Home Sweet Home - Thunder at Wolves Game 3 GDT

[60WinTim]

Okay, I am starting this one off early. Part of the Wolves mission is to win one game at OKC. They failed to do so in their first two attempts, but still have two more chances, as long as they succeed in the other part of their mission: protect home court.

OKC has been dang impressive in the first two games, confirming their 68-win season as the 5th best regular season winning percentage EVER. But it's a new day. Almost every media talking head is spewing out "sweep", "dynasty" and all sorts of other comments that have kicked the Wolves to the side of the curb. Maybe they'll be proved right, but let's see how the team responds tonight.

I can't throw Finch under the bus as some have. We'll see what sort of adjustments he makes tonight, and how effective those adjustments are. But he can't make our guys hit their shots -- that's on the players. He may deserve some critiques, but we are playing in our second straight conference finals. Losing to one of the best teams the NBA has seen in quite some time should not be a fireable offense!

[FNG]

I expect this to be a fun game tonight, win or lose. We have one of the loudest arenas in the Association, and perhaps the Saturday night crowd can have some impact on OkC's surgical offense. Also, role players tend to play better at home. I note that Donte played very well in the last two home games against the Warriors, so I see a bounce back game from him. Hopefully Naz also. I don't expect to see Finchy get away from his 8-man rotation unless things go sour. But I remember both Clark and Shannon having good games this season against the Thunder, so maybe they can help.

[Coolbreeze44]

I'm still not convinced the Thunder are a great team. Denver took them to 7 and I see no reason we can't do the same. I think we should go a little deeper into our bench while increasing the minutes of Ant and Jaden. That means less Ju, Donte, and NAW. There are 2 keys to keep an eye on. #1 - Our start. Punch them in the face in the first quarter and make them realize this isn't going to be easy. #2 - The third quarter. We must come out with full energy and win the third.

I expect a Wolves win tonight. We aren't playing the '86 Celtics

[FNG]

I'm still not convinced the Thunder are a great team. Denver took them to 7 and I see no reason we can't do the same. I think we should go a little deeper into our bench while increasing the minutes of Ant and Jaden. That means less Ju, Donte, and NAW. There are 2 keys to keep an eye on. #1 - Our start. Punch them in the face in the first quarter and make them realize this isn't going to be easy. #2 - The third quarter. We must come out with full energy and win the third.

I expect a Wolves win tonight. We aren't playing the '86 Celtics

Ha, no we are not (loved that team too)! But unfortunately we are playing a team that won one more game than those Celtics, and had a net rating that was 3.6 points better. But to your point, that Celtic team only lost one game on their way to the NBA finals. I do think the Thunder are a great team...heck, to win 68 games in a conference that is so tough is remarkable, especially since many of the wins were by double digits. That said, I agree we have a good chance tonight.

[Wolvesfan21]

I'm still not convinced the Thunder are a great team. Denver took them to 7 and I see no reason we can't do the same. I think we shoand NAW. Tuld go a little deeper into our bench while increasing the minutes of Ant and Jaden. That means less Ju, Donte, here are 2 keys to keep an eye on. #1 - Our start. Punch them in the face in the first quarter and make them realize this isn't going to be easy. #2 - The third quarter. We must come out with full energy and win the third.

I expect a Wolves win tonight. We aren't playing the '86 Celtics

I agree with less of those guys most likely. It may simply depend on how the game goes though. I give them a chance to prove themselves tonight, but I am cutting their minutes down if things are not good from the start for them. Insert JC and or TSJ. I might try both at the same time.

The way that OKC clogs the paint, they are not like GSW or the Lakers or in fact any other NBA current team. This just makes it way harder on guys like Ju who likes to take his time down low, he's going to get the double/triple and a bunch of swipes at the ball and they seem to get huge success from that.

We still need to drive but be quicker on the reads to kick out to the open man, Ant is very good at it, Ju not as much (the quick part).

We just might have to try 50+ threes every game to win, simply hope we get good enough looks (not deep contesting jacks) and knock them down.

[FNG]

I don't like the body language of the Wolves crowd tonight on the screen...a lot of heads shaking. Lip, if you're there, get this crowd fired up...we need them!

Edit: Stephen A noticing the same thing I did...weird crowd. A good start could change that. I think they need to be convinced. I guess I do too.

[Coolbreeze44]

Shocking Ju shot his 3rd straight, not so shocking an air ball

[Coolbreeze44]

Rudy SMH

[FNG]

Shocking Ju shot his 3rd straight, not so shocking an air ball

Didn't like either his 2nd or 3rd shots...at least he made the second. Defense is much more engaged than last game, but Mike needs to hit those open 3's.

[60WinTim]

We’ve increased our physicality.

And we are hitting some 3s!