Play-In Game: MIN @LAL

[Guest84]

From what I saw, it came down to fatigue, and poor coaching (low IQ).

One thing the TNT crew did show is that we didn’t take advantage of Towns late on the switches. Part of it him not demanding the ball, ball handlers not noticing, and coach not identifying it.

This is where you could try to implement what Rudy does. Have Towns seal or rim run. He could’ve gotten a few easy ones or fouls late as a result of this.

I also think NAW and Nowell should’ve spelled some of the guys for a min. Ant prob should’ve been benched.

I agree that Finch is a good coach but maybe not a head coach. This team needs a coach who pays attention to detail and fundamentals. Someone who knows when to let it flow and when to take control.

Tough loss. Do we get rewarded on Fri since LBJ gave us his blessing on National TV? Hopefully

[m2002brian]

I think we match up decently with Denver. A KAT joker matchup would be good.

Let’s go get it Friday and then take down the Nuggets in 6

[Neeva]

Also, we BADLY need to upgrade Jmac. Has been brutal.

I doubt he makes a roster next season playing the way he has.

[Neeva]

From what I saw, it came down to fatigue, and poor coaching (low IQ).

One thing the TNT crew did show is that we didn’t take advantage of Towns late on the switches. Part of it him not demanding the ball, ball handlers not noticing, and coach not identifying it.

This is where you could try to implement what Rudy does. Have Towns seal or rim run. He could’ve gotten a few easy ones or fouls late as a result of this.

I also think NAW and Nowell should’ve spelled some of the guys for a min. Ant prob should’ve been benched.

I agree that Finch is a good coach but maybe not a head coach. This team needs a coach who pays attention to detail and fundamentals. Someone who knows when to let it flow and when to take control.

Tough loss. Do we get rewarded on Fri since LBJ gave us his blessing on National TV? Hopefully

Even if they win Friday we need a new head coach next season. I can’t take anymore giving up leads in third/fourth that has been a Finch trademark.

[Calinks]

From what I saw, it came down to fatigue, and poor coaching (low IQ).

One thing the TNT crew did show is that we didn’t take advantage of Towns late on the switches. Part of it him not demanding the ball, ball handlers not noticing, and coach not identifying it.

This is where you could try to implement what Rudy does. Have Towns seal or rim run. He could’ve gotten a few easy ones or fouls late as a result of this.

I also think NAW and Nowell should’ve spelled some of the guys for a min. Ant prob should’ve been benched.

I agree that Finch is a good coach but maybe not a head coach. This team needs a coach who pays attention to detail and fundamentals. Someone who knows when to let it flow and when to take control.

Tough loss. Do we get rewarded on Fri since LBJ gave us his blessing on National TV? Hopefully

I think it would have been a different story if KAT wasn't in foul trouble. If he had 2-3 fouls going into that 4th he would have been a lot more aggressive.

Ultimately too let's not forget. We lost this game tonight but we really lost a billion other times this season when we dropped extremely important games. You beat the Blazers, you beat the Lakers after dominating them a few weeks back, you beat a couple of those really bad teams, we aren't even in this situation.

[theGreatRC]

Let's get it friday and take down the Nuggets, we definitely do match up well with them, even without Jaden

[m2002brian]

From what I saw, it came down to fatigue, and poor coaching (low IQ).

One thing the TNT crew did show is that we didn’t take advantage of Towns late on the switches. Part of it him not demanding the ball, ball handlers not noticing, and coach not identifying it.

This is where you could try to implement what Rudy does. Have Towns seal or rim run. He could’ve gotten a few easy ones or fouls late as a result of this.

I also think NAW and Nowell should’ve spelled some of the guys for a min. Ant prob should’ve been benched.

I agree that Finch is a good coach but maybe not a head coach. This team needs a coach who pays attention to detail and fundamentals. Someone who knows when to let it flow and when to take control.

Tough loss. Do we get rewarded on Fri since LBJ gave us his blessing on National TV? Hopefully

I think it would have been a different story if KAT wasn't in foul trouble. If he had 2-3 fouls going into that 4th he would have been a lot more aggressive.

Ultimately too let's not forget. We lost this game tonight but we really lost a billion other times this season when we dropped extremely important games. You beat the Blazers, you beat the Lakers after dominating them a few weeks back, you beat a couple of those really bad teams, we aren't even in this situation.

We can’t live in “what if” land.
Fact of the matter is, this foul thing with KAT, isn’t new. This offense stalling out, good ant or not, isn’t new. We are where we are because of who we are and what’s been done. You can’t just discount the bad stuff and think it goes away. Kats talent is useless on the bench. Role players are useless if they are just standing around watching stars. Coaches are useless if they just let players do whatever they want when they want.

