Timberwolves vs Warriors - Game 4 - Do or Die

[Onus]

The problem is jimmy can't guard Julius and can't defend Ant at the rim the way Dray can. We're literally hiding Jimmy on Mcdaniels.

[HiRez]

The problem is jimmy can't guard Julius and can't defend Ant at the rim the way Dray can. We're literally hiding Jimmy on Mcdaniels.

Eh...I dunno about that...Dray got owned by Randle in this series, at the rim and away from it.

[vvoland]

The problem is jimmy can't guard Julius and can't defend Ant at the rim the way Dray can. We're literally hiding Jimmy on Mcdaniels.

I'm convinced the hip is killing him. He's just not moving well. It's not as bad as it looked when he came back vs Hou - he was clearly limping and was barely able to jump on it. It's no longer jumping off the screen but I would bet it's highly limiting.

[Jester_]

oh well. I can't be mad... we lost Steph Curry and lost to a surging team. as you'd expect

bummer, but out of anyones control and not anybodys fault. proud of the team for rallying towards the end of the season... and unless Giannis tips the balance somewhere, we have one final shot next year to bring this era to a final end

Yeah, I mean I think we all knew whether consciously or subconsciously that we were just 1 Steph injury away from season over. It is what it is. Just too bad because this Wolves team isn't a juggernaut and was beatable. Not being able to take even 1 game from them without Steph, when it was there, when we had leads, but kept choking them away, is disappointing. I'd feel less bad if they just dominated us by 30 every game. Over and over again, everyone on the team came up small when they were needed most.

yeah especially with cleveland and OKC potentially losing this was a golden opportunity to get #5. sucks but... it is what it is

[Onus]

The problem is jimmy can't guard Julius and can't defend Ant at the rim the way Dray can. We're literally hiding Jimmy on Mcdaniels.

Eh...I dunno about that...Dray got owned by Randle in this series, at the rim and away from it.

Randle went 3/6 against draymond in this game.

[Twinkie defense]

NOW it is do or die.

[vvoland]

The problem is jimmy can't guard Julius and can't defend Ant at the rim the way Dray can. We're literally hiding Jimmy on Mcdaniels.

Eh...I dunno about that...Dray got owned by Randle in this series, at the rim and away from it.

Randle went 3/6 against draymond in this game.

that's 1 missed shot from being 33% - ultimate small sample size. I'm ok with Dray on randle in this series, i don't think this is what's killing us. It's our inability to score, for looooong stretches of the game.

[HiRez]

Eh...I dunno about that...Dray got owned by Randle in this series, at the rim and away from it.

Randle went 3/6 against draymond in this game.

that's 1 missed shot from being 33% - ultimate small sample size. I'm ok with Dray on randle in this series, i don't think this is what's killing us. It's our inability to score, for looooong stretches of the game.

It's also 1 made shot away from being 67%. That's the defense of Dray as a great defender of Randle? Where is that data coming from? Does it include Randle nailing 3s where Dray didn't even bother to close out on him? And in the previous game Dray also really struggled to contain him.

[vvoland]

Randle went 3/6 against draymond in this game.

that's 1 missed shot from being 33% - ultimate small sample size. I'm ok with Dray on randle in this series, i don't think this is what's killing us. It's our inability to score, for looooong stretches of the game.

It's also 1 made shot away from being 67%. That's the defense of Dray as a great defender of Randle? Where is that data coming from? Does it include Randle nailing 3s where Dray didn't even bother to close out on him? And in the previous game Dray also really struggled to contain him.

I agree and I'm not saying Dray has been great on randle. I'm just saying the defense isn't what's costing us in these games. Sure, the 40pt 3rd quarter last night was awful. That was as much bad offense (long rebounds, turnovers) as it was bad defense.

Also, Dray does a lot more than on-ball defense. Sure, Randle tore Dray up 1-1 in game 3. The wolves also scored 16 points in the 4 mins after he fouled out vs 86 points in the first 44 with Dray in the game. It's a huge gap that I don't think is coincidental.

[HiRez]

that's 1 missed shot from being 33% - ultimate small sample size. I'm ok with Dray on randle in this series, i don't think this is what's killing us. It's our inability to score, for looooong stretches of the game.

It's also 1 made shot away from being 67%. That's the defense of Dray as a great defender of Randle? Where is that data coming from? Does it include Randle nailing 3s where Dray didn't even bother to close out on him? And in the previous game Dray also really struggled to contain him.

I agree and I'm not saying Dray has been great on randle. I'm just saying the defense isn't what's costing us in these games. Sure, the 40pt 3rd quarter last night was awful. That was as much bad offense (long rebounds, turnovers) as it was bad defense.

Also, Dray does a lot more than on-ball defense. Sure, Randle tore Dray up 1-1 in game 3. The wolves also scored 16 points in the 4 mins after he fouled out vs 86 points in the first 44 with Dray in the game. It's a huge gap that I don't think is coincidental.

I hear you, I'm also not saying Draymond specifically is why we lost, but the original context was that Jimmy can't defend Randle "like Draymond" so...

