'THEY ARE NOT MY TITLE FAVORITES!' Monica McNutt & Stephen A. BATTLE over Timberwolves | First Take

On First Take, Stephen A. Smith, Chris "Mad Dog" Russo and Monica McNutt join Molly Qerim to debate whether Minnesota Timberwolves should be title favorites.
#espn #nba #firsttake #timberwolves
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[@Yousuf-ff3su]

As an NBA fan, it’s so refreshing seeing young cats excelling these playoffs.

[@rajmathew6220]

KAT approves of this message

[@JamieKennedi]

Honestly you are right. I hate to see the Nuggets go out like this but Minnesota is playing 90s ball. If you watched Jordan growing up you know what I mean. The defense is on point. There has to be respect for that and Its not about your favorite team but its good to see some new energy. OKC killed it last night. Even though the magic lost i was geeked seeing them get there and show we are not to be slept on. I am looking forward to next year. Maybe Ja will come back with sense and maybe Zion, well maybe Zion will just be healthy.

[@briantep458]

finally no more lebum

[@bandom3686]

@@JamieKennedi Ja gone come back a animal knowing he was getting the same buzz just 2 years ago ANT is getting now and him now being overlooked with his time missed and all other guards shining but Zion idk he gotta get his body right

[@gsb_hopout]

@@briantep458rent free

[@dub88acc]

If finals are Wolves vs Celtics you know KG will be at all games...and he'll probably be interviewed after every game

[@juandelacruz3718]

I will still take Boston. The problem with the Nuggets is that they have no one to slow down Edwards. Murray and KCP aren't equipped to slow him down. Meanwhile, Boston got the personnel to make life difficult for Edwards. They got Jrue and Dwhite, and can switch Tatum and Brown if needed. Now reverse the situation, do the Wolves have the personnel to stop Tatum, Brown, D-White and Porzingis standing out in the three? We all saw the last time they played how Antman got into foul trouble guarding Tatum and Brown. He will get abused by Tatum and Brown if they hunt him on matchups, he is too small. And Porzingis can take Gobert out of this series with his shooting, if he can return. Gobert will be useless if KP drops 3 point bombs on his head and he can't chase to the 3pt line. Boston in 7 for me

[@chrisneedom3275]

Bro I was just tellin a co worker the samething

[@TheMETALICA40]

​@@juandelacruz3718You know the T wolves are the number 1 defense in the nba right?

[@jaydenduncan8388]

@@juandelacruz3718I don’t trust taytum in a game 7. Edwards has that killer mentality that could be the difference but idk the playoffs this year is un predicted

[@mindyaneck7261]

@@TheMETALICA40and the celtics are the number 1 offense and number 2 defense. whatcha getting at

[@TylerAnderson-xl6hb]

Let's be honest. The only reason they have doubt is because they're the Timberwolves. They still think of them as a cute little team with potential. Lol people need to wake up and admit that they're legitimate title contenders.

[@BlackMarq20]

Don’t worry Wolves fans, they’ve been doing this with the Warriors for years. Minny is looking like monsters in this playoffs

[@cristianluna-hernandez2377]

True if they had on lakers uniforms they’d be the complete opposite

[@idrisnewton4552]

If the T-Wolves beat the defending champions they should be the favorites after that

[@lebureaudubasket1600]

Facts

[@JMB72]

You might wanna fly under the radar. There's no need to put a bullseye on ur chest. Let Boston, NY or whoever else is out there have that pressure. UV never been to the finals. Relax and pray ur team makes it. You win absolutely nothing by just getting there.

[@K124B]

@@JMB72 NY has no pressure, its really only Boston (due to still not having won) and Denver (due to being the defending champs) ... OKC, Dallas, TWolves no pressure.

[@1990758]

When miami beat milwaukee were they the favorite

[@anthonypugh28]

Cavs in 5

[@djcrash6044]

ESPN jumpin on wolves bandwagon😭😭

[@yungracsoisdead69]

clearly haven’t watched ESPN for that long if you’re barely noticing that they live in the moment😅

[@Phizzo4real]

Not really. Only SAS and Perk so far... but yeah, they all finally realizing Ant is a very bad dude 😂😂😂

[@snupedummy]

Have no choice

[@LeGeNd00703]

@@Phizzo4realbuddy perk been with the wolves since the season started😂 he’s the only one who gave us love

[@temas12tw]

Every game they switch up!

