Game 64: Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Clippers

[Calinks]

Arrrrrooooooo!!

[Nick K]

AARROOOOOOO!!!!!

[wolves_89]

This team hanging on by a thread until Towns comes back. It's now been over 13 weeks since KAT went down, so hopefully it's not much longer.

[TimberKat]

slow mode = smooth mode. And we survived two Westbrook miracle 3pts shoots. Gobert showed up at the end but we need more from him.

[Murphs56]

I can't for the life of me understand this team. I don't think I ever will. Getting outplayed, outworked and blowing 4th quarter home leads against inferior teams followed by playing tough as nails gritty basketball against playoff bound teams on the road.

[wolves_89]

I can't for the life of me understand this team. I don't think I ever will. Getting outplayed, outworked and blowing 4th quarter home leads against inferior teams followed by playing tough as nails gritty basketball against playoff bound teams on the road.

If they would have played like this in the 8 games they lost to the bottom 5 teams they'd be 3rd or 4th in the standings.

[cmoss84]

So many dumb turnovers. So many dumb fouls. No offensive flow for 90% of the game. Tons of missed free throws...

...and we beat LA in LA with all their new toys and full strength. This tells me there is much more to this team coming. We are close to being good.

[Devilzsidewalk]

Not the cleanest game, but that was really impressive defense from Ant and Jaden on PG and Kawhi. They looked like they were out there to make a point. Great offense from Jaden too.

I think the next step for Ant is reading the defense a little better. I know there's been talk about the defenses clamping up on him lately, but it's not like they're defending him like he's 2015 Steph. There's a lot of self inflicted wounds with him trying to force drives through help defenders. If Kawhi Leonard is selling out from the wing on your drives, you gotta give up the ball. There's passes to be made, but he's hesitating and missing his passing windows, or just flat out forcing shots.

[TimberKat]

UTA, LAL, DAL, OKC all loss tonight. Just need GSW to beat POR

POR beating GS would also be fine.

If the wolves win tonight i'm getting greedy and looking at the 6 seed.

Agree, but if we lose, we are looking at 11th seed

Had we beat GSW two days ago, we would had the 5th seed right now. Crazy year.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I can't for the life of me understand this team. I don't think I ever will. Getting outplayed, outworked and blowing 4th quarter home leads against inferior teams followed by playing tough as nails gritty basketball against playoff bound teams on the road.

I just don't think they've been ready to consistently commit the effort needed to grind these games out. This felt like a really tough game and they were able to stay in it because for the most part, they were burning calories on defense.

[wolves_89]

I'd also note that Nowell was out and Rivers only played 5 minutes. It would be really interesting to see a few games with both of those guys out of the rotation. My suspicion is the team would be much better.

[life_saver]

This must be the first time where Jaden is Wolves topscorer in the game

[Dalvin]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Fun game, now if they could just string some wins together and KAT comes back and works in seamlessly. We'll be in good momentum heading into the playoffs

[Guidus88]

such a crazy team.

[deepestblue]

Just glad Paul George was playing tonight or the Wolves would have (as they always do) come in to the game thinking they were playing some YMCA team and gotten smoked (as they always do).

Main reason for the win as I understand it was Jaden was hot tonight.

Wolves still treading on thin ice in the standings. But only 1 game out of 6th and 2 games out of 4th. 1.5 games ahead of the 11th seed.

[Baseline81]

This team hanging on by a thread until Towns comes back. It's now been over 13 weeks since KAT went down, so hopefully it's not much longer.

Even the broadcasters, early in the game, were saying how Minnesota fans felt a bit lied to regarding Towns' injury -- not enough transparency.

[moss_is_1]

Having Prince healthy in the lineup is so huge. Most reliable shooter right now and a nice defender.

[Nick K]

Having Prince healthy in the lineup is so huge. Most reliable shooter right now and a nice defender.

You can't beat talented veteran players who know their role. Prince IS that guy. Super valuable. He delivers more often than not.

[minimus]

Rewatching the game now. That moment when Plumlee twice earned FTs on Reid reminded me similar episode during Tonws first years in NBA. Plumlee and Towns were in jump ball situation, Plumlee grabbed Karl's arm, but did it the way referee didn't see it.

Plumlee is probably one of the least talented bigs in NBA, but such tricks make him much more valuable for team. If wish Towns and Reid could learn this small things because they always lose on these 50/50 balls. This issue also makes our foul troubles even more serious.

P.S. Garza is much more disciplined, maybe because he is stronger than both Reid and Towns. Gobert is simply bigger than opponents.

[minimus]

Absolutely love Conley defense, like the moment when he saw Morris trying postup NAW and double teamed him immediately.

Another thing is how he constantly moves without the ball, makes him self available for kick out pass. It was funny when Edwards as usual was standing still passively on perimeter waiting for pass while Conley was moving around, at some point there was a kick out pass to Edwards, but Conley kind of intercepted the ball and immediately made extra pass.

Conley is so active, decisive. He moves quickly, his release is quick, he passes quick, he fights for 50/50 balls. It is such a drastic difference between him and DLo. Although I wish he makes all these floaters.