed to be used without seat belts... so I'll just say I'm enjoying it for now. But I'm looking for something to grab quite a bit of the time still. Fortunately, those guys offer great value off the bench and can win games when they're on.

- Wolves did a great job running the Celtics off the line. They took only 33 attempts. They average 43 attempts. And the Wolves pushed them out so far that a couple were closer to 30 feet during the big run. Just great work from the Wolves defense.

- Big longtime Celtics fan. Bigger Wolves fan. Good to see the streak end.

This was a terrific win. Not only did we beat arguably the best team in the East on their court by 10, but we also played at both ends of the court in a manner many of us here enjoy...getting out on the break on offense, moving the ball when we are in the half court, and maximum effort on defense. And while Ju is being fairly ripped here for his poor shooting game, I thought his hustle and toughness on defense set the stage for a great team effort defensive game. And he and Rudy listened to the verbal spanking they got from Finchy after the Portland game and hit the boards nicely.

But then you have to dampen my blissful mood this morning, Abe, by asking how everything will flow when Ant returns. I think you know the answer there...we'll go back to the same plodding (but admittedly often effective) half court offense, and back to the meh defensive effort we have grown accustomed to this season. A few times last night I blurred my eyes and dreamed about Ant fitting into the style of play we all enjoyed last night as opposed to the rest of the team fitting into his style, and even with blurred eyes I just couldn't see it. This team always adjusts to the way its star likes to play, not the way its coach wants them to play. And it's fine, I guess, and often effective...just not as fun as games like this, or the Milwaukee win that Ant also missed. I think we are who we are always going to be when Ant is playing, and as a Wolves fan,
I need to learn to accept and enjoy it (but also to really enjoy the high energy we bring in the games Ant misses).

I love the twin +26's Naz and Bones delivered last night, but I thought the story of this game was Ayo...at both ends. He plays like an animal that has been let out of his cage when he replaces Ant in the starting lineup. How many times did we get to watch him in the open court finishing at the rim most of the time? And his defense was about the best I have seen this season. He's fitting in well here and I think he will continue to bring a spark off the bench when Ant returns.

Bones hit some big buckets too. He and DiVo can be so streaky, but it seems like one of them is usually making his shots...last night it was Bones as Donte had a poor shooting night. I'm not going to get down on Donte though...he brought the same defensive disruptive energy he seems to bring every night.

What a win! Next we have two tough home games coming up against Houston and Detroit that we have to win to ensure not dropping into play in contention. We'll be slight favorites in both games, but I think we're going to need the same effort we brought tonight to go 2-0.

[Q-is-here]

Abe's "Man, I've watched a lot of basketball over the past 48+ hours" DVR Review:

- Won with defense. And grit.

- Edwards isn't even around the team right now. It's gonna be interesting to see how everything flows when he returns... because this is a very different type of team. They're playing hard. They care about the little things defensively. They're playing with force on defense.

- I feel like the Bones Hyland experience is specifically designed to be used without seat belts... so I'll just say I'm enjoying it for now. But I'm looking for something to grab quite a bit of the time still. Fortunately, those guys offer great value off the bench and can win games when they're on.

- Wolves did a great job running the Celtics off the line. They took only 33 attempts. They average 43 attempts. And the Wolves pushed them out so far that a couple were closer to 30 feet during the big run. Just great work from the Wolves defense.

- Big longtime Celtics fan. Bigger Wolves fan. Good to see the streak end.

This was a terrific win. Not only did we beat arguably the best team in the East on their court by 10, but we also played at both ends of the court in a manner many of us here enjoy...getting out on the break on offense, moving the ball when we are in the half court, and maximum effort on defense. And while Ju is being fairly ripped here for his poor shooting game, I thought his hustle and toughness on defense set the stage for a great team effort defensive game. And he and Rudy listened to the verbal spanking they got from Finchy after the Portland game and hit the boards nicely.

But then you have to dampen my blissful mood this morning, Abe, by asking how everything will flow when Ant returns. I think you know the answer there...we'll go back to the same plodding (but admittedly often effective) half court offense, and back to the meh defensive effort we have grown accustomed to this season. A few times last night I blurred my eyes and dreamed about Ant fitting into the style of play we all enjoyed last night as opposed to the rest of the team fitting into his style, and even with blurred eyes I just couldn't see it. This team always adjusts to the way its star likes to play, not the way its coach wants them to play. And it's fine, I guess, and often effective...just not as fun as games like this, or the Milwaukee win that Ant also missed. I think we are who we are always going to be when Ant is playing, and as a Wolves fan,
I need to learn to accept and enjoy it (but also to really enjoy the high energy we bring in the games Ant misses).

I love the twin +26's Naz and Bones delivered last night, but I thought the story of this game was Ayo...at both ends. He plays like an animal that has been let out of his cage when he replaces Ant in the starting lineup. How many times did we get to watch him in the open court finishing at the rim most of the time? And his defense was about the best I have seen this season. He's fitting in well here and I think he will continue to bring a spark off the bench when Ant returns.

Bones hit some big buckets too. He and DiVo can be so streaky, but it seems like one of them is usually making his shots...last night it was Bones as Donte had a poor shooting night. I'm not going to get down on Donte though...he brought the same defensive disruptive energy he seems to bring every night.

