2024 NBA Playoffs: Western Conference Finals: #3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs #5 Dallas Mavericks (DAL leads 3-1)

[bisme37]

[azcatz11]

If any team can come back, it’s the timber

[bisme37]

Continued from here: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2381642&p=113452258#p113452258

I made a new thread now because I'm trying to stick to the 100 page limit and I figure it's better to lock the previous thread now than in the middle of the game tonight haha.

Enjoy the big game everyone.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Is the public clamoring for NBA players screaming to nobody in particular or something?

It's in the first image in this thread. And it's often the last slo-mo shot going into commercials, before games, during routine highlights during games, et al.

At least now I know what led to my burgeoning NBA career fizzling out. I never quite got that angry but super intense and ecstatic look on my face.

[zeebneeb]

Let's see if Minny has any fight left.

[Domejandro]

Read on Twitter

Excited to see if Minnesota can put up a fight at home in game five.

[SweaterBae]

Continued from here: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2381642&p=113452258#p113452258

I made a new thread now because I'm trying to stick to the 100 page limit and I figure it's better to lock the previous thread now than in the middle of the game tonight haha.

Enjoy the big game everyone.

tyfys

[MrGoat]

Read on Twitter

Excited to see if Minnesota can put up a fight at home in game five.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't see that coming.

Making the bisme37 vs. Dirk showdown thread official might have to wait an extra couple days

[Klomp]

I'm back to feeling semi-optimistic after a 36-hour depressed state. If we get one, I feel decently confident in our ability to get a second. And from there, who knows...

That Lively injury is so huge, because I'd argue its biggest effect was that it gave Ant a little more confidence in finding driving lanes and finishing than he had earlier in the series. Unlocking him is the first step to unlocking Minnesota's offense.

[Jadoogar]

i thought Wolves were done when they were down 3-2 to the Nuggets and they came back to win a very improbable game 7. I don't think they'll win this series but i think they can push this to 6.

[blueberrysticky]

No lively and Scott foster reffing. Timberwolves better win this one

Lively is the athletic rim protector that helps neutralize athletic downhill players

[Texas Chuck]

That Lively injury is so huge

The Dwight Powel disrespect

Curious to see how much Kleber can play and can he be effective? He's such a different big man. Even Powell is just another roll man offensively with an ability in the short roll not as tragic as Gafford, but not as good as Lively. But Kleber will operate as a spacer and he's the best equipped Dallas big to switch defensively.

Gafford might can give them a few more minutes, but I think they will still try and keep him at or under 25 minutes so one of the other bigs needs to be able to contribute.

My curiosity is whether or not Minny really has the stomach for the fight. I expect them to come out and throw a big punch, but if Dallas parries it and takes a double digit lead, I want to see which guys still fight and which guys say screw it let me get my trip to Southern France booked.

Admire the optimism though knowing its 0-154. Sure hope the Wolves don't play the Brock Lesnar role, but he is a Minny guy so....

[Klomp]

That Lively injury is so huge

The Dwight Powel disrespect

Which is actually interesting considering Powell has been a Wolves killer in the past....

[tsherkin]

That Lively injury is so huge, because I'd argue its biggest effect was that it gave Ant a little more confidence in finding driving lanes and finishing than he had earlier in the series. Unlocking him is the first step to unlocking Minnesota's offense.

I think the series is quite likely over tonight, but if Lively rests and Ant has a big game, win or lose I think that ends up being good for his development. This isn't Minny's year for several reasons, but if Ant can use this postseason as a learning experience to help get himself going, that would be more important than putting a win or two down in this series, I think. More confidence, more aggression/assertiveness with his drives, more use of his mid-range game, better regular season, better seed, easier road through next season, right?

[Baz]

I have a horrible feeling Minnesota will get the next 2

[Klomp]

I have a horrible feeling Minnesota will get the next 2

That's not horrible at all!

My gut feeling as well is if we get one, we'll get two...

[AbeVigodaLive]

That Lively injury is so huge

The Dwight Powel disrespect

Curious to see how much Kleber can play and can he be effective? He's such a different big man. Even Powell is just another roll man offensively with an ability in the short roll not as tragic as Gafford, but not as good as Lively. But Kleber will operate as a spacer and he's the best equipped Dallas big to switch defensively.

Gafford might can give them a few more minutes, but I think they will still try and keep him at or under 25 minutes so one of the other bigs needs to be able to contribute.

My curiosity is whether or not Minny really has the stomach for the fight. I expect them to come out and throw a big punch, but if Dallas parries it and takes a double digit lead, I want to see which guys still fight and which guys say screw it let me get my trip to Southern France booked.

Admire the optimism though knowing its 0-154. Sure hope the Wolves don't play the Brock Lesnar role, but he is a Minny guy so....

I think we'll know pretty early, too. But I was thinking it would be Dallas trying to put the Timberwolves out of their collective misery.

The thing about the Timberwolves team... is that it's arguably the most resilient team in franchise history (I know, that's not saying much). But... they've shown legit fighting chops before. Maybe meaningless... but I think you can learn about a team even during the regular season.

- Games 6 and 7 of the 2nd round vs. Denver obviously
- In January vs. Boston. It was the end of a 4 games in 6 days road trip. But the team was stuck in Orlando overnight before the back-to-back in Boston to end the trip. After a night waiting for a flight, the team arrived in Boston on game day. No Conley. No Gobert. This is USUALLY a scheduled loss 99% of the time. The game was a battle the entire way and went to OT.
- Later in the season, the Wolves played Denver on the backend of a road/home back-to-back after a six-game road trip. No Gobert. No Towns. No Naz Reid. And yet... the Wolves took the game down to the final second. Literally.

So there are precedents that indicate that the Timberwolves will show fight in Game 4. But there's always a limit. And the Mavs have pushed the Timberwolves to their limit. They haven't lost 4 games in a row all season... but there are a ton of unprecedented things going on right now so nothing would surprise me at this point.]

[dakomish23]

PHX 4 games
19.3 PPG 9.5 RPG 2.5 APG 0.5 SPG 1.0 BPG
53.1% on 12.3 FGA
52.9% on 4.3 3PA
88.9% on 4.5 FTA

DEN 6 games
18.6 PPG 9.1 RPG 3.0 APG 0.9 SPG 0.4 BPG
51.0% on 13.7 FGA
39.4% on 4.7 3PA
79.2% on 3.4 FTA

DAL 3 games
15.0 PPG 8.3 RPG 2.7 APG 1.0 SPG 0.0 BPG
27.8% on 18.0 FGA
13.6% on 7.3 3PA
85.7% on 4.7 FTA

KAT was great the first two rounds. Versus DAL he has been a complete disaster. He better show up for game 4

[Chuck Everett]

Dallas closes 'em out. Only way T-Wolves win is being up 15 with under 5 to go in the ballgame. Can Towns and Ant not only score, but be efficient in doing so? I have my doubts.

[KamikazeK]

I think we'll have a game 5 on Thursday.