Timberwolves overcome largest halftime deficit to beat Nuggets in Game 7 | NBA | FIRST THINGS FIRST

First Things First
20 May 202422:19

Summary

TLDRIn this spirited discussion, the hosts debate the outcome of a basketball game where the Denver Nuggets faced a shocking defeat by the Minnesota Timberwolves. They critique the performance of star players, analyze the impact of coaching decisions, and discuss the importance of team depth and defense. The conversation also touches on the era of parity in the NBA, with various teams and players vying for dominance. The hosts praise the Timberwolves' resilience and the impressive play of Anthony Edwards, while also acknowledging the need for a balanced team dynamic.

Takeaways

  • πŸŽ™οΈ The host starts the show in protest against the inclusion of taxidermy wolves, considering them an endangered and precious species.
  • πŸ† The discussion revolves around the recent upset in the basketball playoffs where the Denver team, despite being the favorite, lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
  • πŸ“ˆ A detailed analysis of the game highlights the Timberwolves' superior performance in various aspects such as points, shooting percentage, rebounds, and fewer turnovers.
  • πŸ€ The importance of depth in a team is emphasized, as Minnesota's ability to win despite their best player's off night showcases their team strength.
  • 🌟 Anthony Edwards is praised for his performance and contribution to the team, drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan and Dwyane Wade.
  • 🚫 Criticism is directed towards the Denver team's superstars for not stepping up in the crucial moments of the game.
  • πŸ€” The script discusses whether the Denver team's loss is attributed to fatigue or a lack of desire from their star player, Nikola Jokic.
  • πŸ“Š Statistical comparison is made between Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, highlighting their similar achievements and the ongoing debate over who is the superior player.
  • πŸ† The conversation touches on the concept of a 'dynasty' in basketball and whether the current era is defined by any single player or team.
  • πŸ‘ Credit is given to players like Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns who have faced criticism but performed exceptionally in the series.
  • πŸ—£οΈ The show ends with anticipation for the upcoming Western Conference finals and the potential for exciting trash talk and competitive spirit.

Q & A

  • Who is the leader of the show and what is their stance on the situation with the Taxidermy wolves?

    -The leader of the show is not explicitly named in the script, but they are protesting against Brew and Nick's decision to bring Taxidermy wolves on television, citing that wolves are an endangered species and not appropriate for TV.

  • What is the main reason the leader of the show is protesting the inclusion of Taxidermy wolves on the show?

    -The leader is protesting because they believe that wolves are an endangered species and a precious part of the national ecosystem, making their display on television inappropriate.

  • What is the situation with Michael Malone and his behavior during the show?

    -Michael Malone is mentioned as not being a gentleman during the show, cursing at work, which is out of character for him according to the speaker.

  • What is the speaker's opinion on the Denver basketball team's performance?

    -The speaker believes that the Denver team did not perform well, suggesting that they acted arrogantly by kicking up their feet and demanding food and drinks from others, which the speaker implies led to their downfall.

  • What was the prediction made by the speaker about the outcome of the game?

    -The speaker accurately predicted that Minnesota would win the game in seven, despite the challenging conditions in Denver.

  • What was Kevin Wild's reaction to the prediction made by the speaker?

    -Kevin Wild's reaction was not gentlemanly, as he was shown to be upset or dismissive of the speaker's prediction in real-time.

  • What is the speaker's view on the importance of the MVP in a game?

    -The speaker believes that the MVP should be able to lead the team and get others involved, especially in crucial games like game seven.

  • What does the speaker think about the role of the coach and superstars in a game seven loss?

    -The speaker suggests that the coach and superstars should bear the responsibility for a game seven loss, as they should be able to get the team involved and lead them to victory.

  • What was the speaker's analysis of the Nuggets' performance in the series?

    -The speaker believes that the Nuggets showed signs of weakness, particularly in their bench, and lost their composure when the game got close, leading to their defeat.

  • What does the speaker think about the Timberwolves' chances in the series?

    -The speaker thinks that the Timberwolves were never scared and had full control of the game with their defense, which ultimately led to their victory.

  • How does the speaker view the current era of basketball in terms of competition?

