People are harping on Gobert over the last two games, but as this shows, KAT has been just embarrassing on D lately. If he can't keep his court vision from becoming too narrow, we're toast.
He’s been really bad (not the only one) the past two games. When him or the POA defenders are bad Gobert gets put in really weird spots and he ends up looking worse than everybody
@@howlsandgrowlshoops probably not the best use of time because some of us (still not Finchy, sadly) always knew he was gonna be a liability. The better question is how has NAW gone from being +40k the first two games to dead weight in these losses?
Agreed. And the example of the pressure being created by Murray’s agility improvement was against SloMo who has been bad as a POA defender this series.
Super soft whistle altered the entire perimeter approach. No one with a straight face can say the wolves lose game 4 if they got the same whistle they received the first 2 games. This isn't to say its the refs fault as the wolves should be used to this and have tools to deal. But its the largest factor and I guess analysts just want to pretend its not a thing?
I can pretty confidently say that KAT is our weak link on defense. When one chain fails, the rest does. That coupled with him being inconsistent on offense and trying to do too much as opposed to staying in his role has derailed us the last 2 games.
1. I think they didn't figure out much. For some illogical reason, The Timberwolves stopped doing what worked for them in the first two games: deny the pick and roll pass and slow down the Jamal Murray-Jokic 2-man game (Thinking Bball). We can all notice the difference in the videos of game 1 and two, most of the time Towns turned to the Joker in each switch attempt, got back to him.
You also have to mention that the Nuggets started using Aaron Gordon as a Point Forward. The Wolves can't do that full court press they did in Games 1-2 on Gordon because he's just too big. And having Gordon shining as a shooting threat is just one threat too many. In Game 4, MPJ - who's shooting over 50% from 3 - only took 4 shots the whole game.
Not sure the rule in nba regarding blind side pick, but in high school it's a point of emphasis every year. The rule is on blind side screens, the screener setting up has to be a foot or two from defender to allow the defender to avoid collision. Jokic doesn't ever allow any separation. He jumps right into the defender. He's initiating contact. I don't know any respectable official that would allow many of his screens. I also don't know anyone that would ever allow a post player to displace defender all the way down to the hoop. You're allowed vertical position. They call any slight bump on defense, why not Jokic on offense when he's elbowing defender as he bull rams him 3-6 times?
It's not the offense of Denver but Minnie's defense, wolves at a bit slow at the perimeter...containing the perimeter is the key, jokic will be jokic but at 7 games? Still Denver's bench / gordon killed us, not thinking it will last for 6 7 games, plus the fact that kat Reid did went off offensively, jmac even... Still firmly believe wolves in 7
Truly believe that MIN has to get back to purely defending Jokic 1v1 with KAT/Gobert for 48 minutes. If he goes for 50 on 27 shots, great. Shut off all the rest of the water.
Said this earlier to a buddy. Spot on. The only trick part is how good the pick and roll is. I’m a Rudy defender and a huge fan, and this has little to do with game 2,, but our small ball lineup that switches everything is just more suited to play defense against Denver’s insanely methodical and quick ball movement.
I don’t understand basketball. Suns destroy us in regular season and we sweep in the playoffs. We destroy the nugs two games at home and they return the favor in our house.
It looks like the timberwolves just stop defending like they were in the first two. Denver doesn't look like they are doing anything different the twolves look like they are trying to defend differently.
Bruh 😂 do you even watch the game? Denver has made 3 solid adjustments which you'll not have a counter to only thing Minnesota can pray is AG misses his shots coz if he doesn't you all are done.
Yeah true. The Denver frauds only win in a couple seasons where teams are starting to coke together. This Denver team wouldn't beat any prior champion in nba history. They are garbage. Twolves are super young. You won't be saying that much longer with your joker joke mvp! He is bad for the game and he makes basketball look horrible.
