2025 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #6 Minnesota Timberwolves (OKC leads 1-0)

[DonaldSanders]

Wolves need to make baskets. Bench has to be much better. It's a seven game series. They won't look this bad forever.

I agree the Wolves can play much better.

1) Play Gobert more. OKC had a layup line going with him out, and he was a team best -2 in only 21 minutes. Gobert picked up 2 early fouls, but we can't really blame foul trouble for his lack of minutes because he didn't pick up any more. I also would have brought him back in the 1st instead of sitting him the whole quarter, this was a Finch mistake -- he basically gifted OKC non Gobert minutes in that 1st Q. I've always hated it when coaches sit guys for long periods if they pick up early fouls.

2) Drive more and get OKC into foul trouble. Jaden getting into foul trouble was tough, OKC can get Dort or Caruso into foul trouble. And these drive-finishes may not happen on the initial drive, but after pulling the defense back out on close outs. Min needs to put pressure early in the shot clock and force OKC into rotation many times until the lane is there -- and Ant is quick enough to find it.

3) Limit turnovers. Some of these happen because the drives aren't quick, and it gives OKC time to surprise MIN ball handlers. If MIN can pressure early and quickly, I think turnovers can be limited.

4) Rough up Shai off-ball. If it can be done to Jokic or Curry for no call, MIN can do it to Shai and deny him the ball & exhaust/frustrate.

And I definitely think next game will be closer just because MIN can shoot better from 3. Naz isn't going 0-7 again, Donte 3-12.

[Patches Perry]

Thunder only had a 112.9 offensive rating game 1 which is fairly bad. Probably is that the TWolves had a ghastly 94.5 offensive rating

Do you know the split by half? They scored 44 first half and 70 second half.

[HMFFL]

Hopefully Minn steals one in okc. Bring it back to Minn and then wreck them.

Zero fast break points

20 points in the paint compared to OKC's 54.

If T-Wolves fail to improve in these areas they're going to get swept.

[durden_tyler]

Ant needs to take a page from Shai's book and get to the line more. The best athlete on the floor should be driving to the basket and forcing the refs to make calls.

Yes! Was about to post a similar thought but we have hundreds of SGA Free Throw Merchant threads already and not sure where it fits best

As for your point, i agree wholeheartedly. As i see it, the Wolves (coaching) Plan A is to call it out, working the refs so to speak. If that does not work, go to Plan B: force the refs to make the similar calls on similar plays to their favor.

And like you, i think Ant is the only one capable of being a FT merchant in this Wolves’ lineup— flail your arms, exaggerate every contact, go aggressive but act like you got shot for every time you do get this contact.

Book it: Game 3 these same type of calls will be called on OKC. Heck, if Minnesota/Ant is smart, they start establishing this in Game 2.


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[tamaraw08]

Knicks the only team with the offensive and defensive firepower to beat OKC

They got no chance, Denver was the only team with championship heart to test them. All these other parity teams with no deep playoff experience can't match their talent and have nothing over them to take advantage of the inexperience.

Yup. Exactly why I've been saying since before the Denver series that they were the only team that could even challenge OKC because of Jokic's greatness (I picked OKC in 6 that series) but none of these remaining teams have anyone even in the same stratosphere as Jokic .

I said right after Game 7 that people will look at Jokic and Denver differently after OKC steamrolls their way an NBA Championship. Neither Minnesota nor NY/Indiana will offer any kind of resistance. Those teams aren't nearly good enough and all have huge holes in their rosters. OKC won't even be bothered the rest of the way. It'll be a boring, non-competitive NBA Finals unfortunately.

I picked OKC in 6 but I wouldn't be shocked if TWolves ties series after game 4.
Game was tied at 60-60 with less than 18 mins to go.
DDV, Reid, NAW and Conley hit a dismal 6-33 from 3pt area, If they just hit at least 35% of those open 3's then it would have been a much closer 4th quarter.
I also expect Finch to make the adjustments, probably blitz SGA and dare Dort (currently hitting 28%) to shoot those low % 3pt shots.
Gobert should be more ready not to commit those stupid fouls.

