WCF Game 4, 5/26: OKC @ Timberwolves, 7:30 PM CST

[KGdaBom]

I know we all want to blame the turnovers, but the simple fact of the matter is OKC is forcing a lot of those turnovers because they are great defensively. There's a reason why every team they've faced averages a ton of turnovers a game. Memphis averaged 18.3 a game against them, Denver averaged 16.6, and the Wolves are at 15.5 and the Wolves don't even really have a second primary ball handler on the perimeter or the best player in the game (Jokic).

The offensive rebounds sucked but both teams got 19 and a lot of theirs were simply long misses that bounced their way.

I'm not even mad at Ant. He's 23 and the Thunder are stacked with great perimeter defenders and they're constantly throwing 2 or 3 of those defenders at him. There is a reason why everyone else had such open 3s and it's because of Ant's presence. I know he's a star and he's our best player but let's quit acting like he's supposed to be MJ out there and just beat any defense you throw at him. You know what MJ did at age 23, got swept by Boston in the first round of the playoffs. SGA at age 23 didn't even make the playoffs and at age 24 he lost in the 8th seed play-in game against the Wolves.

I know as a fan it sucks but sometimes we act like we'd just go 98-0 if we didn't beat ourselves and that's just not the case. The Thunder are simply a better team than us.

They're better than us, but not by much. We could have been all tied up in this series by just making one more good play last night. One less mistake. One rebound that we controlled instead of losing leading to a 3 by them. It's painful as hell.

[BlacJacMac]

Thunder-Wolves thriller hijacked by free-throw parade, showing again why NBA needs to get serious about a fix
Fouling up three is an epidemic that is killing the ends of games

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/thunder-wolves-thriller-hijacked-by-free-throw-parade-showing-again-why-nba-needs-to-get-serious-about-a-fix/

[Guest84]

It sucks to know that all 3 of their top players had huge performances and still only won by 2. Their defense applied pressure all night but I still feel the deciding factor was more so about what the wolves "didn't" do. Giving up too many offensive rebounds at critical times.

Secondly, Finch needs to consistently put Ant in off-ball action to get him the ball. However, it's hard cause he's one of the only other players with a good enough handle to get past the pressure.

[BlacJacMac]

It sucks to know that all 3 of their top players had huge performances and still only won by 2. Their defense applied pressure all night but I still feel the deciding factor was more so about what the wolves "didn't" do. Giving up too many offensive rebounds at critical times.

Secondly, Finch needs to consistently put Ant in off-ball action to get him the ball. However, it's hard cause he's one of the only other players with a good enough handle to get past the pressure.

It really feels like that was as well as OKC can possibly play.

If Ant and Randle play anything like Game 3, we win by double-digits.

[KGdaBom]

It sucks to know that all 3 of their top players had huge performances and still only won by 2. Their defense applied pressure all night but I still feel the deciding factor was more so about what the wolves "didn't" do. Giving up too many offensive rebounds at critical times.

Secondly, Finch needs to consistently put Ant in off-ball action to get him the ball. However, it's hard cause he's one of the only other players with a good enough handle to get past the pressure.

It really feels like that was as well as OKC can possibly play.

If Ant and Randle play anything like Game 3, we win by double-digits.

Yep. A decent game out of Ant or Randle and we win. We wasted a huge game from our bench.

[Klomp]

Personally, I feel like if we sign Julius Randle to a big multi-year contract we are finished as a contending team and Ant will be playing somewhere else 3 or 4 years from now because it will severely limit our options of who to add around Ant, besides locking in an unreliable and mediocre player into a very key role.

But who do you replace him with?

Do you move Jaden down to the 4 and feature DDV as a wing like he should be with TJ getting his current rotational role, and bring in another PG like Tyus Jones to pair with Mike? Draft a PF like Fleming or Yaxel to develop at the 4 and re-sign Naz.

Jaden is just too damn talented to continue to get such low usage on offense.

I don't quite see it as doom-and-gloom as you, but I do agree that it would be difficult to continue our success longterm by simply re-signing Randle. Too many dominos at risk of falling with that decision. And I think now is the right time to keep increasing Jaden's usage. He's taken a clear step forward offensively over the back half of the season, and his playoff numbers have steadily climbed for three years in a row now.