    -The speaker believes that the current era of basketball is one of incredible parity, with no team dominating for long periods and different champions emerging each year.

Outlines

00:00

πŸŽ™οΈ Host's Protest Against Inappropriate Show Content

The host starts by expressing his protest against the inclusion of taxidermy wolves on the show, arguing that they are an endangered species and important to the ecosystem. He also criticizes Michael Malone for his behavior and discusses the show's leader, Brew, and his actions. The host highlights his own Midwestern values and the importance of speaking the truth. He also makes a bold prediction about the outcome of a sports game, which he claims to have called perfectly, and shows a video of Kevin Wild's reaction to his prediction.

05:01

πŸ€ Sports Analysis and Critique of Denver's Performance

The speaker provides a detailed analysis of a basketball game, focusing on the Denver team's performance. He discusses the team's stats, such as points, rebounds, and shooting percentages, and criticizes the lack of contribution from the bench. The speaker also apportions blame to the team's superstars for not getting their teammates involved and not handling the pressure of a game seven situation well. He compares the situation to how other NBA superstars would be treated in similar circumstances and discusses theζŽ˜ι‡‘ team's loss of composure and the Timberwolves' control over the game.

10:03

πŸ† Debate Over NBA Superstars and Their Legacies

The conversation delves into a comparison between NBA superstars, particularly focusing on the careers of Jokić and Giannis. The speaker argues that while Jokić has won multiple MVPs, Giannis has a defensive player of the year award and a similar playoff record, suggesting a close rivalry. The discussion also touches on the premature declarations of a 'Jokić era' and the importance of considering the broader context of the NBA's competitive landscape before making such claims. The speaker emphasizes the need to let the narrative play out over time.

15:05

πŸ“Š Breakdown of the Timberwolves' Victory Over Denver

This section provides a comprehensive breakdown of the Timberwolves' series victory over Denver. The speaker highlights the Timberwolves' dominance in the series, pointing out their superior performance in points, shooting, free throws, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, as well as fewer turnovers. He also discusses the impact of key players like Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, who despite a poor shooting night, contributed significantly to the team's success. The speaker commends the Timberwolves for their depth and defensive capabilities.

20:06

πŸ€” Reflections on Player Performances and Team Dynamics

The speaker reflects on the performances of various players, particularly focusing on Anthony Edwards and his role as a team player. He also discusses the importance of team dynamics and how the Timberwolves' system benefits from Edwards' willingness to play within it. The speaker acknowledges the Timberwolves' ability to win despite their star player's off night and praises the contributions of Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, who he had previously criticized. He also touches on the idea of a 'number one' and 'number two' player dynamic within the team.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Taxidermy wolves

Taxidermy is the practice of preserving an animal's body via mounting or stuffing for the purpose of display or study. In the script, 'Taxidermy wolves' refers to a controversial decision to bring such preserved wolves on a television show, highlighting concerns about the treatment of endangered species and their representation in media.

πŸ’‘Endangered species

An endangered species is a type of wildlife that is at risk of becoming extinct due to various threats to its survival. In the script, the term is used to express disapproval of the use of taxidermy wolves on television, emphasizing the importance of protecting such species and the ethical considerations of their portrayal.

πŸ’‘National ecosystem

A national ecosystem refers to the network of living and non-living components within a country that interact to form a stable environment. The script mentions the importance of wolves as a precious part of the national ecosystem, indicating their role in maintaining ecological balance and the broader implications of their endangerment.

πŸ’‘Gentlemanly conduct

Gentlemanly conduct implies behaving in a polite, respectful, and considerate manner, often associated with traditional male virtues. The script uses the term to describe the expected behavior of certain individuals, contrasting it with the actual behavior observed, such as cursing or being unsportsmanlike.

πŸ’‘Prediction

A prediction is a statement about what will happen in the future, often based on analysis or opinion. The script discusses the accuracy of a bold prediction made about a sports event, highlighting the importance of foresight and the potential for surprise outcomes in competitive scenarios.

πŸ’‘Superstars

In the context of sports, superstars refer to athletes who are considered exceptionally talented and influential within their field. The script mentions superstars in relation to their performance and the expectations placed upon them, particularly in high-stakes situations like game seven.

