Naz Reid Powers The Timberwolves To Their 4th Preseason Win (118-113)

Naz Reid Powers The Timberwolves To Their 4th Preseason Win (118-113)

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by | Oct 13, 2022 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

The Timberwolves were heading into their 4th game of the preseason 3-0 but would be playing without Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert. The Los Angeles Lakers were playing LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook tonight. Coach Chris Finch hinted that we would possibly see the Towns/Gobert combo play together on Friday in the final preseason game.

 

Someone else had to step up to the plate without the two all-star bigs in the lineup. The person that stepped up to the plate tonight was Naz Reid. This preseason Reid has been playing outstanding and he made sure to continue that trend against the Lakers. One of the big things that Reid was able to improve on this offseason was the consistency in his jumper and that definitely showed tonight. Naz Reid was in the paint causing havoc inside the paint and outside from the 3-point line. You can tell that the team believes in his progress from the coaching staff to the players. Tonight Naz Reid finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds in 27 minutes tonight. If this is anything that is to come Coach Finch will have nothing else to do but give Reid some significant minutes to play alongside Towns/Gobert.

 

D’Angelo Russell had his best game of the preseason tonight against his former team. Russell looked like he was in midseason form tonight as he was running the game as a true floor general. Russell was able to get his teammates involved in the passing game and even made the right decisions when it came to scoring. Tonight DLo finished with 15 points, 8 assists, and 3 rebounds. It was the fact that his playmaking ability was on full display as the Lakers guards couldn’t keep up at all. When Russell plays like this he’s a top 15 point guard easy and the Timberwolves fans should be excited about what he did against the Lakers starters.

 

 

The Timberwolves had six players in double figures tonight in a full-team effort for the win. Tonight wasn’t Anthony Edwards’s night offensively but it’s encouraging knowing that the Timberwolves still pulled it out. This was a great test for this team and they definitely passed it with flying colors. Garza and Nowell led the way in scoring tonight for the Timberwolves off the bench. Both combined for 29 points off the bench tonight in Los Angeles. One thing that this Timberwolves team has is multiple players that can get the job done in limited minutes. This Timberwolves team is deep and it will be interesting to see what Coach Chris Finch does with the final team rotation heading into the season.

 

The Minnesota Timberwolves will be playing their next game on Friday against the Brooklyn Nets at home.

 

 

 

Photo Credit: (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Oct 13, 2022 No Comments
Timberwolves Defeat The LA Clippers (119-117) Now 3-0 In The Preseason

Timberwolves Defeat The LA Clippers (119-117) Now 3-0 In The Preseason

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by | Oct 10, 2022 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

The Minnesota Timberwolves came into this game against the LA Clippers 2-0 in the preseason. One thing that we have not seen yet in their 2 game-winning streak has been the Rudy Gobert/Karl-Anthony Towns lineup. Rudy Gobert played in game 2 against the Lakers but Towns was out. Tonight against the Clippers the Timberwolves gave Rudy Gobert a rest but Towns played tonight. The LA Clippers played with all their starters tonight as the Timberwolves played against Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.

 

It was interesting to see tonight that Karl-Anthony Towns showed no rest and didn’t look out of touch with the offense. Towns were out with an illness to start training camp and preseason but looked amazing. KAT was taking advantage of his matchup with Zubac all night whether it was inside or out. Karl-Anthony made the best of his 26 minutes against the Clippers finishing with 19 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds. Karl-Anthony was able to knock down shots and draw defenders outside the paint to give his teammates more space. We all can’t wait to see how much the Rudy Gobert/Karl-Anthony Towns combo will work against these teams. Karl-Anthony was sensational tonight he was in a zone early and was able to show leadership even when the Timberwolves got down by 18 points.

 

 

D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards both took the back seat to Towns as they let the big man get his rhythm going tonight. DLo finished with 9 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds but was able to put in some work against John Wall. Russell started the game off with a nice transition 3-pointer and then was trying to get his team involved offensively. One thing that I noticed was the fact that Russell was able to get his hands in the passing lanes defensively. You can tell he’s taking pride on both ends of the floor and that’s something that Timberwolves fans need to be excited about moving forward.

 

Anthony Edwards finished with 14 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds in 29 minutes of action. Edwards showcased his moves today as he was able to get to the rim anytime he wanted. It was impressive to see this from Anthony as he was guarded by Paul George and Kawhi Leonard in that first half. Edwards has worked on his game this offseason and he continues to show that every game. Edwards has a lethal stepback jumper and he uses that euro step to his advantage with ease. The Clippers didn’t know how to get in front of Edwards to slow him down and that’s a great sight to see for the Timberwolves fans.

 

The player of the game was definitely Naz Reid because he did everything that Coach Finch asked of him. Reid was all over the place it didn’t matter if it was from the 3-point line or a putback dunk Reid made his presence felt. Reid kept the Timberwolves in the mix when they were down by 18 points as he was able to punish the bigs on the Clippers. Reid finished with 20 points, 2 assists, and 11 rebounds tonight in LA. If Reid can give this type of production he could be in the running for 6th Man of the Year and play the role that Harrell did for the Clippers when he won it.

