WCSF Game 5, 5/14: Warriors at Timberwolves, 8:30 pm

[KGdaBom]

Can't believe we're back!!

Rooting for Denver to win the series against OKC even though OKC vs Minny would be so fun to watch. Denver vs Minnesota would be the Wolves best chance at the finals

I'm going to be excited for the matchup that we get either way, but I think our chances of beating Denver are better than our chances of beating OKC. Denver threw away a golden opportunity to go up 3-1 and are now behind 3-2. I give Denver no more than a 10% chance of coming back.

[ACMFFL]

Congrats for the 2nd WCF in a row! Cheering for you guys to win it all. This fanbase totally deserves it.

[Rookie-Mistake]

Go Wolves go!


Sent from my SM-G991B using RealGM mobile app

[FrenchMinnyFan]

Did not see much today the grumpy posters saying Rudy is bad, Mike washed, Randle lazy..., they probably on vacation

[minimus]

Did not see much today the grumpy posters saying Rudy is bad, Mike washed, Randle lazy..., they probably on vacation

I don't see the fans wanting to fire Finch, either.

[winforlose]

Did not see much today the grumpy posters saying Rudy is bad, Mike washed, Randle lazy..., they probably on vacation

I don't see the fans wanting to fire Finch, either.

We had 20+ turnovers 3 games in a row, we had another 4th quarter collapse where a 21 point lead broke down to 9 and we had to trade baskets for over 5 competitive minutes. We had to play Ant, Jaden, and Randle over 41 minutes to close out a game where we got out rebounded 18 to 6 on the offensive glass. We also allowed Kuminga and Podz to score 54 on us. None of this screams great coaching. We make these mistakes because our players don’t have a system to fall back on and make stupid choices. We also have both games (Lakers 2, Warriors 1,) and quarters (Game 4 and game 5 Q4,) where we play with our food and let go of the rope. Finch is not the mastermind that is leading us to wins. Finch is the guy everyone ignores and does whatever they feel like.

[thinktank]

Did not see much today the grumpy posters saying Rudy is bad, Mike washed, Randle lazy..., they probably on vacation

I don't see the fans wanting to fire Finch, either.

We had 20+ turnovers 3 games in a row, we had another 4th quarter collapse where a 21 point lead broke down to 9 and we had to trade baskets for over 5 competitive minutes. We had to play Ant, Jaden, and Randle over 41 minutes to close out a game where we got out rebounded 18 to 6 on the offensive glass. We also allowed Kuminga and Podz to score 54 on us. None of this screams great coaching. We make these mistakes because our players don’t have a system to fall back on and make stupid choices. We also have both games (Lakers 2, Warriors 1,) and quarters (Game 4 and game 5 Q4,) where we play with our food and let go of the rope. Finch is not the mastermind that is leading us to wins. Finch is the guy everyone ignores and does whatever they feel like.

LOL.

2 straight WCF.

I trust Finch 1000% more than I trust your criticisms.

[KGdaBom]

I don't see the fans wanting to fire Finch, either.

We had 20+ turnovers 3 games in a row, we had another 4th quarter collapse where a 21 point lead broke down to 9 and we had to trade baskets for over 5 competitive minutes. We had to play Ant, Jaden, and Randle over 41 minutes to close out a game where we got out rebounded 18 to 6 on the offensive glass. We also allowed Kuminga and Podz to score 54 on us. None of this screams great coaching. We make these mistakes because our players don’t have a system to fall back on and make stupid choices. We also have both games (Lakers 2, Warriors 1,) and quarters (Game 4 and game 5 Q4,) where we play with our food and let go of the rope. Finch is not the mastermind that is leading us to wins. Finch is the guy everyone ignores and does whatever they feel like.

LOL.

2 straight WCF.

I trust Finch 1000% more than I trust your criticisms.

Finch certainly has his flaws, but he has his strong points also. I in no way believe we are successful despite him.

[bluethunder0005]

Did not see much today the grumpy posters saying Rudy is bad, Mike washed, Randle lazy..., they probably on vacation

I don't see the fans wanting to fire Finch, either.

We had 20+ turnovers 3 games in a row, we had another 4th quarter collapse where a 21 point lead broke down to 9 and we had to trade baskets for over 5 competitive minutes. We had to play Ant, Jaden, and Randle over 41 minutes to close out a game where we got out rebounded 18 to 6 on the offensive glass. We also allowed Kuminga and Podz to score 54 on us. None of this screams great coaching. We make these mistakes because our players don’t have a system to fall back on and make stupid choices. We also have both games (Lakers 2, Warriors 1,) and quarters (Game 4 and game 5 Q4,) where we play with our food and let go of the rope. Finch is not the mastermind that is leading us to wins. Finch is the guy everyone ignores and does whatever they feel like.

