2025 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #6 Minnesota Timberwolves (OKC leads 3-1)

[sikma42]

Anyone else convinced this stuff is done on purpose by SGA?

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[Crunch 99]

Yup. Conley has been crap the better part of this series. He's old and washed at almost 38. He's an inefficient chucker these days. They badly need a productive PG who can actually contribute consistently. Get them into their sets, calm them down during tight games on the road, hit open 3's, etc.

Conley had a decent 23-24 season, but yes, he seems washed now. He's got the worst playoff TS% of any starter.

Given his reputation for being a fantastic teammate, I wonder if he goes in to coaching? For the time being, however, he's got one more season on his contract.

[bbms]

Anyone else convinced this stuff is done on purpose by SGA?

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looks unintentional by ant but a clear offensive foul. you can't get in the defender's way without the ball like this without feet set.

sga in this position needs to drop to the floor. these kinds of contact hurt a lot and can produce injuries.

[dakomish23]

Don't think you watched the game if this is your takeaway.

Minnesota threw one of its best punches tonight. Thunder just threw a counterpunch basically every time. Besides the intentional fouling, Thunder took only 2 free throws the entire second half. Jumpshot after jumpshot, it was elite shotmaking.

The series dude. The series.

I mean, they blew us out by 40+ last game, and were basically a couple of plays away from tying the series.

Winning in OKC ain't an easy task. Only Nuggets have done this during this playoff run and that basically took a miraculous ending to pull off.

There is a talent gap between these two teams. I think Minnesota put up a hell of a fight even if you change it from "this game" to "series".

Go ahead and show me where I said “this game”. I didn’t but you ran w/ that assumption, and after I’m telling you it’s not, you are saying I’m changing what you made up

Game 1 nuked. Game 2 big enough loss. Tough loss last night. I expected the series to be closer.

[lethalizer]

The series dude. The series.

I mean, they blew us out by 40+ last game, and were basically a couple of plays away from tying the series.

Winning in OKC ain't an easy task. Only Nuggets have done this during this playoff run and that basically took a miraculous ending to pull off.

There is a talent gap between these two teams. I think Minnesota put up a hell of a fight even if you change it from "this game" to "series".

Go ahead and show me where I said “this game”. I didn’t but you ran w/ that assumption, and after I’m telling you it’s not, you are saying I’m changing what you made up

Game 1 nuked. Game 2 big enough loss. Tough loss last night. I expected the series to be closer.

If a 2 point loss was a 1 point win, the series would literally be tied. I don't think how much of a closer series you can come up with when there's a 19 win gap between two teams, but alright.

[funkatron101]

I love all the post game votes for OKC. lol. When the game started, it was overwhelmingly in the Wolves favor.

I called this outcome before the half of game 3. It's just a trend for MN sports.

[lethalizer]

I love all the post game votes for OKC. lol. When the game started, it was overwhelmingly in the Wolves favor.

I called this outcome before the half of game 3. It's just a trend for MN sports.

People are understandably rooting for the underdog, and the polls show that.

The Denver polls were the same after 2 games.

[dakomish23]

I mean, they blew us out by 40+ last game, and were basically a couple of plays away from tying the series.

Winning in OKC ain't an easy task. Only Nuggets have done this during this playoff run and that basically took a miraculous ending to pull off.

There is a talent gap between these two teams. I think Minnesota put up a hell of a fight even if you change it from "this game" to "series".

Go ahead and show me where I said “this game”. I didn’t but you ran w/ that assumption, and after I’m telling you it’s not, you are saying I’m changing what you made up

Game 1 nuked. Game 2 big enough loss. Tough loss last night. I expected the series to be closer.

If a 2 point loss was a 1 point win, the series would literally be tied. I don't think how much of a closer series you can come up with when there's a 19 win gap between two teams, but alright.

Don’t move away from the challenge. Show me where I said this game. I’ll wait, since that was the premise of your first two responses.

The series is 3-1. We’ll see in game 5 if MIN has some fight in them or lets go of the rope.

[CobraCommander]

OKC postgame interview so gay lol

[lethalizer]

Go ahead and show me where I said “this game”. I didn’t but you ran w/ that assumption, and after I’m telling you it’s not, you are saying I’m changing what you made up

Game 1 nuked. Game 2 big enough loss. Tough loss last night. I expected the series to be closer.

If a 2 point loss was a 1 point win, the series would literally be tied. I don't think how much of a closer series you can come up with when there's a 19 win gap between two teams, but alright.

Don’t move away from the challenge. Show me where I said this game. I’ll wait, since that was the premise of your first two responses.