πŸ’‘Blame

Blame is the act of holding someone responsible for a negative outcome or mistake. In the script, the concept of blame is discussed in the context of a sports team's performance, with debate over where responsibility should lie for a team's failure to perform as expected.

πŸ’‘Composure

Composure refers to the ability to remain calm and self-possessed, especially in difficult situations. The script uses the term to critique the behavior of certain individuals when faced with adversity, suggesting that maintaining composure is crucial for success.

πŸ’‘Depth

In sports, depth refers to the strength and quality of a team's roster beyond its star players. The script discusses the importance of a team's depth in contributing to its success, suggesting that a strong supporting cast can make a significant difference in competitive outcomes.

πŸ’‘Defense

Defense in sports, particularly basketball, involves the strategies and actions taken to prevent the opposing team from scoring. The script highlights the role of defense in the success of a team, emphasizing its importance in maintaining a competitive edge.

πŸ’‘Comeback

A comeback in sports is when a team or individual recovers from a disadvantage or loss to achieve a victory. The script describes a significant comeback in a game, illustrating the determination and resilience required to overcome a challenging situation.

πŸ’‘Parody

In the context of the script, 'parody' likely refers to a humorous or satirical imitation, although it seems to be used incorrectly. The intended term might have been 'parity,' which in sports means a state where no single team or player dominates, and competition is evenly matched. The script suggests we are in an era where no single player or team has sustained dominance, leading to a competitive and unpredictable landscape.

Highlights

Leader of the show protests against the use of taxidermy wolves on television, citing their endangered status.

Discussion on Michael Malone's behavior and sportsmanship during the show.

Brew's bold prediction of Minnesota winning in seven games, despite the challenging altitude in Denver.

Kevin Wild's reaction to Brew's prediction, showing a lack of sportsmanship.

Analysis of the Timberwolves' victory over Denver, highlighting the importance of defense and depth.

Debate on whether the Nuggets' loss was due to a collapse or a great comeback by the Timberwolves.

Critique of the Nuggets' bench performance and the responsibility of the coach and superstars.

Comparison of Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo's playoff records and their impact on their teams.

Discussion on the era of parity in the NBA, with different champions in recent years.

Anthony Edwards' performance and his comparison to Michael Jordan and Dwyane Wade.

Rudy Gobert's significant on-off impact for the Timberwolves in the postseason.

Karl-Anthony Towns' role in keeping the Timberwolves connected and his performance in the series.

The Timberwolves' depth, as they managed to win despite their best player's off shooting night.

Anthony Edwards' confidence and leadership, even when the team was losing.

The Wolves' display of a chip on their shoulder and their determination to prove themselves.

Predictions of the upcoming Western Conference finals and the potential for multilingual trash talk.

Transcripts

00:00

[Music]