All the things you point out are more on the players than the coach. Finch has lit into this team several times over this series for doing the things you mentioned. It's on the players to stop being careless and for them to box out. It could be Spoelstra on the sidelines and the team could make the same mistakes.

[winforlose]

I don't see the fans wanting to fire Finch, either.

We had 20+ turnovers 3 games in a row, we had another 4th quarter collapse where a 21 point lead broke down to 9 and we had to trade baskets for over 5 competitive minutes. We had to play Ant, Jaden, and Randle over 41 minutes to close out a game where we got out rebounded 18 to 6 on the offensive glass. We also allowed Kuminga and Podz to score 54 on us. None of this screams great coaching. We make these mistakes because our players don’t have a system to fall back on and make stupid choices. We also have both games (Lakers 2, Warriors 1,) and quarters (Game 4 and game 5 Q4,) where we play with our food and let go of the rope. Finch is not the mastermind that is leading us to wins. Finch is the guy everyone ignores and does whatever they feel like.

LOL.

2 straight WCF.

I trust Finch 1000% more than I trust your criticisms.

We have one of if not the most talented teams in basketball. We have one of if not the deepest teams in basketball. I am not saying we suck, I am saying Finch isn’t a great coach. There is evidence of this all over the regular season and playoffs this year and last year. Anyone given a sports car can drive fast. Not everyone can be a professional race car driver, much less an elite one. Finch is a mid tier coach with influence over these guys. But they don’t listen or execute his game plan consistently, and he cannot motivate them to be ready to play every game.

[minimus]

We had 20+ turnovers 3 games in a row, we had another 4th quarter collapse where a 21 point lead broke down to 9 and we had to trade baskets for over 5 competitive minutes. We had to play Ant, Jaden, and Randle over 41 minutes to close out a game where we got out rebounded 18 to 6 on the offensive glass. We also allowed Kuminga and Podz to score 54 on us. None of this screams great coaching. We make these mistakes because our players don’t have a system to fall back on and make stupid choices. We also have both games (Lakers 2, Warriors 1,) and quarters (Game 4 and game 5 Q4,) where we play with our food and let go of the rope. Finch is not the mastermind that is leading us to wins. Finch is the guy everyone ignores and does whatever they feel like.

LOL.

2 straight WCF.

I trust Finch 1000% more than I trust your criticisms.

We have one of if not the most talented teams in basketball.

In my work I had to manage a group of very talented engineers. That was not an easy job, despite all success I had and individual success of my teammates and our team success.

[Worm Guts]

We have a talented team. I'm not sure we have such a talented team that people expect us to win 65 games and a championship. We won a similar amount of games as a lot of other talented teams in the West and we've managed to advance in the playoffs. I think we've done relatively well compared to expectations.

[winforlose]

LOL.

2 straight WCF.

I trust Finch 1000% more than I trust your criticisms.

We have one of if not the most talented teams in basketball.

In my work I had to manage a group of very talented engineers. That was not an easy job, despite all success I had and individual success of my teammates and our team success.

I never said it was easy. Management of adults is not easy. Management of 20-26 year old athletes is not easy. Managing people who make more money than you is not easy. Managing people who have the leverage to get you fired is not easy. But the teams who win it all tend to have coaches that bring out there best. Have we been playing our best ball these past two series? Is the level of play and the level of preparedness good enough for us to win our first conference championship? My personal belief is that the Lakers and Warriors were too small to defend us. I think we were always going to win those series. I said so months ago. I think Denver lacks the depth and matchups to beat us. But OKC has both. Against that we need a coach who knows how to not only get the guys up to their consistent A game, but someone who can help them break through and find the next level. Is that Chris Finch?

[Worm Guts]

We have one of if not the most talented teams in basketball.

In my work I had to manage a group of very talented engineers. That was not an easy job, despite all success I had and individual success of my teammates and our team success.

