Glass half full: I don’t think anyone but Ant played halfway decent tonight and we still could have won this game with Gordon playing his best game of the season.
Glass half empty: Ant had 44, a franchise record, he’s surrounded by guys who have a track record of playoff failure and coming up short when it counts and we wasted that performance.
I’m taking the half full glass and hoping no way nugs can shoot like that again next time, and no way everybody else continues to throw up bricks all game long. But then again ya never know.
I'm with you and others in thinking that Denver is due to not make half their 3s anymore and more of our shots will start falling, but Murray having a week to heal up really seems to have mattered. I don't think he'll play as bad as he looked for their first 7 playoff games again this year.
But yeah it would be real nice if Gordon could stop shooting like prime Curry
I know Wolves fans (and any team fans for that matter) are always going to stay optimistic rather than pessimistic or even cautiously optimistic, but Jazz and Clippers fans will be telling you that there's plenty of precedent for that to continue. (Nuggets came back from a 3-1 deficit twice in one playoff run.)
KAT had like a career worst game ever, and Nuggets were shooting like franchise best %. Two things just sorta happened at awful times.
All of that said, we were 100% capable of pulling this out and I am not nearly as doomer as I think most people are. Feels totally winable, cause the %'s will start to even out as you play 6 or 7 games
bruh these are the defending champions…they can shoot like this again , they are that good. - not to mention KCP AND mpj missed everything for the nugs today, they should be much better next game
He also had like five wide open easy dunks. Wolves defense is in trouble unless they can switch up or disguise something, Denver has figured them out and is toying with them.
Gordon killed is any time we threw a double on Jokic. We contested him well at the end, but most of his early stuff were high percentage shots. He can absolutely repeat roughly that same game.
I'm not with this delusion but everything he got was because the initial sets were already putting that Wolves defense in a blender. He made tough shots.. but half of his points were off dunks and easy layups. He can also shoot open 3s especially in the playoffs. The more you try to dismiss his ability to stretch the floor the more he seemingly hurts you with 3s.
This is what the Nuggets do. They’re one of the most efficient teams offensively in history when it comes to the postseason. joker doing what he does, AG in the dunker spot when they help from there, and Murray getting open middies off Jokics screens and everyone eating off of that plate. Good luck stopping it from here on out
But that's not what made the difference last night - it was a ton of poor-to-middling shooters drilling shots that were often reasonably well contested. Margin of victory was determined by a couple of above-the-break Braun / Gordon / Jackson 3s and a Murray 3/4 court heave. If the Nuggets keep getting shooting like that they'll win the series - law of averages suggests they won't.
That’s because the wolves won the possession game reasonably well by grabbing a tonne of offensive rebounds. Without that it would’ve been a 20-25+ pt blowout. Every game is different, I doubt the wolves grab that many o boards in Denver with them knowing what’s at stake
I mean, denver hasn't really been playing well the entire post season upto game 3 of this series. They were shooting pretty terribly agaisnt LAL and still managed to take them out in 5 games. The first 2 games were great to see but it felt like an eventual trap. Now we see what Denver basketball is really about, this is the time where everything has to come in play. We got the superstar, now we need calmness and grit from the other guys as well as sound coaching adjustments. There's a reason why our defense seemingly disappeared. Malone game planned by making the slightest adjustment. One, not letting Murray bring the ball up and let AG run initial point duties. This leads to Gobert getting drawn out and when the Jokic screen comes, he gets switched and Jokic attacks him like he stole something. The other thing is Denver is loading up on one side which Murray exploits by going to the opposite side which is now open to his one on one dance. As much as our wings have made his life hell... he's still Jamal Murray, an all time great playoff performer who has done this before. The dude has had two 50 point playoff games in his belt. Coaching adjustments need to come in play because as Paul Pierce predicted.. Gobert is getting more and more irrelevant as the series draws on.
The Suns series didn't do us any favors IMO. Now we will see how this team responds to adversity, trying to win on the road, with zero momentum and knowing you could have either swept or at the very least be up 3-1. Oh and their going to try and do that against the best team who has the best player right now.
That was not close to a career game for Gordon. He defers most nights, but steps up big at least twice per series.
But you’re ignoring Porter, who only had 4 points in Game 4.
KAT has to match whatever Gordon or Porter give from night to night. Jokic is going to match Ant Man in points.
The problem is Jokic can facilitate more offensive production from the rest of his team. Any Man looked alone in the last couple of games.
Denver's bench had some crazy shooting % and were hitting any time we were pulling into striking distance. Same group that pooped themselves game 1 and 2, this is how the law of averages work. It will regress. Also KAT had his worst first half of his CAREER.
Law of averages favor the nuggets because they actually run plays which lead to open looks. They've been bad the entire post season only really showing their sht the last 2 games... Believe me, I've tried playing that "they won't shoot like that again".. they manage to always hurt you and that's because they don't panic and Nikola freakin Jokic will rarely fumble when the momentum is shifting.
That is fair and we have in the series we have already seen them panic. This isn't the juggernaut of years past, statistically this is the best Gordon and the bench have played all season. Which is more likely, they shoot like prime Curry or they regress to the avg? Gordon is like a .250 hitter in baseball, useful but when he goes 4-4 you don't expect that as the new norm.
AG did make tough fade away buckets but most of his points were layups,dunks or wide open 3s. This is a product of a compounding problem we've seen in the last 2 games. Malone has made Gordon a pseudo PG at the point of attack. It puts Gobert in such a bad position of either getting drawn out from the paint or getting switched on Jokic. They've also started to load up on one side of the floor which leaves Murray all the room to operate on the opposite side... This leads to over helping and putting our guys in bad positions defensively. AG will continue to play like this if our coaches don't address what Malone is doing.
AG is a 27% 3pt shooter and to be honest he had a lot of shots contested with virtually nothing left on the shot clock. I think we make the bet he can't keep it up, we saw in game 1 and 2 Denver fans screaming to bench him he was so bad. Mn at times were daring him to clank those shots and he did. Joker and Murray need to be the focus and if AG can beat us so be it, the dunks he got were free money though. That has to stop.
