The Phoenix Suns Are in Serious Trouble...

In Game 1 of Timberwolves vs. Suns, Minnesota was able to shut down seemingly everything Phoenix tried to create, in large part thanks to the versatility of Rudy Gobert.
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[@joshuasamuel2274]

They've got an infestation, an ANT problem

[@HoopVenue]

😂😂

[@foxdrags]

BANG

[@Nilloth]

Get this quote in a highlight reel

[@jdunc3789]

Quote of the century🙌🏾😂

[@klauscaptbsquad7044]

For some reason, I pictured Christopher Walkens - Bruce Dickinson saying that

[@atothejhines]

Minnesota plays HARD on defense. They don’t give up and finish plays. They make some of these modern “defenses” look pathetic.

[@shoelace4060]

there were a number of shots that the suns made but they were really tough and i think you can live with that

[@hitthegoat]

@@shoelace4060yup, as long as they are forcing phoenix to take tough contested shots you can’t get upset. The suns are a good offensive team.

[@fckfent6766]

@@hitthegoatu know ball

[@MistyKathrine]

I live in Salt Lake City and have watched Gobert in the playoffs for many years, he was never the reason his teams lost. Being paired with bad perimeter defenders like Donovan Mitchell often put Gobert into impossible situations since he now has to try and clean up a leaky perimeter in addition to guarding the paint.

[@halimawmanoodngyt]

put respect to gobert yall

[@Matthew-xl5bc]

Gobert has always been amazing. Finally he has an elite defensive supporting cast around him.

[@LonghornsLegend]

Shaq or somebody will always find a reason to hate on him

[@richborn6700]

​@@LonghornsLegendShaq hates anyone who doesn't play Center like he did. But if you do and show any improvement where he did not, he'll hate you for that too. Shaq is a fickle man

[@MichaelTiopan]

I know about his defense but he surely developing in attacking area. I see couple times he playing dribbles in paint area. That was surprise me the most. I wish ben have balls enough like rudy did

[@user-bq7ff6po1q]

Dpoy

[@lucasmatta5853]

McDaniels is a monster. I never see a player clamp booker like this

[@Trizzer89]

Jaden McDaniels CRUSHED Booker

[@xavierb9061]

But thats it. Durant and beall will play well. Until mcdaniels changes then booker will go off

[@ryanwall1780]

​@@xavierb9061KD will be the only one to get his. You're sorely mistaken if you think McDaniels is the only defender the Wolves have.

[@xavierb9061]

@@ryanwall1780 beal was 6/10. So if kd n beal ...no surprise royce hit 5 3s (either him allen or gordon will)

[@ryanwall1780]

@@xavierb9061 Efficient 2s won't beat the Timberwolves

[@xavierb9061]

@@ryanwall1780 relax ant had lucky game. Hitting step back 3s on kd. Soon that calms down , loss. Like 3 games this year

[@ken58763]

One of the best breakdowns I’ve seen of this defense

[@stefanzlatanovic7521]

Brother the way you dissect these games is just surgical. And what a game it was. The best of the first night. Ant was a menace on the court. Minnesota played great defense.

[@Kidkinsey]

Glad somebody realizes gobert was never "exposed" in the playoffs. The defenders around him just made his job basically impossible lmao U don't win 3 DPOY being a overated defender

[@jeunewakandais9051]

Thanks ! Many details i didnt saw during the game ! Thanks coaching staff for the Game plan and all players for execution… Gobert surprised me in some sequence… his defense is amazing

[@dephy11]

The one thing I'm jealous of the wolves as a cavs fan is that they have naz reid. Hes such a great backup big.

[@yvonne2965]

I love Naz & I’m a Sun’s fan

[@MatthewSchilken]

a-men and PS he is not a center anymore

[@hideokojima2015]

@@MatthewSchilken he's a big tho

[@Jevonechy]

Crazy you predicted some of these things in your last video before the series even started . You really know what you're talking about and not just spewing hot garbage.

