2025 NBA PLAYOFFS West Semifinals: #6 Minnesota Timberwolves vs #7 Golden State Warriors (GSW leads 1-0)

[Klomp]

Just like the Houston series, this is about youth/athleticism vs experience. Now this time, will the youth/athleticism be too much or the old heads still hang on to the thread? Warriors in 7 but up next, OKC will be too much in the end.

Difference between Houston and Minnesota experience level is one was watching the playoffs from home last season and the other beat KD/Booker and Jokic on the way to the western conference finals.

I understand but it's still about match ups. Why did Luka make quick work of the same impressive team last year?

Because they had just come off of a difficult, physical series two days earlier. Sound familiar?

[wablty]

Warriors in 6. Minny is too young and doesn’t have the defense that Houston had

Minnesota probably has a better defense and everyone that plays has been to the playoffs at least 3 times.

GS might win in 6, but it's not going to be because of some exuberance of youth thing or a lack of athletic defenders.

[multo]

Difference between Houston and Minnesota experience level is one was watching the playoffs from home last season and the other beat KD/Booker and Jokic on the way to the western conference finals.

I understand but it's still about match ups. Why did Luka make quick work of the same impressive team last year?

Because they had just come off of a difficult, physical series two days earlier. Sound familiar?

Sure, so many factors play unto this. How about the Warriors winning the regular season 3-1 and that is without Jimmy Butler. Oh that means nothing because the playoffs are different. Ok then, just saying this might be closer than you guys think. Only disadvantage I can see is the lack of rest which you yourself emphasized and I get that. But other than that? I think we match up pretty well.

[iggymcfrack]

Minny is a whole different beast than the Rockets. Anyone voting the Warriors are in for a suprise

The biggest difference between the Wolves and the Rockets is that the Rockets are better coached. Before Udoka’s big adjustment with the double bigs in the matchup zone, the Warriors were completely cooking Houston.

It’s just so weird to me that everyone was picking against the Wolves facing such a weak opponent last round, and now everyone’s picking them playing someone who’s objectively much, much better.

[Drakeem]

Warriors got taken to 7 by a team that has an NCAA level offence. I get Minny's defense isn't as good a Houston, but this isn't going to be nearly as easy for them to stay in the game. Minny in 6.

[Klomp]

I understand but it's still about match ups. Why did Luka make quick work of the same impressive team last year?

Because they had just come off of a difficult, physical series two days earlier. Sound familiar?

Sure, so many factors play unto this. How about the Warriors winning the regular season 3-1 and that is without Jimmy Butler. Oh that means nothing because the playoffs are different. Ok then, just saying this might be closer than you guys think. Only disadvantage I can see is the lack of rest which you yourself emphasized and I get that. But other than that? I think we match up pretty well.

Both teams are drastically different than they were 4 months ago when they last met. You're right, the Warriors added Butler and have been playing better.

Since Feb. 8 (Butler's first game with the Warriors):
Golden State 23-8
Minnesota 20-10

I also think it's worth noting that Minnesota started that stretch with a run of winning 2 out of 8 games. Since March 1, Minnesota is 17-4 while Golden State is 16-7.

[multo]

Minny is a whole different beast than the Rockets. Anyone voting the Warriors are in for a suprise

The biggest difference between the Wolves and the Rockets is that the Rockets are better coached. Before Udoka’s big adjustment with the double bigs in the matchup zone, the Warriors were completely cooking Houston.

It’s just so weird to me that everyone was picking against the Wolves facing such a weak opponent last round, and now everyone’s picking them playing someone who’s objectively much, much better.

Because the Wolves are playing great since the all-star break and they just beat the mighty Lakers. Either prisoner of the moment or they are for real we will soon find out.

[Twinkie defense]

Warriors in three.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Lakers in 5

[ReggiesKnicks]

Minny is a whole different beast than the Rockets. Anyone voting the Warriors are in for a suprise

The biggest difference between the Wolves and the Rockets is that the Rockets are better coached. Before Udoka’s big adjustment with the double bigs in the matchup zone, the Warriors were completely cooking Houston.

It’s just so weird to me that everyone was picking against the Wolves facing such a weak opponent last round, and now everyone’s picking them playing someone who’s objectively much, much better.

Finch has been a good coach in the post-season, both last year and against the Lakers.

[life_saver]

I feel like Finch will give some minutes to Jaylen Clark in this series just for defensive purposes

[multo]

Warriors got taken to 7 by a team that has an NCAA level offence. I get Minny's defense isn't as good a Houston, but this isn't going to be nearly as easy for them to stay in the game. Minny in 6.

They only got it to 7 because Vanvleet went god mode on his 3 point shooting.

[Klomp]

Warriors got taken to 7 by a team that has an NCAA level offence. I get Minny's defense isn't as good a Houston, but this isn't going to be nearly as easy for them to stay in the game. Minny in 6.

