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Back at it again! - Spurs at Wolves Game 3 GDT
Posted: Fri May 08, 2026 8:47 am
by 60WinTim
I have missed 3 games in real time this playoffs. Those are the 3 playoff losses for the Wolves. I will be tuned in tonight!
Apparently, Popovich sat in on the Spurs film session before Game 2. The intensity and physicality by the Spurs was obviously way better in Game 2, along with adjustments on both ends of the court. Now Finch has an opportunity to make his counter adjustments, and the Wolves will be back in front of their home crowd. Needless to say, these two home games are super important for the Wolves chances in this series, especially tonight.
I did go back and watch the first quarter and a half of Game 2. The turnovers were just killers. Jaden in foul trouble was a killer. And ANT deciding to shoot his way into form was unhelpful. I'm glad Ayo got his first "vs. Spurs" minutes under his belt. But I'm worried about his calf/heel -- will he be available tonight? If not, look at the bright side: he may not be as expensive to re-sign as it could have been!
I expect ANT to be back in the starting lineup tonight. I would put Ayo in, also, but I bet Finch will stick with Mike. Oh well.
Re: Back at it again! - Spurs at Wolves Game 3 GDT
Posted: Fri May 08, 2026 9:57 am
by FNG
The cream needs to rise to the top generally for a team to win an NBA championship. Wemby is a +15.2 on/off this postseason, and Ant is a -12.5...dead last among our 10 primary rotation players (including Donte). Sure he has the knee issues, so we have to give him some grace. But I don't know if our (very good) supporting cast is good enough to beat this very good Spurs team if Ant doesn't lead...we need to see the arrival of Playoff Ant tonight.
I was going to say winning game three puts us in the driver's seat because 1-1 teams that win game three have gone on to win the series 74% of the time. But wait, it ain't that simple. If a 1-1 team playing at home wins game 3, they have gone on to win the series only 42% of the time. So based on history, it's a tough road ahead for our squad...we have a 42% chance of winning the series if we win tonight, and only a (gulp) 26% chance if we lose.
Playoff Ant, you listening?
Re: Back at it again! - Spurs at Wolves Game 3 GDT
Posted: Fri May 08, 2026 10:03 am
by AbeVigodaLive
I think the Wolves are screwed.
The Spurs were doubling Edwards at halfcourt in Game 2. He doesn't have the healthy legs to beat it. But at least I think Finch and Co. will get to him enough that he gets off it quick tonight. And that's a good thing for many reasons, including that Edwards either hasn't played or played average to bad for two months now.
The rub with that strategy is (1) Gobert in the short roll is dicey. (2) Even if Gobert handles the 4-on-3 advantage, does the team still have the shooters to take advantage?
Edwards is the best three point shooter and he's obviously out of the action.
Divencenzo is the most prolific of what's left and he's obviously out.
Ayo shoots a great percentage, but I doubt he plays.
McDaniels is shooting 10% in the playoffs so far behind the arc. And it's not from bad luck. He's been off.
Conley might be good for 2 - 4 open makes.
Bones hasn't hit his mark yet.
Naz has shown signs of getting hot from the corner three.
The Spurs are cool with Randle shooting threes.
[Note: The Spurs also know that the Wolves are vulnerable in transition and ran even off makes several times in Game 2 effectively. The Wolves are too small with Bones or Conley against the Spurs guards and the Wolves big lineup with Reid at the 3 is too slow in transition.]
Re: Back at it again! - Spurs at Wolves Game 3 GDT
Posted: Fri May 08, 2026 10:41 am
by Q-is-here
FNG wrote: ↑Fri May 08, 2026 9:57 am
The cream needs to rise to the top generally for a team to win an NBA championship. Wemby is a +15.2 on/off this postseason, and Ant is a -12.5...dead last among our 10 primary rotation players (including Donte). Sure he has the knee issues, so we have to give him some grace. But I don't know if our (very good) supporting cast is good enough to beat this very good Spurs team if Ant doesn't lead...we need to see the arrival of Playoff Ant tonight.
