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Im not worry as much as you guys. First last game mean nothing. Ant get a night off , Kat just return. A game where Rudy and Mike are the best scorer are not common and will not happen in the series. It’s too late on my opinion to change things. Just work hard on faster passing. Focus on TO and we will be fine. I’m
Not saying we will win thé série but I do believe it will be a close one. The only way I’m sure we loose is of Kat and Ant combined 10TO per game and think they are MJ.

Regarding the défense part I would like to see more of NAW. He is probably our best defender with Rudy right
Now. Hope he got more min of necessary.

Wolves are going to have to pick their poison in this series. If they're trying to switch Rudy on PnR and it's hard for the guard to recover, the wings might need to just drop down with the big on the roll to stop that pocket pass and live with a contested 3 by Rudy.

They'll have to switch it up but I'd rather give up the 2 than let them get hot from 3. Stay home on shooters as well.

We need to come out with intensity and physicality. They've been the aggressor and we've been sluggish and sloppy. I expect this 6 days off we've had to greatly help. Then I see we have 2 days off for the next game.

Towns needs to play staggered with Rudy. Let him feast on Phoenixs weak bigs. Try and get Nurkic I'm foul trouble. Everyone needs to crash the boards as well. Ant needs to make the smart play and hopefully Naz, Jaden, Naw, Conley are hitting shots to make Phoneix pay for loading up on him.

Mike on Allen
Ant on Booker
Naw on Beal
McDaniels on Durant
Rudy on Nurkic

(Grady covered Durant in Brooklyn)

This is pretty much make or break series for KAT. If he still keeps making same stupid mistakes and decisions on-court and underperforms again in playoffs, then I'd be surprised if Wolves don't trade KAT in the off-season

m2002brian wrote:Mike on Allen
Ant on Booker
Naw on Beal
McDaniels on Durant
Rudy on Nurkic

This was one of my thoughts as well. But honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw some lineups without a pg to matchup at times. Ex: NAW, Ant, Jaden, Kyle, Rudy/Kat/Naz

Klomp wrote:An interesting key I've noticed is that Ant hasn't been getting 3-point shots up against the Suns.

Ant puts up 7 or more 3s in over half of his games this year, but none came against Phoenix. A game with 3, a game with 4, a game with 6.

Along with this, Minnesota attempted 29 or fewer 3s in 22 games this year, including all three matchups against Phoenix.

While we were 15-7 in these games, I think it's worth noting that we never scored 120 points in any of them. That's noteworthy since Phoenix put up games of 125 and 133 against us. So either the defense needs to show up or we need to put up a lot more 3s. We are 2-12 when the defense allows 120 or more points.

111 points actually seems to be the clear separator.

Allowing 111 or more points, we are 8-20. Allowing 110 or fewer, we are 48-6.
Scoring 111 or more points, Phoenix is 41-16. Scoring 110 or fewer, Phoenix is 8-17.

life_saver wrote:This is pretty much make or break series for KAT. If he still keeps making same stupid mistakes and decisions on-court and underperforms again in playoffs, then I'd be surprised if Wolves don't trade KAT in the off-season

Kat is going to have to consistently be within that 25-30 pt range I think for this particular series. We cannot get beat on the boards either. Guys have to rebound their position and box out.

I don't like the 230 start time since I don't believe it's ever been good for us. However, they're going to have to fight through it. A 56-25 team w/ home court is an underdog! Only our wolves. Use it as fuel to prove the doubters wrong. If we can win this series, I still believe we stack up well against Den/LAL.

Going to have to beat tough teams eventually, so this is a good test.

I'm going to make a boldish statement that they will use the "Big 3" lineup at least once in this series.

I may have to go to the Saturday or Tuesday game if they wear the classics.

Anyone planning on going to the game(s)?

Jim Pete breaking news (via his wife) on Flagrant Howls that Game 7 would be the same day that the Lynx have their preseason opener at Target Center.

I just verified it too. Speculation is that it would maybe be an afternoon game as a result.

Klomp wrote:Jim Pete breaking news (via his wife) on Flagrant Howls that Game 7 would be the same day that the Lynx have their preseason opener at Target Center.

I just verified it too. Speculation is that it would maybe be an afternoon game as a result.

Not going to seven games.

Wolves either adjust or this series go quickly to the Suns.