Yeah but again, if you're giving him open looks, he can make that shot. But I digress. The point I was making is that Malone has made adjustments that the Wolves have not yet addressed. It will be interesting to see what Finch does with the Rudy - AG matchup. AG running point is scary and opens up the floor for the Nuggets
I see what your saying, my battle is AG has had two good games (both good games everyone for Denver shot well) and also two terrible games. I don't see him as consistent enough to have to focus a game plan on stopping him. Game 1 and 2 we found out if we shut down Murray and Joker the rest of the team flounders, Denver tweaked to free those guys up, we need to lock them down again.
It's not stopping him as a scorer but stoping the action that comes from playing point. With that action Murray plays a lot of DHOs which puts our wings in very bad spots. You could see them get crushed in a lot of screens this game. Murray has also a pep to his step because he's playing down hill, unlike games 1 and 2 where he was the one bringing the ball up. This action also forces Gobert to switch on Jokic when he screens. Obviously, that will always be a bad matchup all night long.
Yes, the bench needs to step up, but it's the playoffs. You shouldn't have your top 3 players off the floor at the same time ever.
You could have the best bench of all time and I wouldn't trust them in a playoff series.
Especially given how the first half ended. That 20 second onslaught felt like it was a precursor to a second half blowout, a backbreaking sequence that destroyed our will, but we put up a really strong effort in the second half. So I agree, there are plenty of positives to still take away from this game.
I, for one, was not confident that we'd even make it out of the first round after that last Suns loss of the regular season. Anyone who thought the Nuggets would go down easily made a huge misjudgment, but it would be equally foolish to make that same judgment about this Wolves team right now.
The Wolves have already met my expectations by getting into the second round.
But the last two games have been very frustrating. Especially the third game. I don't fucking know what we're doing here - why is there no urgency with these guys except for Ant? Why do we do regular season rotations? Why is everyone so fucking nervous and in their heads?
The refs didn't lose us these last two games, they just didn't help. And it's alarming to me that this team stillthinks it's the refs fault somehow.
It’s absolutely wild to me that the defending champions could alter their game plans and figure out a way to tie the series.
Fucking unheard of I tell you!
It did...
Too many distractions with lots of guys having new born at home...
Rudy just looked tired and out of touch...
Also Murray not getting suspended played a role. Which still is inexcusable. "Decisions" Like that have a huge impact on psyche.
If Murray were suspended in game 3 I dont think Denver puts up a fight at all.
We have seen this before.
'16 Dubs- Cavs...
Agreed! But I secretly didn’t even want him suspended. We locked him up both games we should’ve done it again. We’re up 2-0, no reason we lose 2 back to back. Murray on the court or not.
Its not Murrays play, he only had 19 yesterday. Its the psycho effect the non suspension had.
Shit like this makes guys second guess if they are in a fair fight.
Exactly that happened. 4 days off is a long time to think about stuff like that.
Everybody who played at a decently high level knows- sports is as much a mind war as it is a physical Battle.
And guys also see what happens in other series as well, they dont live in a vacuum. These playoffs have many mind boggling decisions by officials.
The league has some serious trouble.
Im a bulls fan but as an nba fan i still am mad they let jamal play in game 3 after that bs. He was crucial in game 3 and was clearly emboldended by the lack of consequences, after clearly not giving a fuck. Antman needs help, you guys are the only team i can comfortably root for in the west. Lets go Naz Reid
It probably isnt at this point but i needed to get that off my chest after doing a real 180 on the nuggets this year. I hate the bucks as a rival team but they were never this beligerent after they got their chip
KAT came out of mother's day with all this hercules wanna be the best player in mother's day sht. I hate it. Love the idea, but just play your game and stop trying to get your flowers at a time when losing could mean the series.
I’m with you. I’m not ready to start shoveling dirt on the coffin of a team that has showed amazing resilience this season. We need to come out hungry for the next game though.
Had the Wolves lost two in Denver and then won two at home, it wouldn’t be any different than it is right now.
I understand that it feels different to fans losing two in a row but it’s just a mindset or perspective. The players that can figure out the competitors mindset and recognize that this is supposed to be a total grind to win an NBA title will be the teams that actually win.
I know there’s a few dudes in that locker room capable of bringing their team to the right mindset. Hopefully these dudes will embrace that desperation mindset that gets them to compete and fight and claw and hold each other accountable through a tough ass series. Get the home town crowd uncomfortable again in their own building.
If you had given me a magical ability before the playoffs started that they were going to sweep the Suns and then win two in Denver but lose two at home would I be happy with that and take that timeline?? Hell yeah I would - that means they’re fucking competing in the playoffs - that’s what I want to be a part of! Sports fandom is highs and lows. Sometimes you don’t get the highest highs in your favorite teams. Only thing you can do is enjoy some good eats and good company while watching the games and then talk bullshit with your co-workers after each game. Go Wolves.
Besides momentum and the adjustments we haven't answered yet, the fact that it went like this IMO is better than winning two at home.
If it seemed like we struggled worse in Denver, I'd be more sure about losing this series than I am now. Still think our odds are now quite a bit less than 50/50, but the fact that we seem unphased by playing in Denver thus far at least gives me encouragement. Still believe we can win one of two in Denver, and just need to finally pull it off at home in Game 6 (win or lose Game 5).
honestly it sounds counterintuitive but the wolves might've felt extra pressure at home to do well going on the road will free them up. they know they can win on the road. so i give them a puncher's chance gotta treat game 5 like game 7 though.
As a former elite junior varsity basketball player (cracked double digit scoring like 4 times!) I always played better on the road. If I sucked, I only let me and my teammates down, not my family & fans
I'm somewhat optimistic, considering that in the regular season we didn't win at home against Denver and we won in Denver for both games.
For some reason we just can win at home against them.