I never said it was easy. Management of adults is not easy. Management of 20-26 year old athletes is not easy. Managing people who make more money than you is not easy. Managing people who have the leverage to get you fired is not easy. But the teams who win it all tend to have coaches that bring out there best. Have we been playing our best ball these past two series? Is the level of play and the level of preparedness good enough for us to win our first conference championship? My personal belief is that the Lakers and Warriors were too small to defend us. I think we were always going to win those series. I said so months ago. I think Denver lacks the depth and matchups to beat us. But OKC has both. Against that we need a coach who knows how to not only get the guys up to their consistent A game, but someone who can help them break through and find the next level. Is that Chris Finch?

I think if you said before playoffs the Wolves were going to advance to the Western Conference Finals after winning the first two rounds in 5 games each, most would think the Wolves overachieved, not underachieved.

[life_saver]

Did not see much today the grumpy posters saying Rudy is bad, Mike washed, Randle lazy..., they probably on vacation

I don't see the fans wanting to fire Finch, either.

We had 20+ turnovers 3 games in a row, we had another 4th quarter collapse where a 21 point lead broke down to 9 and we had to trade baskets for over 5 competitive minutes. We had to play Ant, Jaden, and Randle over 41 minutes to close out a game where we got out rebounded 18 to 6 on the offensive glass. We also allowed Kuminga and Podz to score 54 on us. None of this screams great coaching. We make these mistakes because our players don’t have a system to fall back on and make stupid choices. We also have both games (Lakers 2, Warriors 1,) and quarters (Game 4 and game 5 Q4,) where we play with our food and let go of the rope. Finch is not the mastermind that is leading us to wins. Finch is the guy everyone ignores and does whatever they feel like.

20 pt leads aren't that safe these days...we have seen this in playoffs this year where defending champions lost in 2 straight home games after having 20+ pt leads...Cavs with COTY ended up blowing 25 pt lead in elimination game. I think we have to realize that just like in RS, its not easy to be consistent every game in playoffs. Especially when they have now had like 5 games in span of 8 days. Wolves did what they have to do in this series without suffering too many injuries and wasting too much energy. Ant yesterday wasn't playing at his full level...you can see it based on his screen navigation. I am not Finch's biggest fan but I am not gonna blame him for everything.

[life_saver]

We had 20+ turnovers 3 games in a row, we had another 4th quarter collapse where a 21 point lead broke down to 9 and we had to trade baskets for over 5 competitive minutes. We had to play Ant, Jaden, and Randle over 41 minutes to close out a game where we got out rebounded 18 to 6 on the offensive glass. We also allowed Kuminga and Podz to score 54 on us. None of this screams great coaching. We make these mistakes because our players don’t have a system to fall back on and make stupid choices. We also have both games (Lakers 2, Warriors 1,) and quarters (Game 4 and game 5 Q4,) where we play with our food and let go of the rope. Finch is not the mastermind that is leading us to wins. Finch is the guy everyone ignores and does whatever they feel like.

LOL.

2 straight WCF.

I trust Finch 1000% more than I trust your criticisms.

We have one of if not the most talented teams in basketball. We have one of if not the deepest teams in basketball. I am not saying we suck, I am saying Finch isn’t a great coach. There is evidence of this all over the regular season and playoffs this year and last year. Anyone given a sports car can drive fast. Not everyone can be a professional race car driver, much less an elite one. Finch is a mid tier coach with influence over these guys. But they don’t listen or execute his game plan consistently, and he cannot motivate them to be ready to play every game.

I really don't agree with this. Wolves have a good roster but its not even close to being most talented roster. Celtics, OKC have more talented rosters than Wolves.

[winforlose]

In my work I had to manage a group of very talented engineers. That was not an easy job, despite all success I had and individual success of my teammates and our team success.

I never said it was easy. Management of adults is not easy. Management of 20-26 year old athletes is not easy. Managing people who make more money than you is not easy. Managing people who have the leverage to get you fired is not easy. But the teams who win it all tend to have coaches that bring out there best. Have we been playing our best ball these past two series? Is the level of play and the level of preparedness good enough for us to win our first conference championship? My personal belief is that the Lakers and Warriors were too small to defend us. I think we were always going to win those series. I said so months ago. I think Denver lacks the depth and matchups to beat us. But OKC has both. Against that we need a coach who knows how to not only get the guys up to their consistent A game, but someone who can help them break through and find the next level. Is that Chris Finch?

I think if you said before playoffs the Wolves were going to advance to the Western Conference Finals after winning the first two rounds in 5 games each, most would think the Wolves overachieved, not underachieved.

