Game 4, 4/27: Lakers at Timberwolves, 2:30 p.m.

[Rookie-Mistake]

I feel like the lakers can't play any better whereas I think we still have another gear

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[80HD]

Randle has been amazing this series. I mentioned it in the game 1 thread, but his big and mobile body, banging with Luka and LeBron, has been key to wearing those two down.

He’s been the X factor this series. We’re not up 3-1 without him.

[TimberKat]

I feel like the lakers can't play any better whereas I think we still have another gear

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Yes, this last game was Lakers basketball at its best. We could be a little better but lucky to win today.

[Baseline81]

Have to give props to Randle for his first half.

Glad to see Edwards had 17 FTA today, especially having 0 in game 3.

Wolves just took James and Doncic's best punch and stayed up. Not sure LA has the mentality to come back from this 3-1 hole.

[_AIJ_]

Julius has been a revelation to his series

[Loaf_of_bread]

If Ant had better touch on layups and around the rim he would then approach 1st team all nba.. not quite sure if that can be practiced.. that aspect unfortunately will keep him from superstar status.

[ESPOMAN]

I was worried about Randle due to his previous playoff series, but he has been so good this series. I love how physical he plays...definitely helps wear down Luka and Lebron. Ant and Jaden have also been amazing. Sometimes it seems the rebounding can be rough, but there's not a whole lot to complain about.

[Note30]

Rudy has been having a rough series, but NAZ REID and Donte have been huge.

Rudy is still important defensively this series , and has been most of the season. What is happening is the world is starting to realize what many of us (smart) wolves fans already knew that playoff Ant and playoff Jaden are no **** joke.

LOL. Delusional. Dude is playing himself out of the game with no real bigs on their team, sits most of the fourth, gets cooked by Luka and LeBron seemingly whenever it matters but he's doing great.

Him having the lowest plus minus of all starters, 3.5 pts, 5 rebounds, sub 30% fg% horrid free throws in 25 minutes and ballpark 2 TOs have been totally awesome this series.

Keep pretending. He played decent defense in the regular season and that defense is getting exposed in the post season, just like it did against the Mavs and for almost every series he's ever played in.

He's a regular season player. His skillet doesn't translate to the playoffs.

[Note30]

Julius has been a revelation to his series

Jaden has really been proving his worth too. I was wrong about his value to the team.

[Loaf_of_bread]

Rudy has been having a rough series, but NAZ REID and Donte have been huge.

Rudy is still important defensively this series , and has been most of the season. What is happening is the world is starting to realize what many of us (smart) wolves fans already knew that playoff Ant and playoff Jaden are no **** joke.

LOL. Delusional. Dude is playing himself out of the game with no real bigs on their team, sits most of the fourth, gets cooked by Luka and LeBron seemingly whenever it matters but he's doing great.

Him having the lowest plus minus of all starters, 3.5 pts, 5 rebounds, sub 30% fg% horrid free throws in 25 minutes and ballpark 2 TOs have been totally awesome this series.

Keep pretending. He played decent defense in the regular season and that defense is getting exposed in the post season, just like it did against the Mavs and for almost every series he's ever played in.

He's a regular season player. His skillet doesn't translate to the playoffs.

"Delusional" could be considered you are stating the poster is and not the post.

2nd, without Rudy, we may not even be in the playoffs.

[TimberKat]

If Ant had better touch on layups and around the rim he would then approach 1st team all nba.. not quite sure if that can be practiced.. that aspect unfortunately will keep him from superstar status.

I put him up there if he could pass better like the two interior ones (in 3rd qtr?) or if he has a more consistent mid range game. If he gets better in all 3 areas, we will be talking MJ or LBJ or Ant for GOAT.

[Baseline81]

Anyone watch LA's last possession clip on ESPN? After the final horn sounded, the camera got close to Edwards. I love the passion, but boy, does have to watch what he says.

[TimberKat]

Rudy is still important defensively this series , and has been most of the season. What is happening is the world is starting to realize what many of us (smart) wolves fans already knew that playoff Ant and playoff Jaden are no **** joke.

LOL. Delusional. Dude is playing himself out of the game with no real bigs on their team, sits most of the fourth, gets cooked by Luka and LeBron seemingly whenever it matters but he's doing great.

Him having the lowest plus minus of all starters, 3.5 pts, 5 rebounds, sub 30% fg% horrid free throws in 25 minutes and ballpark 2 TOs have been totally awesome this series.