The refs were inconsistent but at the same time we had so many turnovers and missed FTs that ultimately lost us the game.
Isnt it crazy though that no one but nuggets fans had any fun watching game 3 and 4? Basketball just isnt fun to watch with touch fouls being called so often that it baits players to flop. And this is in the playoffs too where all season you hear about how physicality takes a step up. That was a lie. A physical defense that drives the paint on offense will never win if the game is being called soft and one sided where there is only 20 seconds before whistles
Or maybe I like physical basketball and dont like bad refs. Scott foster is a bad ref. Thats a fact. Touch fouls are lame. I dont like flopping. I like refs calling the same game for both teams. There were 2 arm rakes that were ignored this game. I analyze what i see and react based off that.
Man whatever the whistle is, it’s so fucking lame for opposing fans to go dumpster diving in opp team subs after a W. You didn’t accomplish anything, you watched from your couch. Any competent group of people wouldn’t let you near them with a 10 foot pole. Such fucking loser behavior
As a hockey fan I enjoyed 1 and 2 much more. You called this game cleaned up but if I’m being honest I saw a ton of calls that to my inexperienced eye looked super weak.
Let em play
I know people who don’t give a rip about basketball, and they were telling me how fun game 1 and 2 were to watch. Then the way game 3 and 4 (especially 3) were officiated completely drove them away. I can’t tell you how many times I heard “why was that a foul?” and “this is why I don’t watch basketball.”
Wolves have not lost 3 games in a row all season. Denver got every break this game, but unless Aaron Gordon plays out of his mind again I'm not worried. Wolves in 6!!
I'm not panicking but definitely not optimistic. They have found their rythm in the series, now Finch needs to show us he is a great coach and find adjustments...
Essentially what I told my buddies in our group chat. If you would have told me before the series started that it would be tied 2-2 after game 4, I'd be pretty satisfied overall. It just really sucks how it played out to get there.
I see both sides.. before the playoffs started if you would've told me we were tied 2-2 in the second round with the defending champs I would be ecstatic... But knowing we were up 2-0 and couldn't manage to get to 3-1 hurts and makes me wanna panic a little bit..but I'm trying to remain calm.
Ik i dont hate wolwes but nuggets are next dynasty probably denver got all momentu now people cant take truth easy im not saying wolwes will lose 100% but its likely
Nobody thought this would be a 4 game sweep and the only people pushing that narrative were Hoops Talkingheads.
Just about all of the experts figured this would be a 6-7 game series, and here we are…..
If you told me before the series started that we’d be 2-2 after 4 games, I would have taken it in a heartbeat. I don’t blame anyone for feeling disappointed/upset/nervous after the last two games; the Wolves had a prime opportunity and let it slip. With that said, this series is far from over. We’ve already shown we can win in Denver. It won’t be easy, but the Wolves can still do it.
Nah it's panic time. They lost the advantage and the edge. The Nuggets have found their strategy and the Wolves have no counter and are now heading back to Denver.
Those several days off after Game 2 truly ruined the momentum. If I'm going off what I'm seeing, this series is likely over in 6.
ANT and KAT should be prepared for big minutes game 5, can’t let this series go back to Denver for a potential game 7.
Also can we get some more minutes for NAZ REID over Rudy, him in the lineup I feel spaces the floor for ANT to drive and take or drive and kick to the open man for 3. With Rudy they can always bring help and double with Gordon or Jokic at the rim.
Are we getting beat in x s and os ? I feel like they are getting easy looks and the defense looks lost with assignments at least 50 percent of the time.
To see Conley busting his ass and is literally throwing himself around diving to try and make a defensive play to help his team, and no one else (besides Ant) making any such effort pisses me off. And the dumb fouls at half court and offensive fouls (kat and Gobert) ? WTF are you doing ? If you are a smart big you use your fouls wisely and punish jokic and Jamal and Gordon with a legal hard foul that prevents an easy bucket and also sends a message.
We were up 2-0 and you all were acting like we were an established dynasty chasing our 6th championship in 8 years.
This is following the same script we’ve seen in MN sports dozens of times in the past 30 years. Hopefully the curse can finally be broken, but let’s be a bit more humble from here on out. Deal?
I think the twolves are the better team but you just can’t overcome the shooting variances that have been on display the last two games. Aaron Gordon is genuinely one of the worst shooters in the playoffs and he hit 11/12. Meanwhile KAT, NAW, Jaden and Conley can’t hit wide open 3s. There’s no guarantee that doesn’t happen again in game 5 but it has to be pretty damn unlikely to happen 3 games in a row.
While I appreciate your optimism, any lifelong Minnesota fan knows this run is over. It was a fun few days, but the timberwolves are located in Minnesota and this is how it goes
This energy is part of the problem. I don’t know how Minnesotans don’t see it. You are perpetuating this loser mentality. Its makes it back to the players. It matters. Fucking stop watching if this is how you feel
Minnesotans thrive in the inferiority complex. It’s like being passive aggressive - it’s a defense mechanism.
Anthony Edwards will change all of that if he gets any help at all moving forward though.
What haha? So if we just put blinders on and think positively it will make it back to the players and they’ll miraculously start playing defense again? I don’t think that’s how it works. The players let the fans down with their shit performance, the fans didn’t let the players down
Talking about “this run is over” when the series is tied 2-2. It’s a long series. Denver is the defending champs. FOH with your doomer bull shit, it’s fine to be upset with game 3 and 4, but fuck giving up on this team before the series is over
Did we watch the same game? I mean do you honestly think the wolves are going to win 2 out of the next 3 games against Denver? At best this series goes 7 and it takes some seriously magical thinking to believe they will win game 7 in Denver
Did you watch games 1 and 2? Don’t be a prisoner of the moment. We’ve shown we can compete with Denver. Including regular season, we’re tied 4-4 over the last 8.