[Kineto]

One under the radar takeaway I had from this game is just how important Naz Reid actually is to this team. Before he went down, Naz had become the team's 3rd best offensive player. Tonight showed that having at least one more scorer (beyond Ant and KAT) is going to be really important next season. Please resign Naz.

People can say what they want but not having Gobert also hampered us. KAT would have definitely avoided foul trouble at the very least.

Defensively, it would have been much better with him. AD grabbed 9 offensive boards alone, and yes, maybe KAT would avoid foul trouble.

On the offensive end, the slump in the 4th might have been even worse with him (even if Conley or Ant could have used his screen to shoot some 3s).

[GopherIt!]

congrats to the refs!

[minimus]

Typical MIN fans overreaction thread.

[shrink]

One under the radar takeaway I had from this game is just how important Naz Reid actually is to this team. Before he went down, Naz had become the team's 3rd best offensive player. Tonight showed that having at least one more scorer (beyond Ant and KAT) is going to be really important next season. Please resign Naz.

People can say what they want but not having Gobert also hampered us. KAT would have definitely avoided foul trouble at the very least.

Defensively, it would have been much better with him. AD grabbed 9 offensive boards alone, and yes, maybe KAT would avoid foul trouble.

On the offensive end, the slump in the 4th might have been even worse with him (even if Conley or Ant could have used his screen to shoot some 3s).

At a minimum, Gobert’s presence would have kept Towns fresher, and maybe kept him a foul or two.

[_AIJ_]

Had no clue why Ant cant just take it to the rim instead of chucking horrible 3s. He needed 1 more point and we could have won the game

[kidfozzy]

Had no clue why Ant cant just take it to the rim instead of chucking horrible 3s. He needed 1 more point and we could have won the game

A banged up shoulder can lock up on you and mess up the entire nerve on your arm. Hence, why ANT was apprehensive on driving it in.

[TimberKat]

TNT has some good break down of 4qtr. I have the same question why we didn't post up with Towns to draw the double team.

Edwards was hurt, will give him a pass but he really needs to work on the simple short passes. I am glad he was OK after that scary fall.

We have to mix a few in-out post plays into our sets. I also don't understand why we had such a hard time running pick and roll when Gobert is not there. Run it with Towns/Conley or Kyle/Ant or something ? We have too many times with the ball in Prince's hand vs LBJ with clock running low. We also couldn't do the SlowMo in the lower circle set without Gobert.

[Guest84]

TNT has some good break down of 4qtr. I have the same question why we didn't post up with Towns to draw the double team.

Edwards was hurt, will give him a pass but he really needs to work on the simple short passes. I am glad he was OK after that scary fall.

We have to mix a few in-out post plays into our sets. I also don't understand why we had such a hard time running pick and roll when Gobert is not there. Run it with Towns/Conley or Kyle/Ant or something ? We have too many times with the ball in Prince's hand vs LBJ with clock running low. We also couldn't do the SlowMo in the lower circle set without Gobert.

I've wondered about this as well. This even pre-dates Gobert being here. Towns doesn't set solid, picks. He's also not quick to release when he sets them. While Rudy sets solid screens and Naz is explosive out of his. Plus, our ball handlers tend to go too early with Towns and don't always rub shoulders. Which leaves space for the defender to slide through.

When Towns is in the game, I think using him more at the high post with guys cutting may be more efficient when he's the only big out there. I also don't think Towns is naturally strong and it's almost better to keep the big on him at times because the guards/wings tend to uproot him and push him out to the 3pt line anyway.

One of our biggest problems is trust. We always go away from the offense when things get tight instead of trusting what got us the lead. Barring injury, this might've been a good opportunity to post Ant more since the Lakers' guards were pretty disruptive on the drives.

[urinesane]

The only thing more insufferable than Lakers/Knicks fans seems to be our fans.

You don't deserve a good team. Take up a new hobby.

[life_saver]

Simply put, this has been a huge issue...we need to improve our 4th quarter execution

Read on Twitter

[Klomp]

This was a game where we ran out of gas. I know everyone played an extra 5 minutes, but every starter played at least 41 minutes last night. And when they subbed almost anyone in, the Lakers could go on a run.

[Calinks]

For the last couple of years we have been easy to gameplan against in the 4th. Every team know they can come back against the Timberwolves. Its a serious issue.

[Neeva]

Simply put, this has been a huge issue...we need to improve our 4th quarter execution

Read on Twitter

Our coach goes into shock in fourth quarters.