Game 4 - Denver Chicky Nuggies vs Minnesota Timboowolves 8:30pm Minnesotan Time

[GopherIt!]

Jokic just tackled Gobert and no call. Vikings need to sign him.

they could use a center

[TimberKat]

TNT guys man, give Wolves some some credit in winning this game. They need to do some homework on small market teams instead of munching on pizza.

Chuck is lazy as hell just like when he was a player. That is why he never won a ring.

I can't understand a word form Shaq other than telling everyone he is the greatest.

Kenny is the only guy that makes sense

[karch34]

Extend NAW. Jaden 2.0.

Create an offense around Ant.

KAT should be in the corner jacking up threes.

I am about ready to trade Kat for a young PG and some pieces that will fit and and Jaden better.

I’ve had those thoughts a lot. I think they try to bring it back one more time but wouldn’t be surprised if they pivot. Ant is a stud enough said. NAW looks like he could be another piece and should come back with Naz. JMac and Nowell were unplayable, give Moore and Minot a few minutes just to get a taste of playoffs. Rivers had a very good stretch after time in the dog house and deserves a shout out.

[D1SGRUNTL3D]

Well, finished us off in OT, those 3's nailed it. Good win, but welcome back to 5280ft

. Welcome back to earth, denver nuggets.


Didn’t get scorched by KCP, Bruce brown and Christian Braun going 15-19 tonight.

[Calinks]

TNT guys man, give Wolves some some credit in winning this game. They need to do some homework on small market teams instead of munching on pizza.

Wont happen. We looked terrible and we have disgusted them with our bigs. Only way we get credit is if we actually do something big.

[D1SGRUNTL3D]

Jokic just tackled Gobert and no call. Vikings need to sign him.

Amazing how he picks up 2 fouls in the first 5 min and 1 the rest of the game.

[Calinks]

Extend NAW. Jaden 2.0.

Create an offense around Ant.

KAT should be in the corner jacking up threes.

I am about ready to trade Kat for a young PG and some pieces that will fit and and Jaden better.

I’ve had those thoughts a lot. I think they try to bring it back one more time but wouldn’t be surprised if they pivot. Ant is a stud enough said. NAW looks like he could be another piece and should come back with Naz. JMac and Nowell were unplayable, give Moore and Minot a few minutes just to get a taste of playoffs. Rivers had a very good stretch after time in the dog house and deserves a shout out.

It seems to me the two bigs thing is a flop so I could see them moving one of them for some good players that fit Ant and our new style of player better. They could move KAT and lean into Gobert drop, pick and roll, etc. They could trade Rudy and lean into high wall, frantic energy.

[TimberKat]

TNT guys man, give Wolves some some credit in winning this game. They need to do some homework on small market teams instead of munching on pizza.

Wont happen. We looked terrible and we have disgusted them with our bigs. Only way we get credit is if we actually do something big.

We did something big. We got two bigs. I love to see we win the next game and bring the series back to Minnesota and see what they have to say
It's going to be mighty difficult but not impossible.

[theGreatRC]

Things for game 5:

-NAW on Murray every second he is on the court.
-Austin Rivers NEEDS PT, especially over Nowell & JMac, take all of those minutes.
-Why the **** is KAT guarding Jokic? Is it because KAT loses Gordon on the back door lobs frequently?

I still believe in this game, **** it! I'm crazy like this team is

[younggunsmn]

Whew we didn't get swept. I'm glad that we won but hate how we almost blow it every time. It's exhausting.
Almost blew a 12 point lead with a little over 2 minutes left if Joker hadn't missed that free throw.
Then had 7 point lead whittled down to 1 within a minute in OT.

Caught a lot of luck tonight finally, that Gordon dunk shot clock violation that was halfway down, Conley banked 3, none of their roleplayers really had a good game.
Got a pretty good whistle for most of the game, letting a lot of KAT's spastic arm movements go for the most part.
Really really lousy crunch time offense again.

The good:
Ant was amazing. His shot seems to be right again. Just so supremely talented.
Don't like that shot-clock running down step back offense but glad when he finally made one it was with the game on the line.
Finch finally may have found a rotation that works with Ant/Gobert closing quarters 1 and 3 and Conley/KAT starting quarters 2/4.
Better sets for KAT with more horns and conley as PNR partner, KAT did a very good job being aggressive and drawing fouls.
NAW did a great job on Murray all night and on loose balls and rebounds. Great to see those corner 3's go in in OT.
Got a few good minutes from Rivers too.
Slo-mo was good before he got hurt and gave us a spark with his defense.

The bad:
Prince was awful on both ends again.
Getting really sick of watching Gobert try to get out of the way as Ant attacks the rim, looks like a running back running into his offensive linemen on a screen pass. Spacing is just atrocious at times with 2 bigs and holds Ant back in particular.

