Game Thread Playoffs Round 2, Game 1: Spurs vs Timberwolves (0-0) (Mon 05/04/2026) [8:30 CDT]

[John B]

Where do you watch the full post games press? Online anywhere?

I was watching live on Peacock.

Wemby was asked about his triple-double defense. He’s not excited about the triple double with 12 blocks which resulted to a loss. Wemby mentioned about putting too much energy on things that were not helpful to his team(?) and kept him from scoring more… because he mentioned he has to manage both sides…. I’m a little curious on his trend of thought. Did he spend too much time on defense and not enough energy to score??

 

[Robz4000]

Welp, at least even if the Spurs get swept we can say their young core has won more playoff games than the Rockets'

 

[MannyIG]

Keldon 6MOY actually makes me audibly laugh. He’s a ghost in playoffs

Keldon started off the game poorly but played well the final 3 quarters. Asking Keldon to guard Ant is stupid, but I thought after he stopped taken it to Naz Reid he was good.

 

[Wemby_Island]

Mid season I felt like Wemby’s jumper was coming nice all along.

His middy was golden with MIN, Bos, DEN high stake games. Then he suddenly stopped taking them. He dont have patience if he is not getting the ball.

 

[Max_power]

Wemby just doesnt have a developed offensive game yet. Kind of frustrating to see him still play like an out of control baby giraffe throwing up random shots to see what hits. I really can't believe he still takes the ball off the dribble at the 3 pt line even if it worked out a couple times.

Would think by his third year, he would know how to get to his spots better and not just at the 3 pt line. And obviously getting 12 blocks in a game tires him out.

I think we all are kind of still waiting for that Wemby ofensive Game wh2ere he just takes control and completly dominates, like in that opening season Game against Dallas, but his Game needs way more work to do, but thats hasta to be more in the sense of he being more inteligente on this side of the Game, he still try some obsurd things that don't help him at all. He needs to play different in the next Game, we would need his scoring, 12 pts are what we expect from Keldon Johnson not from him, tbh

 

[Trifecta]

Wemby just doesnt have a developed offensive game yet. Kind of frustrating to see him still play like an out of control baby giraffe throwing up random shots to see what hits. I really can't believe he still takes the ball off the dribble at the 3 pt line even if it worked out a couple times.

Would think by his third year, he would know how to get to his spots better and not just at the 3 pt line. And obviously getting 12 blocks in a game tires him out.

Catch myself tensing up when Wemby tries to attack the paint from the top! Gets tripped, stripped, clipped, etc…

 

[Spurminator]

People already claiming wolves in 5 or wolves in 6 need to calm down. Geez people, spurs played horribly, and somehow almost stole it.

Spurs lose next game then i can understand the cliff jumpers. But let’s give the a chance to see what this team is truly made of

You have to understand these people are addicted to despair.

 

[SickDSM]

Can you really blame their fanbase when everyone else was saying this will be an easy series for the Spurs?

Must be bandwagon fans. Every true MN fan doesn't feel confident even up by 20 with a 3-1 lead.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Several observations I made from this game

1. This first one is not really from this game alone but from what I have seen all year. Anthony Edwards hates Victor and always plays with a lot of fire when he sees him. I saw earlier this year during the all-star game when he called out Victor. I have seen it in that commercial in which he insulted Victor. I think the hate comes from jealousy and competition of wanting to be the face of the league granted Edwards says he doesn't want to be the face of the league but I think he's bullshitting when he says that and really wants to be the face. The hate gives him a lot of juice and adrenaline to perform at a high level despite having bad knees. Spurs might just have to concede that they won't be able stop this guy and either focus on quick double teams and have a concentrated effort to stop everybody else.

2. Victor has been shooting like shit since coming back from that concussion. I have a theory that his bad shooting is still the side effects of that concussion injury he had. I remember many years ago back in 2015 Klay Thompson suffering a concussion in the close out WCF game against the Rockets. His shooting in the next series against the Cavs was bad for a few games before he got back his rhythm. I remember Klay saying in an interview once after that series was over that the concussion messed up his shooting for a few games.

3. Gobert I believe is unplayable in this series for the Wolves. This is something the Spurs can exploit if they play smart. The Wolves went on their biggest run in the 4th when he wasn't there.

4. Julius Randle is going to be a problem since the Spurs have nobody of size to defend him, box him out on the boards and he can screen Victor from protecting the paint. Mitch has to do a better job of at least calling out the refs when Julius is grabbing and holding and setting illegal screens on Vic on the defensive end.