[AbeVigodaLive]

People complaining about the refs in a game they lost by *26*

It's all about context. Consider... the Timberwolves were up 52 - 51 with 8 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. SGA was shooting 2 - 13 at the time... with Jaden McDaniels doing a very good job against him.

That's when SGA drives, pushes off McDaniels and hits a stepback three... and one. Foul on McDaniels. (Seemed worthy of a Finch challenge considering its importance.)

OKC goes up 54 - 52 and runs away to a 26-point rout. Was it all because of that one play? Of course not. But McDaniels had to sit for the rest of that 3rd quarter.

- After starting 3 - 14 fg mostly against McDaniels... SGA went 4 - 7 vs. his replacement(s) in the last 7 minutes of that 3rd quarter. McDaniels' replacements were even worse on offense.

McDaniels played only 23 minutes before fouling out.
7 points
6 reb
3 ast
1 blk
1 stl
Primary defender on SGA

A few calls. Or, even one or two calls... can have a profound impact on how a team plays.


----------------

So yes... OKC was better. They're just a better team. They'll win the series, maybe even in a sweep... they're that good defensively.

That does not, however, mean that a questionable foul call here and there doesn't have a huge impact beyond a free throw here and there in games like yesterday.

[MoneyTalks41890]

People complaining about the refs in a game they lost by *26*

It's all about context. Consider... the Timberwolves were up 52 - 51 with 8 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. SGA was shooting 2 - 13 at the time... with Jaden McDaniels doing a very good job against him.

That's when SGA drives, pushes off McDaniels and hits a stepback three... and one. Foul on McDaniels. (Seemed worthy of a Finch challenge considering its importance.)

OKC goes up 54 - 52 and runs away to a 26-point rout. Was it all because of that one play? Of course not. But McDaniels had to sit for the rest of that 3rd quarter.

- After starting 3 - 14 fg mostly against McDaniels... SGA went 4 - 7 vs. his replacement(s) in the last 7 minutes of that 3rd quarter. McDaniels' replacements were even worse on offense.

McDaniels played only 23 minutes before fouling out.
7 points
6 reb
3 ast
1 blk
1 stl
Primary defender on SGA

A few calls. Or, even one or two calls... can have a profound impact on how a team plays.


----------------

So yes... OKC was better. They're just a better team. They'll win the series, maybe even in a sweep... they're that good defensively.

That does not, however, mean that a questionable foul call here and there doesn't have a huge impact beyond a free throw here and there in games like yesterday.

If you're referencing this call it was an obvious foul watch the feet

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=412&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20S.FOUL%20(P4.T3

[Dadouv47]

Still think Minny wil adjust on both sides of the floor and Ant gonna show up big time in game 2. Wolves have a ton of depth and the ability to make different strategies/line ups so we will see if they can find something that will work. Don't think they can come back a 0-2 deficit though so it's gonna be a huge game for both teams.

[AbeVigodaLive]

People complaining about the refs in a game they lost by *26*

It's all about context. Consider... the Timberwolves were up 52 - 51 with 8 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. SGA was shooting 2 - 13 at the time... with Jaden McDaniels doing a very good job against him.

That's when SGA drives, pushes off McDaniels and hits a stepback three... and one. Foul on McDaniels. (Seemed worthy of a Finch challenge considering its importance.)

OKC goes up 54 - 52 and runs away to a 26-point rout. Was it all because of that one play? Of course not. But McDaniels had to sit for the rest of that 3rd quarter.

- After starting 3 - 14 fg mostly against McDaniels... SGA went 4 - 7 vs. his replacement(s) in the last 7 minutes of that 3rd quarter. McDaniels' replacements were even worse on offense.

McDaniels played only 23 minutes before fouling out.
7 points
6 reb
3 ast
1 blk
1 stl
Primary defender on SGA

A few calls. Or, even one or two calls... can have a profound impact on how a team plays.


----------------

So yes... OKC was better. They're just a better team. They'll win the series, maybe even in a sweep... they're that good defensively.

That does not, however, mean that a questionable foul call here and there doesn't have a huge impact beyond a free throw here and there in games like yesterday.