I think the number will be important, but I would be in favor of signing Naz Reid as a starter. It wouldn't so much be Naz replacing Julius' production, but Naz and Jaden together outperforming what Jaden and Julius did. Naz and Jaden are just a clean pairing, and they complement and elevate each other so well! It could also allow us to redistribute some assets and dollars more into the PG and C positions.

We will see if the front office feels the same this summer, but I personally believe that Naz Reid can be the third member of the core group with Ant and Jaden. Maybe not right away at the same level of postseason success, but it is a group that will continue to grow and develop more cohesion.

[Klomp]

I know we all want to blame the turnovers, but the simple fact of the matter is OKC is forcing a lot of those turnovers because they are great defensively. There's a reason why every team they've faced averages a ton of turnovers a game. Memphis averaged 18.3 a game against them, Denver averaged 16.6, and the Wolves are at 15.5 and the Wolves don't even really have a second primary ball handler on the perimeter or the best player in the game (Jokic).

The offensive rebounds sucked but both teams got 19 and a lot of theirs were simply long misses that bounced their way.

I'm not even mad at Ant. He's 23 and the Thunder are stacked with great perimeter defenders and they're constantly throwing 2 or 3 of those defenders at him. There is a reason why everyone else had such open 3s and it's because of Ant's presence. I know he's a star and he's our best player but let's quit acting like he's supposed to be MJ out there and just beat any defense you throw at him. You know what MJ did at age 23, got swept by Boston in the first round of the playoffs. SGA at age 23 didn't even make the playoffs and at age 24 he lost in the 8th seed play-in game against the Wolves.

I know as a fan it sucks but sometimes we act like we'd just go 98-0 if we didn't beat ourselves and that's just not the case. The Thunder are simply a better team than us.

As much of a gut punch as it was in the immediate aftermath, I absolutely agree. Even if we end up losing on Wednesday night, I don't think I will feel anger about the series. Disappointment sure, but OKC is a great team and I don't want to be dismissive of that. OKC played a great game last night and we were right there until the end.

[guest81]

Wolves will win game 5

[Guest84]

Even if the wolves pull off a miraculous comeback and go on to win the championship, I don't think you can keep this group together and expect similar results. I think you still have to make significant changes.

Question is, do you think the guys are ready for Cancun as opposed to fighting for 3 more tough wins against this team?? I hope I'm wrong but I think suitcases are packed last night.

[Klomp]

Even if the wolves pull off a miraculous comeback and go on to win the championship, I don't think you can keep this group together and expect similar results. I think you still have to make significant changes.

Question is, do you think the guys are ready for Cancun as opposed to fighting for 3 more tough wins against this team?? I hope I'm wrong but I think suitcases are packed last night.

I don't think suitcases are packed, but it will be extremely difficult to win the final three. And if they do, they will likely be exhausted going into the Finals.

[younggunsmn]

Personally, I feel like if we sign Julius Randle to a big multi-year contract we are finished as a contending team and Ant will be playing somewhere else 3 or 4 years from now because it will severely limit our options of who to add around Ant, besides locking in an unreliable and mediocre player into a very key role.

But who do you replace him with?

Do you move Jaden down to the 4 and feature DDV as a wing like he should be with TJ getting his current rotational role, and bring in another PG like Tyus Jones to pair with Mike? Draft a PF like Fleming or Yaxel to develop at the 4 and re-sign Naz.

Jaden is just too damn talented to continue to get such low usage on offense.

I don't quite see it as doom-and-gloom as you, but I do agree that it would be difficult to continue our success longterm by simply re-signing Randle. Too many dominos at risk of falling with that decision. And I think now is the right time to keep increasing Jaden's usage. He's taken a clear step forward offensively over the back half of the season, and his playoff numbers have steadily climbed for three years in a row now.

I think the number will be important, but I would be in favor of signing Naz Reid as a starter. It wouldn't so much be Naz replacing Julius' production, but Naz and Jaden together outperforming what Jaden and Julius did. Naz and Jaden are just a clean pairing, and they complement and elevate each other so well! It could also allow us to redistribute some assets and dollars more into the PG and C positions.

