However this series goes, just want to say thanks for the thoughtful, insightful analysis of what's been the most fun season of basketball I can remember as an adult.
I’ve been waiting for this breakdown. Most underrated Chanel on RU-vid. Excellent insight, video clips and deep understanding of the game shared simply without drama.
Me as well, but Mr. Painting brings up a good point on how that 2 big lineup is getting touched against the Sun's. But if you turn it over almost 20 times in the 1st half alone, it won't matter. So it's a 1A and 1B concept.
@Stryk3out I agree but they are very thin roster wise. So unless they play their big 3 all game. There will be chances at runs. But turnovers are the biggest issue in this series. Like I said 1A and 1B.
If KAT didn't start but instead came in for Rudy, that would also allow us to either get Nurkic in foul trouble (or wear him out) or let KAT just absolutely *feast* on their back-up centers. It's utilizing our two bigs in a very different way!
5:29 exactly None of this “Jaden on KD” business. Put your worst defender on somebody who is gonna go off anyways and put Jaden on somebody who he can actually stop
@@skoolynugenator1802Kat can't stay on him KD will get hot if you leave Kat on him. He will pull up on those 14-18 foot jumpers and once he gets in a rhythm it will just be worse. There is literally one way to make KD worse and it's not kat
Phoenix was killing the Wolves with screens, so getting in guys quick enough to get around them or switch in time seems key to not getting lit up again & again. Then not killing themselves with sloppy passes/turnovers in general. Not being able to really play more than 1 big at a time makes Phoenix their kryptonite, unless their bigs like Naz & KAT are able to get thru/around their incessant screening, as Rudy is best staying on whichever big of theirs is rolling to the rim. Thanks again for the great content, H4G!
Couldn’t agree more. Playing big got us here, but it can’t be our hill to die on. NAW at 3, Jaden at 4 and Rudy at 5. Naz and Kat come in to destroy Phenix’s bench
Booker and kawhi the main players to transform big in the playoffs. I believe booker will have better elimination games with the help of KD and Beal also.
I’d say the 35 points off turnovers seem to be responsible for the high scoring last game. The other game we kept them under 100. The first game was back to back after a fight five months ago. Sure there’s defense issues but the suns do that to every team and they aren’t undefeated. It’s the turnovers and slow starts that are the issue.
Unsurprisingly, I agree with your analysis. KAT on KD makes the most sense to stay big but if they go away from it, they have plenty of perimeter defenders they can put out to slow down Phoenix. Will be curious to see how the team responds on Saturday.
KD will own KAT KD is the type of player no matter how hard you guard/defend him he’s still rising up and making that shot. And people will say ohh well just double him, okay you double KD, then you have Booker, Beal and Allen all capable of taking that shot and making it.
I think our best option is definitely going with a small lineup. We can get by with two bigs against the Clippers because they play iso, but the Suns are too quick and move the ball way too much for bigs to chase around guards. If you bring Naz And KAT off the bench against their bench, it will be a blood bath.
This is coming from a Suns fan, so im biased, but...the wolves' really good defense this season is a lot of quickly closing out on the three to let the other team drive on Gobert in drop coverage. Doing this leaves the midrange open more than usual. What do Book, KD and Beal all have in common? They're good/great midrange scorers. But with that being said, if we turn the ball over 30 times a game we dont have a chance...
Just to give you some insight from the other side. It’s a common strategy for the suns to hunt KAT. They want to attack KAT. So if KAT is on Durant, expect a lot of Durant screens go Book or Beal to attack KAT either to score or to drive a dish to KD.
Could you break down what has been giving ant trouble when we’ve played the suns this season and how he may need to adjust his game in this series? I’m just worried about how he struggled against the suns so far this season and how we may need to rely more on KAT
Not a full breakdown and im not the guy running the channel, but coming from a suns fan a lot of what we did was kinda just form a triangle around him. He likes to get the basket to use his athleticism. So when he drives, we over collapse in the paint forcing him to 1. Take a tough shot, or 2. Kick it out and hopefully get a good closeout or the shooter misses.
You can win and beat the Suns even if KD and Booker are going for 60-70 if they are taking midrange shots to do that. You can’t win if all of the other players are taking and making lots of high percentage shots and they also have Durant and Booker to go to when they need it. Similar to letting Jokic score, let them try to out midrange shot you. You can generate better offense even than an elite mid range team and maybe they win 1-2 games but they won’t win 4 if that’s what you make them rely on. Bait them into being stagnant and jumper heavy. Don’t get demoralized or start chasing and over helping or contesting to stop them from taking the midrange shot. Ideally it’s not shots where it’s come off of a screen 1 dribble and step into space with rhythm but to some extent if they hit 60+% of their midrange shots no team including Denver is beating them. Tip your cap, stay within your structure, focus on your process and trust over a 7 game series you win at least 4. The wolves can’t try to be perfect and fall into the trap that because PHX loves to get to the midrange shot you have to over emphasize trying to shut it down. If you do that then all of a sudden they are breaking the defensive structure and attacking rotations and getting tons of open 3’s and cuts/rolls to the rim. THAT is what’s impossible to beat… the good mid range efficiency combined with the latter.
They can get away with 2 bigs when 1 of their main 4 is on the bench. I think either Kat needs to sit early with the first sub being Kyle or naw starts at the the 3 and Jaden at the 4 let Kat play more backup center and Naz against their bench. Naz prob ends up playing way less mins.
No, Minnesota can’t defend the suns if the big 3 of the suns are playing elite basketball. The problem with phoenix have been that either one of the big three are injured or 2 of the big three combine with Grayson Allen are having a rough shooting night. If Minnesota can stop 2 of the big 3 in 4 out of 7 games . They will win.
Stop reacting to them. Make them react to us. I would triple down on size and try to get Nurk in foul trouble. Ant/Jaden/Naz/Kat/Rudy is a lineup I would try. This is partly why I wanted to trade for Drummond at the deadline. It gives you more flexibility with Naz and keeps a rebounding/paint presence when Rudy sits or is in foul trouble.
They literally stop themselves. Suns haven't impressed me to the point where i think they are better. The wolves start these games slow, startled, and anxious. The suns have only dominated us in the 1st. 2nd half, they slow down bc they can't sustain that high-powered offense without exhausting their resources on defense. I wouldn't be surprised if the wolves sweep them.
They demolished the Timberwolves three times this year, and I mean demolished, beat down, and each time ANT no show. I understand that KD is ANT favorite player, but he needs to stop admiring the guy and stop being a fan watching KD play instead of playing the guy. Getting matched up with the Sun is the worst scenario Timberwolves could put themselves into. Every time they face off, it is like grownup playing against kids. It's just absolutely demolish beat down every time. At best, I'll say Timberwolves can win one game. Other than that, this is too easy for the sun.
Its going the full distance Minnesota in 7 mostly due to homecourt as both teams will they can and they will win on each other's courts but I think in the end as that series goes on further that's why I think it's going to go the full 7:00 I think it favors Minnesota a little more even though they're kind of inexperience but they do have some experience they have strong defense they just struggle at times on offense but I think that it will pick it up that's why I think it's going the full distance because Phoenix is a very good team but I think Minnesota their defense can wear them out enough as long as they can keep the offense going they should win it in 7 I don't think it'll be less than seven they're too closely matched
I think Wolves so far in their comments have been mum. I fully expect them to go with different rotations or Kat coming off the bench. They understand how important this series is.
