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

[CobraCommander]

Ant Vs Shai. USA vs Canada for the face of the league.

the American delegation would like to offer a trade...
Ant and two his of side dishes PLUS Harden for SGA & Nickeil Alexander-Walker

[Slim Tubby]

IMO, the Wolves need to win one (1) of the first two (2) games to get this done and our bench must show up.

Hopefully we get to see quality basketball, competitive games, no injuries and the winner of the series ultimately capturing the NBA Title.

Sent from my N152DL using RealGM mobile app

[Slim Tubby]

Ant Vs Shai. USA vs Canada for the face of the league.

the American delegation would like to offer a trade...
Ant and two his of side dishes PLUS Harden for SGA & Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Attaching Harden to this deal just devalues the side dishes.

Sent from my N152DL using RealGM mobile app

[1bigfan13]

One thing that bugs me is how everyone is acting like it's some type of red flag for OKC because it took them 7 games to get past the Nuggets.

People are acting as if the Nuggets were scrubs who OKC should have dispatched in 4 or 5 games. The reality is the Nuggets aren't as bad as people are trying to paint them.

I remember at the start of the playoffs it felt like most people were picking the Clippers to come out of the West because of their experience and Kawhi finally being healthy. The Nuggets beat that same Clippers team and I didn't see any excuses about the Nuggets short rotation or their health.

But now I'm supposed to believe the team that beat YOUR playoff favorite is trash, and that OKC should've handled them much easier? SMDH

[levon]

One thing that bugs me is how everyone is acting like it's some type of red flag for OKC because it took them 7 games to get past the Nuggets.

People are acting as if the Nuggets were scrubs who OKC should have dispatched in 4 or 5 games. The reality is the Nuggets aren't as bad as people are trying to paint them.

I remember at the start of the playoffs it felt like most people were picking the Clippers to come out of the West because of their experience and Kawhi finally being healthy. The Nuggets beat that same Clippers team and I didn't see any excuses about the Nuggets short rotation or their health.

But now I'm supposed to believe the team that beat YOUR playoff favorite is trash, and that OKC should've handled them much easier? SMDH

Somewhat beside the point but anyone that picked the Clippers to come out of the west is a fool. Neither the ceiling nor floor of that team ever looked like a contender, and that's before you get into the Clippers historic baggage.

Maybe next year will be their year though!!! Healthy Kawhi is a top 5 player in the league baby!!

[Wolfgang630]

Many said the WCF was between Denver and OKC. So many should believe OKC is going to the finals and looks like most agree here.

[Cubbies2120]

Many said the WCF was between Denver and OKC. So many should believe OKC is going to the finals and looks like most agree here.

OKC in 5. Possibly sweep.

GUAAAAAAARANTEEEEEEEED

[GeorgeSears]

TWolves in 6.

[ArksNetsSince99]

Man I’m lost , I don’t have favorites in this series and both teams is kind of semi likable

Let’s the best or the healthiest team win

[syrus3]

Thunder fans want it both ways.

“Caruso locked up Jokic.”

But wait…

“Oh look don’t feel sorry for us because we beat Denver in 7 cause they are good.” (Even though Denver has no competent bench and MPJ played with one arm and Chet injured Gordon in Game 6)

[F Saunders]

I cant wait for the Wolves fanbase start losing their minds when they see how everything is a foul on SGA while OKC mauls Ant.

Eh, Wolves fans are plenty aware of this:

https://dunkingwithwolves.com/chris-finch-comments-officiating-viral-after-thunder-game

It's so frustrating to play this team, because they foul a ton," Finch said. "They really do, they foul, they foul all the time. And then you can't really touch Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander). And it's a very frustrating thing, and it takes a lot of mental toughness to try to play through it.

[AbeVigodaLive]

One thing that bugs me is how everyone is acting like it's some type of red flag for OKC because it took them 7 games to get past the Nuggets.

People are acting as if the Nuggets were scrubs who OKC should have dispatched in 4 or 5 games. The reality is the Nuggets aren't as bad as people are trying to paint them.

I remember at the start of the playoffs it felt like most people were picking the Clippers to come out of the West because of their experience and Kawhi finally being healthy. The Nuggets beat that same Clippers team and I didn't see any excuses about the Nuggets short rotation or their health.

