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

[RB34]

Crazy this game has come around so quickly. OKC is built to handle it with their depth and youth. MIN has had a good chunk of rest. Should be a good game.

[bledredwine]

I’m not sure why but tonight’s game is the first playoff game this year that I’m genuinely excited about. We’ll see if there’s something to it.

[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

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

If Knicks still have Randle and Divo maybe they could win whole thing , unfortunately they traded them for a peanut

[thinktank]

Will he be officiated like a big or like a wing? If he is officiated like a big, they will slow him down easilly since they can do whatever they want, grab, push, pull, slap,... and he will not be allowed to be physical himself.
If he is officiated as a wing and is allowed to be physical, that could be an advantage for minnesota. We will see it after game 1.

I don’t think it matters. He likes contact (re: wings).

(Re bigs:) He gets guys moving and boom, one shoulder bump and you’re out of the way.

You think Jokic cant bump? He is much stronger then Randle but he is getting called for an offensive foul. That is why i said its big difference if he is ref'd like wing or big. Bigs are getting called for every foul and not getting anything on the other side vs smalls unless they flop.

Jokic isn’t moving like Randle. Yeah Jokic is strong. Randle is strong too and dribbling driving at you. Totally different than Jokic. Jokic does a couple tough bumps to create space and shoot over. Randle has you moving and then hits you and guys literally fly out of the way. Obviously he can get called for charges too. But way more often than not it’s let em play. Watch this ****. Randle gonna chew Chet and Hart up.

[thinktank]

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

Wolves would’ve beat Nuggets in 6 or less!

[MoneyTalks41890]

I don’t think it matters. He likes contact (re: wings).

(Re bigs:) He gets guys moving and boom, one shoulder bump and you’re out of the way.

You think Jokic cant bump? He is much stronger then Randle but he is getting called for an offensive foul. That is why i said its big difference if he is ref'd like wing or big. Bigs are getting called for every foul and not getting anything on the other side vs smalls unless they flop.

Jokic isn’t moving like Randle. Yeah Jokic is strong. Randle is strong too and dribbling driving at you. Totally different than Jokic. Jokic does a couple tough bumps to create space and shoot over. Randle has you moving and then hits you and guys literally fly out of the way. Obviously he can get called for charges too. But way more often than not it’s let em play. Watch this ****. Randle gonna chew Chet and Hart up.

Randle is giving up about 60 lbs to Jokic and he wasn’t able to just move guys out of the way. Guess we will see. This feels more wishful than anything, especially against Hart.

I actually think Jaylin would do a nice job on Randle. Just give him space and let him shoot it.

[thinktank]

You think Jokic cant bump? He is much stronger then Randle but he is getting called for an offensive foul. That is why i said its big difference if he is ref'd like wing or big. Bigs are getting called for every foul and not getting anything on the other side vs smalls unless they flop.

Jokic isn’t moving like Randle. Yeah Jokic is strong. Randle is strong too and dribbling driving at you. Totally different than Jokic. Jokic does a couple tough bumps to create space and shoot over. Randle has you moving and then hits you and guys literally fly out of the way. Obviously he can get called for charges too. But way more often than not it’s let em play. Watch this ****. Randle gonna chew Chet and Hart up.

Randle is giving up about 60 lbs to Jokic and he wasn’t able to just move guys out of the way. Guess we will see. This feels more wishful than anything, especially against Hart.

I actually think Jaylin would do a nice job on Randle. Just give him space and let him shoot it.

Jokic is done, my friend.

Randle’s style is very different.

And I thought Caruso was the key anyway?

Caruso on Randle? I’d love it.

[scrabbarista]

I picked OKC in 6, but I'm not gonna lie, Big Wos' defense of his Wolves in 7 pick made a lot of sense.

Still sticking with my pick. I expect OKC to behave like adults now that they've been through the rite of the Denver series.

sorry who is Big Wos ?

Wosny Lambre, he's on The Ringer's Group Chat pod, which is where he made his pick.

[azcatz11]

I picked OKC in 6, but I'm not gonna lie, Big Wos' defense of his Wolves in 7 pick made a lot of sense.

Still sticking with my pick. I expect OKC to behave like adults now that they've been through the rite of the Denver series.

sorry who is Big Wos ?

Wosny Lambre, he's on The Ringer's Group Chat pod, which is where he made his pick.

