Around the NBA (non-Wolves talk)

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Miami and Philly both have multiple scrappy, fiery types that just compete their asses off.

[Lipoli390]

As a Wolves fan it's hard not to get jealous watching the way all the other playoff teams move the ball. You can see it right now watching the Spurs and Warriors, and it's not just the Warriors. The ball rarely stays long in any one player's hands and often hardly touches the floor. Multiple players always moving without the ball and when players have a good look or opening, they rarely hesitate but instead put up the shot or attack the basket. I've seen the same thing from the Sixers in all of their 3 playoff games thus far. Same thing with the Pelicans. The only team that comes close to being as bad as the Wolves moving the ball and moving without the ball is Portland.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

As a Wolves fan it's hard not to get jealous watching the way all the other playoff teams move the ball. You can see it right now watching the Spurs and Warriors, and it's not just the Warriors. The ball rarely stays long in any one player's hands and often hardly touches the floor. Multiple players always moving without the ball and when players have a good look or opening, they rarely hesitate but instead put up the shot or attack the basket. I've seen the same thing from the Sixers in all of their 3 playoff games thus far. Same thing with the Pelicans. The only team that comes close to being as bad as the Wolves moving the ball and moving without the ball is Portland.

Every team probes for mis-matches and does the occasional clear out, but we take stagnant iso-offense to a whole different level.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Durant is the most unguardable player in the NBA. He's even more difficult than Harden.

[Monster]

As a Wolves fan it's hard not to get jealous watching the way all the other playoff teams move the ball. You can see it right now watching the Spurs and Warriors, and it's not just the Warriors. The ball rarely stays long in any one player's hands and often hardly touches the floor. Multiple players always moving without the ball and when players have a good look or opening, they rarely hesitate but instead put up the shot or attack the basket. I've seen the same thing from the Sixers in all of their 3 playoff games thus far. Same thing with the Pelicans. The only team that comes close to being as bad as the Wolves moving the ball and moving without the ball is Portland.

Every team probes for mis-matches and does the occasional clear out, but we take stagnant iso-offense to a whole different level.

When we really go iso they don't even run it well whichbreally bugs me. The problem I have is even when they get the mismatch they don't clear out. Even Taj is an offender plenty of times. I see plenty of teams get the matchup that makes sense and then inexplicably have someone come set another screen. Wut!?!?

It also bugs me when they don't screen earlier to get a preferred matchup. They just dribble for hours and then maybe get a screen with like 6 seconds left. Insane. They also go so damn late in the clock why?!?

Sure I would like to see more movement but I don't have as much problem with some of what they try to do it's how they execute it that drives me nuts and others too.

[KiwiMatt]

Pelicans one win away from sweeping the Blazers without homecourt advantage. Pretty impressive.

[Monster]

If you are disappointed and worried about the Wolves look at the Pelicans. They lose Cousins and there were concerns about their depth before that and here they are a game away from a sweep of Portland who may not be super amazing but that's no joke of a team especially when you have guys like Dame and CJ you have to deal with. Mirotic went from just being a nice stretch 4 this season to a guy that at times looked ridiculously dynamic both as a scorer and and rebounding. His defense seems to have taken a jump as well.

[Porckchop]

How good has Mirotic been in that series?! That's was a solid move for them.

[BloopOracle]

Wow what a comeback by Indiana in the second half down 17! Crazy to think that LeBron hadn't lost a single game in the first round for who knows how many years in a row but now they have a very real chance of getting bounced

[Lipoli390]

Wow what a comeback by Indiana in the second half down 17! Crazy to think that LeBron hadn't lost a single game in the first round for who knows how many years in a row but now they have a very real chance of getting bounced

I was a great comeback. The Cavs going down in the first round will remove any doubt that LeBron will be leaving the Cavs before next season. I'm still not convince, however, that he'll end up with the Lakers. Actually, to solidify his legacy, he would be wise to surprise people by choosing a team no one would have expected him to join -- like the Timberwolves. :)

The Pacers, Jazz and Celtics remain the most impressive stories this season. After trading Paul George, most observers wrote off the Pacers and assumed they'd be in the lottery or barely sneak into the playoffs as a 8th seed. Instead they end up 5th with 48 wins. After losing Hayward and George Hill to free agency, most commenters had the Jazz struggling to make the playoffs. Then they lost Rudy Gobert to injury for over 20 games. In spite of all that, they ended up 5th with 48 wins. The Celtics lost Hayward, expected to be their 2nd best player, in the first game and ended up losing their best player, Irving, down the stretch. Irving missed more games than Jimmy Butler. They lost Jaylen Brown for a significant stretch because of the concussion he suffered here. And they've been without Smart for a while as well. Yet, they finished 2nd in the East with 55 wins and are up 2-1 in their playoff series. I probably should include the Spurs who won 47 games in spite of losing their best player and only superstar for all but 9 games as well as missing Tony Parker and Rudy Gay for a huge chunk of the season. Imagine the Wolves record if Butler had only played 9 games with Wiggins and Teague each missing 20+ games. How many games would the Wolves have won?