More Home Cooking - Thunder at Wolves Game 4 GDT

[60WinTim]

Keeping the same routine as for Game 3, I am starting this one early. The Wolves found something in Game 3. OKC will adjust, but hopefully the Wolves can carry some of that Game 3 mojo into tonight and turn this into a 3-game series. Target Center should be really hopping tonight!

If the Wolves manage to turn this series around, it will be due in part to OKC experiencing what the Wolves went through last year. Against Dallas last year, the Wolves had ANT as the only REAL initiator of offense who could score AND create shots for others. This year, the Wolves have both ANT and Randle capable of initiating offense. Looking at OKC, they have a similar problem in that Shai is the only REAL initiator of offense. But their defense is so good and their 3-point shooting is solid that a second initiator of offense has not been a problem. Until now!

[FNG]

I suggest nobody change the routine they used Saturday. As for me, I’ll be watching the game on my laptop out on the screen porch with my dog…it worked last time. We’re going to play a focused, fired up Thunder team tonight, so we need to be at our best. Let’s hope for another blowout first quarter to keep the fans in the game!

[Monster]

It sounds like a couple things were changed from games 1 and 2 and they should continue to game 4.

1. More aggressive D and less zone. This means Wolves going back to their defensive identity of the past few years. OKC will probably have some answers but I expect the Wolves to look better on D than both of the first 2 games.

2. Finch said in the post game press conference that we will be seeing more of TJ. I'd expect to see him get at least a short stint in the first half and go from there.

Tim I think you do bring up a good point but I would say it's worth mentioning Jalen Williams is as a creator although overall he has struggled in the playoffs with his shot. Outside of those 2 guys it's whether or not Chet gets going and other guys make shots. Naz should give the Wolves a little more juice off the bench and overall he has been efficient this playoffs but scoring under 15ppg per 36 isn't enough from someone like him. Both teams have some bench guys that can make an impact it would be nice if the Wolves bench could come alive offensively like I think they are capable. TJ could help. Donte has been missing from the party and overall NAW has actually helped more in the scoring dept than I realized. He actually has good shooting numbers this series.

[DNatagal]

Ant is the Alpha and his concentration and aggression on the defensive side will be the barometer for which direction this game goes...along with the whistle the refs are looking to provide.. if it is touch fouls, then the Wolves will be in trouble. If it is a playoff whistle, OKC is in trouble.

[Q-is-here]

It sounds like a couple things were changed from games 1 and 2 and they should continue to game 4.

1. More aggressive D and less zone. This means Wolves going back to their defensive identity of the past few years. OKC will probably have some answers but I expect the Wolves to look better on D than both of the first 2 games.

2. Finch said in the post game press conference that we will be seeing more of TJ. I'd expect to see him get at least a short stint in the first half and go from there.

Tim I think you do bring up a good point but I would say it's worth mentioning Jalen Williams is as a creator although overall he has struggled in the playoffs with his shot. Outside of those 2 guys it's whether or not Chet gets going and other guys make shots. Naz should give the Wolves a little more juice off the bench and overall he has been efficient this playoffs but scoring under 15ppg per 36 isn't enough from someone like him. Both teams have some bench guys that can make an impact it would be nice if the Wolves bench could come alive offensively like I think they are capable. TJ could help. Donte has been missing from the party and overall NAW has actually helped more in the scoring dept than I realized. He actually has good shooting numbers this series.

On #1, my understanding from listening to various pods is that the Wolves decided to give Jaden more help on SGA, first by having Rudy guard up a bit more on screens and by having guys provide more gap help. You may recall numerous instances where Rudy blitzed Shai or didn't drop as much as usual and surprised him by challenging his mid-range jumper and him having to quickly try to pass out of it.

OKC is unique because JDub, SGA, and even Hartenstein with that push shot are all really, really deadly from the 10-16 foot range. That's usually a range you want your defense to give up, but those guys were all 50%+ shooters from there during the regular season. So it's probably kind of weird to adjust your defense to stop the mid-range shot while potentially giving up more open 3s and some baseline 'oops and cuts to the rim.

As for TJ, I agree we'll definitely see him again and that his play will dictate whether he gets one 5-minute stint or something more than that.

[Q-is-here]

Ant is the Alpha and his concentration and aggression on the defensive side will be the barometer for which direction this game goes...along with the whistle the refs are looking to provide.. if it is touch fouls, then the Wolves will be in trouble. If it is a playoff whistle, OKC is in trouble.

Don't disagree on Ant. On the fouls, I think the biggest complaint in the Denver series and perhaps in Game 1 of our series is that you couldn't touch Shai AND they are allowed to be super physical on defense. So I'm less concerned about whether it's a tight or loose whistle and more concerned about whether it's applied consistently.

If it's a tight whistle guarding Shai, than it sure as hell better be a tight whistle when Dort or Caruso are guarding Ant. Although overall I think I agree with you that a loose whistle applied consistently probably benefits us more than a tight whistle applied consistently.

[Coolbreeze44]

Get off to a good start and win the first 5 minutes of the third quarter. My keys to a win tonight.

[DNatagal]

Ant is the Alpha and his concentration and aggression on the defensive side will be the barometer for which direction this game goes...along with the whistle the refs are looking to provide.. if it is touch fouls, then the Wolves will be in trouble. If it is a playoff whistle, OKC is in trouble.

Don't disagree on Ant. On the fouls, I think the biggest complaint in the Denver series and perhaps in Game 1 of our series is that you couldn't touch Shai AND they are allowed to be super physical on defense. So I'm less concerned about whether it's a tight or loose whistle and more concerned about whether it's applied consistently.

If it's a tight whistle guarding Shai, than it sure as hell better be a tight whistle when Dort or Caruso are guarding Ant. Although overall I think I agree with you that a loose whistle applied consistently probably benefits us more than a tight whistle applied consistently.

The tight whistle both ways would nullify Caruso like in game 3, but would hurt Jaden. OKC is a reaching defense, always collapsing on drives. A fair whistle that is even would be the best for both sides, but that rarely happens.

Did nobody mention the fact that the refs were pretty good in Game 3? I am sure OKC fans were incensed, but it was a lot more fun to watch the players be the focal point instead of the refs.

[Yosimar]

Be aggressive but smart. Push the ball up the court anytime you get a chance, don’t give them a chance to set up.
Most importantly though you’ve got to keep the TO’s down. Do that and you’ve got a chance of going back to OKC 2-2.

[FNG]

I haven’t seen the ref assignment for tonight, but we’re not likely to get The Extender since he worked last night.

But for the conspiracy guys out there, the last thing the NBA wants is a Thunder/Pacers finals, two of the smallest markets in the league. If you think the league puts pressure on the refs, SGA will get away with little tonight.