[@msinna6433]

It’s 1 game in a 7 game series. Most teams use it as a feel out game anyways

[@Jevonechy]

@msinna6433 idk why you guys are surprised or acting like the Wolves weren't capable of this. Yeah, it's 1 game, but you need to realize the wolves were the second best team in the NBA for the majority of the season. Number 1 ranked defense, as you saw in game 1, number 1 3pt percentage, as you saw game 1 as well. Suns don't have really have an offense. Yeah, how they play looks nice because of their elite scorers, but if they're not making shots consistently like during the season, wolves in 6

[@Samisgood478]

@@JevonechyCook

[@sousgod5017]

⁠@@JevonechyI don’t think anyone doubts the wolves talent but your rationale is weird, If scorers don’t make shots they’ll lose duh that’s a given a team with booker beal and durant they should make their shots and going into game one wolves lost every game against them.

[@Jevonechy]

@sousgod5017 I said if they're not making all those shots they made in the season series because of the wolves' defense being tougher in the playoffs. Sorry I didn't word it correctly

[@nbapbaupdate8338]

Jaden McDaniels & Rudy Gobert INSANE DEFENSE

[@carter5377]

Suns were criticized for not having any supporting cast around booker, KD, and Beal. I was really surprised to see so many analysts take the suns over my Wolves even though they won the regular season matchups. I was glad to see we got the Suns in the first round.

[@user-wu8sj3ee3d]

You think it’s over because of ONE game?

[@carter5377]

@@user-wu8sj3ee3d when did I say that?

[@tarun5254]

Still got to win 3 more so we’ll have to wait and see

[@kissband100]

@@user-wu8sj3ee3dthe wolves fans have been hiding and were afraid of this matchup, now they are talking lol I’d say that the suns will smack them again, then Ant will shut up and his fans.

[@MrNashtyone]

Yeah the suns don't have an offensive coach plain and simple. ISO ball will never beat a team offense. Especially when it's 3 ISO players playing a 5 man team of NBA players. It's 3 on 5 and it's been that way the entire season. I'm a suns fan and that's why I know. It's been ugly watching ISO ball the entire season with this team. To be honest I'm sick of seeing this team making contested shots late in the shot clock while the other team gets easy ones early in the shot clock. The suns have no offense. It's 3 on 5 or 2 on 5 every game almost. If they built an offense around these 3 we'd be championship contenders. But all the other players defer to these 3 when they get the ball instead of taking the open shot. It really shows up in the second half when the game is tight. The other team double or triple teams 2 of the 3 and then there's turnovers galore or missed contested shots galore. The only reason suns fans have confidence now is because it's game 1. When it's game 2 and we lose again like this everyone will change their tune because this team has 3 great players on a team that sucks.

[@matthewhanson3204]

What happened to everyone spouting off that narrative of Rudy being a playoff liability?!

[@nathanh2725]

It's been one game

[@Benisuber1]

@@nathanh2725 So you didn't watch the game?

[@xbugswrld]

@@nathanh2725 you clearly didn't watch Gobert this season

[@nathanh2725]

@xbugswrld I'm just saying man its been one play off game, let them atleast win one series first

[@ThatKidDarius21]

😂😂😂 dude had one good season and everyone riding his balls

[@dc33333]

Good analysis and video. Thank You HV.

[@GOATiology]

Incredible work brother!

[@MikandaMaboto]

My man you are everywhere! Stay GOATED

[@TuMadreee]

Been waiting for the vid man 😂

[@serg8257]

Gotta give it to gobert, had the suns on locked

[@zeus4885]

The Suns will make their adjustments and find ways to force him on perimeter mismatches to run him off the floor. The Beal/ Booker/ Allen/ Gordon/ KD small ball lineup has an offensive rating of 149 on over 150 possessions. If Allen can play in Game 2, we are going to see that lineup

[@hitthegoat]

The thing is though the wolves have answers to all those mismatch scenarios

[@zeus4885]

@@hitthegoat As a fan of a team that’s made it out of the first round more than once in the last 34 years, take my advice here… In the playoffs, after a win you feel like you’ll never lose again. And after a loss you feel like it’s over. It’s a long 7 game series and every game is different. I will come back here in a week or two and let’s see how those answers the Wolves have for everything have worked for yall ✊

[@alfamatt2079]

​@@zeus4885how did this go for you?