Gobert taking dumb shots again throwing away possessions. He misses way too many 50/50 balls, so much experience but still so bad at tipping rebounds to himself or teammates. Good defense and rebounding for the most part.
If he plays within himself can help the team so much.

KAT on Jokic? Why? I'm guessing it's because KAT has had a really hard time staying with his man, lot of easy Gordon dunks in game 3.
He did okay except giving Jokic too much room to shoot 3's and picking up some avoidable fouls with bad handchecking and pushing.
Nobody shuts down Jokic, but we did make it hard for him and having your better defenders off of him shutting down his passing opportunities was maybe what the coaching staff was going for, and it worked for the most part.
I think if we go with this again we might see Gordon mix up the rim running with more corner 3's when Gobert is on him, although that's not Malone's preference.
Porter Jr is a weapon, really talented, and if they want to make a deep playoff run they are going to need more from him to go with Murray and Jokic.

[theGreatRC]

Btw Jokic is ridiculous, what an amazing player to watch.

[TimberKat]

Could anyone explain why is Gobert in the last play of regulation if we were going to run down the clock and let Ant break the double team by himself?

[Calinks]

I think we are not trying to use KAT's strengths well. It was helpful get to the line a lot tonight and madness that Ant didn't get any free throws. Towns was 0-2 from 3. That should not be happening right. I swear, he needs to take like 6-12 three's a game in this series. We need him in the corner, opening space for Ant, and getting a ton of reps up.

If KAT gets hot from the corner, Denver has to extend their defense. KAT getting 30 points would be devastating if Ant keeps playing like he is. It would make us so much more dangerous if we treated KAT more like Porter-JR and had him dropping bombs all game with the occasional drive or attack. These 20-foot post-ups are crap compared to that.

[Calinks]

Jokic just tackled Gobert and no call. Vikings need to sign him.

Amazing how he picks up 2 fouls in the first 5 min and 1 the rest of the game.

Crazy that Finch didn't attack him like a rabid dog. Teams always go after us when KAT gets into foul trouble. We never make teams pay for anything.

[Neeva]

Could anyone explain why is Gobert in the last play of regulation if we were going to run down the clock and let Ant break the double team by himself?

Classic Finch move?

[younggunsmn]

If NAW can fix that jumper in the summer so it's over the top and not rolling off the side of his hand he can be a ridiculous 3+D player ala KCP. Tuck that elbow young man.
I think tonight that he solidified us extending that 7 mil qualifying offer.
I did not think that would happen at the time of the trade.

He really kind of low key saved our season with Nowell and Jmac being hurt or completely ineffective post all star break.

[younggunsmn]

Could anyone explain why is Gobert in the last play of regulation if we were going to run down the clock and let Ant break the double team by himself?

I've been asking that question all season long.
I guess they like it better than the alternative of Taurean Prince standing in the corner.

[wolves_89]

For following the Jazz for years, i'm totally not convince by NAW. Inconsistent player in term of offense, but good defender. IF we can sign him for cheap why not, if not i pass my turn.

I think the Wolves pretty much have to bring NAW back. This team can't afford to let playoff caliber rotation players leave, especially one who fits so well with Ant and Jaden.

[younggunsmn]

I think we are not trying to use KAT's strengths well. It was helpful get to the line a lot tonight and madness that Ant didn't get any free throws. Towns was 0-2 from 3. That should not be happening right. I swear, he needs to take like 6-12 three's a game in this series. We need him in the corner, opening space for Ant, and getting a ton of reps up.

If KAT gets hot from the corner, Denver has to extend their defense. KAT getting 30 points would be devastating if Ant keeps playing like he is. It would make us so much more dangerous if we treated KAT more like Porter-JR and had him dropping bombs all game with the occasional drive or attack. These 20-foot post-ups are crap compared to that.

I fully endorse this.

It has been interesting to me that the only times KAT has really been effective in this series have been when he has been playing the NAZ role of 2nd unit 5 with Rudy on the bench. Makes me wonder how much would really be lost if we traded KAT and re-signed NAZ.
KAT's uniqueness is that he's a big who can both shoot the 3 and attack the rim off the bounce, Naz did that this year with similiar efficiency. KAT doesn't have any space to attack off the bounce with Rudy on the floor.
They had a little bit of success earlier in the season with KAT attacking from the wing, but haven't seen that set much post return from injury, he's usually been at the elbow in more of a classic high/low.

[TwolvesFanRome]

At least for me the positive things are:
- We won
- Ant is ridiculous and has yet to turn 22
- What a nice catch was Naw?!?

For the rest I can't be overjoyed: we turned our brains off again a few minutes from the end, risking throwing away a conspicuous advantage for the umpteenth time.

Can someone explain to me the last time out called before overtime? What did Finch draw on the slate? Just ball to Ant? I didn't see blocks, I didn't see pick & roll... I didn't see anything in the decisive possession of the evening. Every now and then I am dumbfounded.

Let's go try and surprise Denver and get the series to Game 6. Come on!