[@leroyduncan9368]

Bro, Naz Reid, Towns and Gobert will completely nullify Chet, Porzingas or any other big any team presents. Theyre just bullying at this point.

[@mattk720]

Fr. If they doing that Jokic, u can only imagine...

[@rizzo021]

Josh Hart would wear them out

[@deezzzzznuts2744]

@@rizzo021lmaoooooo

[@garyharrington3957]

Who on the Celtics can stop Ant, Shae, Luka or Jokic? No one Celtics not winning this year. Tatum is good but he not ANT!

[@jammer9941]

​@@garyharrington3957 Luka, shai, and Ant would face the best defense they have faced in these playoffs as perimeter defense is the Celtics strength with holiday and white being all defensive players and Brown and Tatum being good defenders as well. Jokic is the only player in this list the Celtics don't really have anybody that could atleast make them work hard for their points.

[@deionjones24]

I can’t lie if Minnesota play defense like they did in game 2 they winning it all

[@Ssjangel3]

That's normal defense for them. They slacked in game 1 compared to game 2.

[@Jnoel608]

I don’t know, Celtics have dogs on there team. It will be a good match though.

[@Luismi95]

​@@Jnoel608what dogs? Same dogs that been getting sht on by Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry?!

[@1990758]

What's your style of play different from team to team Look what Denver did to the lakers.

[@LilJrich]

Bro they folks put them guys on maximum security lockdown and gave Stephen A the key!!!

[@leetraviusmckay314]

"Bradley Beal ended up looking like a Washington Wizard" 😂

[@StatikFresh4]

That was hilarious

[@focuz4899]

And he let Russell Westbrook come to Washington and get them to the playoffs when him and John Wall couldn't get it done for a couple of years.

[@zuhayralam2146]

@@focuz4899they made the playoffs with wall 5 times and were 4th in the east in 2017 what are you talking about lol

[@focuz4899]

@@zuhayralam2146 Exactly what I just said. They couldn't get in for a "couple" of years. Meaning 2018 and 2019. Russ came in 2020.

[@jalynjones9136]

@@zuhayralam2146 and John wall not Bradley Beal was the best player every time but u right idk what he talking about they did make the playoffs in years past

[@Balccc]

Stephen A is right. He not saying they're a lock. absolutely any team left can beat them. But the way they played they should be the favorites.

[@edwardcorey1071]

As a twolves fan i agree they still need to win 2 more against denver only thing that worries is now everyone talking up mn and it seems when this happens they let off pedal its mn way

[@SojiRo23]

Would looooove a Minnesota vs Boston Finals!

[@zanelanga454]

or okc

[@jamesjefferson3809]

@@zanelanga454OKC will get smoked by Minnesota. Lmao

[@raphmwanza6876]

@@zanelanga454 OKC will get swept

[@swish1457]

@@jamesjefferson3809 stop acting like minnesota is miles ahead of OKC. okc has way more depth than the wolves do and if chet has a good game its over for them. also the timberwolves biggest loss of the season came to okc.

[@swish1457]

@@raphmwanza6876 average casual fan who knows nothing about basketball repeating what everyone is saying.

[@lucasguerrapedroni6484]

As a Wolves fan, who had to watch shitty seasons, after shitty seasons, PLEASE LORD, PLEASE, don’t let the players and the coaching staff believe FOR ONE SECOND that the ring is ours. Let’s play one game at a time.

[@StatikFresh4]

SAS is the heart of the show

[@shyne1308]

Face of espn

[@soufatldude700]

If the wolves pull it off against denver, there's no one else they can't beat

[@andrewmontoya9292]

They’re built to beat Denver not Boston

[@thekingbradable]

Can win doesn’t mean they will win. Boston could easily beat them

[@jakefromstatefarm9287]

@@andrewmontoya9292Yeaa you’re buggin

[@icegod4767]

Celtics can easily beat the wolves? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 all cap

[@thekingbradable]

@@icegod4767 I don’t mean literally beat them easily. I mean it could easily happen. As in, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. They certainly wouldn’t be the underdogs.

