Game 45 : Minnesota Timberwolves (22-23) @ Denver Nuggets (31-13)

Post #1 » by **THE J0KER** » Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:35 pm

Minnesota without KAT and Gobert has no answer against Jokic and Gordon for sure, so just being focused should be enough for Denver to continue the home-soil winning streak on 15!

skywalker33 · Post #2 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 12:36 am

Plus this looks like a minor revenge game IMO

Post #3 » by **THE J0KER** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 4:29 am

Malone is such a legend! He benched Jokic and Gordon both because of 3rd fouls in the first half despite Jokic was never fouled out in this 2020+ decade while Gordon was fouled out only once since 2020!? So the Wolves lead at halftime +5 despite Jokic having +11 in the +/- column. This is ridiculous.

skywalker33 · Post #4 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 5:27 am

Terrible refs tonight, but nobody is standing up with Jokic. MIN couldn't miss a 3-pt in that 3rd qtr, they seem to play up to our level and we play down to theirs.

skywalker33 · Post #5 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 5:50 am

Murray looked great in that 2nd half, looking closer to being the star HE IS

Post #6 » by **THE J0KER** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 6:03 am

The Wolves didn't score a single point in the last 3 minutes, otherwise, we almost lost vs a team playing without KAT and Gobert while Edwards underperformed!? Malone killed momentum late in the 1st half with that dumb decision to bench Jokic and Gordon both. Thank God that Denver's crowd always energizes Nuggets, I really doubt we would make this comeback in an away game.

skywalker33 · Post #7 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 6:48 am

THE J0KER wrote:The Wolves didn't score a single point in the last 3 minutes, otherwise, we almost lost vs a team playing without KAT and Gobert while Edwards underperformed!? Malone killed momentum late in the 1st half with that dumb decision to bench Jokic and Gordon both. Thank God that Denver's crowd always energizes Nuggets, I really doubt we would make this comeback in an away game.

Malone has been on the COVID list, not even in the arena...maybe your Malone-hatred is a bit over-powering here.

Maf · Post #8 » by **Maf** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 11:13 am

THE J0KER wrote:The Wolves didn't score a single point in the last 3 minutes, otherwise, we almost lost vs a team playing without KAT and Gobert while Edwards underperformed!? Malone killed momentum late in the 1st half with that dumb decision to bench Jokic and Gordon both. Thank God that Denver's crowd always energizes Nuggets, I really doubt we would make this comeback in an away game.

This one was strike. :lol:

I mean if we are going to discuss people who weren´t present we should mention Will Barton too. I mean he showed nothing tonight!

No offense, just kidding. :wink:

Maf · Post #9 » by **Maf** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 11:28 am

As with Orlando, this game without opponents towers was much closer then we would like. But, good thing is we found that switch button to get back again and win so streak is still on, we are happy.

Jamal was great. Still, it´s that his usual regular season one game hot, two games lost, let´s wait till (if) he starts PO mode. It is great Jamal has those night when he is the man but for 100mils over next three years I expect this to happen more often.

And yesterday it strucked me again... Yeah Sky, I know you will write I complain again, but I just can´t... I wish our back up center could rebound at least something defensively. Doesn´t matter what stats I use, over 100 minutes last 7 games, 4! defensive rebounds total, or 0.7 DefR in 12 minutes a game for season, this number is terrible. Yeah I get some will say he had those two games he was good on offensive rebound but I am talking defense.

Manolito · Post #10 » by **Manolito** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 1:23 pm

The answer to Nnaji's rebounding problem is pretty easy IMHO, he is a PF, not a C, and he will never be a C. He is a switchable big with (apparently) great shooting strike and the game is starting to slow down for him, but as a backup center he is in the very low percentile. We clearly need a backup C

Post #11 » by **THE J0KER** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 2:01 pm

Maf wrote:
THE J0KER wrote:The Wolves didn't score a single point in the last 3 minutes, otherwise, we almost lost vs a team playing without KAT and Gobert while Edwards underperformed!? Malone killed momentum late in the 1st half with that dumb decision to bench Jokic and Gordon both. Thank God that Denver's crowd always energizes Nuggets, I really doubt we would make this comeback in an away game.

This one was strike. I mean if we are going to discuss people who weren´t present we should mention Will Barton too. I mean he showed nothing tonight!