 

Bryn Forbes has continued to light it up off the bench and he’s extremely efficient. Tonight he came into the game and finished with 15 points on 5/8 shooting from the field. If Forbes can continue to make the best of his situation and shoot like this the Timberwolves will be just fine when the starters come out. The production from Forbes and Reid can come in clutch for the Timberwolves for a team that needs energy/buckets. Nowell had a quiet night but look for him to have a huge impact off the bench as well.

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images), (Photo by Tyler Ross/NBAE via Getty Images)

Oct 10, 2022 No Comments
Timberwolves Beat The Lakers In Rudy Gobert’s Preseason Debut (114-99)

Timberwolves Beat The Lakers In Rudy Gobert’s Preseason Debut (114-99)

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by | Oct 7, 2022 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

The Timberwolves came into this game against the Lakers following a victory in Miami. The difference in this game is the fact Rudy Gobert & D’Angelo Russell were going to suit up. Everyone has been waiting to see how this offense and defense would look with Gobert in it. Tonight the fans and media got that answer as soon as he touched the floor. The Timberwolves were able to run a lot of set plays and a lot of screens. Rudy Gobert was able to be dominant in the paint as he was able to alter a lot of shots from the Lakers. On the offensive end, he was able to get open and make some great post moves for strong finishes. It’s going to take a little time for the chemistry to get there as Rudy had some illegal screens but this is a marathon, not a race. Tonight Rudy finished with 5 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists. This could be a special season for Rudy and when Karl-Anthony Towns joins the lineup it will make things even easier for the big man.

 

 

D’Angelo, Anthony, and Jaden were all in mid-season form as all three combined for 34 points in limited minutes. Anthony Edwards was showing off some of the work he put in during the offseason. Edwards hit a couple of step-back jumpers and he also was able to get to the rack with ease. Edwards was playing with a confidence that rubbed off on his teammates early and he was able to get anything he wanted. Anthony Edwards was giving that work to any Lakers player they put on him tonight. It didn’t matter if it was Pippen Jr, Walker IV, or Reeves. Everyone is expecting Anthony Edwards to make that All-Star leap and this can be the season if he’s presented with the opportunity.

 

 

Russell looked really good and he was able to hit his 3-point shot tonight. D’Angelo is going to be the key to the success of the Timberwolves and he was able to make it look easy against anyone the Lakers had on him. Russell is one of those players that can get it done on both ends. Tonight he was trying to get Gobert involved as you can tell he wanted to work on their chemistry. This was a good test for Russell’s first game to get into the groove of the NBA season. Jaden McDaniels was able to show some glimpses on both ends of the floor tonight. Jaden had a move where he got the ball near the corner and dribbled into a spin-move dunk. It was impressive to see as you can tell McDaniels is playing with a lot of confidence. On the defensive end, he was getting in those passing lanes making sure he was able to at least be a part of the play in some way. Jaden will have a big year and his play tonight was encouraging for all Timberwolves to see especially in limited minutes.

 

The players that stood out to me tonight apart from the starters were Bryn Forbes and Jaylen Nowell. Both were able to come in and be aggressive against the Lakers. If they can give this type of production off the bench all season long it will make up for some of the depth that the Timberwolves lost in the Gobert trade. Tonight they combined for 20 points with Nowell having 13 of those. They showed that they can get the ball in the hoop and can get hot at any moment to help those starters in the clutch. If this trend continues the Timberwolves fans will love what they see moving forward, especially after this Lakers game.

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty Images)

Oct 7, 2022 No Comments
Primetime Preview: Las Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers (MNF Week 4)

Primetime Preview: Las Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers (MNF Week 4)

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by | Oct 2, 2022 | Featured, NFL

This will be a battle between two hard hitting defenses and some offenses that can score with the best of them. Last season the 49ers had the Ram’s number in their two matchups. This year it was supposed to be Trey Lance under center but he got injured and is out for the season. Jimmy Garoppolo will be leading the charge and he knows all about the Rams. The Rams will be looking to get a win on the 49ers as they haven’t got a win since Matthew Stafford has been at the head of the offense. It’s a huge rivalry in the NFC West so this will definitely be must-watch television tonight on MNF.

 

 

The 49ers are coming off a tough loss to the Broncos in Week 3. They will look to bounce back against the Rams who beat the Cardinals last week. Jimmy G will look to get this offense back on track but that starts with Deebo Samuels who does it all for this team. Deebo can catch the ball lined up and he can easily get the ball in the backfield for a run. Deebo gets everyone on that team going and his energy is infectious. Look for Jimmy to also rely on Jeff Wilson Jr in the backfield as they love to trick teams with the play action game. Jimmy G would also have to get George Kittle involved in the passing game as it will be tough to score on the Ram’s defense. Last week Jimmy G had 211 yards passing with a touchdown. He will need to get a rhythm going so that they can pull out the win, especially from the offensive end. Jalen Ramsey and those Rams defenders including Aaron Donald will be waiting for that one mistake.