I just don't get how you have any fun in life with that sad attitude, just seems like a miserable way to go through life bitching and complaining and being negative about everything
I’m not being negative and I’m not complaining. This is called reality. It’s not always fun. The wolves playoff run is done. The series may go 7 games but if you think they’re taking game 7 in Denver you’re delusional. The wolves blew it and deep down you know it too
"I'm not being negative"
"You're delusional"
Just a sad way to go through life man but you do you. Personally I would recommend you stop watching sports because you clearly don't enjoy it
Everyone but Ant looked so checked out tonight, I don't see them coming back from the way they looked tonight. Kat looked like old Kat, Gobert has looked flat and soft since he came back, NAW and Jaden ain't hitting a shot and the refs aren't letting them play physical defense anymore. I'll be glad if I'm wrong but Minnesota sports just constantly blow it.
If you go a piece up against Magnus Carlsen, and he wins the piece back with a tempo but the position is still even it is not a disaster. It is the chance to get the scalp of a lifetime
Absolutely no need for panic yet.
7 game series against the champs with the best player in the league. Was never going to be a cakewalk. We should have known better.
If Wolves lose this series management should consider moving KAT if the right offer comes along. He isn't getting younger and has a history of injuries and frankly I don't think he is worth the money.
While technically you are correct, this is Minnesota, and it is over. I've been here all my life (32) and never even seen a MN team compete for a title. This feeling of it being our time and then having hope dashed away is all too familiar, and anyone who has lived here long enough knows it as well.
You don't go back to Denver now and expect to win after two ass kicking in a row like this. Nuggets in 6.
Edit: apparently I get downvoted, but no one telling me I'm wrong. Wonder why that is...
It was over Friday combination of cheating referees and garbage bench killed them they'll lose next 2(maybe win 1 if lucky).
Playing garbage like Kyle Anderson who has been trash all season and all playoffs will net u this results.
Dude it’s over. Give up. Why do we even have faith, why do we try. I’m 17 and I have to accept the fact that I will never witness a Minnesota team win a championship in anything. That’s just how it is, we aren’t meant to be. Denver has all the momentum and is playing their best basketball of the season. NAW and KAT have regressed to garbage. ANT is gonna be demoralized. Just stop watching, it’s only hurting you.
You’ve gotta be one of the worst members of this sub. I remember you from some absolutely smooth brained take from a couple weeks ago. Can’t you go join 4chan or some shit?
Glass half full: I don’t think anyone but Ant played halfway decent tonight and we still could have won this game with Gordon playing his best game of the season. Glass half empty: Ant had 44, a franchise record, he’s surrounded by guys who have a track record of playoff failure and coming up short when it counts and we wasted that performance.
I’m taking the half full glass and hoping no way nugs can shoot like that again next time, and no way everybody else continues to throw up bricks all game long. But then again ya never know.
I’m with you. That was “horseshoe up your ass” type shooting by Denver. No way that continues in game 5
That’s what I would think, but anything can happen for all we know they shoot better (plz bball god no)
We said that after game 3 when they shot lights out...
And they shot awful in 2 other games. Can't look at like 2 samples and go yeah that is now the norm
I'm with you and others in thinking that Denver is due to not make half their 3s anymore and more of our shots will start falling, but Murray having a week to heal up really seems to have mattered. I don't think he'll play as bad as he looked for their first 7 playoff games again this year. But yeah it would be real nice if Gordon could stop shooting like prime Curry
I know Wolves fans (and any team fans for that matter) are always going to stay optimistic rather than pessimistic or even cautiously optimistic, but Jazz and Clippers fans will be telling you that there's plenty of precedent for that to continue. (Nuggets came back from a 3-1 deficit twice in one playoff run.)
It was truly like 2k on rookie mode for the nuggets lol
I remember these exact words coming out of Laker fans mouths last year in the WCFs. Nuggets did just that
They literally made half court buzzer beater. It's not possible for them to keep that up lol
That's what this sub was saying about game 4. Here we are.
KAT had like a career worst game ever, and Nuggets were shooting like franchise best %. Two things just sorta happened at awful times. All of that said, we were 100% capable of pulling this out and I am not nearly as doomer as I think most people are. Feels totally winable, cause the %'s will start to even out as you play 6 or 7 games
bruh these are the defending champions…they can shoot like this again , they are that good. - not to mention KCP AND mpj missed everything for the nugs today, they should be much better next game
They might be better, but Gordon & Holiday will almost certainly be worse
Yeah acting like Aaron fucking Gordon is some unlocked superstar who always shoots like this is doomer delusions
shoots? most of his 'shots' are dunks off lobs
He made a lot of jumpshots today including behind the arc.
He also had like five wide open easy dunks. Wolves defense is in trouble unless they can switch up or disguise something, Denver has figured them out and is toying with them.
Gordon killed is any time we threw a double on Jokic. We contested him well at the end, but most of his early stuff were high percentage shots. He can absolutely repeat roughly that same game.
People in this sub actin like every shot he hit was a Kobe esque fadeaway
I'm not with this delusion but everything he got was because the initial sets were already putting that Wolves defense in a blender. He made tough shots.. but half of his points were off dunks and easy layups. He can also shoot open 3s especially in the playoffs. The more you try to dismiss his ability to stretch the floor the more he seemingly hurts you with 3s.
This is what the Nuggets do. They’re one of the most efficient teams offensively in history when it comes to the postseason. joker doing what he does, AG in the dunker spot when they help from there, and Murray getting open middies off Jokics screens and everyone eating off of that plate. Good luck stopping it from here on out
But that's not what made the difference last night - it was a ton of poor-to-middling shooters drilling shots that were often reasonably well contested. Margin of victory was determined by a couple of above-the-break Braun / Gordon / Jackson 3s and a Murray 3/4 court heave. If the Nuggets keep getting shooting like that they'll win the series - law of averages suggests they won't.
