WCF Game 3, 5/24: OKC @ Timberwolves, 7:30 PM CST

[BlacJacMac]

Watch on YouTube

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[Basti]

Watch on YouTube

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There's very few things that could make me stop watching TSJ's highlights from last night but the narrator manages just that. What an annoying way to showcase this beauty of a game.

[BlacJacMac]

Wolves make perfect, subtle adjustments

We often think most playoff adjustments have to be big ones, like switching a defensive matchup, changing the lineup or deploying a new pick-and-roll scheme. But as Minnesota proved in Game 3, the best ones are often more subtle — and far more specific.

On offense, Anthony Edwards took slightly different angles coming off his pick-and-rolls. Rather than rush into them in a straight line to get downhill, as he did in Game 2, Edwards took a step sideways or even backward to ensure he ran his own man into the screen and gave himself an extra split second to read the rest of the Thunder defense. By starting wide and then shifting to go downhill, Edwards kept Oklahoma City off balance, kept himself on balance and created more room for his now-elite pull-up 3.

On defense, Minnesota went against what many pundits publicly suggested and gave Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams more space on their drives. The Timberwolves had crept far too close to the Thunder’s stars in the first two games, allowing Oklahoma City to negate Minnesota’s length advantage and — as you may have heard — stack up bushels of free throws. In Game 3, Jaden McDaniels made it a point to hang a few feet back of Gilgeous-Alexander, all while remaining on the balls of his feet to absorb SGA’s strong attacks. The Wolves’ bigs — Rudy Gobert in particular — stayed back at first, but then shifted up on the floor once Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams accelerated. This change prevented Oklahoma City’s stars from initiating the body contact they thrived on in games 1 and 2.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6380350/2025/05/24/nba-playoffs-takeaways-timberwolves-thunder/

[minimus]

Wolves make perfect, subtle adjustments

We often think most playoff adjustments have to be big ones, like switching a defensive matchup, changing the lineup or deploying a new pick-and-roll scheme. But as Minnesota proved in Game 3, the best ones are often more subtle — and far more specific.

On offense, Anthony Edwards took slightly different angles coming off his pick-and-rolls. Rather than rush into them in a straight line to get downhill, as he did in Game 2, Edwards took a step sideways or even backward to ensure he ran his own man into the screen and gave himself an extra split second to read the rest of the Thunder defense. By starting wide and then shifting to go downhill, Edwards kept Oklahoma City off balance, kept himself on balance and created more room for his now-elite pull-up 3

I remember Tray Young was killing us when Towns played at C. It was spread pick-n-roll, but despite being 6'1" Young is so good at stretching defense by taking side steps and step backs to find right angle for shot or pass. It should be the next big step for Edwards.