[@maxleblanc342]

Great channel, can't wait to see you get the hype you deserve in the future

[@Jiff321]

Video does a good job of explaining how Rudy is the best defender. “Wemby gets more blocks!” Is casual shit lol

[@ghostazp3377]

its a casual outlook to ever respect covid boy

[@Jiff321]

@@ghostazp3377 k

[@zeitGGeist]

This was a wonderfully informative video.

[@yuanyao3963]

superb breakdown

[@marcjohn9404]

Did anybody really think the Wolves were going to show them their gameplan in those two games towards the end of the season, and give them a chance to crack the code? They came out and busted their bully right in the mush, and it worked. They were aggressive, they swarmed on the ball for 48 minutes, and the Suns didn't know what hit them until they were already getting carried out on a stretcher. KD was the only one who got anything going, the rest of them got shut down. #1 defense in the NBA all season, and it wasn't really close. If you look at def rating, they have like 5 of the top 8 players in the league.

[@MatthewSchilken]

not only that, but the 1st Pho game was a back to back where we played 2 tough games in a row vs a desperate GS Warriors team, and that 2nd game that was where Draymond tried to literally kill Rudy and several players got tossed. So the Wolves were really tired, physically and mentally

[@leopoldoesquibeljr428]

Great analysis! I didn't see that. I just enjoyed the game. I did notice that Gobert was way out but I didn't pay attention 😅

[@behindthearcyt]

The suns just don’t have anyone that can contain and the only thing that can contain ant is himself. If Ant makes the right passes under pressure, continues to get a lot of rim pressure, and somewhat near the level of shot making he had this game we will see similar performances from him in the rest of this series. After this game im more confident of my original prediction of Timberwolves winning the series in 6 games.

[@gastonzamora4985]

The suns also need someone that can direct the offense, because their 3 main ball handlers are all thinking of scoring in isolation, neither beal booker or durant are capable of playing a bit like a point guard when necessary, booker is probably the closest they have to that, but he doesnt have the experience to be a pseudo PG against the number 1 offense. Iso's are great when your team is far better than the opposing team, but thats rarely the case in the playoffs, they need to play as a team if they want to have a chance.

[@jalynjones9136]

@@gastonzamora4985 wolves ain’t no number 1 offense & book is definitely capable so is Beal they’ve both shown it in their careers you don’t know ball you’re chatting

[@gastonzamora4985]

@@jalynjones9136 meant defense not offense, thats on me, but i still dont think either beal or book can direct an offense like a PG would, with the pressure of the playoffs on them, dont get me wrong, they have the talent to do it, they in my opinion dont have the experience to do it in the situation they are in at the moment. Thats my take, you can disagree, and i can be wrong, we'll see what happens in the series

[@user-wu8sj3ee3d]

IF

[@user-wu8sj3ee3d]

@@gastonzamora4985that was last year

[@joeparkhurst57]

Excellent breakdown!

[@sepmyfor]

Great analysis

[@ArnieAlonzo]

Fantastic analysis.

[@ParamoreFAV3]

THE MEDIA SAID THERE’S NO DEFENSE. BETTER ACTUALLY WATCH THE GAME, THERE’S LEVELS TO THIS. Wolves are in elite company in NBA history. And I doubt that too many people understand that.

[@Antzzz_Manzzz]

Good stuff bro 👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼

[@malveac]

great breakdown

[@robeln.4094]

Great analysis!! Wolves have a their best chance at making it deep in the playoffs this year! 🙏🏽🐺

[@fintan555]

Great breakdown. What’s the adjust that Vogel makes?

[@ryanandtricia]

This is such a good analysis - the media pundits should take some lessons from you!