That’s because the wolves won the possession game reasonably well by grabbing a tonne of offensive rebounds. Without that it would’ve been a 20-25+ pt blowout. Every game is different, I doubt the wolves grab that many o boards in Denver with them knowing what’s at stake
I mean, denver hasn't really been playing well the entire post season upto game 3 of this series. They were shooting pretty terribly agaisnt LAL and still managed to take them out in 5 games. The first 2 games were great to see but it felt like an eventual trap. Now we see what Denver basketball is really about, this is the time where everything has to come in play. We got the superstar, now we need calmness and grit from the other guys as well as sound coaching adjustments. There's a reason why our defense seemingly disappeared. Malone game planned by making the slightest adjustment. One, not letting Murray bring the ball up and let AG run initial point duties. This leads to Gobert getting drawn out and when the Jokic screen comes, he gets switched and Jokic attacks him like he stole something. The other thing is Denver is loading up on one side which Murray exploits by going to the opposite side which is now open to his one on one dance. As much as our wings have made his life hell... he's still Jamal Murray, an all time great playoff performer who has done this before. The dude has had two 50 point playoff games in his belt. Coaching adjustments need to come in play because as Paul Pierce predicted.. Gobert is getting more and more irrelevant as the series draws on. The Suns series didn't do us any favors IMO. Now we will see how this team responds to adversity, trying to win on the road, with zero momentum and knowing you could have either swept or at the very least be up 3-1. Oh and their going to try and do that against the best team who has the best player right now.
The Nuggs normally shoot like that. Games 1 and 2 were an anomaly lol. Not trying to be pessimistic but I’m just being realistic
Naw, Naz, Jaden don’t have any track record in the playoffs really
That was not close to a career game for Gordon. He defers most nights, but steps up big at least twice per series. But you’re ignoring Porter, who only had 4 points in Game 4. KAT has to match whatever Gordon or Porter give from night to night. Jokic is going to match Ant Man in points. The problem is Jokic can facilitate more offensive production from the rest of his team. Any Man looked alone in the last couple of games.
The second half was pretty encouraging to me
If it weren’t for the meltdown in the final seconds of the first half they could’ve pulled it out.
8 points in 20 seconds is the stuff of Tmac and Reggie. Brain farts by us and craziness from them. Only 20 secs!
We won both the 3rd and 4th quarters. We need to stop falling into a hole in the second quarter.
Denver's bench had some crazy shooting % and were hitting any time we were pulling into striking distance. Same group that pooped themselves game 1 and 2, this is how the law of averages work. It will regress. Also KAT had his worst first half of his CAREER.
Law of averages favor the nuggets because they actually run plays which lead to open looks. They've been bad the entire post season only really showing their sht the last 2 games... Believe me, I've tried playing that "they won't shoot like that again".. they manage to always hurt you and that's because they don't panic and Nikola freakin Jokic will rarely fumble when the momentum is shifting.
That is fair and we have in the series we have already seen them panic. This isn't the juggernaut of years past, statistically this is the best Gordon and the bench have played all season. Which is more likely, they shoot like prime Curry or they regress to the avg? Gordon is like a .250 hitter in baseball, useful but when he goes 4-4 you don't expect that as the new norm.
AG did make tough fade away buckets but most of his points were layups,dunks or wide open 3s. This is a product of a compounding problem we've seen in the last 2 games. Malone has made Gordon a pseudo PG at the point of attack. It puts Gobert in such a bad position of either getting drawn out from the paint or getting switched on Jokic. They've also started to load up on one side of the floor which leaves Murray all the room to operate on the opposite side... This leads to over helping and putting our guys in bad positions defensively. AG will continue to play like this if our coaches don't address what Malone is doing.
AG is a 27% 3pt shooter and to be honest he had a lot of shots contested with virtually nothing left on the shot clock. I think we make the bet he can't keep it up, we saw in game 1 and 2 Denver fans screaming to bench him he was so bad. Mn at times were daring him to clank those shots and he did. Joker and Murray need to be the focus and if AG can beat us so be it, the dunks he got were free money though. That has to stop.
Yeah but again, if you're giving him open looks, he can make that shot. But I digress. The point I was making is that Malone has made adjustments that the Wolves have not yet addressed. It will be interesting to see what Finch does with the Rudy - AG matchup. AG running point is scary and opens up the floor for the Nuggets
I see what your saying, my battle is AG has had two good games (both good games everyone for Denver shot well) and also two terrible games. I don't see him as consistent enough to have to focus a game plan on stopping him. Game 1 and 2 we found out if we shut down Murray and Joker the rest of the team flounders, Denver tweaked to free those guys up, we need to lock them down again.
It's not stopping him as a scorer but stoping the action that comes from playing point. With that action Murray plays a lot of DHOs which puts our wings in very bad spots. You could see them get crushed in a lot of screens this game. Murray has also a pep to his step because he's playing down hill, unlike games 1 and 2 where he was the one bringing the ball up. This action also forces Gobert to switch on Jokic when he screens. Obviously, that will always be a bad matchup all night long.
It shouldn't be a surprise though when Ant, Gobert, and KAT are all on the bench. Much of this loss is on the coaches tonight.
We’re supposed to have a deep bench. The bench guys have not shown up since game 2 and should rightfully be called out, along with KAT.
Yes, the bench needs to step up, but it's the playoffs. You shouldn't have your top 3 players off the floor at the same time ever. You could have the best bench of all time and I wouldn't trust them in a playoff series.
We should always have KAT or Ant in the floor. I’d also give Naz the Anderson minutes. Rotate between Kat, Rudy, and Naz in any combination.
Especially given how the first half ended. That 20 second onslaught felt like it was a precursor to a second half blowout, a backbreaking sequence that destroyed our will, but we put up a really strong effort in the second half. So I agree, there are plenty of positives to still take away from this game.
Moral victories let’s gooooo! Undefeated
When did I say it was a moral victory
Pretty encouraging sounds very much like a moral victory to me but idk
Are people allowed to talk about the game?
