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Post by levine on Apr 26, 2024 8:55:15 GMT -6
Amazing how many Suns fans feel like Bol Bol can be the difference in this series...
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Post by quinn on Apr 26, 2024 10:24:57 GMT -6
Vikings get their QB of the future and potentially the best defender in the draft last night and now we get the Wolves going up 3-0 tonight... what a fun few days for Minnesota sports fans!!
Couldn't be more excited to see how they handle the hostile environment tonight. Going to be another fun game.
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Post by XRaySpecs on Apr 26, 2024 10:40:12 GMT -6
If the Wolves bring the defensive intensity they've had the first 2 games and don't turn the ball over, I like our chances. We need to come ready though. The Cavs outclassed the Magic in their first 2 games and then got blown out in game 3.
A Naz Reid game and KAT finding a rhythm would be nice. Ant needs to keep making the right plays. He's been really good after the first half of game 1.
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Post by levine on Apr 26, 2024 10:45:37 GMT -6
This is fantastic. About the Wolves overall, but also what Legler says about Ant.
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Post by kingsxman on Apr 26, 2024 11:42:59 GMT -6
Vikings get their QB of the future and potentially the best defender in the draft last night and now we get the Wolves going up 3-0 tonight... what a fun few days for Minnesota sports fans!! Couldn't be more excited to see how they handle the hostile environment tonight. Going to be another fun game. Well, that would be nice but its a bit like Dane/Britt starting to discuss a series with Denver on the last pod. Here's the horse....and there's the cart way up ahead. I really dont like that kind of talk because...A: its Timberwolves and B: its Minnesota sports. The sports gods just cant wait to kick us in the groin again. I think we have to play a darn near perfect game tonight to win if Allen plays and is functionable. The Suns are still the same team that killed us 3x in the regular season. They are going to put it together at some point. The Suns missing Allen is a big deal as they have no depth but they can still get hot and shoot it like no one else at times. If we can keep the Suns from getting out to a big lead tonight in the first half I like our chances. But the defense has to remain smothering, and we have to remain committed to not turning the ball over with dumb mistakes. Right now, if the Suns win tonight its back to a series. If we win its done. I'm already nervous.
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Post by levine on Apr 26, 2024 11:52:41 GMT -6
I think the only way we lose is if we get killed in the 1st quarter. (Or ridiculous officiating…)
All 3 regular seasons games had us get down a ton early and the Suns hang on to win.
They’re old and have no depth. In both Playoff games they kept it close for 2.5 quarters and then we just wore them down completely.
They’re not built to come back. They’re built to score early and coast late.
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Post by Nick K on Apr 26, 2024 12:45:36 GMT -6
I think the only way we lose is if we get killed in the 1st quarter. (Or ridiculous officiating…) All 3 regular seasons games had us get down a ton early and the Suns hang on to win. They’re old and have no depth. In both Playoff games they kept it close for 2.5 quarters and then we just wore them down completely.
They’re not built to come back. They’re built to score early and coast late. Yep. I agree. We just need to go out there and play mistake free ball, rebound and defend the way we can. If we can shoot 43% field and 38% from 3 we'll be ok.
Their depth will hurt them late no doubt.
Maybe Kat and Reid step up tonight as they have been a little off.
My concerns are officiating and our potential for sloppy play.
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Post by kingsxman on Apr 26, 2024 13:54:43 GMT -6
I think the only way we lose is if we get killed in the 1st quarter. (Or ridiculous officiating…) All 3 regular seasons games had us get down a ton early and the Suns hang on to win. They’re old and have no depth. In both Playoff games they kept it close for 2.5 quarters and then we just wore them down completely.
They’re not built to come back. They’re built to score early and coast late. Yep. I agree. We just need to go out there and play mistake free ball, rebound and defend the way we can. If we can shoot 43% field and 38% from 3 we'll be ok.
Their depth will hurt them late no doubt.
Maybe Kat and Reid step up tonight as they have been a little off.
My concerns are officiating and our potential for sloppy play.