What a win! Next we have two tough home games coming up against Houston and Detroit that we have to win to ensure not dropping into play in contention. We'll be slight favorites in both games, but I think we're going to need the same effort we brought tonight to go 2-0.

The Wolves are 9th in pace of play this year and Ant has picked up his pace since last season, although still slower than the likes of Ayo, DDV, and Bones. So not only is it possible to play faster with Ant in the rotation, it's actually the reality. Ant has shown he's willing to go along for the ride if others are getting out and running.

I think part of the go-forward plan is the ascension of Ayo. To me the biggest revelation with him isn't his speed and transition threat, but the fact he is a smart and reliable ball handler and decision maker without the size and defensive vulnerabilities of a more pure PG like Mike Conley or Tyus Jones (yes, Conley has been a good regular season defender, but he gets targeted in the playoffs). I view Ayo as our starting PG next season (credit to 60WinTim), if not sooner, and that will force Ant off the ball more and coax more transition opportunities for the starting unit.

[FNG]

Abe's "Man, I've watched a lot of basketball over the past 48+ hours" DVR Review:

- Won with defense. And grit.

- Edwards isn't even around the team right now. It's gonna be interesting to see how everything flows when he returns... because this is a very different type of team. They're playing hard. They care about the little things defensively. They're playing with force on defense.

- I feel like the Bones Hyland experience is specifically designed to be used without seat belts... so I'll just say I'm enjoying it for now. But I'm looking for something to grab quite a bit of the time still. Fortunately, those guys offer great value off the bench and can win games when they're on.

- Wolves did a great job running the Celtics off the line. They took only 33 attempts. They average 43 attempts. And the Wolves pushed them out so far that a couple were closer to 30 feet during the big run. Just great work from the Wolves defense.

- Big longtime Celtics fan. Bigger Wolves fan. Good to see the streak end.

This was a terrific win. Not only did we beat arguably the best team in the East on their court by 10, but we also played at both ends of the court in a manner many of us here enjoy...getting out on the break on offense, moving the ball when we are in the half court, and maximum effort on defense. And while Ju is being fairly ripped here for his poor shooting game, I thought his hustle and toughness on defense set the stage for a great team effort defensive game. And he and Rudy listened to the verbal spanking they got from Finchy after the Portland game and hit the boards nicely.

But then you have to dampen my blissful mood this morning, Abe, by asking how everything will flow when Ant returns. I think you know the answer there...we'll go back to the same plodding (but admittedly often effective) half court offense, and back to the meh defensive effort we have grown accustomed to this season. A few times last night I blurred my eyes and dreamed about Ant fitting into the style of play we all enjoyed last night as opposed to the rest of the team fitting into his style, and even with blurred eyes I just couldn't see it. This team always adjusts to the way its star likes to play, not the way its coach wants them to play. And it's fine, I guess, and often effective...just not as fun as games like this, or the Milwaukee win that Ant also missed. I think we are who we are always going to be when Ant is playing, and as a Wolves fan,
I need to learn to accept and enjoy it (but also to really enjoy the high energy we bring in the games Ant misses).

I love the twin +26's Naz and Bones delivered last night, but I thought the story of this game was Ayo...at both ends. He plays like an animal that has been let out of his cage when he replaces Ant in the starting lineup. How many times did we get to watch him in the open court finishing at the rim most of the time? And his defense was about the best I have seen this season. He's fitting in well here and I think he will continue to bring a spark off the bench when Ant returns.

Bones hit some big buckets too. He and DiVo can be so streaky, but it seems like one of them is usually making his shots...last night it was Bones as Donte had a poor shooting night. I'm not going to get down on Donte though...he brought the same defensive disruptive energy he seems to bring every night.

What a win! Next we have two tough home games coming up against Houston and Detroit that we have to win to ensure not dropping into play in contention. We'll be slight favorites in both games, but I think we're going to need the same effort we brought tonight to go 2-0.

The Wolves are 9th in pace of play this year and Ant has picked up his pace since last season, although still slower than the likes of Ayo, DDV, and Bones. So not only is it possible to play faster with Ant in the rotation, it's actually the reality. Ant has shown he's willing to go along for the ride if others are getting out and running.

I think part of the go-forward plan is the ascension of Ayo. To me the biggest revelation with him isn't his speed and transition threat, but the fact he is a smart and reliable ball handler and decision maker without the size and defensive vulnerabilities of a more pure PG like Mike Conley or Tyus Jones (yes, Conley has been a good regular season defender, but he gets targeted in the playoffs). I view Ayo as our starting PG next season (credit to 60WinTim), if not sooner, and that will force Ant off the ball more and coax more transition opportunities for the starting unit.

But does that pace of play data match your eye test, Q? It doesn’t for me. I’ll say that all quick pace of play data are not equal. Doesn’t pace of play measure how early in the shot clock you get off a shot? Often we’re frustrated here because either Ju or Ant launch an ill advised trey early in the clock…that counts as fast pace of play, but it’s not always good. But last night a lot of our earjy clock baskets were on fast breaks, and thats just not Ant’s style. It’s great that he can be so effective in the half court, but I think he could be so much better if he liked to get out on the break like most of our guys do. And we fans wouid have a lot more fun like last night.

But as I said above, this is Ant’s team now, and his teammates and we fans have to accept that. And with 2 consecutive finals in a row, it seems to work pretty well.