But now I'm supposed to believe the team that beat YOUR playoff favorite is trash, and that OKC should've handled them much easier? SMDH

It's the nature of today's sports discourse. It's easier (and more engaging online) to rip on teams and players than to praise them.

Similar thing with Minnesota. They're winning 80% of their games in these playoffs, yet there have been countless "hey, actually, the Lakers weren't really good after all" and "only because Curry was hurt" narratives.

Meanwhile, Minnesota skated through both player series at a pace that would net them 66 regular season wins... by fluke, I guess.

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

As for any playoff series... it's all about matchups. I think Minnesota has proven to be a terrible matchup for Denver (beat them 6 straight times, including last year's playoffs)... but OKC is a tough matchup for Minnesota.

There are similarities between the two teams, only OKC is just a bit better both at the top of the pyramid (SGA > Edwards) and in the margins.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I cant wait for the Wolves fanbase start losing their minds when they see how everything is a foul on SGA while OKC mauls Ant.

Eh, Wolves fans are plenty aware of this:

https://dunkingwithwolves.com/chris-finch-comments-officiating-viral-after-thunder-game

It's so frustrating to play this team, because they foul a ton," Finch said. "They really do, they foul, they foul all the time. And then you can't really touch Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander). And it's a very frustrating thing, and it takes a lot of mental toughness to try to play through it.

Marginal contact.



Foul.

[cgf]

Wolves in 5 or 6

[Beethoven]

Hope minn destroys okc tonite.

[cgf]

One thing that bugs me is how everyone is acting like it's some type of red flag for OKC because it took them 7 games to get past the Nuggets.

People are acting as if the Nuggets were scrubs who OKC should have dispatched in 4 or 5 games. The reality is the Nuggets aren't as bad as people are trying to paint them.

I remember at the start of the playoffs it felt like most people were picking the Clippers to come out of the West because of their experience and Kawhi finally being healthy. The Nuggets beat that same Clippers team and I didn't see any excuses about the Nuggets short rotation or their health.

But now I'm supposed to believe the team that beat YOUR playoff favorite is trash, and that OKC should've handled them much easier? SMDH

It's the nature of today's sports discourse. It's easier (and more engaging online) to rip on teams and players than to praise them.

Similar thing with Minnesota. They're winning 80% of their games in these playoffs, yet there have been countless "hey, actually, the Lakers weren't really good after all" and "only because Curry was hurt" narratives.

Meanwhile, Minnesota skated through both player series at a pace that would net them 66 regular season wins... by fluke, I guess.

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

As for any playoff series... it's all about matchups. I think Minnesota has proven to be a terrible matchup for Denver (beat them 6 straight times, including last year's playoffs)... but OKC is a tough matchup for Minnesota.

There are similarities between the two teams, only OKC is just a bit better both at the top of the pyramid (SGA > Edwards) and in the margins.

FWIW some of us never really rated the Nuggets; having spent all year saying the west is really mid this year outside of OKC & Minny (if they clicked)

[cgf]

Man I’m lost , I don’t have favorites in this series and both teams is kind of semi likable

Let’s the best or the healthiest team win

Come on buddy, as a soon-to-be Knicks fan you've gotta support our boys out Minny

[cgf]

Many said the WCF was between Denver and OKC. So many should believe OKC is going to the finals and looks like most agree here.

Many said the knicks & pacers were fodder not surprised the wolves continue to be under-estimated.

[jscott]

Many said the WCF was between Denver and OKC. So many should believe OKC is going to the finals and looks like most agree here.

Not sure why folks would say that considering the Wolves went 6-2 against both of those teams this year (and that’s with Rudy, Julius, and Dante only played one game each vs OKC)

[Backcountry]

I picked OLC to win in 7, but, like the rest of you, I really don't know. Chris Finch is a very good coach, and he seems to have done well getting these Wolves playing together after the big trade last summer. So coaching advantage to Minny. Ant is the more dynamic superstar, but Shai is craftier and good enough to win MVP, so I give advantage to SGA. Gobert vs iHart, call it a draw when you look at their relative strengths and weaknesses, although you can never sleep on a multiple DPOY winner. Randle should be better offensively than JDub, but defensively? Both teams have a pretty good supporting cast, and the only reason I'm going with OKC is because theirs is slightly better, and because of their D, which is tenacious. If OKC plays all the games like game 7 vs Denver, this could be a short series. But I think there will be enough inconsistency to keep it close.