00:02

okay the sound

00:05

effects we get it guys see this oh oh a

00:09

two shot of the Wolves thank you as the

00:12

leader of the show I'm doing the show on

00:14

in protest because brew and Nick have

00:17

taken over and decided to bring

00:19

Taxidermy wolves which I don't even

00:21

think is appropriate to put on

00:23

television they're an endangered species

00:25

and a precious animal in our national

00:29

eco system it's the first things first

00:32

I'm actually flustered you and me both

00:34

Michael I never even been to Denver

00:36

wasn't gentlemanly of Michael Malone

00:40

cursing at work this is my bital this is

00:43

my bit cheers friend get out of here why

00:47

are you in a tuxed this is my bit well

00:51

once once the where breu is stupid

00:55

sandwich I know if it's Brew where is

00:58

Brew oh is not being a gentleman

01:06

today this is

01:09

not you at least picked it you picked it

01:14

correct wild I have real analysis I have

01:17

a full screen yes R you were correct

01:21

that if Denver had won you would have

01:24

been a gentleman true you would not have

01:28

pred you would not have gloated you

01:31

would not have rubbed it in my face

01:34

because you are a

01:37

gentleman but I must

01:39

say I'm

01:41

not I'm just an old school boy from the

01:45

Midwest so I must speak my truth okay

01:52

Wilds bruis te- wolves I know went into

01:56

Denver's house what did they do kicked

01:59

up their feet I know three times Brew

02:02

they did it yes did they have and they

02:05

said food

02:08

Nia get me a

02:12

sandwich

02:14

Jamal I want some chips okay and Michael

02:19

Malone Michael Porter Jr Aaron Gordon

02:23

whoever it is go fetch me a soda pop

02:31

that's what happened that's how it that

02:33

is that is what happened that is exactly

02:35

what happened and exactly what I say

02:38

would happen it's a guts to predict them

02:41

winning in seven you did in Denver's

02:43

house did call it perfectly not only

02:45

through did you call it but your

02:49

accurate bold prediction not just

02:51

picking Minnesota to win but picking the

02:54

exact series picking them to win a game

02:56

seven on the road in that unfair

02:58

altitude that they seem to have a little

03:00

issue with yeah uh what happened to the

03:02

I have the I don't know didn't Iver was

03:05

tired the

03:06

video of Kevin Wild's reaction to your

03:10

prediction in real time can we can we

03:13

show that video it was not very

03:15

gentlemanly of one Kevin Wilds can we

03:17

roll that please

03:19

Dusty Timberwolves in seven that's right

03:23

going to Denver winning game seven I

03:25

know

03:26

I'm look at that I was out of care now

03:30

not very gentleman that was of true but

03:32

I do think you even though you have your

03:35

feet on the table are quite the

03:36

gentleman and today is a gentlemanly day

03:40

if you want to let Kevin Wilds know you

03:43

know Wilds sometimes even though I may

03:45

not be a gentleman I like doing

03:48

gentlemanly things that's

03:51

right he's also got a right yeah that's

03:55

right a drink oh yes BR you guys do look

03:58

great I do have a drink

04:00

mic still on yeah your mic's still on I

04:03

figured you like the marel cherries I

04:05

know you like sweet things and nothing

04:07

is sweeter than this wild fantastic you

04:09

guys are really thank you and we will

04:12

get to Cheers my friend Che the actual

04:14

analysis in just a moment but first yeah

04:17

I'm ready for the analysis really yeah

04:19

well first we have to go through what

04:21

got us here which was guys I don't know

04:24

what our Banner budget's going to be for

04:26

football drop them all because it's all

04:29

just the

04:30

is every single time Kevin wild tweeted

04:33

one didn't even drop maybe it will at

04:35

some point those are all Wilds tweets

04:38

that no one is beating oh there it is

04:41

Denver all is original tweets there even

04:44

was a video that we couldn't put on

04:46

there so we we'll bring that out in

04:48

different form however we can what

04:50

discipline marketing I have though no

04:52

one's beating Denver in a seven game

04:55

series is what you said in fact you even

04:57

you know you you made it really your

05:00

slogan of the Year this was your the

05:03

video you made and so here's my question

05:07

Brew I said the chiefs were going to go

05:09

20 and0 and they lost their first game

05:11

of the year you famously had were a

05:15

Net's Clippers fan at one point in time

05:18

but none of us were as Pop committed as

05:21

this guy and none of those predictions

05:24

