Can we go back to thinking the Gobert trade was terrible? He's nine years older than Ant, and roughly the same caliber of player as Walker Kessler. The Wolves bid against themselves and gave up Kessler plus not one, not two, but FIVE unprotected first round picks, any of which might have been used to pair Ant with a young star (or two) and help turn the Wolves into a dynasty.
He was a complete disaster in crunch time. Moving screen, blatant rebounding foul (against a MUCH smaller player), and a traveling call, all in what felt like a minute of gameplay(?) as the Wolves were making a move.
I think you can argue that it was a terrible trade in the long run, but in the very short run that trade, plus swapping out DLo for Mike Conley jr, got the T-wolves to the playoffs.
I know the league’s changed and you’ll probably find advanced stats somewhere that show his impact is wildly inflated, but three DPOYs HAS to count for something.
Ok so I looked up the per 36 and advanced stats for both Kessler and Gobert for this year.
Per 36 seems to support Sleepy’s assertion, but advanced stats show Rudy with higher WS and VORP.
I don’t know if that has to with Kessler only being a sophomore, Rudy playing on a better team, or Rudy…being better in a way that Kessler isn’t, but that’s what it says.
Still think the Wolves ascension especially on the defensive end was mostly because of Ant and J McDaniels taking a big leap. Gobert just had to not stink up the joint which to his credit he didn’t (during the regular season)
Honestly if Denver goes on to win I might have to root for anybody else to beat them. Can’t have these guys winning B2B because the inevitable “Are these guys good as the KD Warriors” debate will pop up and we all know the answer to that
No stranger than the way we say "sauerkraut," "schnauzer," or "Bauhaus"? He's just using the original (German) pronunciation, kinda like how Lester Q pronounces the ñ in his last name.
I thought it was actually the opposite of what you’re describing. It seems more akin to Lester asserting that the traditional pronunciation of 'Quinones' isn't correct
The other way around. “Brown” (with a more Germanic R sound) is how it’s pronounced in German. “Brawn” (the way you think it should be said) is the anglicized version.
5 fouls, 1 assist to 4 turnovers, only 1 block. Got a little more involved in the fourth quarter offensively at least, at one point in the fourth quarter I think he only had one FGA (only has four now but started getting to the line).
Ant is really really good, but this sort of reminds me of MJ in the early Bulls years. He didn't beat Celtics or Pistons as those teams each had other all timers (Bird, Thomas) but their supporting casts were better.
I think Minny's biggest issue is their lack of playmakers. Ant is a phenomenal self creator, and you've got some great shot finishers in KAT and I guess Conley/Reid. But outside of Conley and maybe SlowMo they have basically no plus-passers on the roster
True, this team could use a CP3 perhaps to steady the ship. They also just need players who cost almost $100M to not choke in the playoff spotlight - KAT and Gobert were just awful.
Next round of my attempt to whittle away these non Dubs playoffs: Insert NBA player X; Better Player or Broadcaster?
Can we go back to thinking the Gobert trade was terrible? He's nine years older than Ant, and roughly the same caliber of player as Walker Kessler. The Wolves bid against themselves and gave up Kessler plus not one, not two, but FIVE unprotected first round picks, any of which might have been used to pair Ant with a young star (or two) and help turn the Wolves into a dynasty.
He was a complete disaster in crunch time. Moving screen, blatant rebounding foul (against a MUCH smaller player), and a traveling call, all in what felt like a minute of gameplay(?) as the Wolves were making a move.
I think you can argue that it was a terrible trade in the long run, but in the very short run that trade, plus swapping out DLo for Mike Conley jr, got the T-wolves to the playoffs.
A trade like that is made for the playoffs so I didn't understand people changing their minds based on regular season success.
Calling Gobert the same caliber of player as Kessler is wild
*in before you say, you're right kessler is better
You could also try making a case…
I know the league’s changed and you’ll probably find advanced stats somewhere that show his impact is wildly inflated, but three DPOYs HAS to count for something.
Ok so I looked up the per 36 and advanced stats for both Kessler and Gobert for this year.
Per 36 seems to support Sleepy’s assertion, but advanced stats show Rudy with higher WS and VORP.