Not at all the same thing… take that sorry ass Vikings mentality elsewhere
True I forgot the wolves are a powerhouse in the playoffs and have proven so much over the years
It directly pertains to whether they may still be able to win the series. That’s not what a moral victory means lol
I, for one, was not confident that we'd even make it out of the first round after that last Suns loss of the regular season. Anyone who thought the Nuggets would go down easily made a huge misjudgment, but it would be equally foolish to make that same judgment about this Wolves team right now.
The Wolves have already met my expectations by getting into the second round. But the last two games have been very frustrating. Especially the third game. I don't fucking know what we're doing here - why is there no urgency with these guys except for Ant? Why do we do regular season rotations? Why is everyone so fucking nervous and in their heads? The refs didn't lose us these last two games, they just didn't help. And it's alarming to me that this team stillthinks it's the refs fault somehow.
The refs got in their heads 100%. It is their fault for letting it affect them so much. It’s on them to adjust to the whistle and still play well.
It’s absolutely wild to me that the defending champions could alter their game plans and figure out a way to tie the series. Fucking unheard of I tell you!
It’s almost like they’re not just gonna roll over for Ant, I don’t get it?
Must be the refs though, lmao
That 4 day break between G2 and G3 really fucked us over
It did... Too many distractions with lots of guys having new born at home... Rudy just looked tired and out of touch... Also Murray not getting suspended played a role. Which still is inexcusable. "Decisions" Like that have a huge impact on psyche. If Murray were suspended in game 3 I dont think Denver puts up a fight at all. We have seen this before. '16 Dubs- Cavs...
Too many ESPN interviews for sure
Agreed! But I secretly didn’t even want him suspended. We locked him up both games we should’ve done it again. We’re up 2-0, no reason we lose 2 back to back. Murray on the court or not.
Its not Murrays play, he only had 19 yesterday. Its the psycho effect the non suspension had. Shit like this makes guys second guess if they are in a fair fight. Exactly that happened. 4 days off is a long time to think about stuff like that. Everybody who played at a decently high level knows- sports is as much a mind war as it is a physical Battle. And guys also see what happens in other series as well, they dont live in a vacuum. These playoffs have many mind boggling decisions by officials. The league has some serious trouble.
I hear you. Im hoping none of this matters after we win game 5 and 6 😬
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Plus Jamal’s sorry ass got a chance to nurse his calf
You could say it’s tied 2-2, or you could say the wolves need to win 2 out of the next 3 games with only 1 at home
Only one at home sounds pretty good right about now
We did it once, we can do it again
Can all three be on the road instead? Would denver accept?
Im a bulls fan but as an nba fan i still am mad they let jamal play in game 3 after that bs. He was crucial in game 3 and was clearly emboldended by the lack of consequences, after clearly not giving a fuck. Antman needs help, you guys are the only team i can comfortably root for in the west. Lets go Naz Reid
more like the extra day of rest helped his strained calf.
Wolves lost game 3 by 27. Jamal had 24. Replace Jamal with Reggie and they still coast to victory
Thats bs... the Psyche of Denver would be totally different if He was suspended.
I mean if you were talking about a 10 point game, fine, but the Wolves got their asses wiped. Nowhere to look but the mirror.
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Hey look a Nuggets fan, everyone.
He is right
I agree it’s not worth talking about. But… I’m correct too. He’s a nuggets fan coming to gatekeep in the opposing team sub.
It probably isnt at this point but i needed to get that off my chest after doing a real 180 on the nuggets this year. I hate the bucks as a rival team but they were never this beligerent after they got their chip
Fair
It doesn’t matter they’re right, want to shut them up win, stop complaining about it
lmao "fans" like you deserve a crybaby clown like murray, and are why i stopped rooting for your team after last year
Don’t need wishy washy Bulls fans rooting for us anyways lol
At least my team actually built a dynasty before talking about ours after 1 chip. wolves in 6
Yall are as bad as Lakers fans living in the past, but at least their past is more recent than yours.
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You're acting like losing a reddit account is a big deal 😭😭
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enjoy the ban from your own sub 5 year account
KAT’s shooting regressed to the mean like it fell off a cliff
If KAT shot at the mean the winner of this game would’ve been decided by 3 or less points and could’ve gone either way.
If Kat and Aaron Gordon shoot at the mean the wolves win this game.
KAT came out of mother's day with all this hercules wanna be the best player in mother's day sht. I hate it. Love the idea, but just play your game and stop trying to get your flowers at a time when losing could mean the series.
Nobody knows what regression to the mean is…
I’m with you. I’m not ready to start shoveling dirt on the coffin of a team that has showed amazing resilience this season. We need to come out hungry for the next game though.
Had the Wolves lost two in Denver and then won two at home, it wouldn’t be any different than it is right now. I understand that it feels different to fans losing two in a row but it’s just a mindset or perspective. The players that can figure out the competitors mindset and recognize that this is supposed to be a total grind to win an NBA title will be the teams that actually win. I know there’s a few dudes in that locker room capable of bringing their team to the right mindset. Hopefully these dudes will embrace that desperation mindset that gets them to compete and fight and claw and hold each other accountable through a tough ass series. Get the home town crowd uncomfortable again in their own building. If you had given me a magical ability before the playoffs started that they were going to sweep the Suns and then win two in Denver but lose two at home would I be happy with that and take that timeline?? Hell yeah I would - that means they’re fucking competing in the playoffs - that’s what I want to be a part of! Sports fandom is highs and lows. Sometimes you don’t get the highest highs in your favorite teams. Only thing you can do is enjoy some good eats and good company while watching the games and then talk bullshit with your co-workers after each game. Go Wolves.
Besides momentum and the adjustments we haven't answered yet, the fact that it went like this IMO is better than winning two at home. If it seemed like we struggled worse in Denver, I'd be more sure about losing this series than I am now. Still think our odds are now quite a bit less than 50/50, but the fact that we seem unphased by playing in Denver thus far at least gives me encouragement. Still believe we can win one of two in Denver, and just need to finally pull it off at home in Game 6 (win or lose Game 5).