[@jayp2623]

Good video bro excellent 👌🏾

[@M-Cherian]

Great video

[@KNRS927]

I really thought the Suns would be a tough matchup for the Wolves just because their midrange heavy shooting could be an excellent counter to the Wolves drop. However, the Wolves adjusted by being tougher on the perimeter, limiting hand off actions, and trusting each other to handle matchups 1 on 1 and prevent any openings for movement. The 3 scorers are all thinking score first and then pass if a double comes but if no double comes, they're just shooting.

[@heccap]

great take!

[@francispagpaguitan4464]

Good observation buddy

[@justinbrennan9819]

The place was howling!!!!!!

[@yeetskeet3]

Damn this was beautiful to watch

[@ImCGN]

great video

[@Meech31898]

This is beautiful

[@Blafard666]

So happy to see Rudy finally getting his respect

[@shorewall]

I'm rooting for Rudy!

[@gafuALWAYS]

man i love some real hoops breakdown

[@eanbenjammin2032]

Best channel in the game if you really want to know ball

[@ThisIsSpartttaaa]

I love breakdowns like these that truly show how great gobert is. He's a hall of famer but people don't see it because they are obsessed with points and 1v1 basketball

[@ClayDunks]

That no help defense is so much easier said than done against KD Book and Beal

[@darkestraptor1671]

Wolves in 5🐺 Damn, I was wrong 😕 We swept the Phoenix buns😂

[@JRtres_]

Suns in 6

[@Slapshot544]

Lmao nah Suns taking this in 6 or 7

[@phukmigud4917]

@@Slapshot544fuck no wolves in 5

[@ryanwall1780]

Wolves in 5 is right

[@Thecardworld32]

@@Slapshot544just wait bud

[@momohmansaray6108]

Finchy needs more credit

[@mason7431]

As a diehard and lifelong timberwolves fan this makes me very happy

[@olufemibright7377]

Gobert has crazy high basketball IQ

[@pacman7658]

Ant averaged 14ppg against the suns. He won't be this efficient every game. Funny thing is all wolves fans were all over social media saying the suns were going to sweep them. Now when they wina game they are saying they will sweep the suns. Im a long time suns fan since 1992 and i know this was going to be a good series. Trust me that they will change the rotation and come out firing by game 3

[@justinbrennan9819]

We winning this series!!!

[@NeoPayneHK]

02:23 so damn right!

[@homedogg1233]

This is why blocks and steals dont tell the story on defense. Rudy has no blocks or steals but still had an unbelievable impact on the suns offense

[@Tarquin2718]

Good review. So many people said that it was MIN that was in trouble. I could not understand, MIN is much more flexible and Booker and Beal are iffy or weak in playoffs & Suns lack roleplayers and that always shows. Beal was the worst trade in NBA 2024 they should have gotten 3 3&D instead 😢 Now they are lost, no future.

[@androidas79]

This is the championship season for the wolves.

[@samuelvoas2861]

Vogel has one of the least creative offenses I’ve ever seen in the NBA. You hit the nail on the head when you said, “pick-up style offense.” There is no off-ball movement or misdirection happening. It’s just DHO’s and side pick and rolls that never have 2nd or third option continuations after the initial action. With this offense, it’s hard to imagine the Suns winning a playoff series against ANY NBA team, much less a team as talented and well coached as the Wolves. Sun’s problem is not with their supporting cast; it’s with Frank Vogel.

[@larrydalobster3548]

Rudy Gobert has been so underrated, people don't know basketball knowledge at all

[@S3verusMyG]

KD losing the ball to Rudy Gobert on the perimeter is crazy

[@foggylungs]

Why? 3-time DPOY

[@foggylungs]

And the video gave an analysis of it all. A more versatile defender than what he's given credit for

[@davidd406]

Lots of people dont understand that the playoff whistle allowing defense to be more physical is ideal for the wolves. There isnt going to be nearly as much getting into early foul trouble by the big men because of it and they can stya on field longer. Also mcdaniels especially is really aggressive on d

[@Pokepoketpoke]

The true unsung hero of the wolves, and the guy not getting talked about enough KAT. The versatility he allows the wolves on D and O is wild Much improved passer and defender. KAT assists Rudy gobert more than anyone on the wolves Wild

[@nathanaelgion2762]