But I don't think anyone did a great job on him and he hurt us more than even Ant did in this series. We just don't have an answer for him, which comes back to our lack of size. Randle is huge, he's a load and he's strong, we don't have anyone with enough bulk to keep him from getting where he wants to. Butler, Dray, Kuminga, Loon, they're all too small. TJD and Post are too thin and not mobile enough. Even if you put a body on him, he's going to wear you down or foul you out.

We need one or two guys like Naz Reid who can at least legitimately battle him for 30+ minutes. Mark Williams (AKA the big who was going to be a Laker before he wasn't) might be an interesting target if Charlotte is still interested in moving him.

[Onus]

It's also 1 made shot away from being 67%. That's the defense of Dray as a great defender of Randle? Where is that data coming from? Does it include Randle nailing 3s where Dray didn't even bother to close out on him? And in the previous game Dray also really struggled to contain him.

I agree and I'm not saying Dray has been great on randle. I'm just saying the defense isn't what's costing us in these games. Sure, the 40pt 3rd quarter last night was awful. That was as much bad offense (long rebounds, turnovers) as it was bad defense.

Also, Dray does a lot more than on-ball defense. Sure, Randle tore Dray up 1-1 in game 3. The wolves also scored 16 points in the 4 mins after he fouled out vs 86 points in the first 44 with Dray in the game. It's a huge gap that I don't think is coincidental.

I hear you, I'm also not saying Draymond specifically is why we lost, but the original context was that Jimmy can't defend Randle "like Draymond" so...

But I don't think anyone did a great job on him and he hurt us more than even Ant did in this series. We just don't have an answer for him, which comes back to our lack of size. Randle is huge, he's a load and he's strong, we don't have anyone with enough bulk to keep him from getting where he wants to. Butler, Dray, Kuminga, Loon, they're all too small. TJD and Post are too thin and not mobile enough. Even if you put a body on him, he's going to wear you down or foul you out.

We need one or two guys like Naz Reid who can at least legitimately battle him for 30+ minutes. Mark Williams (AKA the big who was going to be a Laker before he wasn't) might be an interesting target if Charlotte is still interested in moving him.

They aren't even trying Jimmy on Randle which is why TJD is starting and defending Randle. Add in Looney has to come in and guard Randle and Jimmy hardly guards Randle and when he does Randle is eating.

JK needs to play 40 in game 5. Jimmy needs to show up.

[vvoland]

I agree and I'm not saying Dray has been great on randle. I'm just saying the defense isn't what's costing us in these games. Sure, the 40pt 3rd quarter last night was awful. That was as much bad offense (long rebounds, turnovers) as it was bad defense.

Also, Dray does a lot more than on-ball defense. Sure, Randle tore Dray up 1-1 in game 3. The wolves also scored 16 points in the 4 mins after he fouled out vs 86 points in the first 44 with Dray in the game. It's a huge gap that I don't think is coincidental.

I hear you, I'm also not saying Draymond specifically is why we lost, but the original context was that Jimmy can't defend Randle "like Draymond" so...

But I don't think anyone did a great job on him and he hurt us more than even Ant did in this series. We just don't have an answer for him, which comes back to our lack of size. Randle is huge, he's a load and he's strong, we don't have anyone with enough bulk to keep him from getting where he wants to. Butler, Dray, Kuminga, Loon, they're all too small. TJD and Post are too thin and not mobile enough. Even if you put a body on him, he's going to wear you down or foul you out.

We need one or two guys like Naz Reid who can at least legitimately battle him for 30+ minutes. Mark Williams (AKA the big who was going to be a Laker before he wasn't) might be an interesting target if Charlotte is still interested in moving him.

They aren't even trying Jimmy on Randle which is why TJD is starting and defending Randle. Add in Looney has to come in and guard Randle and Jimmy hardly guards Randle and when he does Randle is eating.

JK needs to play 40 in game 5. Jimmy needs to show up.

I'd try JK on Randle but he's also our best shot guarding Ant as I've lost all faith in GP2. I guess buddy could work if we double often enough.

[vvoland]

I agree and I'm not saying Dray has been great on randle. I'm just saying the defense isn't what's costing us in these games. Sure, the 40pt 3rd quarter last night was awful. That was as much bad offense (long rebounds, turnovers) as it was bad defense.

Also, Dray does a lot more than on-ball defense. Sure, Randle tore Dray up 1-1 in game 3. The wolves also scored 16 points in the 4 mins after he fouled out vs 86 points in the first 44 with Dray in the game. It's a huge gap that I don't think is coincidental.

I hear you, I'm also not saying Draymond specifically is why we lost, but the original context was that Jimmy can't defend Randle "like Draymond" so...

But I don't think anyone did a great job on him and he hurt us more than even Ant did in this series. We just don't have an answer for him, which comes back to our lack of size. Randle is huge, he's a load and he's strong, we don't have anyone with enough bulk to keep him from getting where he wants to. Butler, Dray, Kuminga, Loon, they're all too small. TJD and Post are too thin and not mobile enough. Even if you put a body on him, he's going to wear you down or foul you out.

We need one or two guys like Naz Reid who can at least legitimately battle him for 30+ minutes. Mark Williams (AKA the big who was going to be a Laker before he wasn't) might be an interesting target if Charlotte is still interested in moving him.