I was going to say winning game three puts us in the driver's seat because 1-1 teams that win game three have gone on to win the series 74% of the time. But wait, it ain't that simple. If a 1-1 team playing at home wins game 3, they have gone on to win the series only 42% of the time. So based on history, it's a tough road ahead for our squad...we have a 42% chance of winning the series if we win tonight, and only a (gulp) 26% chance if we lose.
Playoff Ant, you listening?
For whatever reason(s) - pain, recovery, rust, not focused, etc. - Ant isn't himself. It's obvious watching him out there. Yes, he can still do some positive things as we witnessed in Game 1, but he's lacking burst in all directions - east, west, north, south. A bunch of his shots caught the front rim.
Ayo looked off as well.
Bottom line is that the talent gap is starting to come home to roost and there is only so much we can expect from Jaden, who at this point is our best healthy two-way player.
We also REALLY miss DDV of course.
Re: Back at it again! - Spurs at Wolves Game 3 GDT
Posted: Fri May 08, 2026 4:07 pm
by Wolvesfan21
AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Fri May 08, 2026 10:03 am
I think the Wolves are screwed.
The Spurs were doubling Edwards at halfcourt in Game 2. He doesn't have the healthy legs to beat it. But at least I think Finch and Co. will get to him enough that he gets off it quick tonight. And that's a good thing for many reasons, including that Edwards either hasn't played or played average to bad for two months now.
The rub with that strategy is (1) Gobert in the short roll is dicey. (2) Even if Gobert handles the 4-on-3 advantage, does the team still have the shooters to take advantage?
Edwards is the best three point shooter and he's obviously out of the action.
Divencenzo is the most prolific of what's left and he's obviously out.
Ayo shoots a great percentage, but I doubt he plays.
McDaniels is shooting 10% in the playoffs so far behind the arc. And it's not from bad luck. He's been off.
Conley might be good for 2 - 4 open makes.
Bones hasn't hit his mark yet.
Naz has shown signs of getting hot from the corner three.
The Spurs are cool with Randle shooting threes.
[Note: The Spurs also know that the Wolves are vulnerable in transition and ran even off makes several times in Game 2 effectively. The Wolves are too small with Bones or Conley against the Spurs guards and the Wolves big lineup with Reid at the 3 is too slow in transition.]
Ant needs to be off the ball then get it from a DHO or screen. Then immediately go downhill or shoot the 3P. Because I agree, he's lacking that burst so we will have to game plan better touches and looks for him. He clearly was struggling with the doubles when he was dribbling the ball up or accepting a pass 35 feet from the bucket. They just blitzed him.
I think to get Ant off with his bum legs is to get him in better positions to succeed.
Re: Back at it again! - Spurs at Wolves Game 3 GDT
Posted: Fri May 08, 2026 7:45 pm
by Phenom
Looks like Ayo is in as well as Ant
Re: Back at it again! - Spurs at Wolves Game 3 GDT
Posted: Fri May 08, 2026 8:42 pm
by FNG
Phenom wrote: ↑Fri May 08, 2026 7:45 pm
Looks like Ayo is in as well as Ant
That's good...surprised the line is up to 5 1/2 now.
We get Tony Brothers again. I think we won last time with him, but I have him in the same category as Foster...likes to be seen. We need to be physical with Wemby and Fox, so let's hope he stays in the background.
Re: Back at it again! - Spurs at Wolves Game 3 GDT
Posted: Fri May 08, 2026 8:43 pm
by BloopOracle
He's been doing a lot of dirty work these playoffs, but it's time for Julius Randle to have a big scoring game
Re: Back at it again! - Spurs at Wolves Game 3 GDT
Posted: Fri May 08, 2026 8:51 pm
by FNG
Wemby totally dominant at both ends to start.
Re: Back at it again! - Spurs at Wolves Game 3 GDT
Posted: Fri May 08, 2026 8:54 pm
by FNG
Terrific...Ant playing PG. Not surprised we're down 9-1 if he's going to do that.