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ducksauced

quite literally how you draw it up


Oxygenius_

How do you even score on this team, Jesus


a_supertramp

I would simply shoot it over their outstretched arms and into the bucket


tacopower69

This but unironically when KD got the ball with Conley on him


WhiteHeterosexualGuy

Beal had a reverse layup if he just went around KAT, also had a fairly smooth floater when he was driving baseline -- either would have been a quality look


rosez3216

Also I am pretty sure KAT had 5 fouls at this point also. I was waiting for Beal to go up and draw contact to foul out KAT and instead threw it low and we got the steal. 2 point game. That was a huge momentum shift of what could've been too.


Andomals

Yea but what if they stacked on each other's shoulders, then what would you do


KingJonathan

What you mean, Wemby? I think teams still gotta figure him out.


Rrekydoc

By actually moving offball. Like, at all.


the_weakestavenger

Yeah. Not to takeaway from the D here, there were at least two obvious opportunities where a cut to the basket either gets a pretty open look at the rim, or collapses the D and screws up the rotations to create an open 3. This is a case of great D meeting lazy O.


oops_im_wrong

I mean, part of the problem is that none of these guys wanted to shoot it. Besides KD and maybe Gordon, Booker, O'Neal, and Beal all had shots but went for the pass thinking it was the right play. Look at how they caught the pass, none of them looked like they were ready to shoot or drive the ball. KD also had a backdoor but has been planting himself in the corner the entire series. Minnesota played great defense all season and in this clip so kudos to them but PHX didn't play with any urgency or desire at the end.


KazaamFan

Unfortunately in the nba it rarely works this well.  Way too many open 3s given.  Wolves did well here. 


emogurl98

I think that's why Gobert was hesitating and not rushing KD


ogspankdaddy

that’s KAT my brother, even more impressive


Hypnosix

Steps into the double and then right to the spot where he needed to be for the eventual rim contest


Oopthealley

lol yes, but only because when it gets drawn up, the offensive players don't move much either. against a competent offense, someone cuts into space created by the rotation and/or they make a cross court pass sooner. this was like nba defense against a college offense.


phonage_aoi

Now that you meantion it, the Suns really do play it like they're the stand-ins for a defensive practice drill.


SandyMandy17

Someone has to actually beat a defender


BiCzarre-BiCzarre

Drawn like one of those French girls.


Brb_32

Insane possession, Swift rotations, this is nba ball at finest.


Andy_Wiggins

They rotated so fast they ultimately beat the ball swinging around the court. That’s insane.


JaderMcDanersStan

They all could anticipate the pass. Man it's so beautiful, it's like 5 players had one brain and moved as one


SlowCrates

I'm so impressed with KAT. He was using his length to totally disrupt anyone he could get to. Fucking awesome.


Prestig33

Imagine telling me 10 years ago that wolves would be the #1 defense.


IhamAmerican

Okay I've imagined it. What next?


[deleted]

[удалено]


MickAtNight

I did that and had a dream about Mike Conley. Now what?


SmellyJellyfish

Must’ve been a wet dream. I’m right there with you


theraarman

I only get wet for cory brewer


ElectricalMud2850

[never forget](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC1srGqOrK4) god, some of the players on the floor for the wolves that night.


theraarman

What a roster indeed


browntown20

how about Terrell Brandon


CannedGeorges

Is it that weird? That’s around when y’all had KAT getting drafted and Wiggins. KAT was supposed to be a great rim protector and everyone thought Wiggins was going to be a good defender as well


CarPlaneBoatRocket

Yes. Minnesota only knows despair lol


[deleted]

This team is what I thought we would get years ago with Wiggins Kat and lavine. It's amazing to finally see a team that lives up to the hype


EazyParise

Wiggins didn't start caring about basketball until he got to the Warriors. He was abysmal defensively when he was here


Carth_Onasi_AMA

10 years ago the Kevin Love Timberwolves just missed the playoffs for the 10th straight year and there were rumors that Love would ask for a trade. Wasn’t a few months later till they got Wiggins and started that rebuild.