We will see if the front office feels the same this summer, but I personally believe that Naz Reid can be the third member of the core group with Ant and Jaden. Maybe not right away at the same level of postseason success, but it is a group that will continue to grow and develop more cohesion.

I think it should be apparent to anyone watching closely that Jaden McDaniels is our 2nd best player now.
A monster on defense and 54/40/89 shooting in the playoffs.
He's averaging the same rebounding per minute as Randle while guarding wing players.

If it were my team I would move on from Randle. If he opts out let him walk.
If he opts in break him down into 2 or 3 contracts and get back at least one useful rotation player, preferably a PG or backup C.

The amount Randle will want in an extension is going to be ridiculous.
30 mil per wont get it done and I dont think we should pay that.

I think moving Jaden to the 4 part time makes him a really difficult matchup and opens up wing minutes for DDV and TJ.

We need more ballhandling next to Ant and Randle is not it.

[younggunsmn]

It's great to play the what-if game, but bottom line is that we never led once in this game.
I think we tied it once very briefly in the 3rd quarter.
It was a heroic effort to make it so close at the end, but OKC dominated us from start to finish, for the 3rd time in this series.

[Guest84]

Even if the wolves pull off a miraculous comeback and go on to win the championship, I don't think you can keep this group together and expect similar results. I think you still have to make significant changes.

Question is, do you think the guys are ready for Cancun as opposed to fighting for 3 more tough wins against this team?? I hope I'm wrong but I think suitcases are packed last night.

I don't think suitcases are packed, but it will be extremely difficult to win the final three. And if they do, they will likely be exhausted going into the Finals.

They'd still have 4 days off before GM 1 of the finals. One more day of rest if NY v Ind goes 7.

[Guest84]

Is this a valid critique? Is this what anybody else saw?

Watch on YouTube

[Guest84]

How does everyone feel about Ant's performance? I'm seeing so much in the media getting on him about his 2 FGA in the first half. Saying he wasn't aggressive enough, which basically means he didn't shoot enough even if it was a bad shot. Dismissing the fact that he played the right way pretty much the entirety of the game. At least in my mind. Yes, you want him to shoot more but not if it's force and going to be detrimental to the team.

[Klomp]

How does everyone feel about Ant's performance? I'm seeing so much in the media getting on him about his 2 FGA in the first half. Saying he wasn't aggressive enough, which basically means he didn't shoot enough even if it was a bad shot. Dismissing the fact that he played the right way pretty much the entirety of the game. At least in my mind. Yes, you want him to shoot more but not if it's force and going to be detrimental to the team.

A little passive in the first half perhaps, but his teammates were playing well. It's hard for me to complain about the offense as a whole.

[BlacJacMac]

How does everyone feel about Ant's performance? I'm seeing so much in the media getting on him about his 2 FGA in the first half. Saying he wasn't aggressive enough, which basically means he didn't shoot enough even if it was a bad shot. Dismissing the fact that he played the right way pretty much the entirety of the game. At least in my mind. Yes, you want him to shoot more but not if it's force and going to be detrimental to the team.

Read on Twitter

[KGdaBom]

Wolves will win game 5

I like the way you think. Odds are against it, but screw the odds. If we do win game 5 it will make losing game 4 all the more painful.

[Calinks]

Is this a valid critique? Is this what anybody else saw?

Watch on YouTube

I really like this guy but he seems to let personal bias affect some of his analysis. I never felt like Julius pouted and gave up, he was bad but i don't think he just decided to quit and shut down. Maybe he did but that's not how I was reading the game. This guy also said the Wolves were one of the best matchups for his lakers team, he then later admitted he was a bit blind to the Timberwolves strengths because he's a lakers fan.

He also goes on a rant about how Rudy is pretty useless and though he has some points, I do think he is buying into too much the narrative that Rudy is a bad player. Again he has a point but it's like he didn't see any of the defensive impact Rudy had in the last couple of games.

[Domejandro]

I’ll be the bad cop, that video is extraordinarily dumb.