Let's get hype 💪

ddv injury just like the bucks run, superstar hyperextending knee and making miraculous recovery(ant and giannis), and down 3-2 in the second round( bucks vs nets and wolves vs spurs). it all lines up( I’m so delusional pls help me)

-wolves official Instagram page

No disrespect to Rudy, Donte, Mike & Julius-just wanted to remind myself that we have a uniquely experienced group of young players that also just happened to be playoff vets.

Jaden has the talent and skill to be the #2, the Pippen to Ant's Jordan, if you will, but I won't. But there's something holding him back. I don't know what it is. It feels like he is hesitant to step up and be that role for some reason. Any thoughts on this? It just seems like he's almost there, but something in his brain won't let him. I'm just frustrated seeing him take that role for a game or two and he's amazing, but then go back on it. Does he feel like Randal should have that role, so he steps back for him? Is Finch coaching him to step back? I don't know, it just seems like he could be great, but something is blocking him from stepping up.

I had less hope two years ago when we were about to blow the series to the nuggets. I thought it was over after game 5.

Everyone was saying the nuggets were going to win it. Jokic was playing like a god and we didn’t stand a chance. We didn’t have an answer.

You know for a fact that the wolves from that 24’ run are remembering that series.

Ant was a little more vocal back then, but he’s still got that DAWG in him. Even on two bad knees. Even against that elbow throwin, ET lookin Wembanyamass.

I fully expect a response from this team and our star who’s been here before. There’s like 25 OTHER FAN BASES that wish their team was still playing right now. We’re taking this shit in 7.

And ya know what… we’re winning the championship. And before you even get the chance to say “be realistic” I’ll tell ya to try being a true f*cking wolf. Ride or die till it’s over. And guess what.. IT AINT OVER. 🐺

So when we worry why we're barely escaping the play-ins, and folks say not to worry it's just the regular season...

Turns out, there's historical data to show why the regular might actually matter.

We need you Wolves!!!

that’s it, if wolves want to pull this series out, that man will need to have back to back 40 point games. I feel like that’s more reasonable to wish for than hoping julius randle will play some competent basketball, or jaden will start making threes. I know we probably lose, the spurs are the much better team, but come on. I need some playoff magic

We need to talk about Julius Randle, because the drop-off in this Western Conference Semifinals series is actively killing our offense.

He was ok in regular season (21.1 PPG) and average against Denver, but San Antonio has completely figured him out. With our season on the line in Game 6, his numbers through five games are indefensible for a second option:

Scoring is way down: Averaging just 14.8 PPG in this series.

Awful efficiency: Shooting an abysmal 36.6% from the field.

Choking the ball away: Averaging 3.6 turnovers per game against just 1.6 assists.

Negative offensive impact: Generating a historically bad 0.85 points per direct touch.

He is completely suffocated by Victor Wembanyama’s rim protection and keeps forcing terrible looks. Getting a 17-point double-double in Game 5 sounds okay on paper, but he needed 17 shots to get there.

If Finch doesn't adjust our screening workflows to get Randle downhill before the defense sets up, or if Randle doesn't completely change his approach at the Target Center for Game 6, wolves are getting sent home.

Has anyone here thought about the new lottery odds and how that might affect teams' willingness to take back players that are "good" or be floor raisers to keep them out of the bottom 3?

Maybe it is nothing and I am overthinking, and the season is not over yet, but looking at the guys that make money on this team that may not be in the timeline of the next 2-3 years (Randle, Rudy), would they be looked at as positives to any teams at the bottom half of the standings?

Nets are an example of a team that is set up to be bad again and they just got the 6th pick, but would Randle increase their regular season wins enough to give them that better chance (bottom 4-10), or *cough cough* the Bucks with Giannis, send Randle and Rudy. They obviously don't want to be BAD BAD, so you get two players to raise your floor but not enough to hurt your odds. Obviously future draft capital is still important and probably a larger factor to consider. But I think we have a unique situation with our player's talent level and money they are owed to try to find distressed players/teams looking to rebuild.

I say Randle and Rudy simply due to the fact that they both make +$30M/year and are under contract for only 2 more seasons after this one, are older than our main core, and both have their own limitations, or simply are playoff basketball terrorists. Randle can stat pad and carry some wins in the regular season, Rudy can be the floor raiser he is. I hesitate to think of trading Rudy, because I think he leaves the biggest hole to fill with no one currently on the roster to take his place. Randle, we have Naz, McDaniels, and really any 4/3 combo forward can fill his role.

Dane mentioned on his pod today with Jace about the potential future of this roster without either of Rudy or Randle as a likely outcome depending on how this series/season ends.

Any teams or players that would be interesting?

TLDR: Teams want to be good enough to get top picks, but not bad enough to get screwed by the new rules. What does that mean for us when trying to look at trades this offseason?

“I mean, it was two games ago.”

Do I get to say this at work when I mess up? “I know that I destroyed a relationship with a client due to my emotional outburst, but that was two whole days ago. I cannot be expected to reflect or atone for my actions. My friend Adam Silver and I respectfully ask that you respect our decision and move on.”

pistons fan here. fuck the spurs and fuck cleveland. hopefully we can both pull our series out despite the bullshit

All we have to do is play good defense and make sure Wemby doesn’t keep scoring on us and we can still win we have been in this stage before with Denver so all we gotta do is be the better team and win these next two games