Wilds went down in the Flames of up 32

05:29

yeah wasn't great defending

05:31

champs get 50 pieced in a game six but

05:35

that I kind of threw away and then like

05:38

ah game six the biggest blowout the

05:41

biggest blown lead in game seven history

05:44

people are calling it a great comeback

05:45

well yeah I would call it a historic

05:47

coll a collap we've had our fun at your

05:50

expense you go right ahead what happened

05:52

here's a here's some real analysis if

05:54

you're looking to the clown for that uh

05:58

final 22 minutes last last night this

06:00

was a little bit rough Minnesota had 60

06:02

points Brew Denver had 32 26 rebounds to

06:06

12 was not good they shot over 50% hit

06:09

three threes Joker had 21 points and the

06:13

rest of the team had 11 and I know

06:15

Michael Malone is saying ah Joker and

06:17

Jamal Murray did all they

06:20

could I I don't know who what what size

06:24

a piece of the blame pie I want to give

06:27

to the bench because I don't think it's

06:30

the bench's job to win game sevens they

06:33

had five the bench had five points like

06:36

is it Aaron Gordon's job to win game

06:38

seven I don't think so I think it's the

06:40

coach's job I think it's the superstars

06:42

job to get those guys involved so I'm

06:45

not going to blame Michael Porter Jr for

06:47

missing threes after he was on fire

06:49

during the Lakers series so I'm I'm

06:52

putting the blame at the superstars feet

06:56

yogic had what 34 19 and

07:00

Jamal Murray had 35 if it was LE more

07:04

I'm also the mayair if it was LeBron we

07:07

would blame LeBron when it was Kevin

07:09

Durant we'd blame Kevin Durant if it was

07:12

Steph we some we would still it would be

07:16

if any of those guys were up 32 in a

07:19

series where they were the favorite and

07:21

up 20 and get annihilated in game six

07:24

and then have a 20o second half game

07:28

seven lead and and by the way I think

07:30

Joker was good in this game I don't

07:32

think he was fine I the yeah I right but

07:35

I think so I think two things happen

07:37

Brew one is I think there were signs

07:39

about the Nuggets I think that Spurs

07:41

loss that now all of a sudden folks

07:43

cared about but we talked around on the

07:45

show were signs I think the bench was a

07:48

weakness all year and I talked about it

07:51

I hate to say it classic classic to oh

07:54

thank you very much I appreciate that

07:57

Bruce Brown I'm like Bruce Brown's not

07:58

going to decide this ser and I was like

08:00

man what you saw I think and I know

08:03

we'll talk more about the Timberwolves

08:04

side in a minute but this Timberwolves

08:07

team was never scared and that they were

08:10

they their defense they felt was going

08:12

to keep them in the game and the nuggets

08:14

the moment it was close it felt to me

08:18

like the Nuggets lost their composure

08:20

and I and that the Timberwolves had full

08:22

control well that that late run after

08:24

the Nuggets were up 20 and then it was

08:27

like a 28-9

08:29

run by uh the

08:31

Timberwolves that had to rock Denver's

08:35

world like you could see after that

08:36

point and once Minnesota took the lead

08:39

early in the fourth quarter they never

08:41

trailed again it was tied like once or

08:43

twice but they never trailed again

08:46

mentally that had to completely destroy

08:50

Denver like we had these guys by 20 now

08:53

I will say this a 20-point lead in

08:55

today's NBA is not like it's about the

08:59

equivalent of a 10-point lead 20 years

09:02

ago it really is we see it happen all

09:04

the time Lakers were up 20 I know it was

09:06

the first half but nobody thought that

09:09

game was over Denver just walked them

09:11

down with the three-point shooting the

09:15

huge leads disappear now all the time

09:19

but I think Minnesota won for two I I

09:22

don't think it was just a collapse I

09:25

think it was a great comeback because I

09:28

think Minnesota's depth and their

09:31

defense is what got it done and their

09:34

defense locked up and that's why they

09:35

weren't scared Nick they play these guys

09:37

all the time same division last year

09:40

they felt like they could have played

09:41

with them had they been healthy with

09:43

Jaden McDaniels and Carl Anthony towns

09:45

they didn't have those guys for the

09:47

whole series and they lost so I think

09:49

their defense and then their depth they

09:51

had six guys score in D average double

09:54

figures in this series uh Denver only

09:57

had four so I think the depth came back

09:59

to support Minnesota and bite Denver and

10:02

listen I'm I'm not I don't want to

