AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 12:47 pm
OKC’s defense is too good. Yeah, they clutch and grab and tug and pull… but so did a lot of other legendary defensive teams in history. Years later, we just remember that they were great defensively. The Thunder have some great defenders who care about being great defenders. And they’re strong and smart. OKC is smart to play up to the line… or even create the line of physicality/fouling. It’s a big part of what makes them so damn good.
So… the story of tonight for me is Anthony Edwards. I wrote something up while watching Game 3 about Edwards being the FIRST Timberwolves player who could be THAT guy, only I never hit SUBMIT. He picked his spots masterfully in that game. He was a superstar in every way. A legend in the making.
He made mostly the “right” plays in Game 4 and was ripped possibly more than any other time in his career. All this despite the Wolves having one of their best offensive performances of the season. If they won, the narrative would have been different. Instead it was “why did Edwards pass so much. He lost the game!”
So… do we see an Anthony Edwards that plays to the social media crowd and random hoops pundits… or does he keep trusting in his teammates?
Tough call for a 23-year-old still trying to “get his.”
I think we see a bit of both. But I don’t think him shooting in the midrange over double teams instead of kicking to wide open teammates behind the arc is going to work. Again, OKC is too good defensively.
Thunder win this one by 23.
Abe, I agree that Ant mostly made the right plays last game...6 assists and several hockey assists. Ultimately, quick and correct decision making is going to accelerate his journey to his ceiling. I would like his passing to be more accurate though, too often they are delivered too high, low or wide, and that disrupts the recipient's shooting rhythm. Could be a factor in his 5 turnovers too.
But I thought he was ripped more here for his indifferent ineffective defense (such a contrast from Game 3) and his 1 for 7 shooting on threes...at least those were my criticisms. I have Randle as my number one culprit in the loss, but I wanted way more from our star too.
I watched the after game of the Dana Moore Podcast and that's exactly what they said also, which is what I saw. His defense wasn't all star level, merely avg at best to be kind. At times he has shown to have elite defensive chops, other times he loses his man and gives up a cut or a few offensive boards. A strong defensive game from him and we win last game. Certainly Ju needed more on both ends also.
I would say Ant had a mediocre game. I suspect we'll see him go hard tonight, but with OKC at home and that crowd boomin, it won't matter.
AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 12:47 pm
OKC’s defense is too good. Yeah, they clutch and grab and tug and pull… but so did a lot of other legendary defensive teams in history. Years later, we just remember that they were great defensively. The Thunder have some great defenders who care about being great defenders. And they’re strong and smart. OKC is smart to play up to the line… or even create the line of physicality/fouling. It’s a big part of what makes them so damn good.
So… the story of tonight for me is Anthony Edwards. I wrote something up while watching Game 3 about Edwards being the FIRST Timberwolves player who could be THAT guy, only I never hit SUBMIT. He picked his spots masterfully in that game. He was a superstar in every way. A legend in the making.
He made mostly the “right” plays in Game 4 and was ripped possibly more than any other time in his career. All this despite the Wolves having one of their best offensive performances of the season. If they won, the narrative would have been different. Instead it was “why did Edwards pass so much. He lost the game!”
So… do we see an Anthony Edwards that plays to the social media crowd and random hoops pundits… or does he keep trusting in his teammates?
Tough call for a 23-year-old still trying to “get his.”
I think we see a bit of both. But I don’t think him shooting in the midrange over double teams instead of kicking to wide open teammates behind the arc is going to work. Again, OKC is too good defensively.
Thunder win this one by 23.
Abe, I agree that Ant mostly made the right plays last game...6 assists and several hockey assists. Ultimately, quick and correct decision making is going to accelerate his journey to his ceiling. I would like his passing to be more accurate though, too often they are delivered too high, low or wide, and that disrupts the recipient's shooting rhythm. Could be a factor in his 5 turnovers too.
But I thought he was ripped more here for his indifferent ineffective defense (such a contrast from Game 3) and his 1 for 7 shooting on threes...at least those were my criticisms. I have Randle as my number one culprit in the loss, but I wanted way more from our star too.
To be clear... I wasn't talking about here with the Edwards criticism. This place is about four levels deeper on nuance than many other places.
The thing, however, is that "EdWarDS haS tO ShOOt mOrE!" voices have A LOT more clout, reach and influence than an FNG, Q, Abe, monster or Cool.
All in all I think OKC has better players, but after watching them play and watching Indiana’s success I am not as high on Finch’s coaching. If we lay a complete egg and arent competitive in this one I think the clock on Finch starts ticking with new ownership fully taking over.
