Ben Beecken
@bbeecken
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Host @LockedOnTwolves podcast. Former @FanSidedNBA, @GrandStCentral, @TwinkieTown. Opinions are my own.
Joined June 2011
Really nice win by the Wolves against a solid Cavs team. Responded well to the Cavs' physicality and a couple of CLE runs during the game. MIN didn't panic as they so often have this season in similar spots. Jaden and DDV were awesome, Ant and Randle were very good.
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also, @kirkgoldsberry called this out on the BS Pod, too ... SGA went from the 5th-most fouled player to the 31st-most fouled player in that span.
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Have been avoiding weighing in on this but can't help myself, apparently. The issue was not solely how often OKC fouls. (The "They Can't Call Them All Corollary") It was that, combined with the SGA whistle. SGA has averaged 2.4 less FTAs per game since the MIN game.
The Thunder are being called for fewer fouls now compared to before the Finch tantrum. He's being martyred for no real reason besides it being a funny meme. This 6-6 stretch has more to do with OKC playing below its standard than the refs adjusting to what they call
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Sat in with Eric Spoelstra after the game. High praise for Rudy Gobert. “[Kel’el Ware was introduced to] a proud, veteran winning player. Rudy Gobert continues to be one of the more underrated players in this league.” More: “He knows who he is, he knows how he impacts the
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(There were 3-5 classic player/ex-player comments about Gobert early from Jamal but they mysteriously dried up as the game wore on...)
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Fun Wolves win. Lots of positives to talk about on the pod. Still think the best part was in the 1Q when Jamal Crawford said "Herro has the mismatch if he wants it" and then Gobert proceeded to strip the ball from him.
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Ant's shooting more at the rim AND getting a better whistle this year. That, plus a huge mid-range improvement while maintaining similar 3-point volume and efficiency.
Ant is shooting 50.6% from the field this season lmao. Insane shot diet as well. 40% on 8 3PT attempts per game, 2PT% (58.2%) is over 8% higher than last season and 7% higher than his previous career-best season. 63.6% true shooting. Mid-range numbers have skyrocketed. Crazy.
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The 2025-26 Wolves get blown out in Atlanta. YouTube comment: KAT's fault.
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Second-chance points and too many open looks for the Hawks and turnovers by the Wolves ... huge hole to dig out of again. There's just no sense of urgency from this team when things start to get away from them.
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Really nice response from the Wolves tonight. Took a minute, but a strong 2Q stretch from Naz + Bones and Ant when he came back into the game with the Wolves down 9 is what got things on the right track. Another dominant Rudy game on defense. Clark was great, too.
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Have talked about this on the pod quite a bit ... Jaylen Clark + Jaden McDaniels on the floor with no Gobert have been great. Seems reckless to not have two of those three on the floor at all times.
I'd love the answers to why Clark and Jaden can't play in the non-Rudy minutes and why they are so committed to a 25-year-old TSJ.
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Posted this early in the 2Q before the +/- got crazy. The non-Gobert minutes continue to be a massive problem. He's having another DPOY-caliber season, but in a cruel twist of fate, the Wolves' defense with him off the court is what will cost him the award.
Gobert is just dominating yet again. What a great stretch of games for him.
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Ant's FG% wasn't good in clutch situations last year. Surely a combo of Ant continuing to work on certain shot types and that there's some flukiness when it comes to clutch success, too.
Ant is now 4 for 5 from the field in the last 30 seconds of games when Minnesota is tied or trailing by 3 or less Insane
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Lots of missed opportunities in this one, obviously. The biggest issues were 1) the inability to guard the inverted pick-and-roll/DHOs late in regulation and OT and 2) the Gobert missed tip-slam followed by a terrible 3-point attempt from Randle on the very next possession.
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That's not a foul on Jokic. But it also shouldn't be a foul on Gobert.
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Ant's just going to try and bury Denver himself here in overtime.
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Ant is really, really, really good. We'll see if this momentum carries over to OT.
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Don't mind Donte/Jaden going for the two there. Barring disaster you get to draw up an ATO to tie and best-case was a steal or a missed FT and a chance to win.
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Gobert is just dominating yet again. What a great stretch of games for him.
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