2023 Wolves

People saying Ant was tired is not really accurate if you ask me. It wasn’t from chasing Kyrie like the announcers proclaimed. Maybe it was jetlag or partying but I think he is sore AF and trying to play through it?

The fall he took in game 7 where he landed super hard was probably catching up to him last night. He was in obvious discomfort in the 3rd quarter but he won’t let anyone take him out guarantee that!

I am sure the reporters will be poking around for answers and Finchy better not reveal anything to be used against them in game 2. Ant would play in a wheelchair if he had to. I’m guessing he will be getting in and out of the hot/cold tub quite a bit but will be ready come Friday.

big_g wrote:

For me, simply throwing them 3’s up was not working. The one Kat took in the 4th… ridiculous, but he made it. Too many missed.. needed to get it inside more and easy dunks like the Mavs did.

you’re not wrong but 80% of Dallas strategy was to clog the paint and dare them to shoot threes which they did. was it much? yeah probably. i would have tried some bully ball with Mark Davis crew calling the game but our coaches know more than me. my guess is they will get Brothers crew on Friday and if that happens, expect a parade to the free throw line from whoever is down.

side note Dallas is not a good free throw shooting team and they hit all but one. well done by them, not so much by the Wolves

eyeguy507 wrote:

People saying Ant was tired is not really accurate if you ask me. It wasn’t from chasing Kyrie like the announcers proclaimed. Maybe it was jetlag or partying but I think he is sore AF and trying to play through it?

He was huffing and puffing trying to catch his breath in the 4th quarter…the dude was flat out gassed…I thought for sure we’d eventually hear he was playing under the weather and likely getting IV fluids after the game…totally not normal for a 22 year old elite athlete who got some decent rest time on the bench during the game and never showed any signs of fatigue throughout the playoffs sofar…

eyeguy507 wrote:

side note Dallas is not a good free throw shooting team and they hit all but one. well done by them, not so much by the Wolves

Need to get someone else to the line, Luka is a career 72% and Kyrie 90% FT shooters, and they took all but 4 of the FT’s.

BTW I hate people using game 7 as an excuse for last nights performance, Game 7 was 4 days prior basically. More than enough time to rest and recuperate if you aren’t actually injured. I think the announcers had it right, Kyrie ran him ragged like a savvy vet would.

I thought Ant looked abnormally tired too. Kat hit a 3 late and Dallas called timeout and Ant could barely make it back to the bench. Not much for the extra spunk like he usually has. Maybe he was just that exhausted, I don’t know.

As long as the training staff gets him ready for Friday… Hope he’s back to normal self!

BigWerm wrote:

BTW I hate people using game 7 as an excuse for last nights performance, Game 7 was 4 days prior basically. More than enough time to rest and recuperate if you aren’t actually injured.

I’m with you on that. Lots of talk this past week on KFAN was comparing now to the 2017 Vikings season where the Vikings were awful against Philly in the NFC Championship game after the Minneapolis Miracle game. I think a lot of times it’s just confirmation or recency bias. There are plenty, plenty of times where a team wins an emotionally and physically taxing game and then comes out the next time and takes care of business. I feel like the excuse is just sports talk that’s just thrown out there.

I know they’re human, but players need to put the big wins in the past and lock in for the next one, and the coaches need to prepare them for that. I don’t think it’s a viable excuse at all.

I thought the Wolves played well, overall.

Kyrie killed us early and Luca killed us late. They are on fire right now unfortunately. But the Wolves can and will do better I think.

The easy buckets and free throws were the difference in the game, IMO

eyeguy507 wrote:

People saying Ant was tired is not really accurate if you ask me. It wasn’t from chasing Kyrie like the announcers proclaimed. Maybe it was jetlag or partying but I think he is sore AF and trying to play through it?

The fall he took in game 7 where he landed super hard was probably catching up to him last night. He was in obvious discomfort in the 3rd quarter but he won’t let anyone take him out guarantee that!

I am sure the reporters will be poking around for answers and Finchy better not reveal anything to be used against them in game 2. Ant would play in a wheelchair if he had to. I’m guessing he will be getting in and out of the hot/cold tub quite a bit but will be ready come Friday.