10:04

because you were saying we would blame

10:06

if it were any other Superstar they'd be

10:08

getting fled today I don't I think joic

10:11

played well yesterday I don't think he

10:13

was great I thought he played well I

10:14

thought Jamal Murray played awesome for

10:16

a quarter and a half yeah and was I not

10:19

good in the second half and not good at

10:21

the very start of the game like mid mid

10:22

first quarter to the end of the uh

10:24

second quarter he was excellent but here

10:26

is what I will say in regards to joic

10:29

because all of so much of my yic

10:32

frustration has been it seems like

10:35

everyone else wants to skip two steps

10:38

ahead when he had yet to go on a great

10:40

playoff run he was already a

10:41

back-to-back MVP when he had yet to be

10:44

be in the finals people were talking

10:46

about him being winning three straight

10:48

MVPs when he had won one title we were

10:51

talking Dynasty inevitability and about

10:55

this being the yic era they and this is

10:59

and fairness though you could say just

11:00

about all of that about Giannis too but

11:03

so that's so that's what I so that's the

11:05

exact point I wanted to make because

11:07

joic Giannis if we put him next to each

11:10

other it is a dead heat the playoff win

11:15

lost record I didn't realize was almost

11:16

identical the Conference Finals

11:18

appearances identical finals appearances

11:21

identical all of that I now yic has

11:23

three MVPs Giannis has two but he has

11:25

one defensive player of the year so

11:27

that's 33 and Giannis has more

11:29

outstanding Seasons now he's been in the

11:31

league a year longer and so the point

11:34

I'm making is I think that right we were

11:38

talking are the Nuggets going to be a

11:39

dynasty and I think a year from now we

11:42

might be discussing was is jic

11:44

definitively the best guy of his own era

11:47

because I don't know that that's true I

11:49

think Giannis is right there with him

11:50

historically and we'll see if Luca what

11:53

he does over these next couple next

11:55

month and if it becomes a three horse

11:57

race yeah I mean look and and let's see

12:00

what wiim Bama ends up doing I mean

12:02

they're all relatively young SGA is

12:05

there Anthony Edwards you know so I I

12:07

think we got a long way to go before we

12:09

start talking about whose era it is but

12:11

you didn't think people were saying this

12:12

was yist Era right now that that was

12:15

being discussed that they thought it

12:17

might be a dast what what we're in is a

12:20

an incredible era of parody now let's

12:22

see we this will be our sixth champion

12:25

in the past six years no champion in

12:28

these six years years has even gotten

12:30

past the second round after they won

12:33

their Championship so I I think we have

12:35

to see and let this thing play out

12:37

before we start you know really nailing

12:39

where they are historically all right

12:40

before we move on to the Wolves I just

12:42

want to show you one play this is down

12:45

five in the waning seconds of the game

12:47

this is cat's putb Brew or I'll ask you

12:50

Nick do you think if we look at the

12:52

other angle of this where cat just runs

12:54

in and dunks the ball as three guys

12:56

stand and look at it and then Nas Reed

12:58

had an earlier one where like Jamal I

13:00

don't know if it's Jamal Murray's job to

13:01

box out no the one was Joker missed the

13:04

box out you can show that too do you

13:06

think there is an element of Joker

13:10

fatigue or lack of want to I mean it's

13:13

game seven Joker never came out they

13:15

played a lot of minutes the whole year

13:17

obviously like a deep play they won the

13:18

championship last year all that so does

13:20

that show up in little moments or is it

13:22

just kind of a narrative so I think two

13:25

things one is I think Joker did look

13:28

gassed understandably playing you know g

13:31

games is playing heavy minutes the whole

13:33

all series Michael Malone made the the

13:36

Strategic choice of not giving him his

13:39

regular rest at the beginning of the

13:40

second quarter cuz I think he thought we

13:42

can really step on their throat which

13:43

they well well yeah I like I said I I'm

13:47

not killing him for it but it was

13:48

clearly a choice and there's a trade-off

13:50

for that because most guys can't go all

13:53

out effort on both ends for 48 minutes

13:57

that's why guys don't do it so I think

13:59

Joker was a little gassed I think the

14:01

other nuggets were Shook and I think

14:04

that and this is where you might

14:05