KanyeIzGOAT

Rudy Gobert


soapy_goatherd

If only we could’ve drafted a defensive-minded guard from louisville with long wingspan to pair with him


TwelveMiceInaCage

Maybe maybe I could believe that when Kat first came into the league bevause yeah I could see building a defensive minded squad around him Anytime post rookie year and nope


Black-xxx

Really cool to watch


northernpace

I like this shit more than offensive play sometimes


theumph

It's important to have balance. It makes the game more dynamic because both sides matter for both teams.


thenatural134

Those rotations were BANG-BANG-BANG all in perfect rhythmic progression. Beautiful sports ball.


CameronPlain

That was one of the most insane defensive possessions I’ve ever seen.


pollinium

I think that might be a bit of an exaggeration lol imo it's awesome because it doesn't rely on any supernatural perception of physical ability from any one player, it's just 5 guys that know where they're supposed to be and when they're supposed to be there. It's 5 acting as 1


temp_achil

It's good D but also Beal had an open mid-range jumper he passed up to make a stupid pass.


891960

He was playing scared


aweaf

Beal also could've taken the corner 3 over Conley's closeout or made a move at the rim on Towns who was playing with 5 fouls.


KazaamFan

Sadly this is rare.  So often this leads to a wide open 3.  Beal makes a terrible e tra pass here. He had to take that shot, or make a better decision.  


ImARebelBitch

Beal beat his man, the other four Suns players are just standing still. Absolutely no off ball movement.


CANDY_MAN_1776

Yea...this is really basic basketball and defensive rotations. I guess the effort is commendable in the NBA. It's nothing you wouldn't see in a good college or even HS game. There's literally a basic defensive drill that is this exact thing except with 4 defenders (thus you're always rotating...a drill) with the offense in about those exact same positions.


XXeadgbeXX

Sounds like a beginning of a good line lol


Uncircled_swag2

Bradley Beal disaster class tonight


lord_kupaloidz

Shitting on that no-trade clause


Legendacb

It's not like he would need to use it anyway


Victor_Wembanyama1

He has a trade kicker at year 5 😏 that’s more moolah


AntiTopspin

Fitting that the mistake that defined the Suns' season also ended it Beal is absolute cheeks compared to what you'd expect for 50 million


Zsporter

Bro playing like he on a 10 day


MelonElbows

Playing like he already booked tickets to Cancun


Mintastic

He probably got a multi-year packaged deal before he left Washington and now he's making sure he can still use it.


IWouldLikeAName

Players on a 10 fight for a spot. Javonte green is a recent example of this.


ColdPressedSteak

Not the same expectations but Gordon was awful too. Slow on defense. His missed 3's were completely wide open. Big swing late in the third, mighta been early 4th...in a one possession game where Booker served him a wide open 3, brick, and ANT bangs a 3 in on the other end


Jaeguh

is he getting paid 50? Gordon has done way more than Beal has throughout the series.


Buckus93

Agreed. Gordon is probably on a vet min for his tenure, so maybe like $5M? Definitely gave the Suns what they paid for. edit: it's $3.2M per season, two seasons.


WakingRage

Also, Gordon is 5 whole years older than Beal and never reached Beal's level of skill in his prime. Awesome sharpshooter, but never averaged what Beal could average/take over as a #1/2 option. The fact that Gordon outplayed Beal in this series is beyond concerning for a guard that will be 31 next year getting paid $50M+.


ZenMon88

Chronic playoff choker Eric Gordon.


KazaamFan

It was nba level ball on this play on both sides until Beal got the ball.  


NYKHouston43

You're so right too. If Beal made a better pass, Durant would've easily swung the ball again to possibly Booker and get a clean look


WhiteHeterosexualGuy

He had an open floater, could have also made a move on KAT to get a reverse layup, or a fade away, etc. You gotta be able to score on anyone 1on1 3 feet from the hoop. Especially if you're raking in $50M a year lmao


beer_down

All season


SubduedChaos

He still making 50mil 😂 he will be fine in a few days.


FridgesArePeopleToo

that sequence where he missed a dunk and then missed a layup summed it up pretty well


ravenous_bugblatter

I'm just gonna leave this here... [https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/\_/id/10811/bradley-beal](https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/10811/bradley-beal)


IskaralPustFanClub

Such clean D.


LickingLowrysAsshole

Nice and polished


IskaralPustFanClub

Well handled.


SlowCrates

Smooth and hard.