So far most of these first round series are not looking like they are going long...which the NBA I'm sure doesnt like. I can see the "lets stretch these out" directive getting sent out to the officials. (And yes I think that happens). I didnt see the games but apparently there was some super questionable calls going the way of the 76ers (which worked) and the Lakers (which didnt work) last night.
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Post by XRaySpecs on Apr 26, 2024 14:33:17 GMT -6
Well, that would be nice but its a bit like Dane/Britt starting to discuss a series with Denver on the last pod. Here's the horse....and there's the cart way up ahead. I really dont like that kind of talk because...A: its Timberwolves and B: its Minnesota sports. The sports gods just cant wait to kick us in the groin again. I think we have to play a darn near perfect game tonight to win if Allen plays and is functionable. The Suns are still the same team that killed us 3x in the regular season. They are going to put it together at some point. The Suns missing Allen is a big deal as they have no depth but they can still get hot and shoot it like no one else at times. If we can keep the Suns from getting out to a big lead tonight in the first half I like our chances. But the defense has to remain smothering, and we have to remain committed to not turning the ball over with dumb mistakes. Right now, if the Suns win tonight its back to a series. If we win its done. I'm already nervous. I agree. Too much talk with the implication that we've got this one. We don't and shouldn't have any thought that we do until we've won on the road.
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Post by XRaySpecs on Apr 26, 2024 15:04:07 GMT -6
Line started at PHX -3.5. Then it moved to -4.5. Now it's at PHX -5.5.
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Post by araxen on Apr 26, 2024 15:46:10 GMT -6
Yep. I agree. We just need to go out there and play mistake free ball, rebound and defend the way we can. If we can shoot 43% field and 38% from 3 we'll be ok.
Their depth will hurt them late no doubt.
Maybe Kat and Reid step up tonight as they have been a little off.
My concerns are officiating and our potential for sloppy play.
So far most of these first round series are not looking like they are going long...which the NBA I'm sure doesnt like. I can see the "lets stretch these out" directive getting sent out to the officials. (And yes I think that happens). I didnt see the games but apparently there was some super questionable calls going the way of the 76ers (which worked) and the Lakers (which didnt work) last night. It definitely happens. They went to barely calling any fouls on Embiid to calling every ticky tack foul against him. He had more FTA's then the entire Knicks team in Game 3. It's absurd.
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Post by levine on Apr 26, 2024 16:30:27 GMT -6
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Post by kingsxman on Apr 26, 2024 20:44:50 GMT -6
Call me shocked about NAW being one of our best 5. Allen out for this game. That "should" help us.
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Post by quinn on Apr 26, 2024 21:15:11 GMT -6
This is a frenetic pace to start the game. I'll let Phoenix run themselves into the ground. One of the ways our bench is a massive strength.
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jr
Junior Member
Posts: 298
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Post by jr on Apr 26, 2024 21:26:54 GMT -6
15 FTA for the Suns in the first quarter.
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Post by levine on Apr 26, 2024 21:37:49 GMT -6
This is a frenetic pace to start the game. I'll let Phoenix run themselves into the ground. One of the ways our bench is a massive strength. Hopefully we’ll still have 5 players left at the end…
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Post by quinn on Apr 26, 2024 21:38:07 GMT -6
Death. Taxes. KAT getting in foul trouble in the playoffs.
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Post by Nick K on Apr 26, 2024 23:22:21 GMT -6
Line started at PHX -3.5. Then it moved to -4.5. Now it's at PHX -5.5. Those Vegas fans love PHX too. Phx home team bet a bunch tonight. They can't be happy.
Minny deserves plenty of respect! Their poise in the 4th is so much more mature. Amazing. We got a good flippin team.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2024 5:46:16 GMT -6
It’d be nice to close out Sunday since it looks like Denver is going on LA.
Rudy, Kat both getting two fouls right away, when they interviewed Gobert between quarters he said something to the effect of we knew they were going to do that. But man, then you see Naz come in, you see Kyle, Wolves just have nice depth across the board and that’s not evening counting Wendell Moore Jr.