5. Fox is trash. I don't have to explain that. This is the series where he really proves his worth going forward.

6. I have said for years coaching is overrated in the NBA since Players determine 90 percent of the game and at best coaches determine the 10 percent. In a series like this the 10 percent could really determine whether the Spurs win or lose since both teams are closely matched. Mitch made some dumb decisions that cost his team the game while Finch made some decisions that gave his team the edge to win.

7. The refs are not allowing the Spurs to play physical in these playoffs. We saw it against the Blazers how they were allowed to hack with impunity but the Spurs were called for ticky tack fouls when they tried to play physical. This game was the same type of situation with Castle fouling out and other guys getting in a foul trouble. Mitch needs to bitch and complain about this stuff because that's what coaches do to influence how the game will be called.

8. This is going to be a close series that I believe will go to 7 games. I can't imagine the Wolves continue to barely squeak by every game and win in a sweep or 5 games. They will also lose some heartbreaking games where things don't go there way. Eventually it will even out.

I’m not saying you have good points because I stopped at number one. Anthony does not hate Victor. He just wants to beat him. That is his competitive nature as any bad ass player has. I’ll read the rest later. Ha

 

[DaSlicer]

People already claiming wolves in 5 or wolves in 6 need to calm down. Geez people, spurs played horribly, and somehow almost stole it.

Spurs lose next game then i can understand the cliff jumpers. But let’s give the a chance to see what this team is truly made of

Agreed I think this series is still a coin flip and will go the distance of 7 games. Eventually the Wolves will also lose some games on the margins.

 

[SupremeGuy]

Wemby took way too many threes, especially in the first half. 0-8 from downtown.

Yeah, he clearly didn't have it on the offensive side of the ball tonight. If he did, we win by 10.

He's already shown that this shit matters more to him than almost anyone else so I expect him to be French Jesus next game.

 

[timtonymanu]

Welp, at least even if the Spurs get swept we can say their young core has won more playoff games than the Rockets'

Yep could be worse. We could have lost to the shitty Guest in the 1st round.

 

[100%Duncan]

Ahh, it doesn't sit well with me a role player taking the game winning shot or trying to create that shot for himself.

Lebron would pass the ball off to a role player in his first sting with the Cavs and they'd likely miss. There was one game where he was scared to take the shot himself and he passed it to Dean Garrett (their Center) to win the game and he clanged it. I'd rather Lebron have taken that shot himself. Same with this game. I would have rather Dylan take a long three than pass it off to anyone other than Victor. I'd rather my star take that shot or try and make the play for someone else to get a wide open shot.

Yeah, technically Julian might have been the hot hand, but that was two offensive rebounds where AE said he didn't box out and let Champ get to them. I don't really call that the hot hand. It was great, great hustle play from Julian, but not what I would say "hot hand."

I dont necessarily disagree with you tbh, it’s 50-50.

And it’s why I quote unquoted the hot hand as it wasnt really from jumpers.

 

[LeBowen]

Where do you watch the full post games press? Online anywhere?

 

[SupremeGuy]

Not really something the Spurs can control when they don't have a power forward. They gotta make up those points elsewhere, e.g. in the Fox vs Conley matchup and with Victor vs Gobert, and they didn't.

Conley played bitchball on defense. Actually, all of Minny did and the refs bought it.

 

[MannyIG]

Literally the only thing I'd change about Wemby's game tonight is his shot selection. Take that fucking ball to the hole and he certainly has a better offensive stat line. Mitch also paniced a bit and played him too long down the stretch without a break. Part of that was because we were down but thats what happens when you don't do your work early and leave it for the last few minutes of the game when your MVP is now on much weaker legs.

 

[amans]

Yeah, darn. He's a young player and was probably looking for that timeout. Fuck. Mitch probably hasn't even gone through scenarios with these guys on what to do if down two with the rebound and 8 seconds to go etc. and no timeout. I thought teams go through these types of scenarios all the time, but I guess not. Probably Dylan was thinking timeout.

Unfortunately, Keldon, I'm not a believe in. I believe in most of the guys in the rotation. Not sure what I can say about Keldon at this point. It was a bad look him mouthing off to Edwards after getting scored on multiple times.

Definitely. Harper looked at the bench expecting the timeout and Wemby wasn’t even running till he knew there’s no timeout. Mitch should have made it known to his players they can go without a timeout cuz they were clearly confused

 

[Snake Eyes]

Conley and Shannon scoring 28 was even fine, Castle and Fox matching them wasn't.
Randle is a good player, but not enough of an issue to warrant a roster change or whatever you guys are implying.
He'd be an issue if he was doing way more than he should be doing, instead he had an average game by his standards.

His advantage should be a disadvantage on the other end, but we couldn't take advantage of it.
We're supposed to be either a way more mobile team with better spacing when Gobert is on the floor or a team that should get Wemby easy looks against Naz/Radnle lineups and we did neither of those things.
I don't care how physical they get, if Gobert isn't on the floor, we need to get to the rim one way or another.

