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

[Texas Chuck]

For a team that struggles offensively stretching the floor as much as Minnesota does in segments, it's wild that Minnesota had three of the top 22 3-point percentages in the league on the roster (Conley, Towns, Reid).

I love these data tidbits you keep sharing.

One thing I can see is that those 3 guys are not one of the 20 most used 3-man lineups by Minny this year. And despite both starting, Conley and Towns are the 10th most common duo and neither of the other two possible combos are in the top 20.

So if you played all 3 of them around Edwards more, you'd probably really see that spacing benefit in action, but we just aren't seeing them go to that lineup much. And I looked and those 3 with Edwards is not a top 20 4-man unit.

I'm guessing for a defense first team, Finch doesn't like how that looks defensively?

[PierceFan4ever]

Let’s go Wolves! We need more playoff games

[MrGoat]

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...

If we prove that we can win two in a row against this team, then why can't we do it again?

Honestly, it feels kind of fun knowing that the team is clearly cooked. Pretty much only a chance to make history, the whole disappointment angle has been thoroughly experienced.

As a Mavs fan who still vividly remembers how stressed I was after the Mavs took a 3-0 lead on Portland and entered the 4th quarter of game 7 down, I'm not one to want the Mavs to take game 4 lightly. Lively's a huge loss, if Luka and Kyrie don't both kill it again on offense this is very likely heading to game 5 after tonight

[Baz]

Another chance tonight for Kyrie to extend his unbeaten record in closeout games to 15-0. That man is on a streak the Undertaker would be proud of, & Minnesota will have to embody Brock Lesnar (which is befitting as Minny is Brock's home town).

[KamikazeK]

Another chance tonight for Kyrie to extend his unbeaten record in closeout games to 15-0. That man is on a streak the Undertaker would be proud of, & Minnesota will have to embody Brock Lesnar (which is befitting as Minny is Brock's home town).

That streak should end tonight. If the Wolves can't even get a single win off these mavericks then they're a complete joke of a team, not even worthy of being spoken of in the same zip code as a serious contender.

[LaLover11]

Another chance tonight for Kyrie to extend his unbeaten record in closeout games to 15-0. That man is on a streak the Undertaker would be proud of, & Minnesota will have to embody Brock Lesnar (which is befitting as Minny is Brock's home town).

That streak should end tonight. If the Wolves can't even get a single win off these mavericks then they're a complete joke of a team, not even worthy of being spoken of in the same zip code as a serious contender.

Relax Wolves winning tonight

[Wammy Giveaway]

Free game means the opponent gifts the losing team Game 4, just so they can feel good about themselves. A forced game is obviously the opposite. By virtue of Scott Foster, that means Game 4 is rigged: the league wants the series extended so as to not stain what looks to be a promising future for Anthony Edwards. They still have to abide to the automatic series loss, but at least there are bright years ahead. Perhaps rigging a 3-0 lead series might be the only way we will ever have a true comeback. Yeah, it will be scrutinized but should the 3-0 win record reach to 200, at what point will the league say to itself that the NBA deserves a curse-reverse.

[Klomp]

Free game means the opponent gifts the losing team Game 4, just so they can feel good about themselves. A forced game is obviously the opposite. By virtue of Scott Foster, that means Game 4 is rigged: the league wants the series extended so as to not stain what looks to be a promising future for Anthony Edwards. They still have to abide to the automatic series loss, but at least there are bright years ahead. Perhaps rigging a 3-0 lead series might be the only way we will ever have a true comeback. Yeah, it will be scrutinized but should the 3-0 win record reach to 200, at what point will the league say to itself that the NBA deserves a curse-reverse.

Scott Foster is offset by Ed Malloy's presence though....

Watch on YouTube

[Ballings7]

Placing the call...

Minny is winning the next two

Seal, book, and send it.

[RunOKC]

Hoping Minnesota wins a game or two

If Dallas ends it we have 9 days between today and the finals with no games

[djsunyc]

Hoping Minnesota wins a game or two

If Dallas ends it we have 9 days between today and the finals with no games

i expect alot of nba rumblings and grumblings in the interim.

[Zeno]

Free game means the opponent gifts the losing team Game 4, just so they can feel good about themselves. A forced game is obviously the opposite. By virtue of Scott Foster, that means Game 4 is rigged: the league wants the series extended so as to not stain what looks to be a promising future for Anthony Edwards. They still have to abide to the automatic series loss, but at least there are bright years ahead. Perhaps rigging a 3-0 lead series might be the only way we will ever have a true comeback. Yeah, it will be scrutinized but should the 3-0 win record reach to 200, at what point will the league say to itself that the NBA deserves a curse-reverse.

Scott Foster is offset by Ed Malloy's presence though....

Watch on YouTube

This is super additive. Has someone ever posted that "D'oh Ed Malloy" call on loop over a missed call montage?

[bb22]

Shaq just said the Great Ones average 9-10ppg more in the playoffs.

[Klomp]

Draymond Green is so clueless and out of his element that he thinks Chris Finch was on the 2018-19 Toronto coaching staff.

[Klomp]

Shaq just said the Great Ones average 9-10ppg more in the playoffs.

I guess he's not one of the great ones....

23.7 ppg in regular season career
24.3 ppg in postseason career

[unbiased]

[blueberrysticky]

Shaq just said the Great Ones average 9-10ppg more in the playoffs.

+ 9-10 is absurd unless you’re averaging under 20 in the regular season and play out of your mind. More of a sign of poor baseline play

[durden_tyler]

Near tip-off lines: Wolves +1.5 | O/U 211.0

Not much movement throughout as Wolves opened +2 i believe. Line movement says bunch of money (perhaps split no clear "public" bet) but majority on the over.

Via Vegas lines alone, i think this is over tonight (on a hard-fought very low-scoring game)

i'd love the series to be extended for more basketball but that puts my Mavs +1 series bet in danger as the Timberwolves are a dangerous team if and when they find they groove (like back to back wins groove, which they are capable of) so i hope Mavs play with the same sense of urgency tonight.

[Domejandro]

Oh a Dirk homer doesn't want to hear about self-proclaimed best shooting big man ever. Now I know you put the caveat of 3-pt shooting which Dirk didn't employ at volume in his prime at all so I have to concede that to Towns.

But I think Matt Bonner is probably the most consistent 3-pt shooting big man of all-time.

Official Warning: We will not stand Steve Novak erasure on this beautiful forum.

That's former Mav great Steve Novak. Even briefly on the Mavs championship team (lost his spot to the Janitor in teh end). Shot 75% for us too. (3/4 )

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I looked it up because I was curious. Mark Cuban did that man dirty, get Steve his ring!

[PierceFan4ever]

Wolves got this