2025 NBA PLAYOFFS West Semifinals: #6 Minnesota Timberwolves vs #7 Golden State Warriors (GSW leads 1-0)

[TimberKat]

I don't know how Wolves can defend the Warriors P&R. If you put Gobert on Green, Steph will eat him alive. If you don't put him on Green then he probably would have to guard Jimmy. Can he do that as well as Adams did?

Same way they defend Luka. Chase Curry around screens is more of the issue than p&r.

[LSWF]

I don't know how Wolves can defend the Warriors P&R. If you put Gobert on Green, Steph will eat him alive. If you don't put him on Green then he probably would have to guard Jimmy. Can he do that as well as Adams did?

Hmm...can the 4 time dpoy come close to defending as well? We will see.

[Impuniti]

Kerr can't go small against Minnesota. I look for Looney and Draymond to be on the floor together a lot this series. Trace Jackson-Davis may end up out there at some point too. Randle vrs Green is as nasty as it gets. Minnesota is very physical.

You clearly do not know Steve Kerr

[Jta444]

I don't know how Wolves can defend the Warriors P&R. If you put Gobert on Green, Steph will eat him alive. If you don't put him on Green then he probably would have to guard Jimmy. Can he do that as well as Adams did?

Gobert’s perimeter defense is always underrated.
And as much as I love Steph, he’s still a great shooter but one of the things that has declined significantly is his driving game and quickness.

If this was even 2022 Steph I’d lean Warriors easily. He would cook Gobert and drive all game and when Gobert would give space that’s when he’d shoot the lights out. Warriors in 5 with 2022 Steph. But he’s not getting any younger.

Steph does have Jimmy Butler though. Though I think his glute injury is still affecting him. It’s very bad timing for the Warriors. If Jimmy can come back to form though, I would go Warriors in 7.

[NCHeels2008]

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And they took Wiseman instead, not wise.

instead? They didn't have a choice, it was James or LaMelo (which they still screwed up but Ant wasn't an option)

[Black Jack]

Warriors in 7.

The Dubs plan - to me:

1. target Rudy with PnR so Curry can bbq him in the open court 1:1 and get him off the floor
2. let Jimmy play a mental game vs Ant
3. Draymond lock up Randle inside
4. Target Conley if he's guarding Curry

I think getting Gobert off the court is key because obviously the Warriors potential kryptonite is bigs.

[Black Jack]

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And they took Wiseman instead, not wise.

instead? They didn't have a choice, it was James or LaMelo (which they still screwed up but Ant wasn't an option)

Or, the galaxy brain move, drafting Halliburton who they did work out and liked

[Gregoire]

GSW in 7

[floppymoose]

I wonder if the schedule will get to the older Warriors. They've played every other day for the last 5 games straight in the 1st round, and the first 5 games of this series are every other day too.

10 games in 19 days, and all against physical and exhausting teams like Houston and Minnesota. It's a gauntlet.

Not just that… Steph and Jimmy played almost all of game 7. Thats 72 years of life experience I expect a Wolves blowout in game 1. After that the series will (i hope) begin.

[TimberKat]

Kerr can't go small against Minnesota. I look for Looney and Draymond to be on the floor together a lot this series. Trace Jackson-Davis may end up out there at some point too. Randle vrs Green is as nasty as it gets. Minnesota is very physical.

You clearly do not know Steve Kerr

GSW can go smaller than LAL but Wolves' Randle/Naz lineup worked against LAL's lineup. MIN has enough guys to go smaller but still bigger than GSW with JMcD, DDV, NAW, Clark, and Terrence Shannon Jr. If big lineup works, I expected Randle play better than Sengun and Gobert is better Adams. HOU also don't have someone like Ant.

[KGDirkTD_Fan]

I don't have a ton of faith on Warriors seeing the last series, Curry looked vulnerable at times and the team has tendency to put up stinkers but one thing I can never figure out is the teams that tend to get better in every series, it feels random at times but it wouldn't surprise me if it's the Warriors in this case.

The good thing about some of the grim parts of that series was Kerr being forced to play some of his less reliable players and see what they can do. It may pay dividends this series...probably not Kuminga. Curious how much Looney will be played, they need size but they may stick to the small ball lineups.

[DonaldSanders]

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And they took Wiseman instead, not wise.

Are you actually a Wolves fan? Ant went #1. Wiseman #2.

[TimberKat]

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And they took Wiseman instead, not wise.

Are you actually a Wolves fan? Ant went #1. Wiseman #2.

Yes, the point is on the "Drive and enthusiasm". Have you seen it with Wiseman?

[mdonnelly1989]

Julius Randle, Naz Reed and Gobert dominated the Lakers because they were too small. Warriors have the exact same problem.

On top of that, Warriors need too much offensive production from Steph Exactly where the Wolves are great defensively between Ant & Jayden.

Warriors are going to have to claw, scrape and melt their way to 6 games IMO.

[LSWF]

I'm glad the GSW took Kuminga over Wagner in the 21 draft.

[Lakers In 5]

I am leaning towards Minnesota in 5.

[nazario]

Wolves are favorites, no doubt.
The warriors must be fried. Almost wish they just punt away the first game, let the old timers get some more rest.

But, i will say this. The wolves doesn't have the same defense to throw at Curry. Chasing someone for a whole game is very different from squaring up with two more stationary players like Lebron and Luka. Ant seems like the type to thrive in 1vs1's on defense - and being prone to lapses if its offball work, and Mcdaniels isn't as quick as an Amen Thompson. Though, the Wolves have a far better offense than the Rockets.

[ILOVEIT]

Rudy will either help Wolves win or get run off the floor. If Warriors get loose, Gobert wont' be playing many minutes. If it's small ball vs small ball.....I think it's a 50/50 series.

[ballzboyee]

Butler, Green, and Curry are all extremely high IQ and maybe they can control the series and make it interesting, but other than that the Wolves have pretty significant advantages across the board. Two years ago Ant would have been the third best player behind Curry and Butler. Now the Wolves have the best player in Ant, and I don't even think it is that close. However, Butler is so spooky. I can never completely discount a team that has Jimmy G. Buckets. There is always the chance he could go Super Saiyan and activate the Best Player card. It could get interesting. Intriguing series.

[TimberKat]

Where is our euro basketball fans? Are they still interested in NBA playoffs? Maybe that is one reason NBA needs Luka or Jokic in the finals Yes, I am already thinking the next series of a rematch of Antman vs the Joker.