Exploring Timberwolves' Playoff Challenges Against OKC

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00:00Now let's talk about the Timberwolves' chances against that defense.

00:05Now, I have liked the Timberwolves,

00:07and I am scared to death against Oak City's defense.

00:12I don't care how much I like the T-Wolves.

00:14They're going to run into a problem here.

00:17Yeah, they are.

00:18And listen, I was like you.

00:19When I saw the draw, I loved the Timberwolves

00:22to go to the Western Conference Finals

00:24because I just thought that the Lakers and Golden State

00:27were incredibly overrated.

00:28And I also thought that the size of Big Rudy, Julius Randle,

00:32Jaden McDaniels, and Nas Reed was going to be too much.

00:35Well, guess what?

00:36They're running into a team that's just as big

00:39with Hartenstein, with Chet Holmgren, right,

00:41with the toughness of Lou Dort.

00:43Alex Caruso basically took Nikola Jokic out of the game yesterday.

00:47Think about that.

00:48And 6'3", took him out.

00:50So to me, this is where the problem starts with Minnesota.

00:54OKC is way too deep.

00:56And here's the thing.

00:58OKC, besides game two, Pharrell, did not play well in this series

01:03until that 15-2 run at the end of the second quarter

01:07with Jalen Williams, who finally woke up out of his nap

01:10after playing great in game three and didn't give you anything,

01:134, 5, 6.

01:14Was absolutely fantastic, scoring 11 out of those 15 points.

01:17And at that point, Debra looked around and said,

01:20we don't got that next gear.

01:22Yes, Aaron Gordon hurt.

01:25Yes, Jamal Murray, you know, illness.

01:27Yes, Michael Porter Jr. hurt.

01:29I don't care if all three of them were fine.

01:31The way that team turned that switch in game seven,

01:35that's Oklahoma City that we saw.

01:37And I think that Minnesota's going to struggle in this series.

01:42I think you've now, OKC's woken up.

01:44This may be crazy what I'm about to say.

01:46Like, I think the OKC Thunder beat them, and they beat them in five.

01:51Yeah, like I said earlier that they're a true number one.

01:58You know, they beat everyone's ass all year.

02:01And then when it mattered most, I mean, look what they did in the first round.

02:05And then when it mattered in this game, they beat their ass.

02:08When they want to play, they can beat anyone's ass in the league.

02:14I mean, at this point, like, seriously,

02:17you can't favor the Knicks or the Pacers over that team.

02:22No, no, absolutely not.

02:23I mean, I would say that whoever got to the finals,

02:27I think OKC would be at least a minus 250 favorite to win the finals,

02:32no matter who came out of there, because of the dominance they've had.

02:35And they've been the best team during the regular season.

02:37Now, playoffs or playoffs, things are different.

02:39But, you know, OKC, I firmly expect to get there.

02:43The Knicks' pace receiver is just going to be tough.

02:46I have the Knicks in seven.

02:48I think the exact revenge, if they can stay healthy,

02:50I think they have the best player on the floor,

02:53the best closer on the floor in Jalen Brunson.

02:57I think having Mitchell Robson this year will help.

03:00I think OG being healthy helps.

03:02I think Mikael Bridges being there helps,

03:04because I think Bridges goes to Halliburton,

03:06which his length should give Halliburton problems,

03:08because Halliburton's really not much of a burner to get by him.

03:11And I think OG can go to Siakam.

03:13So I think the Knicks in seven and a really good series.

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