[@JacobKaufmanMN]

As a minnesota sports team fan, I would always dread seeing the "Stephen A, waiting to talk face" but knowing he's ready to prop my team up.... its just so magical

[@Asiansensei932]

This is the first time in a long time where Stephen A Smith brought his A+ game to a basketball debate. Everything he said in his argument couldn’t be countered. M&M had no real retort to him and when doggy mentioned experience Stephen A hit him with the fact that there isn’t anyone left with a lot of experience/ winning a chip other than the team that they currently have a 2-0 advantage against.

[@blackbond2406]

yeah he was in his bag in this segment. Completely cooked both of them lol

[@gritHouseStudios]

SAS is preaching, today!

[@christobellwilson103]

He’s been on fire lately

[@7thletterstudios648]

Let him cook.

[@vastucson]

Minnesota has the best D I’ve seen in a long time and a guy who can get them a bucket almost on demand. I go TWolves.

[@yourguyty1501]

Ayoooo (sorry had to do it)

[@Organik999]

No diddy loool

[@lilcrazykid211]

Pause

[@LeGeNd00703]

Mmmm you love that D huh

[@mattsell2361]

Celtics have second best defense and a way better offense

[@Roshan-pp4dc]

Let's say Timberwolves beat Nuggets, then they will have to go through OKC on the road. That will be another good matchup. Even though Wolves are #3 seed, their away records are better than #1 &2.

[@AlexanderWindsor69]

Wow SAS killed this arguement

[@JoshuaJMFox]

When Monica said “they’re still the defending champs.. put some respect on their name” like they didn’t just look like a high school team who lost their composure.. leave it in the past. The wolves are here now!

[@suavekay940]

@@JoshuaJMFox😂😂😂😂 how you feel now clown

[@suphighlander2323]

You count failure is experience. Boston lost to an old GSW team. Lost to the Heat last year.

[@sumit7064]

But at some point they gotta learn from their past mistakes right? Especially with the team they have rn and how they've been playing throughout the season so far

[@AlexanderWindsor69]

So the nuggets defending champions experienc is less than the celtics learning from their mistakes experience? got it

[@tydeshawn125]

Tatum always folds up

[@mindyaneck7261]

@@AlexanderWindsor69yes bc they’ve been making it deep into the playoffs for several years now

[@trev9168]

@@sumit7064but they haven’t learned lol. They still have the same tendencies as that Celtics team that lost. They have better talent but they still have the same issue. If tatum is your best guy you have an issue.

[@dd_zzero6827]

Celtics are going through a bunch of High school teams to get to the finals where as anyone in the west is going through a gauntlet of impressive teams. You tell em Stephen A!

[@Celtics18thchampbanner]

You act like we didn't win 63 games this year. We played the same teams everyone else did. Now we're winning big and ppl want to make excuses for us.

[@JeremyGraczyk]

​@@Celtics18thchampbanner the majority of the teams the Celtics played were in the East, put any of the Top 3 West teams in the East and they're easily winning 60+ games as well

[@Celtics18thchampbanner]

@ChrisTuckerExpress clearly. Call the east what you want. Doesn't change anything. Still the #1 seed, so of course we get to play an easier playoff schedule. Keep making excuses when we win the chip.

[@Celtics18thchampbanner]

@@JeremyGraczyk and your point is?

[@jammer9941]

​@@JeremyGraczyk idk about easily Denver was the only team that had a 60+ win rate against the east this year. Minnesota was the worst against the east at only 19-11 against the east this year

[@ellcbro]

As far as Porzingis playing or not against the Timberwolves...remember the line spoken by Newt in the movie Aliens when told how tough the Marines were..."It won't make any difference"!

[@jplaga763]

SAS is the man pause dude I wake up on Wednesday for these debates

[@awb19892]

what else do you do on Wednesdays?

