GAME 3 Playoffs 2024: Minnesota Timberwolves (0-2) vs. Dallas Mavericks (2-0)

[Chicagojk]

Shaq throwing out Tmac when Chuck is mentioning Jordan, Kobe and Steph. Settle down Shaq

[BolsDamols]

Jaden McDaniels, he was almost at the brink of crying at one point in the bench. Just a bad match up for Luka.

Next plan for Game 4 has to be him gaining 50 lbs in 2 days, UFC style

[SkenfromLMF]

Gafford struggled because he had to play more minutes. Cannot play as hard on both ends. Cannot risk foul trouble. Cannot sprint up and down the floor on every single possession.

Gafford has not HAD to play those minutes and when he adjusts it looks ineffective compared to high octane Gafford with Nitro Lively. The interesting things to me are:
A - cause effect is nebulous to your GREAT points… does fatigue cause fouls OR take away energy. Do fouls keep you from competing or does try for keeping energy in the clutch take away energy. They are all part of the same result, and Gafford saved his best for the end. Block - and 1 dunk - game over!

[ThisIStheYear]

Credit where credit is due though. That Edward’s dunk was unbelievable. Best dunk I’ve seen this year. I was in awe and even the crowd let out a gasp. But, it’s still just 2 points.

[raf]

Kat is fool's gold, ant is the real deal and he played like a true superstar for a while tonight.

kat was the reason they beat denver to be fair, he kept then in when it was getting out of hand. also did well game 1 in this series.

[omahen]

Another amazing game. Hot shooting came when needed and Lukai showed again they are the best players on the court. Incredible shot making. Role players played well today. I hope Lively will be able to play next game. KAT is a fraud.

[myconsumerclub]

I am sure Lively will be ready he did not get whacked too hard. I really hope Kleber gets his health back in time to play the finals. That would suck to miss your chance to play in the finals. One game against MIN to warm up would be nice to tune him up.

The matchups with Boston won't be that bad to game plan for. If PJ and DJJ can stop the Celtics stars then we should walk out of that series with a ring. Porzingas will be back supposedly but we all know about how he plays when he is hurt and it is nothing that Lively needs to worry about.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Jaden McDaniels, he was almost at the brink of crying at one point in the bench. Just a bad match up for Luka.

Next plan for Game 4 has to be him gaining 50 lbs in 2 days, UFC style

Look, McDaniels is a good defensive player, 2nd team all defense this year. Luka does this to everybody. I've yet to see any one player shut him down. McDaniels shouldn't be discouraged.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I am sure Lively will be ready he did not get whacked too hard. I really hope Kleber gets his health back in time to play the finals. That would suck to miss your chance to play in the finals. One game against MIN to warm up would be nice to tune him up.

The matchups with Boston won't be that bad to game plan for. If PJ and DJJ can stop the Celtics stars then we should walk out of that series with a ring. Porzingas will be back supposedly but we all know about how he plays when he is hurt and it is nothing that Lively needs to worry about.

If it was that easy, I'd agree. Boston will be a tough out, period. Keep thinking this next series will be a breeze.

[nicholasthefan]

Many on this board dog on Gafford for some reason. He killed it tonight in the 4th. Gafford helped transform this team and I just think he deserves his flowers.

[rocky164]

All the FT we shot in the 3rd quarter were actually detrimental. It took us out of our rhythm and we lost the quarter. Once it became a basketball game instead of a FT shooting contest we played well. I know we shot a LOT of FT and some of the fouls against Minnesota were soft, but damn if Tony Brothers didn’t again make himself the star of the game.

[dirkfansince1998]

https://x.com/TheDunkCentral/status/1794931751514767783

“They had 31 free throws, we had 17” - Anthony Edwards on what in the box score stands out to him after Game 3

Mavs got a friendly whistle in the 3rd quarter. But the Wolves also played reckless defense. Edwards should be thinking about his own short comings. Starting with his decision making. Him throwing the ball away in crucial moments is becoming a theme.

[windjc]

Kat is fool's gold, ant is the real deal and he played like a true superstar for a while tonight.

Ant played well when Lively was in the hospital. I'm not impressed.

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/dalton_trigg/status/1794943692828217510

[SwisherPrice]

Gafford is a beast! People keep criticizing him when he's been doing his job just fine in the playoffs. It's not his fault he's not the same caliber of player as Lively but he's still been contributing. And keep in mind this is still his first postseason experience. Hopefully he takes Draymond's advice about passing the ball from the inside instead of forcing up shots.

[KillerLeft]

Gafford is a beast! People keep criticizing him when he's been doing his job just fine in the playoffs. It's not his fault he's not the same caliber of player as Lively but he's still been contributing. And keep in mind this is still his first postseason experience. Hopefully he takes Draymond's advice about passing the ball from the inside instead of forcing up shots.

Dude, I thought that was hilarious! Draymond Green hates Gobert SO MUCH he's literally using his opportunity to appear on the famous Inside the NBA post game show during the WCF to coach Gafford up!

[BoredAssistant]

I still don't know how that KAT knee to Lively's jewels wasn't punished regardless of whatever else happened on the play. Perhaps he's not even on the court to knee Lively again. Dammit!

[GATA]

Edwards nowhere near a superstar. Guy was average. Been awful in the series

[TurkishMFFL]

Look, McDaniels is a good defensive player, 2nd team all defense this year. Luka does this to everybody. I've yet to see any one player shut him down. McDaniels shouldn't be discouraged.

Agreed. And I think he will never get a better defensive player than Lu Dort in this league. Lu Dort has the perfect size, ability, aggressiveness and the dirty things to limit Luka to an extent. I can’t name a better one tbh.

[Knutsen]

Agreed. And I think he will never get a better defensive player than Lu Dort in this league. Lu Dort has the perfect size, ability, aggressiveness and the dirty things to limit Luka to an extent. I can’t name a better one tbh.

If you would create one it would probably be the younger Draymond Green, wouldn’t it? Or maybe a young LeBron without having to carry the burden on offense at the same time.