They only got it to 7 because Vanvleet went god mode on his 3 point shooting.

Good point.

Houston was 22nd in the NBA in 3-pointers made this season. Minnesota was 5th. Golden State was 4th.
Houston was 21st in the NBA in 3-point percentage this season. Minnesota was 4th. Golden State was 15th.

[MNRunLeft]

Just like the Houston series, this is about youth/athleticism vs experience. Now this time, will the youth/athleticism be too much or the old heads still hang on to the thread? Warriors in 7 but up next, OKC will be too much in the end.

Difference between Houston and Minnesota experience level is one was watching the playoffs from home last season and the other beat KD/Booker and Jokic on the way to the western conference finals.

I understand but it's still about match ups. Why did Luka make quick work of the same impressive team last year?

Wolves came off a long 7 game series were not healthy (not an excuse) and played poorly especially in games 1 and 2 both very winnable games. The Wolves lacked a secondary creator last season when Ant was gassed and KAT shot particularly poor in the Mavs series. I don't see the "matchup" that the warriors can exploit the same way the Mavericks did with Luka last season, there isn't a lob threat on the floor like Lively and Gafford and don't think anyone can break down the D the way Luka did.

[scrabbarista]

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AhaaaaaAaa.

[Klomp]

Difference between Houston and Minnesota experience level is one was watching the playoffs from home last season and the other beat KD/Booker and Jokic on the way to the western conference finals.

I understand but it's still about match ups. Why did Luka make quick work of the same impressive team last year?

Wolves came off a long 7 game series were not healthy (not an excuse) and played poorly especially in games 1 and 2 both very winnable games. The Wolves lacked a secondary creator last season when Ant was gassed and KAT shot particularly poor in the Mavs series. I don't see the "matchup" that the warriors can exploit the same way the Mavericks did with Luka last season, there isn't a lob threat on the floor like Lively and Gafford and don't think anyone can break down the D the way Luka did.

The only real matchup advantage Golden State has is Steph Curry......unless you count Draymond's antics.

[Dan33185]

My main concern this series is just that the Wolves stay healthy and avoid getting injured by Draymond, the dude is straight up violent at times.

[LSWF]

Warriors got taken to 7 by a team that has an NCAA level offence. I get Minny's defense isn't as good a Houston, but this isn't going to be nearly as easy for them to stay in the game. Minny in 6.

They only got it to 7 because Vanvleet went god mode on his 3 point shooting.

GSW only here because Buddy went God mode from 3 point shooting in game 7.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I understand but it's still about match ups. Why did Luka make quick work of the same impressive team last year?

Because they had just come off of a difficult, physical series two days earlier. Sound familiar?

Sure, so many factors play unto this. How about the Warriors winning the regular season 3-1 and that is without Jimmy Butler. Oh that means nothing because the playoffs are different. Ok then, just saying this might be closer than you guys think. Only disadvantage I can see is the lack of rest which you yourself emphasized and I get that. But other than that? I think we match up pretty well.

Just for fun...

Here are some of the players who STARTED for the Warriors over the four games:

- Gus Santos
- Kyle Anderson
- Dennis Schroder
- Trayce Jackson-Davis
- Kevon Looney
- Jonathon Kuminga
- Andrew Wiggins

Now we can look at it like "Holy cow... the Warriors went 3 - 1 with those guys! They're going to sweep with their actual good players on the court." Or we realize that regular season and playoff basketball are two entirely different things.



[Note: For what it's worth... Minnesota played wildly inconsistently at best and just really really bad at worst vs. GSW in the last three games. Kerr and crew are smart... maybe they were doing something to make things more difficult in those games even with bench guys in.]

[shrink]

Suns were favored against the Wolves last year?

Yes, Suns were the favorites per Vegas...Suns swept Wolves in RS last year (4-0) & had KD whereas there were lot of questions on how the Wolves team would fare in postseason..especially after Suns blew them out during last game of RS

I didn't remember the odds, but I remember the Suns being the trendy pick. Last game of the regular season they beat us by 20, and everyone acted like Bradley Beal was guaranteed to shoot 6-6 from 3 against us every game of the series. They felt like they always simply shot really well against us.

People were lukewarm on the Wolves (young, unproven despite a great season), and no one was too down on the Suns yet. Lots of people talked about their midrange jumper heavy offense would mess with the Wolves defensive scheme.

And the main reason was matchup.

The Wolves had an epic defense last year, but no team can take away everything. Finch’s defense chose to run players off the three point line, and they had Gobert underneath, but they were susceptible to jump shooters in the midrange. Against most teams, that’s an analytics dream come true, but unfortunately for the Wolves, they had to face the Suns, who have three amazing midrange players in Durant, Beal and Devin Booker. This was what the talking heads saw in the Suns four game regular season sweep, and many predicted PHX to upset MIN, despite their record.