[@starwarstairique]

@@awb19892This is no place for an interview my guy

[@Banana-wu6te]

Timberwolves Title Favorite & Anthony Edwards New Fans Favorite

[@Antonio-er1gu]

“Gordon Gobert” 🤣 🤣 🤣

[@aaronboone8097]

Watching this after game 5 just hits different lol

[@ayrtoncurrie]

They were literally like a pack of wolves on defense. That clinic they put on in game 2, I was in awe.

[@rogerjohnson833]

THE DECK IS STACKED. The Wolves have the defensive player of the year in Gobert. They have the 6 man of the year in NAZ. They have 2 current allstars in KAT and ANT. Plus they have former allstar and veteran Conley running the point. THEY ARE LOADED WITH WEAPONRY,ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL. THEY ARE UNBEATABLE.

[@Mainaccount-xg8wb]

As a wolves fan trust me we’re not unbeatable. KAT goes into foul trouble way too much and ANT is our only consistent offense!

[@Scoobay]

@@Mainaccount-xg8wbAnt can be inconsistent with offence, but he makes up for it in other areas. You can tell they’re all feeling themselves, as long as they’re ready for war every game we will get the chip. Jaden will also have to keep a cool head, he’s becoming better at it. I just want us to get to the final and play a great series. Whatever happens this is a monumental year for the wolves and it won’t be forgotten any time soon.

[@rogerjohnson833]

@@Mainaccount-xg8wb They have the 6 man of the year in NAZ coming off the bench. He plays center and powerforward.He's a strong 264lb beast, who also shoots from the perimeter, just like 7 feet, KAT. Even Gobert is 7:1.

[@rogerjohnson833]

@@Mainaccount-xg8wb I am a Joker fan, and I saw what they did to him,even without Gobert in the lineup. Moreover, they locked Murray up and swallowed the key. The Wolves have the beast defense in the league, plus they have scoring up front and in the backcourt. CONGRATULATIONS TWOLVES ON YOUR FIRST NBA CHAMPIONSHIP. 👏

[@rogerjohnson833]

@@Mainaccount-xg8wb The TWolves KAT missed 20 games this season, yet they finish only one game behind Denver and OKC, for the Western Conference title. It is clear that if KAT didn't get hurt, the TWolves would have had the best record in the Western Conference. However they will prove to be the best team in the NBA before it is all over. MARK MY WORDS !

[@arabellamovius2260]

Stephen A Smith’s face at 1:16 💀💀💀 he’s like be for real lol

[@donjohn7709]

Wait.... McNutt, you said the Suns were coming back game 3...?

[@donjohn7709]

*Mad Dog

[@dojo1371]

She still think Denver will come back in game 3😂

[@WolvesFan0]

Defense wins championships

[@williamgolston5399]

Y'all make cats favorites BEFORE THE SEASON! What are Monica and Dog talking about?

[@kennyJCP]

The Wolves have proved that the MVP wouldn't have cut it in the 90s and that the folks we call "superstars" turn into THIS vs a physical and swarming defense..

[@PeopleLoveShorts]

Like father like son 😂 you doubt Air Edwards dude gonna take it personal and all them opponents gonna pay the price 😂

[@glennwright5331]

Stephen A knows the game

[@armedairplane1480]

Everyone but Stephen A had the argument “they won’t win because their name is the Minnesota Timberwolves.” I GUARANTEE if the Lakers or even Miami or any other coastal team was doing what the Timberwolves are doing right now, they all would be speaking like Stephen A. I appreciate Stephen A. for looking beyond the team’s location.

[@Ree726]

“Then did It,…did it!!”🤣

[@dylantran2591]

Monica McNutt sounds like a genius right now. She knows the Nuggets are too good. Smart lady!