Don’t disagree but something wasn’t right in second half. He literally did not make it past half court on offense a few times. At that point how is that helping the team score. I get a decoy factor but if you are not even over half court you are not much of a decoy.
Dude is 22 no reason he should be tired from trying to guard Kyrie.

Sounds like Coach Finch tore into everyone at the film session today…he says they will be ready for game #2

JoeMX1825 wrote:

Sounds like Coach Finch tore into everyone at the film session today…he says they will be ready for game #2

Just like I hoped!

I seen Ant and others admitted they were gassed. I guess I would not have admitted that from a competition standpoint. This coming from a kid who said NBA players should not take rest days.

I know he don’t want to be compared to MJ or Kobe but those killers never had excuses. Still a 22 year old kid tho.

Yeah Conley even admitted it. Makes me wonder if there was too much partying or what? THey had plenty of time to rest up.

How many offensive rebounds and easy dunks are we gonna give up?? FFS!

All year I have not seen them give up this many wide open dunks as the last two games. I don’t know what Dallas is doing to confuse them or if Doncic is just that good concealing passes. But it is bizarre.

Ouch

Ant has a LONG ways to go yet. Real long. Anyone know when the TWolves stars gonna bring they ass?

BigWerm wrote:

Ant has a LONG ways to go yet. Real long. Anyone know when the TWolves stars gonna bring they ass?

Sunday

they can’t play at home for some reason? Luka is the magician he was all along and putting the team on his back. been a great run by the Wolves. disappointing no doubt but proud how far they come. I hope they keep their head up and realize how close they are. beating 2 of the best in the west and then this. unacceptable to end the season this way. No guts, no glory.

I’m really enjoying this bandwagon role I’ve accepted. I don’t know enough about the Wolves or basketball to get mad and pick apart what they did wrong, but I sure can enjoy the big moments. I hate to think it’s the MN sports fan way of just accepting everything that happens…. but there’s something fun about going thru the highlight moments but not getting too down about the bad times cause I don’t know anything anyway.

I love Ant and he is super star material, but that was a big time choke job for him. All he needed was one bucket after an already lackluster game and he threw the ball out of bounds. Game over when you do that in the conference finals.

KAT had a terrible game also.

They are so so close. They almost won the game even with their stars playing bad. Sure hope it’s a flip of the Den series and we can go take two in Dallas. Just doing it the hard way unfortunately.

Yup, can’t have that turnover. That may be the silver lining, two best players have played terrible and still close games but they need to show up. Not sure why Ant isn’t driving to the basket more. What was thought to be an advantage with the bigs hasn’t been, opposite actually so far. Games are finally entertaining though but 1-4 at home in playoffs, that sucks.

Was is it with this team and inability to close out quarters? Happened again at the half. Is it personnel? I haven’t been paying close enough attention as to who is on the court but it’s killing them.

3-4 at home in playoffs.

It’s pretty amazing how well these no name Dallas players are playing with Luka and Kyrie.

Wolves defense is nowhere to be seen. good to see NAW finally hit a 3 tho. i think he has missed like 12 in a row after having a career year from 3.

As far as I’m concerned, a loss here in game 3 essentially ends the series. No team has ever come back down 0-3 in a 7 game series, and only 3 times in 154 has a team even forced a game 7.

Buckle up and win this one, the season is on the line here.

KAT needs to stop shooting the ball.

they definitely don’t look like they want to take it.

I got one adjustment and that is more Naz. whether at Rudy or Towns expense. both are playing like trash

RT wrote:

KAT needs to stop shooting the ball.

i do not disagree but if he can take out a couple more starters, the trade off may be worth it

Feels like if this game stays close that Luka and Kyrie will just be too good down the stretch, they just seem totally unfazed by anything we do although losing Lively has hurt them. Ant has finally awoken though so we will see what the last 16 minutes brings!

Ant looked like he was sleep walking for the entire game until that poster. he has done this throughout the year and then just flips a switch it seems.

feels like they are set up for another last second defeat

Luka can do no wrong and Kyrie is looking like prime Kyrie….UNREAL