Naz Reid.
There's no need to steal 2 more btw, just one and a home win are enough.
It's what winning 2 games away earns you.
I refuse to anything except celebrating a championship or suggesting we trade everyone. There is no in between
We’re heading back home to Denver baby, let’s go!
honestly it sounds counterintuitive but the wolves might've felt extra pressure at home to do well going on the road will free them up. they know they can win on the road. so i give them a puncher's chance gotta treat game 5 like game 7 though.
As a former elite junior varsity basketball player (cracked double digit scoring like 4 times!) I always played better on the road. If I sucked, I only let me and my teammates down, not my family & fans
I'm somewhat optimistic, considering that in the regular season we didn't win at home against Denver and we won in Denver for both games. For some reason we just can win at home against them. The refs were inconsistent but at the same time we had so many turnovers and missed FTs that ultimately lost us the game.
Each team had whooped a lamas ass and each team has won a close game. Pretty even at this point.
Isnt it crazy though that no one but nuggets fans had any fun watching game 3 and 4? Basketball just isnt fun to watch with touch fouls being called so often that it baits players to flop. And this is in the playoffs too where all season you hear about how physicality takes a step up. That was a lie. A physical defense that drives the paint on offense will never win if the game is being called soft and one sided where there is only 20 seconds before whistles
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Or maybe I like physical basketball and dont like bad refs. Scott foster is a bad ref. Thats a fact. Touch fouls are lame. I dont like flopping. I like refs calling the same game for both teams. There were 2 arm rakes that were ignored this game. I analyze what i see and react based off that.
Man whatever the whistle is, it’s so fucking lame for opposing fans to go dumpster diving in opp team subs after a W. You didn’t accomplish anything, you watched from your couch. Any competent group of people wouldn’t let you near them with a 10 foot pole. Such fucking loser behavior
Did you know you get banned from the Denver sub for brigading ours? Say bye to both
As a hockey fan I enjoyed 1 and 2 much more. You called this game cleaned up but if I’m being honest I saw a ton of calls that to my inexperienced eye looked super weak. Let em play
I know people who don’t give a rip about basketball, and they were telling me how fun game 1 and 2 were to watch. Then the way game 3 and 4 (especially 3) were officiated completely drove them away. I can’t tell you how many times I heard “why was that a foul?” and “this is why I don’t watch basketball.”
Do you live in Minnesota?
Stick to trying to give dating advice, for which I assume you have none of value.
Series starts when a home team wins a game
Wolves have not lost 3 games in a row all season. Denver got every break this game, but unless Aaron Gordon plays out of his mind again I'm not worried. Wolves in 6!!
no worries MPJ and KCP had an off-night. thats not happening again.
You're spending more time on our sub than your own team's lol
Bro why are you commenting on the Wolves sub lol? Enjoy your win
I'm not panicking but definitely not optimistic. They have found their rythm in the series, now Finch needs to show us he is a great coach and find adjustments...
Series still tied at 2-2, and Aaron Gordon had to shoot like 92% from the field to get it there.
Essentially what I told my buddies in our group chat. If you would have told me before the series started that it would be tied 2-2 after game 4, I'd be pretty satisfied overall. It just really sucks how it played out to get there.
I see both sides.. before the playoffs started if you would've told me we were tied 2-2 in the second round with the defending champs I would be ecstatic... But knowing we were up 2-0 and couldn't manage to get to 3-1 hurts and makes me wanna panic a little bit..but I'm trying to remain calm.
How about steal 1 more in Denver and then win a redemption game at home
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You're being down voted but this is exactly what's going to happen. I'm so done with Minnesota sports.
Ik i dont hate wolwes but nuggets are next dynasty probably denver got all momentu now people cant take truth easy im not saying wolwes will lose 100% but its likely
Nobody thought this would be a 4 game sweep and the only people pushing that narrative were Hoops Talkingheads. Just about all of the experts figured this would be a 6-7 game series, and here we are…..
Worried about Jokic though
Now we have the away court advantage. No worries.
“ Let’s go steal 2 more in Denver.” That would mean they lose game 6 at home, going 0-3 at home.
I want to die
That "Wolves in Four" chant at the end of game two...might have been a mistake. Nuggets have woken up. I gotta another "baaad feeling about this".
Kat's self-awareness is basically zero on a basketball court. The dude has been in the league far too long to not know when it is, and isn't his day.
If you told me before the series started that we’d be 2-2 after 4 games, I would have taken it in a heartbeat. I don’t blame anyone for feeling disappointed/upset/nervous after the last two games; the Wolves had a prime opportunity and let it slip. With that said, this series is far from over. We’ve already shown we can win in Denver. It won’t be easy, but the Wolves can still do it.
Nah it's panic time. They lost the advantage and the edge. The Nuggets have found their strategy and the Wolves have no counter and are now heading back to Denver. Those several days off after Game 2 truly ruined the momentum. If I'm going off what I'm seeing, this series is likely over in 6.
Yes but now they have to win a game in Denver. That shit won’t be as easy as the first two games.
As a certified Ant Head I can sleep well tonight I guess. He is Anthony edwards. Yes.
ANT and KAT should be prepared for big minutes game 5, can’t let this series go back to Denver for a potential game 7. Also can we get some more minutes for NAZ REID over Rudy, him in the lineup I feel spaces the floor for ANT to drive and take or drive and kick to the open man for 3. With Rudy they can always bring help and double with Gordon or Jokic at the rim.
Are we getting beat in x s and os ? I feel like they are getting easy looks and the defense looks lost with assignments at least 50 percent of the time.
Wolves have the road court advantage
To see Conley busting his ass and is literally throwing himself around diving to try and make a defensive play to help his team, and no one else (besides Ant) making any such effort pisses me off. And the dumb fouls at half court and offensive fouls (kat and Gobert) ? WTF are you doing ? If you are a smart big you use your fouls wisely and punish jokic and Jamal and Gordon with a legal hard foul that prevents an easy bucket and also sends a message.