disagree I think they showed their coach

14:08

and their second best player both showed

14:11

front runner Tendencies and I think that

14:14

they last playoff run they were so good

14:17

they to their credit never faced real

14:19

adversity this year the first time they

14:22

faced it Jamal Murray is throwing stuff

14:24

at the refs and Michael Malone is

14:27

freaking out in game two on refs and

14:29

then when they lose a totally benol

14:33

legitimate question is asked to Michael

14:35

Malone and he dresses down the reporter

14:37

unnecessarily that to me is guys we talk

14:40

about composure and things like that I

14:42

mean they did win three in a row I I

14:45

understand that the yeah I thought they

14:47

show Heart in coming back and making

14:48

this a series see I thought they won

14:50

here's what I thought about those three

14:51

in a row game four it felt to me like

14:55

the or game three pardon me the

14:57

Timberwolves understandably kind of let

14:59

you know relaxed a bit and games four

15:01

and five were about Joker's individual

15:05

Brilliance taking over he was so

15:07

excellent in those games I thought

15:08

Michael Malone and Jamal Murray it

15:11

looked shaky you know what I mean as far

15:13

as how they handled real adversity in

15:15

this series I think that's a fair

15:17

critique brw no I look I I think and

15:20

we'll get to this in a moment the better

15:22

team won yeah and and I'm not just

15:24

saying that cuz I they and I'll I'll

15:27

give you know I know we talk about that

15:28

next but yeah I think they're just

15:29

better all right to the to the victors

15:32

Brew how about your wolves well look

15:34

obviously everybody's talking about

15:35

Michael Jordan and Anthony Edwards I

15:37

actually think he's more like d Wayne

15:39

Wade with a jump shot but there the

15:41

comparisons to Jordan to me one as he

15:44

said he plays both ends of the floor and

15:46

you saw it yesterday all right the

15:48

second thing I love about Anthony

15:50

Edwards he plays in the system like he

15:53

was 6 for 24 and when you watch them

15:56

throughout this series everybody else is

15:58

touching theall everybody else feels

16:00

free to shoot they their system is not

16:02

Anthony Edwards all right and I think

16:04

that makes it easier for your team to

16:06

conform around you and can make you a

16:08

better team now I just think like I said

16:11

Minnesota's better look they won three

16:13

of the four games in Denver okay they

16:16

won one of the games by 45 points all

16:20

right and then they come back on from a

16:22

20-point deficit in the second half in

16:24

Denver again all of those things speak

16:26

to them being the better team and and

16:29

then look at this uh graphic we have

16:31

right here they out did Denver in

16:33

everything this is the seven games more

16:36

points shot better from the floor made

16:39

more free throws more rebounds assists

16:41

steals blocks fewer turnovers and of

16:43

course within that is asto all right so

16:47

all of that I mean they dominated this

16:50

series as much as you could dominate a

16:52

seven game series sorry I'm doing the

16:55

math it's no it's but it's it's by a lot

16:58

it's 26 to 241 I think wow A plus 20 in

17:03

as Ser there it really is and the this

17:07

is where we were talking about the depth

17:09

their best player goes 6 for 24 yeah and

17:12

they still are able to win that's good

17:14

point so that speaks to their depth and

17:16

their defense all right so Anthony the 6

17:18

for 24 is of course a famous statline

17:20

because in one of the other biggest game

17:23

seven comebacks ever the Los Angeles

17:26

Lakers in the 2010 finals against the

17:28

Boston Celtics Kobe Bryant went six for

17:30

24 and found and found a way to impact

17:34

the game through rebounding and and this

17:36

is also why sports are kind of you know

17:39

funny funny is the wrong word but unique

17:41

in that if Kobe's teammates in that game

17:44

if if Ron ESS doesn't hit that shot if

17:46

if if Carl Anthony towns doesn't make

17:48

the plays he made in this game then we

17:50

look at the six for 24s by the Stars

17:52

differently because they won we can talk

17:54

about the good things they did but I

17:55

want to talk about two guys on the

17:56

timber worlds that I have criticized

17:58

heavily throughout their careers because

18:00

unlike maybe some members of the new

18:03

media that are very entrenched in Old

18:05

held grudges and will not move even if

18:07

the evidence suggests they should Rudy

18:10

gobear and Carl Anthony towns deserve

18:12