[@leetraviusmckay314]

"take it easy take it easy" 😂

[@FinanciallyFree526]

when Doggie say "Take it easy" it be so funny because I know he'll say it hahahaha

[@qs1629]

Doggy: Experiencee Stephen A: Oh yeah... 😂😂😂

[@nikhiltrivedi8126]

As a Celtics fan , I think the t wolves should be the slight favorites against us. They have a lot more size and depth than we do. However we have the experience. It should be a good matchup

[@joeshiesty4746]

You are not a Celtics fan the Celtics are the best team by a good amount

[@nikhiltrivedi8126]

@@joeshiesty4746just cuz I’m not biased I’m not a fan ?🤣🤣🤣kick rocks goofy

[@Pizzaguy-jg7so]

Bro I’m not even from Minnesota and I’ve been saying the Wolves are winning since January. Anyone whose still doubting them now is just a hater at this point.

[@justicestyles]

Monica is on a hill by herself … respect … ✊🏿 but people act like Denver is some Golden State level juggernauts …. Idk 🤷🏿 about all that

[@Eltardotv]

There’s nobody stopping Anthony Edwards he want this moment bad and he’s proving it 😂

[@kevinsue1778]

monica be wrong n strong,

[@Atum-iu2ek]

"You didn't even know who Anthony Edwards was before a couple of games ago" 🤣🤣🤣

[@RASULRAKHSHAN]

1:20 that look was funny as hell

[@SlickyRick69]

You will never find me taking anything someone named Monica McNutt says ☠️

[@brandongregory5128]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@brianrogers9373]

“DID IT, DID IT!!!”

[@wkang84]

DIDDY DO IT?

[@nightmareclips83]

The way Stephen A was looking at them 🤣

[@josenino7140]

Watching this after game 4....

[@sammymorales6838]

A name like McNutt is wild lol

[@wkang84]

Wolves eating McNuggets in Denver is wild

[@mcbnj]

The producer's like "get a shot of stephen a doing that stupid face" "go back to stephen a doing the stupid face"

[@joserojo8663]

Ant has helped Katt find the confidence he has been missing his whole career, he always had the talent but just lacked confidence.

[@toxicKev101]

Monica look scared to respond lol

[@moondogg007]

This really the year of the new kids on the block this is wild.

[@ben6077]

We need a mad dog vs skip take ! Come on !

[@deezpleez3832]

SAS with a great take today!

[@setaBC]

“You didn’t even know who Anthony Edwards was until a couple of games ago” 😂😂😂

[@kobeom7953]

It’s Stephen a keep calling mad dog doggy 😂

[@Dtrain1994]

Not gonna lie, this might be my favorite clip of first take of all time 😂😂😂 SA snapped 🔥🔥🔥

[@CyCamronAnderson]

Monica McNutt never knows what the hell she is talking about SMDH

[@kevinsue1778]

never!! she just be wrong

[@DillaDonuts]

Her name is McNutt tf u expect 😂

[@vee2927]

Bruh, what happened to this show? Bring back skip, or even max Steven A is carrying so hard These 2 other lumberjacks got no charisma, no personality

[@rizzo021]

Monica forgot more about basketball than SAS will ever know. Dude is a blowhard

[@shellyj987]

Never. Ever.

[@devanpfeffer275]

Stephen A gonna keep calling him Eminem on TV for real?!😂🤦🏻‍♂️

[@timothy2c]

SAS “Where is your basketball analysis to back up your predictions?” Then goes on a 5 minute rant about Ant being the next MJ 😂

[@dariusthegreat3097]

Monica McNutt...........I would hate to have that last name. She has to hear it everywhere she goes.

[@quentinjones6877]

Unless she gets married

[@xx_z.bruh_xx6916]

My Bio teacher in High School had the last name Glasscock. That was her married last name 😂

[@franckdzefi]

Experience!!😂😂

[@chandusrinivas5048]

What’s the outro song in the vid ?

[@mangkuiscofield7464]

Monica McNutt has been wrong with his predictions last season and this season and every season. Just a Suns bandwagon

[@alexadelabu7926]

Stephen A wiped the floor with these two today lol!!!!

[@CoachRJ334]

Twolves dont care their play on the court speaks for themselves

[@nikobellic2515]

So you’re a wolves fan all of a sudden?