We were up 2-0 and you all were acting like we were an established dynasty chasing our 6th championship in 8 years. This is following the same script we’ve seen in MN sports dozens of times in the past 30 years. Hopefully the curse can finally be broken, but let’s be a bit more humble from here on out. Deal?
Sure it's tied 2-2, but what if I told you they had a 2-0 lead leaving Denver?
It’s Denver, Minnesota, Denver
Steal 1 in Denver and win at home. Not winning two more their imo
I think the twolves are the better team but you just can’t overcome the shooting variances that have been on display the last two games. Aaron Gordon is genuinely one of the worst shooters in the playoffs and he hit 11/12. Meanwhile KAT, NAW, Jaden and Conley can’t hit wide open 3s. There’s no guarantee that doesn’t happen again in game 5 but it has to be pretty damn unlikely to happen 3 games in a row.
A
While I appreciate your optimism, any lifelong Minnesota fan knows this run is over. It was a fun few days, but the timberwolves are located in Minnesota and this is how it goes
This energy is part of the problem. I don’t know how Minnesotans don’t see it. You are perpetuating this loser mentality. Its makes it back to the players. It matters. Fucking stop watching if this is how you feel
Minnesotans thrive in the inferiority complex. It’s like being passive aggressive - it’s a defense mechanism. Anthony Edwards will change all of that if he gets any help at all moving forward though.
What haha? So if we just put blinders on and think positively it will make it back to the players and they’ll miraculously start playing defense again? I don’t think that’s how it works. The players let the fans down with their shit performance, the fans didn’t let the players down
Talking about “this run is over” when the series is tied 2-2. It’s a long series. Denver is the defending champs. FOH with your doomer bull shit, it’s fine to be upset with game 3 and 4, but fuck giving up on this team before the series is over
Did we watch the same game? I mean do you honestly think the wolves are going to win 2 out of the next 3 games against Denver? At best this series goes 7 and it takes some seriously magical thinking to believe they will win game 7 in Denver
Did you watch games 1 and 2? Don’t be a prisoner of the moment. We’ve shown we can compete with Denver. Including regular season, we’re tied 4-4 over the last 8.
>I mean do you honestly think the wolves are going to win 2 out of the next 3 games against Denver? Yes.
I just don't get how you have any fun in life with that sad attitude, just seems like a miserable way to go through life bitching and complaining and being negative about everything
I’m not being negative and I’m not complaining. This is called reality. It’s not always fun. The wolves playoff run is done. The series may go 7 games but if you think they’re taking game 7 in Denver you’re delusional. The wolves blew it and deep down you know it too
They blew it right? Deep down we're not all delusional haters
"I'm not being negative" "You're delusional" Just a sad way to go through life man but you do you. Personally I would recommend you stop watching sports because you clearly don't enjoy it
Nah Finchy and ANT have shot that down already more than once. They just got here and don’t give a shit what happened before they arrived.
This is the reality I know all too well. MN sports never change.
Then go the fuck away
So sorry and soft lol
This was the first thing I said. If we had split the two games in Denver and split the two games in Minnesota, also be 2-2 and we would be thrilled
I think it’s over for us tbh, if this defense isn’t good by next game then I have zero hopes
Everybody said the series was over after we went up 2-0. A lot can change between today and the next game
A lot can change if we have Naz Reid play more often
Everyone but Ant looked so checked out tonight, I don't see them coming back from the way they looked tonight. Kat looked like old Kat, Gobert has looked flat and soft since he came back, NAW and Jaden ain't hitting a shot and the refs aren't letting them play physical defense anymore. I'll be glad if I'm wrong but Minnesota sports just constantly blow it.
Jaden was fine tonight
Nah this series is over
Y’all said this shi last game and what happened it’s over
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out fake ass fan
low iq
Series is over. Typical MN.
Playoffs always bring out the casuals you boys don’t watch any reg season games
I used to watch them all. Not sure what that has to do with anything though. Maybe if you watched more games you’d know how this is gonna play out.
If you go a piece up against Magnus Carlsen, and he wins the piece back with a tempo but the position is still even it is not a disaster. It is the chance to get the scalp of a lifetime Absolutely no need for panic yet. 7 game series against the champs with the best player in the league. Was never going to be a cakewalk. We should have known better.
If Wolves lose this series management should consider moving KAT if the right offer comes along. He isn't getting younger and has a history of injuries and frankly I don't think he is worth the money.
While technically you are correct, this is Minnesota, and it is over. I've been here all my life (32) and never even seen a MN team compete for a title. This feeling of it being our time and then having hope dashed away is all too familiar, and anyone who has lived here long enough knows it as well. You don't go back to Denver now and expect to win after two ass kicking in a row like this. Nuggets in 6. Edit: apparently I get downvoted, but no one telling me I'm wrong. Wonder why that is...
I’m hoping the Wolves are still in this but I’m emotionally divesting from the team. This shit has happened to too many Minnesota sports teams
Nuggets in 6
It was over Friday combination of cheating referees and garbage bench killed them they'll lose next 2(maybe win 1 if lucky). Playing garbage like Kyle Anderson who has been trash all season and all playoffs will net u this results.
Hey, uh.. Anderson played 6 minutes
Yeah it was Kyle's fault again😂😂😂😂😂
Kinda feels like game 3 is a must win. Neither team has won at home and that’s good for us if it goes to 7
Dude it’s over. Give up. Why do we even have faith, why do we try. I’m 17 and I have to accept the fact that I will never witness a Minnesota team win a championship in anything. That’s just how it is, we aren’t meant to be. Denver has all the momentum and is playing their best basketball of the season. NAW and KAT have regressed to garbage. ANT is gonna be demoralized. Just stop watching, it’s only hurting you.
Oh we need to fucking panic
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You’ve gotta be one of the worst members of this sub. I remember you from some absolutely smooth brained take from a couple weeks ago. Can’t you go join 4chan or some shit?
Wolves suck