Minnesota Sports Forum

AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2024 12:29 am - How many Timberwolves shots hit the front rim in that 2nd half? How many in a row during the Nuggets run to take over in the 3rd? NAW had three of his own during that stretch.

- The KCP game was predicted to happen.

- Anthony Edwards learning hard playoff lessons was predicted to happen.

- As noted, Rudy Gobert will be roasted at every turn after this one. There are too many highlights of Jokic going at him to avoid it. And... I think Gobert is the only guy who gets clowned more than Towns. BUT... he was a Wolves best -2 in this game. The next closest starter was -12. (I see you FNG)

- Still... Gobert was roasted. And he was doing his Edward Scissorshands thing in that first half, just batting the ball all over the place instead of catching it.

- Three straight blowout losses. These games have never been in doubt. But I still think the Wolves are the league's 3rd best team. That's just how good the Nuggets are playing. Yikes.

- 54% ... 57% ... 55% ... that's what Denver has shot in the past three games. That's absurd. Is it bad Timberwolves defense? Or, great offense? I think it's more of the latter than the former. After all, they're shooting 48% ... 45% ... 47% behind the arc in those past three games. Even with more blown assignments than usual from the Timberwolves... Denver has just been phenomenal on offense. The way they got the ball up court for quick buckets or actions was incredible.

- Wolves bench outplayed again tonight. Naz Reid has had a mostly rough stretch for a month.

- Mike Conley playing Game 6 is probably unlikely. Mike Conley healthy is a huge long shot. That's going to make it very tough for the Timberwolves. Edwards just can't go off vs. that defense with everyone keying on him.

- Aaron Gordon. AGAIN. That late turnaround bank over Reid... Naz gave the same gesture as every Timberwolves fan. He just threw his hands up in defeat.

- Mike Malone is an underrated coach. He got his player's attention after the first two games. And he chooses when to act like a loon strategically. The three charge calls after his outburst and technical are a testament to his coaching. I didn't think any of them were egregious calls by the way. I don't know if any would have been overturned.

- Wolves in 7.*











* I don't really believe that. Nuggets in 6.



-

AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2024 12:29 am

- As noted, Rudy Gobert will be roasted at every turn after this one. There are too many highlights of Jokic going at him to avoid it. And... I think Gobert is the only guy who gets clowned more than Towns. BUT... he was a Wolves best -2 in this game. The next closest starter was -12. (I see you FNG)

- Still... Gobert was roasted. And he was doing his Edward Scissorshands thing in that first half, just batting the ball all over the place instead of catching
-

FNG wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2024 7:31 am I'm proud of this board for pointing out the only factor that mattered tonight: Jokic is the most dominant player in the game. Damn him. I want to talk about Conley's absence, Ant's poor shooting, Rudy's bad hands but 7 for 7 shooting and a more typical 18/11/3, Malone's brilliance, blah blah blah.

But it all pales in relevance compared to the only thing that matters. When Jokic cares (and he doesn't always appear to), Denver is not going to lose. He's that much better than everyone else our there,

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2024 8:53 am

FNG wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2024 7:31 am I'm proud of this board for pointing out the only factor that mattered tonight: Jokic is the most dominant player in the game. Damn him. I want to talk about Conley's absence, Ant's poor shooting, Rudy's bad hands but 7 for 7 shooting and a more typical 18/11/3, Malone's brilliance, blah blah blah.

But it all pales in relevance compared to the only thing that matters. When Jokic cares (and he doesn't always appear to), Denver is not going to lose. He's that much better than everyone else our there,

Yeah, he's on my Mount Rushmore of greatest players ever - and I've said that before this series. I guess like everyone else I was sort of swayed to believe we could really beat these guys given how well we played them in last year's playoffs short-handed and then getting up 2-0.

At some point you have to take a step back and appreciate what we're witnessing. And here's the thing...he makes it look so EASY!