I don’t know if that has to with Kessler only being a sophomore, Rudy playing on a better team, or Rudy…being better in a way that Kessler isn’t, but that’s what it says.
https://stathead.com//basketball/versus-finder.cgi?player_id2=goberru01&year_min=2024&player_id1=kesslwa01&seasons_type=forall&request=1&utm_campaign=2023_01_wdgt_player_comparison&utm_source=bbr&utm_medium=sr_xsite&utm_id=kesslwa01
4*
Still think the Wolves ascension especially on the defensive end was mostly because of Ant and J McDaniels taking a big leap. Gobert just had to not stink up the joint which to his credit he didn’t (during the regular season)
Honestly if Denver goes on to win I might have to root for anybody else to beat them. Can’t have these guys winning B2B because the inevitable “Are these guys good as the KD Warriors” debate will pop up and we all know the answer to that
I've been trying to deny it internally, but I agree.
Go Wolves. It helps that Ant is a cool guy. And Mike Conley deserves a ring.
Nuggets beat the Wolves 115-107 and tie the series 2-2. None of the teams have won at home in this series so far.
Denver took back the homecourt disadvantage!
Series don't begin till someone wins a home game. 😜
Gobert: 3/5 FGs, 5/9 FTs, 5 off. rebounds, 5 turnovers
Well at least the all-time great rim protector and 4 time DPOY shut Jokic down. Dude missed 11 shots, that's pathetic.
Jokic: 13/24 FGs
Gordon: 11/12 FGs
Murray: 8/15 FGs
Edwards: 15/23 FGs
Reid: 5/6 FGs
Conley: 5/11 FGs
Towns: 5/18 FGs
If the Nuggets keep getting "Steph" Gordon every game they are gonna be pretty hard to beat.
I lol’d when Crawford stated, “Stars can play both offense and defense”. Definitely not speaking from experience
Braun's insistence that his name is pronounced 'Brown,' which seems counterintuitive, strikes me as strange
No stranger than the way we say "sauerkraut," "schnauzer," or "Bauhaus"? He's just using the original (German) pronunciation, kinda like how Lester Q pronounces the ñ in his last name.
I thought it was actually the opposite of what you’re describing. It seems more akin to Lester asserting that the traditional pronunciation of 'Quinones' isn't correct
The other way around. “Brown” (with a more Germanic R sound) is how it’s pronounced in German. “Brawn” (the way you think it should be said) is the anglicized version.
He’s throwing away potential big bucks in razor endorsements.
He doesn't look old enough to shave
People wrote Denver off too quickly
Outside of antman they are making everyone in the wolves team look like trash
Just KAT and Gobert, imo. Others aren't scoring much, but that's because they aren't getting many opportunities. Kat and Gobert sucked tonight
Blame Rudy
5 fouls, 1 assist to 4 turnovers, only 1 block. Got a little more involved in the fourth quarter offensively at least, at one point in the fourth quarter I think he only had one FGA (only has four now but started getting to the line).
Make that 5 turnovers because Jokic pulled the chair lol
Antman is my favourite non-dub nba player
He might be about to inherit Steph's title of "everyone's favorite player not on their team"
If you are rooting for USA BBall, he'll be on our team this summer. Looking forward to Ant trash talking the Frenchman in Paris.
So refs calling every foul on the wolves
If the Nuggets bench is going to outscore Wolves bench the latter is in trouble.
Wolves in 7 baby
but most likely Denver in 7 lol
Wolves are doing better on offense in the 3rd Q, but the Nuggets aren't missing.
Bench Gobert Minnesota, I'm trying to see something.
He is highly overrated
Ant is really really good, but this sort of reminds me of MJ in the early Bulls years. He didn't beat Celtics or Pistons as those teams each had other all timers (Bird, Thomas) but their supporting casts were better.
So all Minny needs to do is get a 2nd top 5 player in the league a la Pippen to pair with Ant. Easy!
Well, they do have a current all-star, the DPOY and the 6th man of the year to go with Ant. There are no excuses for this performance.
I think Minny's biggest issue is their lack of playmakers. Ant is a phenomenal self creator, and you've got some great shot finishers in KAT and I guess Conley/Reid. But outside of Conley and maybe SlowMo they have basically no plus-passers on the roster
True, this team could use a CP3 perhaps to steady the ship. They also just need players who cost almost $100M to not choke in the playoff spotlight - KAT and Gobert were just awful.
I think it's less choking and more that they have extreme vulnerabilities and the playoffs expose those so much more than the reg season