No offense, just kidding.

I have no intentions at all to watch Minnesota without KAT and Gobert last night (it is more mourning here in Europe) but I worked something on my PC when I notice at halftime that Minnesota somehow leads and in the boxscore I see Jokic and Gordon played only 13 minutes each (with 3 fouls both) so I know exactly who to blame! :lol:

I actually lately can't resist due to the Wolves' lead and watched most of the final quarter on my 2nd monitor, but on mute, and focused on something else during timeouts. Frankly, I'm now truly disappointed in Adelman for using one of the dumbest and most irritating Malone methods which I called "school teacher syndrome" when he treats even Nikola Jokic, a proven NBA star with high basketball IQ, like some wild rookie or even NCAA junior with lack of self-control. You always know with Malone if a player gets 2nd foul in 1st quarter, 3rd in 2nd, 4th in 3rd, it automatically means bench and 5+ minutes playing time reduction, even for superstar Jokic!

Maf · Post #12 » by **Maf** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 4:08 pm

Manolito wrote:The answer to Nnaji's rebounding problem is pretty easy IMHO, he is a PF, not a C, and he will never be a C. He is a switchable big with (apparently) great shooting strike and the game is starting to slow down for him, but as a backup center he is in the very low percentile. We clearly need a backup C

I fully agree with Zeke being a better option as a back up PF. But that spot will belong to Jeff when he returns.

Maf · Post #13 » by **Maf** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 4:14 pm

THE J0KER wrote:
Maf wrote:
THE J0KER wrote:The Wolves didn't score a single point in the last 3 minutes, otherwise, we almost lost vs a team playing without KAT and Gobert while Edwards underperformed!? Malone killed momentum late in the 1st half with that dumb decision to bench Jokic and Gordon both. Thank God that Denver's crowd always energizes Nuggets, I really doubt we would make this comeback in an away game.

This one was strike. I mean if we are going to discuss people who weren´t present we should mention Will Barton too. I mean he showed nothing tonight!

No offense, just kidding.

I have no intentions at all to watch Minnesota without KAT and Gobert last night (it is more mourning here in Europe) but I worked something on my PC when I notice at halftime that Minnesota somehow leads and in the boxscore I see Jokic and Gordon played only 13 minutes each (with 3 fouls both) so I know exactly who to blame!

I actually lately can't resist due to the Wolves' lead and watched most of the final quarter on my 2nd monitor, but on mute, and focused on something else during timeouts. Frankly, I'm now truly disappointed in Adelman for using one of the dumbest and most irritating Malone methods which I called "school teacher syndrome" when he treats even Nikola Jokic, a proven NBA star with high basketball IQ, like some wild rookie or even NCAA junior with lack of self-control. You always know with Malone if a player gets 2nd foul in 1st quarter, 3rd in 2nd, 4th in 3rd, it automatically means bench and 5+ minutes playing time reduction, even for superstar Jokic!

That's why I watch games next day (our European morning or afternoon, depends if I have morning or afternoon shift), without suffering through time outs, fast forwarding opponents free throws and such.

I get what pisses you off about Malone's substitute habits but to defend Adelman, refs... I don't like blaming them, but some of their calls were like REALLY bad. Adelman won one challenge on Nikola's offensive call, then he couldn't call another challenge on atrocious call when Edwards just lost the ball in the air, Nikola was nowhere around him and they still call him for a foul and couple of plays called him for offensive foul that might be harsh (but I would say ok call) and Jokič got that pissed off look that might sugest troubles. So he decided to cool him off a little.

TunaFish · Post #14 » by **TunaFish** » Fri Jan 20, 2023 4:00 am

THE J0KER wrote:Malone is such a legend! He benched Jokic and Gordon ... . This is ridiculous.

I have to admit, you threw me a "fastball" on the Malone comment. Ironically, I knew there would be some replies from others as to that error, so the fact is obviously, Malone is on sick leave. We all make mistakes but you have been mostly critical of Malone. So this error seems glaring, particularly since this is his second game absence and you should have been aware of that.

To me Malone has solidified his position because of how well the Nuggets are playing and he is a likely COY candidate. Does he make mistakes, all coach do. Even posters make mistakes.

Oh and by the way, I thought Adelman did an excellent job with a tired squad.