Series Thread: Western Conference Finals: (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (6) Minnesota Timberwolves

[eaglesnut]

They asked Ant about it after the game, he said they had to get in the film room and figure it out because there was literally no where to go in the lane with all the gap closing the Thunder did.

This is how the team I coached won the championship. Works at every level.

 

[eaglesnut]

They have had multiple cold games like that in the playoffs. I am not sure i have seen them get that many wide open looks from the outside, so I would hope it was an aberration.

Let them shoot it from outside. It makes them soft. Easy wins when the other team goes soft.

 

[Picklerick 2.0]

This stat right here is why I said what I said. Make your shots and you will be in most of these games

They been shooting like this all playoffs. Not expecting any change.

 

[Pastafazul]

Ant gonna keep actin like a fool this is over in 4

 

[Mebert]

Let them shoot it from outside. It makes them soft. Easy wins when the other team goes soft.

Thunder packed the paint to stop anything down there all game. Wolves have to hit the three to force them out of the paint so they can take it in after.

It's not about soft, they have to hit open shots to force Thunder to adapt.

 

[bksballer89]

They been shooting like this all playoffs. Not expecting any change.

True about NAW and Donte but Reid is shooting 40% from 3 in the playoffs

 

[eaglesnut]

Thunder packed the paint to stop anything down there all game. Wolves have to hit the three to force them out of the paint so they can take it in after.

It's not about soft, they have to hit shots to force Thunder to adapt.

Shooting from outside and knowing you can't go inside is super soft.

I'm an outside shooter. Can't really make anything until I get dirty down low. Running around the outside is lame basketball every time.

One thing about the NBA playoffs that is great is you can't play lame like that in a 7 game series. You will lose before the next game even starts. Like some Sun Tzu shit.

 

[Mebert]

Shooting from outside and knowing you can't go inside is super soft.

I'm an outside shooter. Can't really make anything until I get dirty down low. Running around the outside is lame basketball every time.

One thing about the NBA playoffs that is great is you can't play lame like that in a 7 game series. You will lose before the next game even starts. Like some Sun Tzu shit.

If you completely ignore the other teams part in this you have a solid point here. Thunder played the entire game packing the paint, they triple teamed Randle when he got the ball down low.

39 of the Wolves 3s got an open ranking because Thunder put everything down low and completely ignored the outside. I don't care how tough you are, unless you have prime Shaq your points are not coming from there. If wolves hit 15% more of the wide open 3s Thunder have to adjust to guarding out there and then the wolves take it to the paint.

 

[thunderc]

If you completely ignore the other teams part in this you have a solid point here. Thunder played the entire game packing the paint, they triple teamed Randle when he got the ball down low.

39 of the Wolves 3s got an open ranking because Thunder put everything down low and completely ignored the outside. I don't care how tough you are, unless you have prime Shaq your points are not coming from there. If wolves hit 15% more of the wide open 3s Thunder have to adjust to guarding out there and then the wolves take it to the paint.

4 guys all with active hands in the paint is not going to make it very easy to get to the bucket, especially when you have the defenders the Thunder have doing it.

 

[Mebert]

4 guys all with active hands in the paint is not going to make it very easy to get to the bucket, especially when you have the defenders the Thunder have doing it.

Exactly, Thunder bet everything that Wolves shooting issues in the playoffs was not a fluke, and it paid off big time.

 

[thunderc]

Exactly, Thunder bet everything that Wolves shooting issues in the playoffs was not a fluke, and it paid off big time.

I wouldn’t say they bet everything, there will be adjustments.

 

[Mebert]

I wouldn’t say they bet everything, there will be adjustments.

They won't need to adjust until Wolves hit some shots. Even if they don't return to their regular season norm I have to imagine they will do better than game 1 going forward.

 

[thunderc]

They won't need to adjust until Wolves hit some shots. Even if they don't return to their regular season norm I have to imagine they will do better than game 1 going forward.

Both teams are capable of winning a variety of ways I think.

 

[seattlefan75]

this series is going to be a beat down I think the wolves make take 1 game at home. Nobody outside of Anthony Edwards can score the ball and SGA is getting 25 points off free throws.

 

[thunderc]

this series is going to be a beat down I think the wolves make take 1 game at home. Nobody outside of Anthony Edwards can score the ball and SGA is getting 25 points off free throws.

Exaggerate much?

 

[Pastafazul]

Wolves need to slow it down on the offensive end, not try to dribble in as fast as they can , OKC too athletic , how many times you see a wolves player get trapped just too have ball stolen

Cmon man!!

Terribly coached and played game by minn

 

[eaglesnut]

If you completely ignore the other teams part in this you have a solid point here. Thunder played the entire game packing the paint, they triple teamed Randle when he got the ball down low.

39 of the Wolves 3s got an open ranking because Thunder put everything down low and completely ignored the outside. I don't care how tough you are, unless you have prime Shaq your points are not coming from there. If wolves hit 15% more of the wide open 3s Thunder have to adjust to guarding out there and then the wolves take it to the paint.

Don't want to let the opponent dictate what you do. It's mental. And they're going to be pushed out of the series if they think and feel like they have to stay outside.

 

[thunderc]

Pretty good summation of what is being discussed here.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder: OKC's secret sauce in Game 1 rout? Forcing Minnesota into a trap of its own making

The Thunder have the unique ability to lull opponents into diving headfirst into suboptimal strategy, and that was on display Tuesday night as the Timberwolves shot 29.4% on 51 3-point attempts.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Mebert]

Don't want to let the opponent dictate what you do. It's mental. And they're going to be pushed out of the series if they think and feel like they have to stay outside.

If defense stacks 8 in the box every play are the Eagles soft if they stop running?

 

[eaglesnut]

If defense stacks 8 in the box every play are the Eagles soft if they stop running?

Yes. You break their will completely if you still run it on them successfully.

Now imagine it in a 7 game series. The opposing DLine would be literally dead playing the Eagles every week.