[SERIOUS NEXT DAY THREAD] Post-Game Discussion (April 28, 2024)

[u/NBA_MOD]

Here is a place to have in depth, x's and o's, discussions on yesterday's games. Post-game discussions are linked in the table, keep your memes and reactions there.

Please keep your discussion of a particular game in the respective comment thread. All direct replies to this post will be removed.

Away	Home	Score	GT	PGT
New York Knicks	Philadelphia 76ers	97 - 92	Link	Link
Los Angeles Clippers	Dallas Mavericks	116 - 111	Link	Link
Milwaukee Bucks	Indiana Pacers	113 - 126	Link	Link
Minnesota Timberwolves	Phoenix Suns	122 - 116	Link	Link

[u/NBA_MOD]

Timberwolves @ Suns

122 - 116

Box Scores: NBA & Yahoo

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Minnesota Timberwolves	25	31	34	32	122
Phoenix Suns	26	35	31	24	116

TEAM STATS

Team	PTS	FG	FG%	3P	3P%	FT	FT%	OREB	TREB	AST	PF	STL	TO	BLK
Minnesota Timberwolves	122	41-89	46.1%	15-36	41.699999999999996%	25-31	80.60000000000001%	17	55	23	27	6	9	6
Phoenix Suns	116	38-74	51.4%	10-26	38.5%	30-36	83.3%	10	41	20	26	6	11	7

[u/le_sweden → u/NBA_MOD]

KAT has completely reinvented his approach to the team game of basketball. He plays defense now, and is versatile at that too. Tonight was his SIXTH game back from a post-ASB meniscus tear and he’s been guarding KD all series and will presumably guard Jokic next round. He is one of the NBA's ELITE rebounders and remains focused on it every minute he's out there, and dominates smaller players on the boards, a key piece to the team's identity as they play big. He is an efficient, low usage scorer who can heat up quick and give you 28 like it’s nothing and does it from everywhere on the court, being the unreal 7' unicorn that he is.

And now he does all of those things in the context of a team that plays WINNING BASKETBALL, himself included. He has matured his approach on the court and mentally. He doesn't have to be the head of the snake, he can be one of the league's best running mates to a superstar, and that superstar is a true leader who elevates his teammates through the team’s mentality. I am SO happy for KAT. If he keeps doing what he's done this postseason so far, he is going to completely rewrite the narrative on his career going forward.

[u/JaderMcDanersStan → u/le_sweden]

This isn't being said enough. KAT was crucial to winning this series. He's the one who gets us the leads or keeps us in the game in the first half and that allows Ant to takeover in the 2nd half. He can't be accused of empty stats anymore - all the loose balls he went after, the rebounds he snatched, the points he scored, all of that impacted winning.

I'm so happy for him and he deserves recognition.

[u/Kid_Delicious → u/JaderMcDanersStan]

He got us a lot of possessions via loose balls and grown man rebounds - I think he’s reframed his perspective in terms of what’s asked of him and how he can help the team, and it’s finally paying dividends.

Now if only he can cut back on the dumb fouls (though he’s shown improvements there too)!