For real. With Nurkic having to gaurd Gobert this series. Suns have no one else to stop KAT in the post. KD is not a big man and just looks uncomfortable trying to gaurd a true big. When KAT was doubled, he made very smart passes. KAT honestly did a pretty good job gaurding KD I thought. KD is just that good where he makes those shots over anyone. I don't think KD is used to having another 7 footer actually gaurd him on the perimeter like that. It's not like KD is explosive or too fast for KAT. If KD wants to keep taking fade away middys to score the whole series, I think the Wolves are fine with that. Having Ant and McDaniels try and slow down Beal and Booker is much more achievable.

[@StellarCW]

One of the last lines you said about pickup style basketball.. ever since KD left the Warriors, that’s what he’s been trying to do smh and he wonders why he hasn’t had a championship since

[@TrappSqaud]

they will be fine

[@jareatoney1575]

Gobert got smacked by the ball in the head going up for the board 😂

[@joncolunga673]

It's just 1 game, Suns have off games just like any other team. Honestly, I expected the Wolves to win game 1. But it's a seven game series. Booker isn't gonna score 18 every game

[@ImTheGibby]

Can’t wait to see Conley, ANT, KD, KAT, and Gobert go all the way next year

[@xbugswrld]

you wilding lmao

[@calebpeters8197]

Chris Finch coach of the year masterclass

[@zoltanzukaly7231]

Disagree about the premise, the bigger problem is actually Minny's offense looking that great against what is supposed to be a good defense (against the Wolves). Minny will play elite defense, to a point where if they score 110, it's likely game over. The Suns have to find a way to make their defense effective against Ant. The Wolves goes as far as Ant takes them on offense (and he killed the shell defense for the first time against the Suns, it always worked until now, so will be curious to see what kind of game Ant has).

[@eanbenjammin2032]

Any time someone discredits Rudy Gobert on tiwtter, I’m sending them this video.

[@michaelahurt]

To be fair that’s a fantastic look at 4:18. No they couldn’t create an advantage but they’ll take an open in rhythm three for a good shooter every time

[@Shrek2OnDVDinHD]

Gobert is THE BEST defensive player of all time. I’ll die on this hill

[@BoknoyBuhisan]

still the only player to shut down the entire league

[@ryankent7000]

Jazz fan here. Glad to see Rudy finally getting his flowers. He was the only reason we were competitive. No hate for Donovan, just being real.

[@ThatKidDarius21]

Series just started. 🤣🤣

[@arthurbentrosian5899]

For real🤣🤣

[@mekacrab]

So what ? He didn't say it was over

[@hitman9198]

As a Wolves fan. The Suns are far from in serious trouble. Lets see if the wolves can repeat it. Booker and Beal were basically non existent for most of the game. Kd had some careless to's as well. Im not sitting here thinking that will happen again. They will adjust.

[@Pgetoff]

Casual take everybody hates suns so we lose the world overreacts Allen had 0 book shot 5-17 nurk 4 rebounds we got outrebounded 22-41 that won’t happen again

[@hitman9198]

@@Pgetoff more people hate the wolves. Just saying

[@Pgetoff]

@@hitman9198 you’re hilarious 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@hitthegoat]

@@Pgetoffhow? Do you not see how much people shit on the wolves? Literally the entire year it’s been “wolves are fraudulent” this and “wolves not making it out of the first round” that. The wolves get nothing but hate.

[@nathanaelgion2762]

​@@Pgetoff2 centers vs 1. Rebounding will likely always be in Timberwolves favor. I don't expect Allen to put up a goose egg again. But Booker could very well have a crappy game again having Jaden McDaniels absolutely smother him. If that kid doesn't make an all defensive team this year it's a crime

[@vincentc3475]

It was epic to look at KD fighting hard against Minnesota's defense. But if nobody helps him a lot more for the next 3 games, phoenix will be in vacations soon...

[@justinbrennan9819]

Great Podcast🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@youbetchabrian5332]

Where are the casuals that said Rudy gets played off the court in the playoffs??

