2024 NBA Playoffs: Western Conference Finals: #3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs #5 Dallas Mavericks (DAL WINS 4-1)

[GSP]

I think its telling Kat and Finch both brought up conditioning and fitness in the presser

Ant said he was gonna get back to his program in college where he was uncomfortable and at his best fitness level

Ants 22yo but he was visibly gassing most games of this series including blowing an 18pt lead in game 2

He doesnt strike me as someone on a strict diet either lol bro prolly still eats Mcdonalds daily

[Oscar9992]

Turns out Luka was talking smack to the Fan, not to Snoop Dog

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[MN7725]

I think its telling Kat and Finch both brought up conditioning and fitness in the presser

Ant said he was gonna get back to his program in college where he was uncomfortable and at his best fitness level

Ants 22yo but he was visibly gassing most games of this series including blowing an 18pt lead in game 2

He doesnt strike me as someone on a strict diet either lol bro prolly still eats Mcdonalds daily

ANT will be in the Olympics, so will get that conditioning instead of playing pickup football or whatever he usually does in offseason

[Klomp]

I think its telling Kat and Finch both brought up conditioning and fitness in the presser

Ant said he was gonna get back to his program in college where he was uncomfortable and at his best fitness level

Ants 22yo but he was visibly gassing most games of this series including blowing an 18pt lead in game 2

He doesnt strike me as someone on a strict diet either lol bro prolly still eats Mcdonalds daily

Towns is less than two months removed from significant surgery. That matters.
Most of these players have never played more than ~85 games combined in a season. They played an extra 10 games this year. That matters.

[OkcSinceSGA]

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[Dan33185]

I think its telling Kat and Finch both brought up conditioning and fitness in the presser

Ant said he was gonna get back to his program in college where he was uncomfortable and at his best fitness level

Ants 22yo but he was visibly gassing most games of this series including blowing an 18pt lead in game 2

He doesnt strike me as someone on a strict diet either lol bro prolly still eats Mcdonalds daily

I'd be shocked if he didn't add muscle during the offseason, I think this playoff run has opened his eyes to the need to take care of his body better (at least I hope so), and he'll adjust his diet/workout regime accordingly. Disappointing end to the season for sure, but it was a heck of a fun run for a franchise that has been the worst in sports for almost 35 years. Good learning experience, and hopefully they use those lessons and avoid the same mistakes next season/playoffs. No reason to think it won't be Dallas vs Wolves again at some point in the playoffs again.

[Oscar9992]

Dereck Lively's impact in 2024 NBA Playoffs...

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[Wammy Giveaway]

Disney film aficionados should be familiar with the movie "Angels In The Outfield," a sports comedy drama about an orphan who prays for the California Angels to win the pennant so that he can have a family. Enter Al (Christopher Lloyd), an angel who grants his wish by way of divine intervention, ie. fellow angels help the Angels. This is how I interpret 3-0 leads in the NBA - the moment a team wins Game 3 to take the commanding lead, the series is instantly taken over by divine intervention.

Take for example the Timberwolves's 3-point shooting percentage. Per game in the regular season, they were 3rd at 0.387, just behind the Celtics (2nd, 0.388) and Thunder (1st, 0.389). Mavericks were 13th with 0.369. Before the 3-0 lead, Mavs had a 3P% of 0.376. After, Dallas ballooned to 0.395, and that includes their bad 0.350 in the free game. Even though the Wolves actually improved in this category (0.385 after the automatic series loss versus 0.351 en route to commanding lead), there was still that ominous feeling of the Wolves's 3-point shooting being taken away to ensure the unbeaten 3-0 lead stays unbeaten (now at 156 wins straight). And this is part of why 3-0 leads will never be broken: they just give up.

It also didn't help that all the team cared about was avoiding the dreaded sweep. They knew they automatically lost, so they just used everything they had left to win Game 4 just so they can feel good about themselves for that one game, pretend that they did get one. They can paint the series to appear as if they took a 1-0 lead in Game 1, tied the series 1-1 in Game 2, or prevented the 3-0 lead in Game 3. But that Game 4 win also had the Mavericks trying to make the sweep extra special similar to what we saw tonight with them going up 36 points in the middle of the 3rd, so in a way they got sidetracked. As we all know, good teams learn from their mistakes.

For all intents and purposes, the Wolves just kept spinning the insanity slot machine to get three 7s. Instead, they ended up with the cherry, the symbol representing the lowest possible payout.

[Oscar9992]

NBA's #1 Defense against Luka Doncic

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[knicksfan974]

Have to say that Luka & Kyrie proved me wrong, I expected Minnesota to advance but hats off to the Mavs. I will root for you in the Finals.

[Black Jack]

Mavs are better. That said I expected more this game from the wolves and getting blown away like that isn 't great. I'm not convinced they should stand pat roster wise.

[Ssj16]

Congrats to Dallas. Even tho I voted for Minnesota to win at the start of the series it was more so because I had money on them but immediately after game 1, my heart was with Dallas.

I liked how Luka tightened up his game in the second round and reduced his whining. I'm definitely going to be cheering for them in the finals.

Respect to the Wolves too for making it this far. Earlier I crowned Ant for what he did to the Nuggets but clearly he still has some room to grow. Best luck next year.

[Archx]

Holy **** hahahahahha!!!

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His facial expression was hillarious. Finley really said you can get fat after the finals

[Mavrelous]

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[Wolfgang630]

Let’s just pray Kyrie or Luka don’t get injured.

[hardenASG13]

Dereck Lively's impact in 2024 NBA Playoffs...

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He and Gafford were better rim protectors than Gobert in the series (and they were elite in the OKC series too).

[Petergrifindor]

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STEAL OF THE NIGHT.

[Petergrifindor]

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=

[makubesu]

A Mavs - Celtics finals is going to be so toxic I might need to avoid social media (including realgm)for awhile haha. But on the plus side, I have to say the Mavs made me sick of watching Gobert and Townes on offense. Going into the finals, I think we’ve got two teams whose guys know their games well, so I hope it makes for a good watch.

[Crunch 99]

I think its telling Kat and Finch both brought up conditioning and fitness in the presser

Ant said he was gonna get back to his program in college where he was uncomfortable and at his best fitness level

Ants 22yo but he was visibly gassing most games of this series including blowing an 18pt lead in game 2

He doesnt strike me as someone on a strict diet either lol bro prolly still eats Mcdonalds daily

Normal growing pains. NBA players don't know what kind of conditioning is necessary to win deep in the playoffs until they have gone deep in the playoffs. It's a good thing Ant publicly recognized that he needs to come back in better condition. Also, I wouldn't make too much of the fact that he was gassing at only 22 years old. Most athletes don't hit their endurance peak until much older. Ant has a very bright future imo.