The series is 3-1. We’ll see in game 5 if MIN has some fight in them or lets go of the rope.

first two? it was only the first comment. I literally moved from "game" to "series" the next comment and commenting based on that premise.

But eh, I don't really think you've been watching the series or anything, just want the easier matchup if the Knicks advance to the finals. It's all good, we're all fans around here lol

[CobraCommander]

I love all the post game votes for OKC. lol. When the game started, it was overwhelmingly in the Wolves favor.

I called this outcome before the half of game 3. It's just a trend for MN sports.

It’s tough to predict the wolves because Randle and Ant are amazing one game or series then poof! They disappear for games! I ain’t never seen anything like these two - Randle had a rep but he went off on lakers and GSWs and now he is insanely bad- Same with ant

[Dadouv47]

I love all the post game votes for OKC. lol. When the game started, it was overwhelmingly in the Wolves favor.

I called this outcome before the half of game 3. It's just a trend for MN sports.

It’s tough to predict the wolves because Randle and Ant are amazing one game or series then poof! They disappear for games! I ain’t never seen anything like these two - Randle had a rep but he went off on lakers and GSWs and now he is insanely bad- Same with ant

tbh it has been the same for JDub to some extent. He was almost on most thunder fans trading block list after some ugly games in the Denver series to a hero now.

OKC played their best game of these playoffs and I don't think they will be able to do it again so I wouldn't blame Minny on this. It's also OKC game plan to defend Minny best players and let the role players open. It's risky and cost us the series against Dallas last season (Doncic and Irving didn't score much while PJ Washington was a game changer) and we almost lost last night because NAW and some others were hitting everything but that's what our coaching staff believe is our best strategy.

[mademan]

Jdub has been inconsistent this playoffs (him and Chet), and OKC will likely still win the title. God help the league if either Jdub or Chet continue to develop into more consistent stars...this is just their 2nd and 3rd seasons

[Patches Perry]

I love all the post game votes for OKC. lol. When the game started, it was overwhelmingly in the Wolves favor.

I try to note the vote at tip off since it always changes mid game and after. For game 4 at tipoff, it was 65% Minnesota to 35% OKC on the question "Who will win game 4?"

[Movics]

I have a feeling you will not be posting after the game wolves in 6

And so?

I was just gonna be nice and leave him alone

Wolves in 7

[JMAC3]

Here is where I am at after watching last nights game.

1. Ant has to play better, he has to impose himself into the game more. He can't score 16 pts and SGA and Jdub combine for 74. You are never winning those games, proof by literally NAW and Donte playing perfectly and still losing.

2. Gobert is doing virtually nothing, OKC is switching smaller guys on him and he can't punish them. Nobody on Minny can throw a lob either so no vertical spacing. Defensively he is actually getting hunted more than he is deterring OKC offense.

3. I would honestly go to using Randle at the 5 more, give more minutes to Shannon and play a smaller quicker lineup to better matchup with OKC. Hartenstein isn't going overpower Randle or even Naz.

Lastly, the two main differences between Twolves and OKC defense is that OKC gives no space, they are up hugging the offensive players 25 ft out not giving them any space to get downhill. Minny plays good defense but they give cushion and try to force the player to come to them and let their length be the factor later in the possession. OKC players look way more comfortable, SGA is taking his time whereas Ant is having to go full speed the whole time in order to get a little fresh air.

[cgf]

Tough loss, that jdub 3 felt like a backbreaker in the moment…but this game was there for the taking if the wolves could’ve gotten just one more stop.

Fun game and OKC came through down the stretch to earn this win, but it does still feel like the Wolves can storm back in this thing if they can bring their A-game.

[Deathray]

One thing I noticed last night was how much Caruso is the leader on the court, constantly communicating and directing teammates. There was an offensive possession in the second half last night where Dort was in the wrong position so Caruso motioned for him to move, then Shai saw what was happening and reiterated it to Dort.

[SpurNani]

Jdub has been inconsistent this playoffs (him and Chet), and OKC will likely still win the title. God help the league if either Jdub or Chet continue to develop into more consistent stars...this is just their 2nd and 3rd seasons

Are they able to pay all 3?

Crazy how we were wondering the same thing about OKC 13 years ago if they could keep their core 3 together.

[Dadouv47]

Jdub has been inconsistent this playoffs (him and Chet), and OKC will likely still win the title. God help the league if either Jdub or Chet continue to develop into more consistent stars...this is just their 2nd and 3rd seasons

Are they able to pay all 3?

Crazy how we were wondering the same thing about OKC 13 years ago if they could keep their core 3 together.

yes. We are fine until 2027 IMO. Problem will be the Cason Wallace extension depending on what level he reach.