[@CoachRJ334]

@@nikobellic2515 no I'm not ....But I am a fan of the game Sparky 🗣️

[@tylerwaffles21]

Mad Dog makes no sense. “Lack of championship experience” and they’re literally up 2-0 against the defending champs 🙄

[@Jason-ho8wr]

lol.. Stephen A didn't know what to say when Mad Dog said "experience."

[@MrBoss5150]

Why do we have to think Denver "ain't going out like that?" Nuggets have had their soul taken from them. Murray doesn't like the pressure and isn't quick enough to get away from it. Porter can't get off any shots, even the ridiculous off-balance ones. Jokic looks totally uninterested and has probably already booked his flight to Serbia from MSP on Sunday. AG will go back to being a non-factor now that Rudy is back. KCP is garbage and can't guard Ant. Jackson got carried off the court during Game 2. What have they done to show you they are going to break the pressure MIN is relentlessly is bringing for 48 minutes.

[@emmanuelobolo2257]

It would be a walkthrough

[@verified.my2cents]

It's both great and sad to see Monica on Worst Take. LETS GO KNICKS.

[@okenycosam5312]

T.wolves are my team of the year

[@jlc8004]

I’ve learned that there are a couple important things that win championships in the NBA. First off the talent and chemistry, if you don’t have a talented team that plays well together you’re not going to win a title. Next is a good head coach, I feel that this only matters in the NBA if the team talent is close. The last key thing is finals/postseason players experience. This is the one I realize most recently. A team that knows how to play well in the postseason can win most series against a younger more talented team. For the Timberwolves I’m scared about their experience

[@daquanbumbry8519]

as a nets fan , Nuggets are still my title favs , I picked them last year and Im gonna stand by my guns, but lets not sit here and act like Denver hasnt come back from 3-1 twice.

[@ahronneils.decastro7270]

They don't realize that Game 3 is on Minessota, and they are crazy out there, home court advantage too

[@kevingutierrez3036]

Stephen A talking about “Basketball Analysis” is hilarious, dude doesn’t watch games, always basing his opinions off of the Box Score and stat print outs 🤦🏽‍♂️😂

[@PrinceH8907]

wolves vs mavs/okc would be a classic but lets not count out Denver yet, I think game 3 is going to be the deciding factor

[@timtimbly2433]

Is Monica McNutt and Leslie Jones related? Also she dont know basketball… 😂

[@shellyj987]

AT. ALL! 😂

[@buddhavaro]

Thank you Stephen A for telling the truth.

[@npgunner]

4:34 Monica winked at me

[@WheresWaldo05]

She is wrong at the end. Wolves in regular season have never had a top 10 offense. This playoffs however they are #1 overall both O & D.

[@belindsbowstring6907]

Hilarious when they get SAS all worked up 😂 him and Doggy are the best!

[@user-pg6fr9gk2v]

experience .... one word and just like that doggy win the debate

[@rajiel26]

Preach

[@siphozwane7456]

Did everyone forget that Denver has comeback from a 3-1 deficit twice in one playoff run?? The Nuggets cannot be counted out no matter what

[@nicholaseaster58]

It's gonna be Wolves or Thunder vs. Celtics. Both would be really good matchups.

[@frankiefernandez9225]

Yes

[@2423yay]

Na him mocking mad dog 👐🏽 really had me in tears

[@thebestever160]

the Labradors are the kind of team that keeps gambling lucrative --- they're a total sucker bet for casuals to dump & lose money on SMH

[@MikeSimGaming]

The 2024 NBA Playoffs is the young dogs vs. the washed vets.

[@miguelaltunagajr6379]

Let's not forget that Denver was trailing most of the time when playing vs. Lakers . The difference is that Timberwolves ain't the Lakers .

[@inhumanesanity]

Still remember when they pitted grizzlies to win it all 2 to 3 years ago

[@tricool1]

“Denver can beat Boston but Minnesota can’t” then why can’t Denver beat Minnesota 😂😂😂😂😂

[@davidd406]

Steve's right, "experience" is such a copout of an answer and isn't even valid as an argument as we've seen literally this playoffs

[@KeyTez]

Yeah Stephen A must caught a baddie in Minnesota lol