They aren't even trying Jimmy on Randle which is why TJD is starting and defending Randle. Add in Looney has to come in and guard Randle and Jimmy hardly guards Randle and when he does Randle is eating.

JK needs to play 40 in game 5. Jimmy needs to show up.

If not more. The biggest problem with not starting him is it locks him into a max of 36 minutes if he doesn't get a second of rest outside of the first 6 mins of each half

[Onus]

I hear you, I'm also not saying Draymond specifically is why we lost, but the original context was that Jimmy can't defend Randle "like Draymond" so...

But I don't think anyone did a great job on him and he hurt us more than even Ant did in this series. We just don't have an answer for him, which comes back to our lack of size. Randle is huge, he's a load and he's strong, we don't have anyone with enough bulk to keep him from getting where he wants to. Butler, Dray, Kuminga, Loon, they're all too small. TJD and Post are too thin and not mobile enough. Even if you put a body on him, he's going to wear you down or foul you out.

We need one or two guys like Naz Reid who can at least legitimately battle him for 30+ minutes. Mark Williams (AKA the big who was going to be a Laker before he wasn't) might be an interesting target if Charlotte is still interested in moving him.

They aren't even trying Jimmy on Randle which is why TJD is starting and defending Randle. Add in Looney has to come in and guard Randle and Jimmy hardly guards Randle and when he does Randle is eating.

JK needs to play 40 in game 5. Jimmy needs to show up.

I'd try JK on Randle but he's also our best shot guarding Ant as I've lost all faith in GP2. I guess buddy could work if we double often enough.

JK should either guard Randle or Ant. I kind of like him on Ant more and Jimmy can man up and guard Randle. Dray needs to be able to roam to help at the rim.

[thunderdunk]

I was lobbying at the deadline for a big like Myles Turner. Dubs still need one. They also need another guard who can consistently make shots.

For some reason, Podz regressed shot-wise in the off season. Then he got better, but then he got worse. Can he one day become a reliable shooter? Maybe -- and his rebounding is still needed. If they trade him, they still need to find more boards and someone who defends at least as well.

That said, without Steph, this team can't be expected to beat _any_ playoff team in a seven game series. Boston will not win a ring without Tatum. It just doesn't happen. All said and done, the chip will be won by the team that plays the best with it's core intact.

This off-season, I would S&T JK for some of these missing pieces. At minimum, they need a quality big and a quality shooter. MDJ has his work cut out for him again.

[jozef]

I've always stood by Kerr and I don't hope for a new coach next year. Having said that, the decision to start TJD this game, and especially in the 2nd half, killed us. We came out with real energy, on both ends, and would have been up more if TJD wasn't fouling, missing rotations, and not contributing, AT ALL. The start of the 2nd half was a disaster and TJD just wasn't ready to contribute.

Absolute B.S.
Go watch it again. The lineup forced inside shots cause of poor spacing (4 inside players) and Edwards making 3s. In fact TJD played pretty good game.

[powerball1373]

I don't buy the lack of talent excuse. You have our bench players going +14 against the Wolves starters and second unit. We also saw them hold their own against the Rockets starters in the previous series too. There's something there and it is Kerr's job to have found it.

Lol c'mon man. This is either disingenuous or you don't know ball. Both cases you're referring to occurred after the game was basically over, in garbage time. If you really think Pat Spencer, Kevin Knox, and Braxton Key are talented enough players to get real minutes in the playoffs, then I don't know what to tell you. The Pat Spencer thing was cute in game 1, but he looked horrible after they had a chance to plan for him in game 2.

[jozef]

Randle is huge, he's a load and he's strong, we don't have anyone with enough bulk to keep him from getting where he wants to. Butler, Dray, Kuminga, Loon, they're all too small. TJD and Post are too thin and not mobile enough. Even if you put a body on him, he's going to wear you down or foul you out.

Randle scored one tough uncomfortable layup over TJD. That's it. He is jumpshooter mostly. For sure TJD is the best defender on him.

[Twinkie defense]

Was it a coincidence that the bench mob closed the gap with both Houston and Minny? They bring so much scrambling and frantic energy, causing opponent turnovers and creating those rare easy baskets, I wonder if you might want to get guys like Gui and Pat Spencer a few more minutes in this series. Maybe even put that whole unit out there for a couple minutes to see what happens. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

[jozef]

Podz struggles with his shot but part of it that we miss athletic wing with quick feet (= Moody) so there is insufficient spacing.
Also Dray would get more options with Moody on the floor.
I see Loon too limited to bring positive value to the team with Steph out. Too slow to help or score.
Also GP2 value is too diminished with Steph on sidelines. I would even play Moody at point guard to get more juice in the backcourt.
Santos is worth few minutes as well.
Zone defense seems to be often good solution.
My rotation for Game 6:
PG Podziemski 36 Moody 12
SG Hield 36 Moody 12
SF Butler 36 Moody 6, Kuminga 6
PF Green 12 Kuminga 24 Santos 12
C Jackson-Davis 24 Green 24
Athletic, outside and inside threats.