What Needs to Change for the Timberwolves to Extend This Series | The Ryen Russillo Podcast

Ryen Russillo talks about the Timberwolves’ win over the Mavericks in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, why (despite the result) Minnesota did not correct all of their flaws, and what the Wolves need to address ahead of Game 5 and beyond if they want to make an improbable comeback and advance to the NBA Finals.
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[@ElJefeHodges-nc3mu]

Bro should have so many more subscribers. My favorite sports analyst by far.

[@addisonsmith6039]

I was just scrolling through youtube for more Russillo content. Right on time with this!

[@m0j0face]

Being the DPOY doesn't mean you are always the best option on any player in any situation. No 7 footer should be expected to hang with Luka beyond the perimeter. I'm tired of that criticism on Rudy.

[@nocturne311]

Rudy is getting abused by Gafford and Lively. He would get torched by Porzingis in the Finals. He should not have won the DPOTY award.

[@loganerb3952]

@@nocturne311facts idk why people try to defend Gobert 😂… he’s literally the most overrated player in the league. That’s why everyone takes it to him they’re like “you’re the medias DPOY???” And absolutely bust his Azz 😂

[@davidlabrie9841]

It’s crazy how I’ve watched like 4 videos about this series today and during the “Rudy” segment nobody has spoken about the absurd amount of lobs getting thrown on him. Lively and Gafford having both of their most effective outputs in any of the series against the 4x DPOY is utterly insane. Scrap the award at this point

[@michaelahurt]

That's not a Rudy thing it's a team thing The lobs are because Minnesota was defending the PnR with two and McDaniels can't get around Luka So what happens is Gobert steps up to contest Luka and no matter how long he waits as soon as he contests, Luka throws the lob It doesn't matter how good you are, you still have to obey the laws of physics so he can't be in two places at the same time. It's basically defending a two on one fastbreak. You're gonna lose that most of the time no matter how good you are. In game 4 Minnesota mercifully decided that Jaden McDaniels can't guard Luka -- obvious before the series -- and that prioritizing the corner shooters over Luka is not a good plan -- also obvious before the series -- so they could keep Rudy back (to prevent the lob) and the wings came off the shooters to get in Luka's driving gap. Whereas before they just let Luka attack Gobert 2-on-1. Also flipping McDaniels and Edwards made a huge difference.

[@user-zq9ml6ot8u]

Crazy amount of alley-oops by Dallas

[@ronkz7854]

If Gober could only played like Lively, Ant would be free to do so much more. We don’t need Gober to make 3 points. Just do the basics that any 7ft center can and should do

[@joespaniak9392]

The key WORKED okay!

[@MrMathsimon]

You all called Legs a madman, and yet here we are, with Luka signing ANOTHER adoption papers.

[@user-zq9ml6ot8u]

I agree everything seems more difficult for MN.

[@SamG925xu]

can't wait for my hoodie to arrive

[@jmsjolly05]

Finally, someone that sees shit in a realistic stand point .

[@alexvollkommer1598]

Wolves in 7

[@ryanzz1357]

How come nobody ever talked about the lethal turnover by kyrie one minute left in the 4th in game 4?

[@denigster]

because they re in the finals

[@michaelstover6778]

Remember all the brainless people said lakers would beat any other team but the nuggets in the west? These teams would smoke them

[@Joes35]

They thought cause they beat Memphis with Ja and their bigs hurt and overrated GS that they were contenders lol

[@Mr.KyleRichey]

@@Joes35Dallas didn’t even make the playoffs that year, Minnesota wasn’t this version of Minnesota, and OKC wasn’t either, the lakers would’ve beat them last year😂

[@withalittlehelpfrom3]

“Could someone be defensive player of the year and threaten you from three?” *Jaren Jackson Jr has entered the chat*

[@markbantz9699]

Wemby!!

[@withalittlehelpfrom3]

@@markbantz9699 It’s not like Marcus Smart is a horrible shooter either. So yeah, that player definitely exists

[@ou8428]

What's the point of bringing up the Clippers with Boston? The Clippers are continuous underachievers regardless of Kawhi... and Boston has taken care of business

[@KK-pm7ud]

The Celtics are a better defensive team than Minnesota. They have just been pacing themselves. 1-5 they have better defenders.

[@unbiascowboy1537]

No they aren’t even better than the mavericks defensively, they are a great offensive team though.

[@KK-pm7ud]

@@unbiascowboy1537 They were the second best rated defense in the regular season and they phoned it in during the playoffs to pace themselves for the Finals. You're underrating them tremendously.

[@Joes35]

@@KK-pm7udlol phoned it in? You’re delusional if you believe that. Dallas gonna easily out execute Boston. The best player is on Dallas, Dallas gets better shots more often than Boston.

[@KK-pm7ud]

@@Joes35 We'll see in the next few weeks. But my money is on Boston because they are the better team. The Celtics saw what pushing hard did to them in their prior championship runs. And this year they didn't have to deal with Jimmy. If Porzingis is healthy, it's going to be a long series for the Mavs.

[@David-iv6je]

Had KAT shown the intensity and focus he showed in Game 4, this series would go 6 or 7 games and flip either way, leaning MIN The games have been close. But KAT has been AWOL. It's possible his legacy was sealed right here. Or, maybe he has another shot in the future.

[@noyou113]

Or maybe Minnesota makes history and comes back. 🤷‍♂️

[@skylertaylor7283]

His legacy is one of the best big men of his generation but that's about it.