some respect for what they've done in

18:13

this series Rudy Rudy goar his the W his

18:18

onoff impact for the Wolves this

18:20

postseason is more dramatic literally

18:23

than any other player in the league yes

18:25

it is true he cannot guard Nika yic one

18:28

on one but that's also not really what

18:31

he's there for and no one can nobody in

18:34

the league currently can and people like

18:36

I the defensive player of the year when

18:38

D Kim B mut tumble won Defensive Player

18:39

of the Year Shaq put up 35 and 20 every

18:43

night in the finals when Draymond won

18:45

defensive player of the year he had his

18:47

teammate guard LeBron James in the

18:49

finals because he was best use elsewhere

18:51

Rudy was great and and Rudy even at

18:55

halime of this game folks on the

18:57

broadcast we talking about benching him

18:59

Rudy kept his composure and kept his

19:02

kept a steady handed impact and I have

19:04

been a significant Rudy Gober critic but

19:07

why play the games if guys can't change

19:11

you can't change your opinion of guys

19:12

based on how they play and Carl Anthony

19:15

towns I always thought good stats bad

19:18

team guy you know when he got hurt this

19:20

year I was like I don't even really know

19:21

how much it's going to hurt them he kept

19:24

them connected in the first half he hit

19:26

a three when they were down 15 at one

19:28

point point to cut it to 12 when it

19:29

looked like Denver was going to blow it

19:31

open every time joic did the thing Brew

19:33

always wants him to do which is the yeah

19:36

I'm not going to mimic it but car

19:38

Anthony towns is strong enough to at

19:40

least stop you know what I mean hold his

19:42

ground and he was excellent look I and

19:46

so I think those two guys just deserve

19:47

massive credit because I've criticized

19:49

them but they I mean this is the

19:50

crowning moment for so far of their

19:51

careers towns I look I think the issue

19:53

with Jimmy Butler when he clearly

19:55

thought towns was soft I think that hurt

19:57

his reputation remember we had to go

19:59

back and forth with mbid for a while

20:01

who's obviously a bit better than towns

20:03

I thought all of those things sullied

20:05

his reputation but this dude can play

20:07

now like I said I think he's got a

20:09

number one game he's 23 and 11 on four

20:14

almost 40% shooting from three for his

20:17

career but I think he is a number two

20:20

because of his demeanor maybe

20:22

personality whatever it is and now you

20:24

got Anthony Edwards there as the number

20:27

one but a guy who also loves him like

20:30

back Big Ups him always talking about

20:32

how good he is and gets him that

20:34

confidence it's a perfect tandem those

20:36

two can I give you one final thing

20:37

before we go yeah please the Wolves also

20:41

have a little bit

20:43

of Stick it to youis oh yeah that I

20:46

don't know if Denver had and this is the

20:48

play that I had Dusty pull Dusty the the

20:50

Jaden McDaniels trying to dunk at the

20:52

end of the game this was wild this is

20:54

just and Anthony ant Edwards was doing

20:56

stuff the whole game the whole series

20:58

it's just a little bit of chip on their

21:01

shoulder Grudge Edge and it's not

21:05

necessarily the heart of a champion that

21:07

we said Denver have this is like we're

21:09

coming for you and and and it's the game

21:11

is over I still want to let you know

21:14

there's and it's a little bit extra and

21:16

it's it's a little bit you take on it'll

21:18

go to you got to win when you do that

21:19

you got to keep

21:20

winning you take on the personality your

21:23

best player sometimes yeah and Anthony

21:25

Edwards is almost young enough to not

21:27

really care about all the unwritten

21:29

rules and he's got a lot of bleep you to

21:32

him and he's and to his credit one thing

21:34

I and I know we got to go he is not a

21:36

frontrunner he is talking when they're

21:38

losing he is confident and so I respect

21:41

it and I think we're going to get I mean

21:43

the the the trash talk in multiple

21:45

languages we're about to get in the

21:47

western Gman finals oh my goodness

21:49

gracious I do like us tickling the

21:51

ivories a little bit on the way out

21:52

you're feeling better you're not a

21:53

gentlem know feeling better I appreciate

21:56

being surrounded by fellow gentlemen Che

21:59

you guys weren't too bad on me well I

22:01

mean those was live

22:03

forever first things

22:04

[Music]

22:10

first thanks for watching subscribe here

22:13

to get more from the show and to check

22:15

out clips from other shows on FS1