Did he really? Love Wos. The biggest moron is the guy on the gambling show who claims he has his own 'model' and loses every game...

[Optms]

I don’t think it matters. He likes contact (re: wings).

(Re bigs:) He gets guys moving and boom, one shoulder bump and you’re out of the way.

You think Jokic cant bump? He is much stronger then Randle but he is getting called for an offensive foul. That is why i said its big difference if he is ref'd like wing or big. Bigs are getting called for every foul and not getting anything on the other side vs smalls unless they flop.

Jokic isn’t moving like Randle. Yeah Jokic is strong. Randle is strong too and dribbling driving at you. Totally different than Jokic. Jokic does a couple tough bumps to create space and shoot over. Randle has you moving and then hits you and guys literally fly out of the way. Obviously he can get called for charges too. But way more often than not it’s let em play. Watch this ****. Randle gonna chew Chet and Hart up.

BBQ chicken.

Draymond Green has been a DPOY level player all year and did nothing to slow down Randle. Same with Bron. Chet, Stein are gonna get sizzled and cooked.

[Optms]

Jokic isn’t moving like Randle. Yeah Jokic is strong. Randle is strong too and dribbling driving at you. Totally different than Jokic. Jokic does a couple tough bumps to create space and shoot over. Randle has you moving and then hits you and guys literally fly out of the way. Obviously he can get called for charges too. But way more often than not it’s let em play. Watch this ****. Randle gonna chew Chet and Hart up.

Randle is giving up about 60 lbs to Jokic and he wasn’t able to just move guys out of the way. Guess we will see. This feels more wishful than anything, especially against Hart.

I actually think Jaylin would do a nice job on Randle. Just give him space and let him shoot it.

Jokic is done, my friend.

Randle’s style is very different.

And I thought Caruso was the key anyway?

Caruso on Randle? I’d love it.

Randle would rag doll Caruso. He isn’t gonna flop and flail like Jokic did and look to pass. I really hope this isn't OKC's strategy lol

[Diop]

probably start with Hart on Randle no? Chet fights the boards with Rudy.

if you go small, gotta be Dort who is a bit stronger at least

[MoneyTalks41890]

probably start with Hart on Randle no? Chet fights the boards with Rudy.

if you go small, gotta be Dort who is a bit stronger at least

Yeah if Diags does the expected I would think it’s that.

Chet had some success putting Rudy in iso perimeter actions in the past.

Two good coaches I am not sure how they will scheme to start the series.

[TimberKat]

Here we go! Shoot out at OK Corral. Is it going to be like the myth or reality? Agreed with all the takes here. Wolves cannot turn over the ball and everyone need to step up and make those 3 point shots. If they play like vs GSW, it will be over before high noon.

[rockmanslim]

Mike Malone? Doing a petty victory tour?

[life_saver]

Not a tough bar to clear but Michael Malone is already one of the best guys I've seen on ESPN pre-game coverage teams

[Sealab2024]

I'm already pacing.

Couple pre series thoughts.

Minny is turnover prone but they're also very good at limiting the points that come off turnovers. I expect OKC to get them loose with the ball a few times a game but can the wolves minimize the damage when it does happen.

Will the Thunder commit to their two bigs and concede letting Gobert play big minutes which could cause serious disruption for OKC going to the basket.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Oklahoma versus Minnesota, just like the league wanted

[bbms]

You think Jokic cant bump? He is much stronger then Randle but he is getting called for an offensive foul. That is why i said its big difference if he is ref'd like wing or big. Bigs are getting called for every foul and not getting anything on the other side vs smalls unless they flop.

Jokic isn’t moving like Randle. Yeah Jokic is strong. Randle is strong too and dribbling driving at you. Totally different than Jokic. Jokic does a couple tough bumps to create space and shoot over. Randle has you moving and then hits you and guys literally fly out of the way. Obviously he can get called for charges too. But way more often than not it’s let em play. Watch this ****. Randle gonna chew Chet and Hart up.

BBQ chicken.

Draymond Green has been a DPOY level player all year and did nothing to slow down Randle. Same with Bron. Chet, Stein are gonna get sizzled and cooked.

true that green was playing defense at a very high level but thunder defense is not gsw defense.

i got 99 worries, randle ain't one of them

[Mamba81p]

I am so looking forward to not see Perkins on NBA pre-game shows for the big games next year. He already ruined SVP for me, at least when it comes to NBA segments.