A credit to Tim Connelly for putting that team together around him and sticking with Mike Malone as head coach.

Monster wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2024 7:00 am

AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2024 12:29 am - How many Timberwolves shots hit the front rim in that 2nd half? How many in a row during the Nuggets run to take over in the 3rd? NAW had three of his own during that stretch.

- The KCP game was predicted to happen.

- Anthony Edwards learning hard playoff lessons was predicted to happen.

- As noted, Rudy Gobert will be roasted at every turn after this one. There are too many highlights of Jokic going at him to avoid it. And... I think Gobert is the only guy who gets clowned more than Towns. BUT... he was a Wolves best -2 in this game. The next closest starter was -12. (I see you FNG)

- Still... Gobert was roasted. And he was doing his Edward Scissorshands thing in that first half, just batting the ball all over the place instead of catching it.

- Three straight blowout losses. These games have never been in doubt. But I still think the Wolves are the league's 3rd best team. That's just how good the Nuggets are playing. Yikes.

- 54% ... 57% ... 55% ... that's what Denver has shot in the past three games. That's absurd. Is it bad Timberwolves defense? Or, great offense? I think it's more of the latter than the former. After all, they're shooting 48% ... 45% ... 47% behind the arc in those past three games. Even with more blown assignments than usual from the Timberwolves... Denver has just been phenomenal on offense. The way they got the ball up court for quick buckets or actions was incredible.

- Wolves bench outplayed again tonight. Naz Reid has had a mostly rough stretch for a month.

- Mike Conley playing Game 6 is probably unlikely. Mike Conley healthy is a huge long shot. That's going to make it very tough for the Timberwolves. Edwards just can't go off vs. that defense with everyone keying on him.

- Aaron Gordon. AGAIN. That late turnaround bank over Reid... Naz gave the same gesture as every Timberwolves fan. He just threw his hands up in defeat.

- Mike Malone is an underrated coach. He got his player's attention after the first two games. And he chooses when to act like a loon strategically. The three charge calls after his outburst and technical are a testament to his coaching. I didn't think any of them were egregious calls by the way. I don't know if any would have been overturned.

- Wolves in 7.*











* I don't really believe that. Nuggets in 6.



-

This is a pretty good rundown of where we are at. Late in this game it felt like the Wolves are now at a point they have to go back and have another off-season to take another step forward. They took a big one forward from last season to this season can they make another leap? Of course this series isn't over yet either but something has to change on the Wolves end. They need to get better on both ends. They just haven't had it.

AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2024 9:06 am

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2024 8:53 am

FNG wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2024 7:31 am I'm proud of this board for pointing out the only factor that mattered tonight: Jokic is the most dominant player in the game. Damn him. I want to talk about Conley's absence, Ant's poor shooting, Rudy's bad hands but 7 for 7 shooting and a more typical 18/11/3, Malone's brilliance, blah blah blah.

But it all pales in relevance compared to the only thing that matters. When Jokic cares (and he doesn't always appear to), Denver is not going to lose. He's that much better than everyone else our there,

Yeah, he's on my Mount Rushmore of greatest players ever - and I've said that before this series. I guess like everyone else I was sort of swayed to believe we could really beat these guys given how well we played them in last year's playoffs short-handed and then getting up 2-0.

At some point you have to take a step back and appreciate what we're witnessing. And here's the thing...he makes it look so EASY!

A credit to Tim Connelly for putting that team together around him and sticking with Mike Malone as head coach.

Yeah. Another bad look from D. Green... but nobody will care about how obvious and petty he is. It's Rudy Gobert. LOL at Rudy!!!

By the way... Jokic's numbers vs. Green in the playoffs:

31 ppg
13 reb
6 ast
58% fg

And that was in a series without Porter and Murray... but with Will Barton, Austin Rivers, Bryn Forbes, Bones Hyland and others playing heavy minutes. Draymond didn't do much to stop him either. He just got lucky that the Nuggets weren't fully formed yet.