[@shiftyward]

Twolves are scary😈

[@VisionaryUchiha]

Jaden had booker on clamps 🗜️

[@aldogarciamoreno5490]

This just shows how great of a coaching team they have, their use of personnel was amazing for those defensive schemes, and even brought back the '04 Shaq treatment for KD

[@stress.relief]

deep trouble

[@TraJonR3D]

KD is in the house of the setting sun.

[@joshschwarzbauer8155]

One day Jaden McDaniels is going to be the prototype for wing defenders. Everyone will be searching for the next Jaden.

[@vanwandererx852]

Wolves are a great defensive team

[@KevinWhite-gm2qb]

T'Wolves played the best game of their lives...Suns are about to torch these guys....

[@genesisosuna]

The wolves put on a defensive clinic vs the suns. As long as no one else is beating you, such as Grayson Allen, and the big 3 doesn't go off for like 30 each, the suns won't win a game. The twolves are amazing

[@legendarytony2454]

Suns have no elite PG or dominant Center

[@MrShokeSlam]

Accurate

[@sneakersole2914]

Lol after one game?!😂😂😂😂😂

[@aubm713]

Gonna be a lot of talk but it’s only game 1. We will see how they adjust

[@zeus4885]

The Wolves franchise began in 1989 and they’ve gotten past the first round only ONCE, which was 20 years ago 💀 Their fans are naive enough to believe that Game 1 is how the entire series goes. As a Suns fan I have learned that there is no such thing as momentum in playoff series. Every game is a fresh slate, and nothing that happens in one game carries over into the next. To beat a team 4 times, you need to do it 4 different ways in the playoffs. If we tie it up 1-1 on Tuesday and steal home court headed back to Phoenix, the vibes change and wolves fans will quiet down. If we go down 0-2, Wolves fans will think it’s over. Just in the last 3 years us Suns fans have learned that 2-0 doesn’t mean sh**. Finals series and Mavs PTSD

[@justinhensley8900]

​@zeus4885 Yeah Suns fans have so much experience watching championship basketball. Stupid fool.

[@emmons223]

Would love to see a Jaden mcdaniels defense breakdown vid, he’s a dog but never gets any love

[@gitworldyoungworld1127]

Since they want to put Tower on Kd just bring Bol Bol in and make them pay so Beal Booker KD Bol Bol Nurk and give other players a chance too

[@davidrobertson4388]

🐺🐺🐺

[@bilindabutcher8913]

Suns are always running 3 guard lineups sorry you can't win in the NBA like that

[@_JEBUS]

You can when those guards are elite scorers. We pretending that the wolves didnt struggle against the suns in regular season?

[@bilindabutcher8913]

@@_JEBUS still talking about the regular season 😭😭😭💀 I only count two elite scorers that's an excuse for the GM forming a horrible roster where KD has to play fucking center

[@_JEBUS]

@@bilindabutcher8913 Beal, Book, and KD are elite scorers. Book had an off night. Ant had a good one. Those roles can reverse any given game. Can the wolves win 3 more? I doubt it. Dont forget game 1 is always a feeler game. You never call series off the 1st game.

[@bilindabutcher8913]

@@_JEBUS Kevin Durant is not a guard Wolves can definitely win 3 more games they have more defensive versatility, more size, way more chemistry as well. Nobody on the Suns can even guard Anthony Edwards and you don't have the personnel to stop him either

[@_JEBUS]

@@bilindabutcher8913 Edward's had 13, 17, and 13 points in the 3 regular season showings against the suns. Nobody can guard him? You dont want to talk about the regular season because its evidence that doesnt backup your claims.

[@JanPeterSpecht-jf9pg]

It's pretty simple actually. The Wolves don't have to double team as much as other teams because they have both great perimeter and inside defense. Hence why they have the best defensive rating in the league. This will result to the opposing team not getting "the others" more involved and will focus more on iso which will still be tough because of the great defenders the Wolves have. KD is an exception because he's an all time great but one man can't beat the Wolves. I still think the Suns will win the series though.

[@vinnycapri]

Bench points and rebounds decided game 1.