 

 

The 49er’s defense has been really good this season. Nick Bosa has been the leader for that defense and he’s been a true machine when it comes to getting to those quarterbacks. The 49ers are tough on the run and they make it hard on anyone that’s trying to pass the ball. Overall this should be a tough matchup as this defense always plays the Rams tough. Last week they only allowed 11 points to the Broncos this Ram’s offense is a lot better but with it being in San Francisco the home field can give them a little more juice.

 

 

Matthew Stafford has been on fire this season and his chemistry with Cooper Kupp has been on full display. Last week Matthew Stafford didn’t score a touchdown but he will be looking to make that happen this week. The Rams have so many weapons on the offensive end and this should make it easy on Stafford. The wide receiver room has Allen Robinson alongside Cooper Kupp so they can get loose at any moment. The running backs Akers and Henderson Jr are also a great mixture that can make it tough on the defense, especially with the play-action. The Rams know how to make the defense pay and if the 49ers pick the wrong play they could pay for it. Stafford is a gunslinger that makes some questionable decisions but in the long run, he definitely has proven that he can get it done.

 

 

The Ram’s defense is led by Aaron Donald who we all know is all-world talent. Donald can ruin a whole offensive game plan by himself. When Donald is playing and causing havoc it usually takes 2 or 3 offensive linemen to try to slow him down. Aaron Donald will try to get his hands on Jimmy G tonight and he will be looking to make it tough all night. Jalen Ramsey is the secondary leader who puts all the pressure on himself when it comes to the wide receivers. Ramsey is a ball hawk and he’s one of those players that can bring an interception to the end zone real quick. Look for Ramsey to have his hands full with Deebo Samuels and he looks forward to the challenge.

 

 

Prediction: Los Angeles Rams will win this game 31 – 17  against the San Francisco 49ers. 

 

Oct 2, 2022 No Comments
Primetime Preview: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (SNF Week 4)

Primetime Preview: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (SNF Week 4)

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by | Oct 2, 2022 | Featured, NFL

It will be a rematch of Superbowl LV as the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face off again. Everyone will be watching what could be the last time Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady will play each other if Brady retires. Tom Brady got the best of Patrick Mahomes in the Superbowl but can the roles be reversed tonight in Tampa?

 

 

Tom Brady has been without some of his key pieces on the offensive end. Tonight that all will change as Brady gets back Chris Godwin, Julio Jones, and Russell Gage. Tom Brady has been able to make the best of every situation in his career and this recent situation with Tampa is nothing new. Last week Brady had 271 passing yards and 1 touchdown in a loss to the Packers. He will look to bounce back against a Chiefs secondary that can give up some big plays to the opposing offense. It will be interesting to see how the Buccaneers respond after a huge loss last week as they don’t want to mount a losing streak. Look for Tom Brady to go into vintage Brady mode tonight as he’s unstoppable when he gets the ball out quick as lightning.

 

 

The Tampa Bay defense will have their hands full against the Chiefs tonight. If they want to win this game it will be a full effort to slow down Patrick Mahomes. Devin White will be at the head of the defensive snake for the Buccaneers if they will get the job done. White will try to get the pressure on Mahomes and hopefully get him to force some bad throws. The Buccaneers have a tough run defense and they can easily contain Clyde Edwards Helaire in this matchup. The Tampa secondary will need to contain Juju, Mecole, and Travis in that passing game. If they can slow down the passing game of the Chiefs this will be a matchup that will not be as close as people will think. The Chiefs won’t have their kicker Harrison Butker in this game as well so look for them to try and be aggressive but the Buccaneers will be ready for that.

 

 

Patrick Mahomes is coming off a bad performance in his eyes and it was clear that he was pissed off. Last week Mahomes had 262 passing yards and 1 touchdown. This week he’s going to have to lead his team in a major way as the Buccaneer’s defense is no joke. Mahomes has been able to make something out of nothing and he will need to lean on Travis Kelce in a big way. Patrick Mahomes can make any throw and he’s been a magician with the ball all season long. Mahomes will need the defense to make some stops for him on the defensive end so he can have some chances without being behind quickly. Mahomes has shown that he can get it done on the floor as well with his legs if he is needed to do so. Mahomes has been the face of the Kansas City Chiefs and he’s the face of the NFL so this will be one of those showdowns where he can prove that he’s the man to everyone including Tom Brady.

The Chief’s defense will have their work cut out for them going against Tom Brady. If the Chiefs are going to slow down Bardy it will be on the hands and strength of Chris Jones. Look for Jones to distract the Buccaneer’s offense in many ways but only time will tell if he will get some help.

 

 

Prediction: The Buccaneers will win this game (31-24) as Tom Brady gets his weapons back and scores at least 3 touchdowns in the air. Tom Brady will be able to dissect this Chiefs defense and put Tampa back in the win column after last weekend’s loss to the Packers. 

 

Oct 2, 2022 No Comments