I did say it, months ago, in multiple threads. I know the positivity thread for sure. We are too talented not to advance. Outside of OKC we have depth or matchups advantages up and down the roster. Jaden has playoff mode, Ant has playoff mode. DDV was supposed to have playoff mode. Rudy is a machine when he gets going. This was always supposed to happen. In what world were LAL or GSW with small ball ever going to be able to match up with us? In what world could they guard Ant? Overachieved? we haven’t even played our best ball in half the games much less played above it.

[winforlose]

LOL.

2 straight WCF.

I trust Finch 1000% more than I trust your criticisms.

We have one of if not the most talented teams in basketball. We have one of if not the deepest teams in basketball. I am not saying we suck, I am saying Finch isn’t a great coach. There is evidence of this all over the regular season and playoffs this year and last year. Anyone given a sports car can drive fast. Not everyone can be a professional race car driver, much less an elite one. Finch is a mid tier coach with influence over these guys. But they don’t listen or execute his game plan consistently, and he cannot motivate them to be ready to play every game.

I really don't agree with this. Wolves have a good roster but its not even close to being most talented roster. Celtics, OKC have more talented rosters than Wolves.

Fair enough. But it is also fair to point out that you did agree with me. When I say one of if not the best, and you respond by saying 2 specific teams are better, then you are saying we are better than 27 other teams or that we are a top 3 90th percentile. Or in other words, you are calling us one of the best.

[Worm Guts]

I never said it was easy. Management of adults is not easy. Management of 20-26 year old athletes is not easy. Managing people who make more money than you is not easy. Managing people who have the leverage to get you fired is not easy. But the teams who win it all tend to have coaches that bring out there best. Have we been playing our best ball these past two series? Is the level of play and the level of preparedness good enough for us to win our first conference championship? My personal belief is that the Lakers and Warriors were too small to defend us. I think we were always going to win those series. I said so months ago. I think Denver lacks the depth and matchups to beat us. But OKC has both. Against that we need a coach who knows how to not only get the guys up to their consistent A game, but someone who can help them break through and find the next level. Is that Chris Finch?

I think if you said before playoffs the Wolves were going to advance to the Western Conference Finals after winning the first two rounds in 5 games each, most would think the Wolves overachieved, not underachieved.

I did say it, months ago, in multiple threads. I know the positivity thread for sure. We are too talented not to advance. Outside of OKC we have depth or matchups advantages up and down the roster. Jaden has playoff mode, Ant has playoff mode. DDV was supposed to have playoff mode. Rudy is a machine when he gets going. This was always supposed to happen. In what world were LAL or GSW with small ball ever going to be able to match up with us? In what world could they guard Ant? Overachieved? we haven’t even played our best ball in half the games much less played above it.

Your expectations are one thing, but everyone else expected us to lose to the Lakers. I don't know, these other teams are talented and trying to win too. And we beat them relatively easily, but apparently not easily enough?

[winforlose]

I don't see the fans wanting to fire Finch, either.

We had 20+ turnovers 3 games in a row, we had another 4th quarter collapse where a 21 point lead broke down to 9 and we had to trade baskets for over 5 competitive minutes. We had to play Ant, Jaden, and Randle over 41 minutes to close out a game where we got out rebounded 18 to 6 on the offensive glass. We also allowed Kuminga and Podz to score 54 on us. None of this screams great coaching. We make these mistakes because our players don’t have a system to fall back on and make stupid choices. We also have both games (Lakers 2, Warriors 1,) and quarters (Game 4 and game 5 Q4,) where we play with our food and let go of the rope. Finch is not the mastermind that is leading us to wins. Finch is the guy everyone ignores and does whatever they feel like.

20 pt leads aren't that safe these days...we have seen this in playoffs this year where defending champions lost in 2 straight home games after having 20+ pt leads...Cavs with COTY ended up blowing 25 pt lead in elimination game. I think we have to realize that just like in RS, its not easy to be consistent every game in playoffs. Especially when they have now had like 5 games in span of 8 days. Wolves did what they have to do in this series without suffering too many injuries and wasting too much energy. Ant yesterday wasn't playing at his full level...you can see it based on his screen navigation. I am not Finch's biggest fan but I am not gonna blame him for everything.

Also fair enough. That said, do you believe that the Wolves have been playing particularly good basketball? Do you believe they have been making good decisions, limiting turnovers, finding ways to generate consistently good offensive process, and playing a sustainable game that wins against WCF and NBA finals opponents? I think we have been playing down to bad teams. I think our true ceiling is well above us, and I think a great coach raises our floor so that the ceiling isn’t so far away.