Keep pretending. He played decent defense in the regular season and that defense is getting exposed in the post season, just like it did against the Mavs and for almost every series he's ever played in.

He's a regular season player. His skillet doesn't translate to the playoffs.

"Delusional" could be considered you are stating the poster is and not the post.

2nd, without Rudy, we may not even be in the playoffs.

Rudy still got 7 OR and a few good defensive plays, not his best moments for sure. ORB and steals was one of the key to win this one. If you really want to call it play out of the game, today may it. He needs to play better, but certainly not going to obsessed over it. I put more attentions on Naz only got 12 points and DDV was 3 for 12.

[Klomp]

I was worried about Randle due to his previous playoff series, but he has been so good this series. I love how physical he plays...definitely helps wear down Luka and Lebron.

He's not good as a first option, but has been great as a second option!

[TimberKat]

Isn't that Ant side step 2pt shot a travel?

Not as long as the ball has left his hand before he puts his pivot foot down again.

Damn, I been handicap myself a step all these years

[younggunsmn]

I thought that Reaves shot was going in for sure.

The Lakers just ran out of shooting luck at the end of the game.
Maybe that had something to do with JJ Redick doing his best Mike Malone impression and forgetting he could sub players out.
Luka and LeBron complaining after the game about a no call when an out of control Luka tripped and fell is garbage.
They don't want to talk about the 6 or 7 times we got called for fouls where they stumbled and fell and no one touched them over the past 2 games.

Proud of the team never giving up and kept chipping away and playing hard even when things weren't going well.
Ant and Julius with 68 points, 9 assists, and only ONE TURNOVER combined.
That's valuing the possession and that's what winning looks like.

The Lakers had much better spacing offensively today around Luka and LeBron and that resulted in tons of open 3's.
You can tell they worked on that.
They can't afford to have Hayes or a non shooter out there on offense any more than we can afford to have Gobert out there.

But our anticipation and reaction on the rotations was slow today, not nearly as crisp as it was in game 3.
There were multiple times a defender just plain gave up after the 4th or 5th pass.

That small lineup the Lakers run is super vulnerable defensively though, LeBron is basically the only defender who isn't food once we get into the paint.

Ant's patience in probing the defense and ability to control his handle while doing so has leveled up since the regular season.
I don't know how much of that is growth from Ant, and how much of it is the Lakers defense lacking a true POA defender and most of their defenders just plain being food out there, as well as just plain being gassed in the 4th quarter.

I expect the Lakers to ratchet the ball pressure up a lot in game 4 like they did early in game 2.

Rudy was again abysmal and that idiot temper tantrum elbowing Lebron in the back of the head boxing out on an LA free throw cost us 3 free throws and a possession and could have cost us the game.

He has to be better. You can tell his head is just not in a good place right now.

[Baseline81]

LA fans... prepare to laugh...

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[FrenchMinnyFan]

Just watch the replay as 2.30 am game is not for me , having to work. What a battle ! Finch win the game against JJR. Playing the same 5 the entire 4th quarter kill the lakers who finally miss open shoot. We give way too many open shoots but we fight despite Rudy having a bad series on offense ( small players are too fast for him and he is way too clumsy), Mike have a tough one as he is too small against Luka and Reaves but he did his job in defense as well.
ANT is MVP level, Randle is the good surprise. Jaden is a star player, on both side of the court. DDV is huge in defense, miss shoot but his energy and hassle is so important.
Game 5 will be huge. Go Wolves!

[Note30]

Isn't that Ant side step 2pt shot a travel?

Not as long as the ball has left his hand before he puts his pivot foot down again.

Damn, I been handicap myself a step all these years

That's why people say there's 2.5 steps before a travel. It's more just about the placement of your first step. And why it's super important to catch the ball with two feet to maximize your options.

Also why catching the ball/control of the ball is the most important part.

Versions of that famous Jayson Tatum sidestep are 100% legal just next to impossible to pull off unless you spend a ton of time learning how to keep your dribble alive during a step.

The Ant one is just making sure he doesn't land on this pivot, Kobe used to do a similar move with a reverse pivot.

Both are incredibly difficult to master. It's art.

[TimberKat]

It was a good thing Ant at least try to challenge Reaves on that last 3 to disrupted the timing a little. I actually may prefer LBJ shoot a fade away instead. It all worked out at the end.