WCQ Game 1: Phoenix at Minnesota, 2:30 pm Saturday

[KGdaBom]

It's not over yet. We got to manage this last 5 mins

I've called every game before the end and I've been right every time. If I call it a win it's a win. Take it to the bank.

[Dalvin]

AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Incredible performance from everybody! Statement game against the Suns. Just do this 15 more times and we're celebrating in June

[shrink]

Held another team under 100

[winforlose]

We held them to 95. Also JO should have got a standing O in TC for the layup. Show a former wolf some love!

[Isegrim]

WOLVES BACK

[BlacJacMac]

Jaden and NAW completely neutralized Booker.

[shrink]

Ant smiling and bouncing his head along to the “MVP” chant!

[KGdaBom]

Watch on YouTube

[Domejandro]

Jaden McDaniels was unbelievable defensively, tonight.

[Colbinii]

1) Defense
2) Physicality on BOTH ENDS
3) Size
4) Coaching [I like Vogel but see Finch as a better bet given how well I thought he has done against Denver and Memphis in the past]

I said these are our major advantages going into the series and in G1 these all rang true, along with the Bench which shrink brought up.

Phoenix was starting to adjust to some things in the early 4th quarter, but no matter what they do, size and physicality is something they can't create on the fly while their lack of Point Guard is going to hurt their offensive consistency.

One things Edwards and Towns can do better is pass out of the double team quicker, which I assume Finch will address with some sort of back-cut or coming to the ball to try and catch the Suns in rotation.

[TimberKat]

It's not over yet. We got to manage this last 5 mins

I've called every game before the end and I've been right every time. If I call it a win it's a win. Take it to the bank.

In that case call it in first qtr next time. Great win today. Just a lot of good plays especially NAW, JMcD, and Naz was good too. The big 3 was great.

[wolves_89]

Getting a blowout with Conley having an awful game and Durant making a ton of incredibly hard shots is a great start to the series.

[TwolvesFanRome]

AAAAARRRRRROOOOOOOOOOO

[KGdaBom]

It's not over yet. We got to manage this last 5 mins

I've called every game before the end and I've been right every time. If I call it a win it's a win. Take it to the bank.

In that case call it in first qtr next time. Great win today. Just a lot of good plays especially NAW, JMcD, and Naz was good too. The big 3 was great.

That would be nice , but I only call them when I consider it 99% for sure.

[Dalvin]

Suns thought they got the luck of the draw and matching us in the first round.

Now they're the first team to find out how effed they are getting us first

[BlacJacMac]

I love Ant.

He clearly left the floor quickly to make them happy interview KAT.

[shrink]

Anyone have any update on Allen?

Is he out for the rest of the series?

Ankle injury, left the game immediately and has not returned to the bench.

I don’t root for any player to be injured, but if I had a list of the top five players I wouldn’t mind seeing twist their own ankle, dirty Grayson Allen would be on it.

[Shaka_Zulu]

That was litterally the perfect execution I was hoping for from start to finish.

No Kyle Anderson, Conley had bad game, Ant and Naz started slow but grew very well into game, especially Ant.


MVPs Jaden,NAW and Rudy. With Kat doing commendable job punishing mismatches and scoring when Ant sat for long period.


We need to keep this intensity and defensive gameplan with the matchups and forcing them to force feed KD only.


NAW and Jaden are total bosses, they deserved standing ovation tonight.

[shrink]

I loved seeing Towns so collected today. When Ant was freaking out in the first quarter, Towns helped keep us right there.

Loved seeing NAW play so hard on both ends! I still am amazed he was a throw in in the Conley trade!

Ant is electric! Gobert had 16 rebounds. Jaden will be in Booker’s nightmares tonight. Naz too?

Size matters. Nice to see better boxing out for rebounds too.

I think the Suns have to be totally worried. Probably some of our future match up teams too.

[younggunsmn]

OHHHHHH YEAH! Maybe the best game we've played all season.
The defense was absolutely outstanding, especially on the perimeter.
Mike, NAW, Jaden, Ant all first team all D level today and our bigs also very very good.

Players were all locked in mentally the entire game and that's what it is going to take to win and advance.

On offense we didn't beat ourselves this time.
Spacing was better for Ant when the double came.
Played more from the left slot than right which left him with a more comfortable pass to the right slot and an open shot either there or in the right corner.

Refs were letting everything go in the first half, letting us play physical which is to our advantage.
What did get called was heavily slanted towards Phoenix, but the composure was championship level when we didn't get a call, a total turnaround from the regular season. Hats off the the coaches and players for that.

NAW was amazing. Lock down defense and great shooting.
Kyle going down might be a blessing in disguise, at least for this series, and it should mean a lot more NAW and some Monte.
Our 2nd unit were able to build and extend the lead in the 2nd and late 3rd/early 4th quarters.

Good game from KAT, good D and better decisions and results on offense, got us tough buckets in the first half.

Allen is a real gritty player for them and plays solid positional d and makes the right play, it will hurt if he misses time.
He got the benefit of some ridiculous calls too (especially the one he was injured on), sometimes ball (or ankle) don't lie.

Nurkic could have been called for 10 fouls in the first half, he was smacking anyone who came near the basket.
Great game from Gobert today just being really really steady and playing physical and always being in the right place at the right time.

We forced Phoenix into a lot of ISO offense which tilts heavily to our advantage with our tremendous perimeter defenders.
They were making tough shots but they were mostly all contested 2 pointers.
I expect them to change their offense up next game with a lot more off ball actions for their big 3 and Nurkic facilitating more.

Huge win from a confidence perspective after getting smoked 3 times in the regular season.

The hard thing being a fan of this team is knowing we can play this well, but not seeing it nearly often enough.
I hope we keep bringing it because if we do the sky is the limit.