[@dpend]

I agree KAT is the main reason Minnesota went down 0-3, Ant also had some very shaky games at least compared to dropping 40+ on Denver

[@USAbestcountryever]

Okay if we wanna play hypotheticals maybe KAT knows how to control his body and doesn’t take lively’s head off then the series is over in 4

[@JoaoGuilherme-pt7kh]

KAT is what he is at this point..stupid fouls, great offensive talent , no cookie

[@AnthonyMonda]

I think Mavs wrap it tonight. Hope the Finals go 7!

[@f18a]

For MN to win: (1) Ant has to stay frosty. He goes to sleep too often, loses focus. (2) Kat has to shoot well. (3) Rudy has to have a decent game, like G4. He has been mediocre at best. His "title" is a joke. (4) MN cannot allow a crunch time. If it's within 5, they lose. *and* (5) Either Luk or Ky have to play "OK" or worse. Anything else, series over.

[@obamasjumper]

feel pretty good about the wolves tn and as a minnesota sports fan of 25 + years that absolutely terrifies me lol

[@ineedsaltplease620]

Just call him Edwards one time

[@michaelahurt]

Stop saying he was chasing Kyrie. On 70% of his defensive possessions in game 1 Ant didn't move. Like stood in the corner the entire possession. Kyrie just wasn't running around off ball I charted every play. It wasn't a thing. And Ant was already tugging on his shorts in the first quarter after defending like 5 ball screens.

[@StocktonSmurf]

Simple, 1) KAT can’t revert to playing outside only like a punk, 2) Reid and AW need to hit from 3 at home, 3) wolves need to stick with Ant on Doncic and JMcD on kyrie in important possessions. They do that, we go 6 or 7

[@marcusfrm6263]

Naw it ain’t no point in mentioning NAZ. NAW is the person who been struggling shooting

[@David-iv6je]

Luka sees the future. Can we call him Muad'doncic now?

[@jethrojacinto2798]

I can't wait for White James Harden to choke a 3-0 lead the downfall will be fucking glorious.

[@SharpwithanE]

For the algo

[@aljazeri]

Russillo is good

[@johncarlostorres160]

Russillo is so smart but this was a L take. The Clippers without Kawhi are better than anyone the Celtics have faced? Are you kidding me? Completely overlooking the Pacers is disrespectful

[@slavajuri]

Pacers were a 6-seed. During reg season, peaked as a 4-seed in a weaker conference. Never had any particular stretch where they were considered more than a fun team. Beat Milwaukee, with no Giannis and half the time no Lillard. Beat the Knicks with only 4 of their top 8 available throughout the series. The games in those series were generally close. Sure it's possible they're better than the Clippers with no Kawhi, but I don't see how the playoff results demonstrate that at all.

[@ineedsaltplease620]

Lotta coke today huh

[@Iamrxch3]

KAT gotta be the most hated good player I've ever seen. Ppl talk like he's a bench warmer

[@Shortballa11]

He is the Trae Young of big men. But deserves some of that hate. He gets to be the second option and he out here playing like the 5th option.

[@ElJefeHodges-nc3mu]

7 out of 14 games this playoffs less than 18 points.

[@jacobw8849]

Russillo you are way off on your reasoning for some KAT fouls… his justification is way dumber than “he’s just gonna”.

[@TheGarciaKidd]

All the content these days is how the Timberwolves can extend the series lmaooo So much hopeful thinking and wishing.

[@Shortballa11]

I just wanna see them go to game 6. It would be tragic to kill the Suns, beat the champs, and then lose in 5.

[@b3ve_stuscemi]

bruh what else are they supposed to talk about when the series isn't over yet lol

[@EC52811]

Wow that was not worth my time at all

[@jethrojacinto2798]

A Wolves/Mavs video and still finds a way to slander Boston somehow. I shouldn't be surprised anymore tbh.

[@sickotapes]

FUCK boston

[@JJ-Toreddie]

I don't blame him. Most of it is because of Simmons 😂

[@aron.gortman]

Only reason they are in the series is Lively injury, 3 point shooting, and the refs.

[@JakeDantoni]

That would be 3 reasons.

[@tannerjudge5415]

I think objectively the Mavs had the better end of reffing calls in this series including arguably winning an entire game directly as the result of a missed call admitted in the L2M report

[@scottthegeneticfreaksteine393]

@@JakeDantoniwhat’s that Kevin Malone bit from the office. Fits here for ole a-a-ron.

[@Shortballa11]

This gotta be the dumbest take I've seen on line. Refs have been in Mavs favor. I'm not even gonna address 3 point shooting because its part of the game. Lively injury is valid bt there will always be an injury or injuries to players in a series. its also apart of the game.

[@aron.gortman]

@@JakeDantoni Grammatically that would be incorrect. Try to structure that sentence in the way you just suggested.

[@begreatbeu]

AMAZING HOW MEDIA are IGNORANT. Wolves are barely losing and not even playing well. Game 1 : Antman (37.5%) KAT (30%) and ONLY LOSE by 3 Game 2 : Antman (29.4%) KAT (25%) and ONLY LOSE by 1 Game 3 : Antman (45.8%) KAT (27.8%) and ONLY LOSE by 9

[@scottthegeneticfreaksteine393]

Nice mavs in 6.

[@Alex-xn8pq]

'Course Luke, Kyrie, Washington shot poorly in game 4 and only lost by 5 after losing their rookie center in the first half.

[@posivibe989]

I think that’s a good point. I wonder how much is because of Mavs defense. No k e is talking about that so maybe it isn’t a thing

[@Shortballa11]

Well you have to give credit to the Mavs for making them play bad. Wolves are the better team top to bottom, but worse in the clutch and thats what matters right now