The Suns can’t even dribble around the Wolves!

Phoenix has struggled to score and attack the paint in their 2024 playoff series against Minnesota. This detailed film breakdown & scouting report explores the Wolves defensive success behind the incredible ball pressure of Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Anthony Edwards along with Rudy Gobert's newfound versatility in the playoffs.

Twitter: @elgee35

Find additional Thinking Basketball content on the NBA App, the More Thinking Basketball channel and the Thinking Basketball podcast.

Stats courtesy:
-----
Footage in this video is owned by the NBA and its partners. It is intended for critique and education.

Music by Nemesis

#ThinkingBasketball

[anthonyzobel]

It’s so gratifying to see how well Gobert is doing in a situation with perimeter defense. I know the NBA media will never admit their old playoff analysis of him was unfair but he’s rightfully earned the praise he’s currently getting

[pfdattu]

They got KD but we got Jaden McDaniels

[IGI_Media]

In high school, our coach taught us that the pressure isn't meant to get the ball (that's a bonus)
The pressure is to slow them down
Throw off their rhythm
and make them play ball that isn't rehearsed and planned where they feel comfortable.

[VinegarAndSaltedFries]

It won’t get talked about a lot but Alexander Walker has played like a man possessed this series. He has been awesome.

[TheeKing]

It's funny how they say there's no defense in the league and then you just look at Minnesota eating offenses alive LoL

[duncanonme]

It's amazing to see Edwards' effort level on the defensive end as well. For all the talk of his improvement in ball handling, playmaker, and shooting, the defense gets overlooked. It does wonders when your best perimeter player on offense also isn't a black hole on defense.

[GrantRossow]

Chris Finch deserves a ton of credit for what he’s done with this Wolves defense.

[mayleen]

Gobert's defense is now seeing its full potential when he has teammates who's hounding the opposing players like crazy. Jaden McDaniels and ANT are clearly an upgrade over Donovan Mitchell and Bogdanovic in Utah.

[xsision]

i hate how the jazz destroyed rudy’s defensive reputation by basically leaving him alone to do everything defensively, and now that he actually has a team that complements his defense it looks so disgustingly good

[dukiino]

nugs vs wolves is going to be one of the best playoff series of all time

[Phriedah]

I think it's funny that you call Jaden McDaniels "JMac", cause that's the nickname we've used for Jordan Mclaughlin.

[kdwelmb]

This is what happens when your replace Chris Paul with NO POINT GUARD

[mac_]

I’m glad that they let them be more physical in the playoffs! This team is a lot of fun to watch on defense

[TolbertOseiOwusu]

Another world class content from Ben Taylor . The wolves have put the suns in jail . Great defensive schemes and individuals are winning their matchups too . Great coaching and execution from players

[Dakoreal]

BABE BABE NEW THINKING BASKETBALL JUST DROPPED!

[CowboyChuntis]

Nickel Alexander-Walker is incredible. He is a plus 42 in 60 mins played in the first 2 games of the series

[Ace-vduh]

I hope wolves win it all so Gobert can prove all the players calling him overrated wrong.

[coldmountainsaga]

Truly spectacular defense from this Wolves team. An intensity and hustle that you rarely see today. How many other teams can say they have bull-dog defenders for every position?

[rickharrison]

Wait, but I was told Gobert was a playoff liability that gets played off the floor every postseason?

[hawkname]

The difference in scoring in the second half of the season, and then ticking down again in the postseason has been incredible. Would love to see a quantitative analysis on that from Thinking Basketball in the post-season. And I don't think people are complaining. Defense has a chance to play now, and it makes the game more fun,