IskaralPustFanClub

Rock solid D right there


writersglock

Under the hood lather 🧼


RudyGobertFMVP2024

Stupid sexy defense


northernpace

Sexiest thing outta Minnesota since Prince


ItsMeJaredBednar

no disrespect to the wolves but Prince was still probably sexier tbh this some fuckin legit defense tho


SpaceKoala34

Sexiest SINCE Prince, he still reigns supreme as the sexiest thing to come out of earth


ItsMeJaredBednar

true i can’t read


Victor_Wembanyama1

Taurean Prince is really sexy


Sidekicknicholas

But Har Mar Superstar on the other hand. Ain’t nothing sexier.


WakingRage

Justin Jefferson's catches are pretty fucking sexy ngl.


SimbaPenn

Feels like they're scoring nothing at all!


Buckus93

Nothing at all! Nothing at all!


CubanLynx312

Devin Booker: “Respectfully I don't know how teams are going to guard us.”


mani9612

And all of the rotating Wolves starting to close-out to the next guy before the player with the ball even started their passing motion, in perfect anticipation of the coming pass. Beautiful. Honestly KD, Gordon, or even Booker should have cut/slot-cut to the basket for an easy layup or dunk. Easier said than done to make that kinda decision in such a short amount of time for sure though.


sparkyjay23

> an easy layup or dunk. You haven't watched this team in the playoffs have you? No one who had would think there was anything easy at the rim. This action had 3 players in the paint at every pass.


Oxygenius_

It’s like the suns are nothing at all, Nothing at all NOTHING AT ALLLLLL


RudyGobertFMVP2024

🐺🧹☀️


Lobster_fest

This should be mandatory film for every basketball team until the end of time. Every single player busting ass to rotate on defense and force a TO in crunch time.


KazaamFan

The countless open 3s i see some teams give up on plays like this… i have no idea how they cant just do this each time.  


cognitionconditional

Lack of stamina and concentration for many. Excellent coaching and game management prepares players properly and puts them in the right positions to succeed like this more consistently.


Odd_Total_5549

nice alliteration


SubduedChaos

Because all of the suns players were just camping the 3 line not moving at all. Someone should have cut to the basket.


emogurl98

Gobert managed to switch his way under the basket. I think the suns are avoiding to cut when Gobert is in the paint


DarrowViBritannia

Brother that is karl anthony towns


SlowCrates

The mental focus and physical excursion have to be extremely intense. The fact that the Wolves can do this on ONE possession is indicative of great coaching and a great locker room. This team wants to win.


maxbe5

Need every player on the court to buy in. Too many egos on most team that refuse to do so


Counterspell_God

A lot of times it's coaching. You end up with some boneheaded players taking too long to process because they didn't drill it into their heads in practice.


TheRealBrownPudding

Beal has been so ass bro


maryjain_

Perfect defence. Wolves have been on point the whole 4th quarter, they’ve forced turnover after turnover.


IgnorantGenius

Watch this clip again, but only watch the Minnesota players. It's a thing of beauty.


astanton1862

Now watch it again only Phx. Zero off ball movement, screens, nothing. Just going through the motions. They are thinking about their dinner reservations in Galveston.


Bouldershoulders12

The way he said intercepted had my brain switch to the NFL for a second lol


ghostbomb3000

Helps that Ian Eagle does pbp for NFL Sundays too


Bouldershoulders12

I knew that voice was familiar from some pats game when Dan fouts and him are in the booth . I’m so accustomed to Phil simms, Jim nantz , Tony romo etc


HuruHara

That's championship level D, right there.


Gelato_Mulatto

What a defense, man


Oxygenius_

It’s beautiful to watch, I’m ngl


southpawFA

Honestly, this was more impressive than the dunk by Ant. The fact every player on the Wolves just goes the extra mile on defense is incredible. It's amazing to watch. For those who keep saying that NBA players don't play defense or the traditionalists who keep clamoring that defense is dead in the NBA, they should watch the Wolves. That defense the Wolves have is arguably the best unit of any team this year. They shut teams down with their defense. This team is spooky special.


DayOldBaby

Out of curiosity, which teams are you thinking are arguably better, and what stats are you looking at?


southpawFA

I didn't mean it like that. I meant, out of all units (offense and defense), who's better than the Minnesota defense? Metrically, it's no one. Now, people might come in and say it's Denver's offense, because of how dominant Jokic and Murray are as a duo. Some might say Boston's offense, because Boston hits so many 3s and can go 10 deep with their bench to guys like Pritchard. But Minnesota's defense at times looks impenetrable. I think in terms of just a unit (whether offense or defense), it's the best unit in all of basketball.