If you're referencing this call it was an obvious foul watch the feet

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=412&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20S.FOUL%20(P4.T3

Goes back to my first post in this thread... "People see what they want to see."

I see a call that could be "questionable" because we've seen similar calls NOT called many times over the course of a season. Or game. or even quarter.

You see an "obvious" foul.

LOL.

[jkvonny]

Hopefully Minn steals one in okc. Bring it back to Minn and then wreck them.

Zero fast break points

20 points in the paint compared to OKC's 54.

If T-Wolves fail to improve in these areas they're going to get swept.

They need to stop with those damn turnovers too

[CobraCommander]

I know mvp is a regular season award but shai has shown that he deserves it with his play in the playoffs.

I think Randle has been the best in playoffs after Giannis 1st - jokic second - Randle 3rd sga 4

I guess I was talking more about his performance against the nuggets. Shai averaged more points, higher TS%, and more apg than jokic. His performance was certainly at least on par with the reigning mvp. That shows to me he is deserving of the award.

sga def deserves the award...he is winning...and he keeps doing it...giannis had great numbers but lost..same with jokic.. randle has been amazing and while not as good as sga...I have been pleasantly sHOCKED with him

[jkvonny]

Knicks the only team with the offensive and defensive firepower to beat OKC

They got no chance, Denver was the only team with championship heart to test them. All these other parity teams with no deep playoff experience can't match their talent and have nothing over them to take advantage of the inexperience.

What's a parity team?
Minn was in the WCFs just last season as well. 3rd or 4th straight playoff seasons.

OKC hasn't had a deep.playoff run in years.
This is their 1st WCF since 2016. Young team.

We're the Nuggets a parity team , too? Prior to their 2023 NBA title (1st ever).
Or were the Heat the parity team? They got thrashed by Denver.

[ShootersShoot]

I think Randle has been the best in playoffs after Giannis 1st - jokic second - Randle 3rd sga 4

I guess I was talking more about his performance against the nuggets. Shai averaged more points, higher TS%, and more apg than jokic. His performance was certainly at least on par with the reigning mvp. That shows to me he is deserving of the award.

sga def deserves the award...he is winning...and he keeps doing it...giannis had great numbers but lost..same with jokic.. randle has been amazing and while not as good as sga...I have been pleasantly sHOCKED with him

Yea giannis always puts up mvp numbers no matter what. Randle has been great as well but more of a no. 2 option.

[bledredwine]

If ANT had retained his midrange game, he'd be able to carry when the Wolves are not shooting the three well.

It's a shame.

[Special_Puppy]

My mood

Watch on YouTube

[scrabbarista]

Here are all of my picks so far, with an experimental scoring system:

First Round:

OKC in 5 [-1]
HOU in 5 [-3]
LAL in 6 [-4]
DEN in 7 [+7]
No Eastern Conference, because I know nothing about the East.

Second Round:

OKC in 7 [+7]
MIN in 6 [-1]
CLE in 7 [-3]
BOS in 4 [-5] (I did no research for this one, and there were at least three knowable facts that might've changed my pick.)

Conference Finals:

OKC in 6
IND in 6

Current net score equals -3.

[scrabbarista]

Ant needs to take a page from Shai's book and get to the line more. The best athlete on the floor should be driving to the basket and forcing the refs to make calls.

Yes! Was about to post a similar thought but we have hundreds of SGA Free Throw Merchant threads already and not sure where it fits best

As for your point, i agree wholeheartedly. As i see it, the Wolves (coaching) Plan A is to call it out, working the refs so to speak. If that does not work, go to Plan B: force the refs to make the similar calls on similar plays to their favor.

And like you, i think Ant is the only one capable of being a FT merchant in this Wolves’ lineup— flail your arms, exaggerate every contact, go aggressive but act like you got shot for every time you do get this contact.

Book it: Game 3 these same type of calls will be called on OKC. Heck, if Minnesota/Ant is smart, they start establishing this in Game 2.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It has to be a matter of time - next season, the season after - before ANT develops a full-blown foul-baiting repertoire. Especially if/when OKC wins the title. It'll be the clear path ahead of him.

[bisme37]

Continue here for Game 2: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2460018