I’m not sure why you’re looping Castle with Fox. He made a good amount of three and he was taken out of the rhythm by the fucking RFS and I never say that. It was pretty obvious. But he has to be smarter and not picking up any ticky-tacky fouls. It’s going to cost San Antonio Antonio if he does.

 

[DaSlicer]

I’m not saying you have good points because I stopped at number one. Anthony does not hate Victor. He just wants to beat him. That is his competitive nature as any bad ass player has. I’ll read the rest later. Ha

He does hate him. He's called him out all year. The hate is there much like Shaq had hate for Robinson and Duncan until his career was over and then let it go. It is what it is.

 

[100%Duncan]

Literally the only thing I'd change about Wemby's game tonight is his shot selection. Take that fucking ball to the hole and he certainly has a better offensive stat line. Mitch also paniced a bit and played him too long down the stretch without a break. Part of that was because we were down but thats what happens when you don't do your work early and leave it for the last few minutes of the game when your MVP is now on much weaker legs.

I think he’s also gassed from all his defensive efforts. Idk, we have to somehow find a reason why he lived outside when he shot 4/5 from inside (before the last minute rushed shots).

 

[SickDSM]

Conley played bitchball on defense. Actually, all of Minny did and the refs bought it.

Conley shouldn't even be on the roster. 33% from the field this season and hunted on defense.

 

[LeBowen]

I’m not sure why you’re looping Castle with Fox. He made a good amount of three and he was taken out of the rhythm by the fucking RFS and I never say that. It was pretty obvious. But he has to be smarter and not picking up any ticky-tacky fouls. It’s going to cost San Antonio Antonio if he does.

You're right.
Castle did well not to make mistakes while being pressured by McDaniels, but that also took him out of the game.

 

[Ice009]

The 2nd half turnovers were extremely frustrating because they were just stupid passes and lack of concentration plays. This team wasn't prepared tonight. Fitch came in with a game plan despite not being the one with a week to go.

I just can't emphasize how much I am disappointed in what we saw out of the Spurs offensively and I'm not talking about shooting percentages. I have defended this team all year from unfair criticism but tonight Wemby and Mitch are the worst offenders. Fox looked lost at times too, but I put that more on Mitch than Fox.

Also for the love of god please do not have Castle slow dibble up against McDaniels pressure. We have options. We do not need to do that.

There's a lot of talk from the players these playoffs to just play like you always play.

To me, that is a load of BS. It's the playoffs. They coaches should be saying you need to be sharper, every play is magnified, you need to be more focused, you can't make silly passes, lazy mistakes in playoff games as any bad play could cost you the game. You don't have to be perfect, but just be aware and focused out there. Fox is playing some lazy fucking basketball with some lazy fucking passes, lazy dribbling, lazy offense jacking up threes. Man, I defended Fox all season, but I'm not defending him anymore. He's going to have to change my mind the rest of this series, because as far as I'm concerned, he's a little too happy, sloppy and straight lazy. It's the playoffs. Wake the fuck up. This isn't some feel good story where you'll get the win by just turned up. You have to earn it by giving it all you got out there. Go watch some early career Nets Jason Kidd videos to see how someone plays in the playoffs that gives it their all.

Fucking Pop trying to tank the team going into the playoffs by also telling them to just play like they did in the regular season. You've had a team getting off to jittery starts almost every game except game 5 against Portland. Great advice these coaches are giving them. Like someone said, they're relying of Victors great defense and two top 5 picks that got them here all season. The coaches are being exposed.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

Yeah and most people here are usually wrong. "most people think" to justify something instead of just saying why a shot is a good is always a sign you don't know if its actually good or bad. Is it a makeable shot? Sure but notice the moving of the goalposts from it was a good shot to now it was a makeable shot.

You do a lot of patting of yourself on the back don’t you? I can’t imagine you ever think you lost an argument in your life.

I’m slowly inching my way towards the ignore button

 

[Extra Stout]

I thought the wrinkle Minnesota threw at the Spurs in the fourth was brilliant where off the first screen to free up a drive to the hoop there was a cross screen or something to prevent Victor from recovering on the weak side. He was pinned in between two guys. That allowed them a lot of shots at the rim until Mitch and the team figured it out. It was a 14-2 coaching run to put them in control of the game. Finch is a really clever tactician. Those little adjustments that he waits until the fourth to spring on you remind me of Phil Jackson.

That said, Minnesota couldn’t put them away and they still had a chance to win. I thought they were going to lose by ten when Minny went on that run. Wemby and Fox were putrid on offense and they lost by two.