Great game overall, I thought Kat played great, and so far has done a great job of not losing his composure when refs give him mostly a bum whistle still.
NAW has been phenomenal, and Ant is doing it on both ends. I just don’t think Suns/Vogel have much they can do here, even if they play KD at the five, they eventually still have to get into their mixed rotations and bench. Gonna be tough to maintain that pace.
I could watch Rudy Gobert sprint dribble/euro’s all day. Elite content.
V I C T O R Y !!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2024 6:08:34 GMT -6
I also think if officiating had been like this the last several years Suns are not doing that Beal trade and trying to play without a point guard. That might work in the hay day of post FOM but it’s not something that works in normal basketball where d is allowed.
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Post by jojo on Apr 27, 2024 7:32:04 GMT -6
This team reminds me of MJs first championship team. Was living in Chicago at the time so remember it well. They jelled late in the season then were unstoppable in the playoffs. Ended up beating the lakers in the final after they got by Portland who was the better team. Anyway this team has that same vibe of everyone coming together. Denver will be formidable but Finch has shown when he had time to game plan he can work matchups well. The last game was on a back to back and Wolves were toward end of a long stretch with little days off. They’ve shown when they have time to recharge their defense they can be monsters on that end. Plus KAT acclimating they will be a different team from the last Denver game.
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Post by XRaySpecs on Apr 27, 2024 7:47:22 GMT -6
Line started at PHX -3.5. Then it moved to -4.5. Now it's at PHX -5.5. Those Vegas fans love PHX too. Phx home team bet a bunch tonight. They can't be happy.
Minny deserves plenty of respect! Their poise in the 4th is so much more mature. Amazing. We got a good flippin team.
It actually got all the way to PHX -6 so I put a little on the Wolves to cover :)
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Post by XRaySpecs on Apr 27, 2024 7:52:31 GMT -6
That 3rd quarter was just awesome.
This team is so versatile. We can be one of the biggest teams in the league or go smaller.
How many superlatives can we put on NAW? He's just been awesome this series. The D and 3pt shooting have been so impressive, but he's also looking more and more comfortable as the "PG" with Ant out there and Conley off the court. I've been saying for awhile now that my hope is that NAW can take over for Conley down the line. The hope is that you could have a rotation with Ant and NAW in the backcourt with a true PG like say a Monte Morris as your 3rd guard.
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Post by kingsxman on Apr 27, 2024 8:06:43 GMT -6
I dont know that I have ever been more impressed with the Wolves than I am at this moment. They went into a hostile environment and from the get go, dealt with a hostile crowd, a team that was trying to play fast and wear them down (bad move btw) and an officiating crew that was trying to extend the series and just SHUT THEM DOWN from the get go. Not only did we match every punch the Suns threw...the Suns never led. I honestly thought in my heart of hearts that we were going to lose that game. Now I think we sweep. The suns are broken.
Can there be any doubt that NAW is as important as McD to this team? Ant, McD, NAW, Rudy. That is your core for the next 5 years. NAW just continues to impress me with how he not only meets the moment, but grabs it by the throat and says "give me some more!". Dude just hits big shots.
Ok...NOW we can talk about the Nuggets. Suns arent winning 4 in a row. I hate rooting for the Lakers but I want the Nuggets to have less rest than us. Dumb question but if both of us sweep...does our series start early? or do we still wait for other series to end?
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Post by BIG BAD WOLF on Apr 27, 2024 8:29:02 GMT -6
As impressive as all this was, they just leveled the season series with these guys… the feelings we have right now must be exactly how PHX fans felt when the playoffs started. Things change fast in the playoffs! You know at some point in the future some team will blow a 3-0 lead somehow… probably some injury calamity! Can you think of a team that would have that kind of bad luck? Good to see they can play well on the road. Assuming they win this series, they will have to win away games to move ahead at every future stage in this year’s playoffs. All that being said, I am really proud of this team! I hope they can keep everybody important together for at least one more year. Go Wolves!
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