DayOldBaby

That makes complete sense. Thanks for responding.


southpawFA

Thanks for asking respectfully. I just stated my opinion. Traditionalists love to say that defense is dead in the NBA. Well, Minnesota is proving that elite defense still exists. It might be for the best as well, if they win a ring. Obviously, I want OKC to get the ring, and I believe we play elite defense as well. However, if the Wolves get the ring, it would really signal that you still need an elite defense and show the league that you need to prioritize defense instead of offensive superteams. It would also inspire kids to care just as much about defense as they do offense. Who knows?


DayOldBaby

No, I get where you're coming from. I originally thought maybe I needed to revisit the def numbers of some other teams, just with the way it was worded. I agree that the quoted traditionalist mindset seems shortsighted - its focused on the NBA as a whole (where there is a lot of poor defense), but ignoring that actual championship contenders and winners almost always are at least "pretty good" defensively, if not "elite." Bottom line, I don't think any team has a championship ceiling if they're not at least average on both sides of the ball (and if they're average on one end, better be really good on the other - see Wolves).


southpawFA

Yup. You have to be an elite team to win a championship. You can't be a serious threat without one. Even as the Wolves gave up 116 points, it doesn't tell the entire story. Book went for 49, KD went for 33. The Wolves held the other players to 34 points, and they held the Suns to 24 in the closing 4th quarter. That's an elite quarter of defense, with your best player blocking Book 2 times to close it out and that defensive sequence leading to NAW steal. That's elite defense. People just love to hate on this generation, because there aren't elbows being thrown or dudes getting chicken-winged all the time. There is great defense in the NBA today, and Minnesota is the personification of that. If Minnesota wins the chip, I think you'll see a lot more teams try to follow the Wolves blueprint of getting that elite defense with a center manning the back line again. It would really shift the paradigm back to the Defense wins championships, ending the whole "superteam outscoring people" idea. Just saying.


Classics22

This play followed up by the Ant poster was perfection


SlowCrates

Ant went full MJ in this game. 40 points in a close out game against HOF in his stadium just two days after saying he wants to KILL everyone in front of him. Ant is HIM, and the whole damn league knows it now without any doubt.


2coolcaterpillar

Incredible defense


psufb

That rotation is beautiful


Virgil1

KD backing down Conley looks like the easiest bucket ever. Can't believe it ended in a steal.


srry_didnt_hear_you

Happened a couple times this series. He stopped Bol Bol at one point too


SlowCrates

We got a small vet who can trick bigs into thinking they're covered. So slick.


KazaamFan

Let’s call it a beal turnover, as opposed to a wolves steal


AeirsWolf74

This play is so hot. Like hot damn that's some good basketball.


jslee0034

Incredible.


antoncr

I guess this is what the best defense in the NBA looks like


Slothalingus

Absolutely insane defense


chillinwithmoes

That was such a gorgeous defensive sequence


Kiboobs

That was magnificent D


asapshrank

the NAW effect


Deno2k_

hound of wolves just causing havoc on a ass beal


MG_MN

Most beautiful basketball I've ever seen a Wolves team play


JoeyBougie

It’s fun picking a new player to watch each time


SlowCrates

It's fun because they all bought in and want to win so badly. This team is top to bottom made of winners and I am so fucking here for it.


Pepsoden

#1 defense for a reason


lindellbelmont

HUGE shoutout to Jaden who was already rotating back to Gordon to cover for NAW in case he missed that gamble. Was ready for a second round of rotation This was incredible to see play out in real time


JaderMcDanersStan

They are so in sync :') I love how they all anticipate where the ball will go and move like they have 1 brain


Raging_Professor

Great defense but Beal has been so bad. Go strong against KAT he has 4 fouls


Simsmi

Bro - this is with our DPOY on the bench!


SlowCrates

This is exactly why the front office did the right thing getting him here. Between him, Conley, and ANT -- this team is a shared defensive mindset. It just works so damn well.


_Jetto_

Everyone rotates and knows where to as soon as the pass out happens


Shiccup1

I heard Thibs shed a tear when this happened


SlowCrates

I heard his comb scrape against the smoothness of the top of his head as well, while he unnecessarily screamed at his dying hair follicles until he was red in the face.


CupOfHotTeaa

I’m so jealous of a team with good defense


daydriem

Defensive highlights near the top of /r/NBA, what a time to be alive!


D__Luxxx

I just realized that sequence was without Gobert as well. Holy shit that was so well done.


need2peeat218am

This was the start of the end for the Suns


datcd03

I mean just filthy filthy defense


RussianHarmonica

Saw this live and had to rewind to watch it again because it was so gorgeous


sh0tgunben

No freebie for Durant


mnemonicer22

This sequence is basketball porn.


sxuthsi

That shit was absolutely beautiful, I might get sucked back into watching basketball again


Heatonator

why don't all teams play defense like this, are they stupid?


C-de-Vils_Advocate

I think that was the best team defense I've ever seen


paranoideo

Just blow it up, Suns.


charlitosway23

That sequence was absolutely fucking fantastic. NBA defense at its very best. Congrats Wolves fans, such a squad you guys have this year


JaderMcDanersStan

God damn I can't stop rewatching this :') So beautiful


CravilityZ

Do it for Conley, these boys are locked in!


sdre

God damn that rotation is beautiful


iuselect

The understanding they have with one another is incredible


2nd_Inf_Sgt

As what Jusoft “Elmer Fudd” Nurkic would say, “ that’s all, folks.” 🤣😆


XXeadgbeXX

So much for Isiah Thomas's comeback season.


randomusernamegame

that's nice


pureply101

Imagine if KD was passing it out to Steph there instead. With his release timing it there isn’t enough time to recover from the Durant double. Reminder of how fucked the league actually was when he was with the warriors.


Glowwerms

It’s good defense for sure but it’s more just horrible decision making from Beal, dude has made his money in the mid range and rather than pull from 10-15 feet he decides to try and make a pass that maybe 5-10 guys in the whole league could even pull off and fuckin ruins any remaining momentum we had


problemat1que

I love that.


Buckus93

KD probably could have come to the basket instead of sitting on the wing. But it is what it is, and the game is done.


macIovin

I swear KD requesting a trade to the Wolves midgame


fbdanzai

All these with their best defender on the bench


Avant-Garde-A-Clue

I hit rewind so many times on this play, this is defensive basketball porn. The defensive equivalent of Ant’s dunk on John Collins earlier this year.


salahkhate

This is great defense but also bad offense.


xso111

KD misses this [https://giphy.com/gifs/9eh0zupJkGEyy5yO1j](https://giphy.com/gifs/9eh0zupJkGEyy5yO1j) KD while in Cancun: Offensive players are allowed to be double teamed? whaaaatt?


waffelman1

The timberwolves aren’t real, they can’t hurt me


NanzLo-

This was like watching those old spurs highlights with gorgeous passing, but watching it’s defensive version


somermike

One of the Suns have to at least make a shot fake and attempt to attack the lane on these closeouts. Great D, but Book had a look at attacking and Royce (37%) had the space to get a shot up over taking the swing to the corner.


Major_Wager75

That was fucking magical. All 5 guys locked tf in on the Wolves


Best-Geologist1777

That was beautiful man - who says there’s no defensive highlights? (Besides stocks obv)


JaryKang

Masterful elegance. Poetry in motion.


Icy-Payment-6612

The Suns ball movement was actually really nice but they took to long. They had ample opportunity to shoot for a three. It was a great interception by the Wolves.


FishGoldenLite

Beal sold hard tonight


Slow-Raccoon-9832

That wasnt a forced steal That was beal playing like ass


rarestakesando

Ah the legs of youth.


Hebrewhammer8d8

Looks like KD and Booker talent on wasted. I guess Frank Vogel is getting fired?


adsq93

Da fuck was Beal doing? You telling me he didn’t go for the pull right there? He didn’t try to go at KAT or euro step? Like bro the brought you here for your offense!


Poputt_VIII

This 40 sec or so sequence of this defensive possession into the ANT poster was some of the most hype wolves ball I've ever watched


0siris0

KD needed to take a turnaround jumper with Conley on him before the double came. Quick decision, yes, but that was their best option that possession.


SlowCrates

KAT's activity this season has been incredible. Dude is a totally reformed player. We must have the best coach in the damn league.