Jaden and Rudy vs The Nuggets

Minnesota and Denver’s rivalry hit another level in this series, and we’re breaking down the intensity. From the two heated on‑court confrontations to the growing tension between both teams, this matchup has turned into one of the league’s most emotional battles. We dig into Jaden and Rudy's standout performances and the how the rest of the team stepped up in big ways. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:12

I will never get away. Even if you cannot stay. I think you all want to be away you want to be.

unknown 0:24

I just want to say.

SPEAKER_01 0:26

Welcome to Love and Basketball, a Timberlink fancast. I'm Matt.

SPEAKER_03 0:30

And I'm Marissa, and we're a married couple and longtime fans of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx.

SPEAKER_01 0:35

Every week we break down the games, spill the off-court tea, and share our takes. This is our weekly catch-up, and you're invited.

SPEAKER_03 0:44

Welcome back, friends. On today's episode, we'll review the last four games against Denver and the themes we saw in round one. We'll give our thoughts of the matchup against the San Antonio Spurs and We'll share the overall playoff picture around the league as well as a quick update with the start of the Link season.

SPEAKER_01 1:02

Yeah. Alright, so here we are. Here we are. Excellent. I'm so I'm so happy that we're here. I'm in a much better mood than I thought we would be. But here's what I'm thinking we'll do. We'll just go quickly through some of the, you know, the scores of the games since we last um did our episode.

SPEAKER_03 1:18

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:18

And so that's games three through six.

SPEAKER_03 1:21

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:21

Um, you know the highlights, but we'll talk more. I like I like the idea of going into the themes of it instead of going into the day-to-day stuff of it. So we'll go there. So game three. This was um the game right after Jaden McDaniels sat in the locker room and basically destroyed. And we talked about it in the last time. We talked about it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:44

So yeah, there were some um, what are they the what's the term when um they're firing words or what do you say? Like what do men say? Fighting words. Yeah, it felt men's what do those men say? It felt like um, yeah, like he really needed to like show he needed to walk his talk after that. And we just were like, can he do it, you know, or is he just gonna, you know, I was serious for it.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

Yeah, you know, I wanted everything to go like as perfect as it could, but I was guessing that the nuggets would come out and be like, we're we're a great team. Right. We're not gonna be able to do that. Because they are. But as it turns out, we ended up winning that game 113 and 96.

SPEAKER_03 2:24

Yeah, and it showed it what like um Jaden like inspired the rest of the team. Like he got because it he had a good game, he had 20 points, 10 rebounds, but really it was a really well-rounded game. We won 113 to 96, so we kept him under 100 points. Um, and it was like Jayden's it seems like his energy and his like just like confidence like bled into the rest of the team.

SPEAKER_01 2:46

Yes, totally. And I think that was I think that was only the they only had two games in in the entire regular season held under a hundred points. A hundred, and this was already the second one we did against the Nuggets in the series. So crazy. Right that we came out of it.

SPEAKER_03 3:04

So yeah, just to repeat that, they'd only been h held under a hundred twice, and we did it twice at this point. Yeah, and we can we did it even more after that. So exactly.

SPEAKER_01 3:15

It was it was crazy, and I think you're right about like the team kind of it was like the team had his back. Yeah, they they didn't, you know, they wanted to show, you know, that Jaden wasn't wrong and and that you know they they could back him up with it. And so Jaden came out, had a huge game, double double, yeah, 20 and 10. But you could just you could just feel you could just feel the the intensity coming out of him. It was it was a great showing. And Io was wonderful in that game.

SPEAKER_03 3:43

Um, you know, it was like people started asking, like, who's this guy?

SPEAKER_01 3:46

Yeah, exactly. It was the first the first one of those, and so that was that was great.

SPEAKER_03 3:50

And Dante had a really good game. This is where he was really showing us the importance of having a guy like Dante on your team doing all of the things, sacrificing his body, and being stealing, scrappy, yeah. And really showed like they don't have anyone on their team. This is what I noticed, again, this is maybe more of a theme for later on, but we have so many guys who are willing to just get on the ground and fight and scratch and do whatever you have to do, and they have very few.

SPEAKER_04 4:15

Very few.

SPEAKER_03 4:16

And I a lot of people are like, Oh, Denver looked old against Minnesota, but I also think they they look soft. Yes, and just like they just like, oh, I don't do that. And Dante, he is like, I'll do all the things in terms of like exact that gritty business. So exactly.

SPEAKER_01 4:31

So we ended up winning that game first game at home, feeling good, up to one, um, game four comes, and I I I was lucky enough to be able to, you know, go to this one and I was again crazy nervous because at some point the Denver Nuggets best offensive game is gonna come out and we're not gonna have an answer for it.

SPEAKER_03 4:51

Right, and um last uh year when we played them, um it was very up and down. Like we would have good, like we would lose at home, yeah, and then we would win in Denver. So it's not like oh, we're at home again, it's another sure, it's for sure it's gonna go exactly like the last game. It did not go exactly like the last game, even though we won. It was very different.

SPEAKER_01 5:11

It was very different, and and so everyone was healthy going into the game. It was it was like here we go. 90 seconds into the game, Dante Di Vincenzo blows out his Achilles, and it was devastating. Like he he went down um and it was a hustle play. It it makes so much sense. So he he shot a three-pointer and he knew that he was gonna miss it or it wasn't gonna go off. So he did this quick reaction and um to go get the rebound. In the NBA, people don't get their um follow their shots, as Grandpa Dave says. Yeah, just ask Grandpa Dave, and he'd be like, Go follow your own shot. Um, but he went to go follow his own shot, and as he did it, he tore his Achilles. Someone tried to go over to help him up, and he just like pushed, like, said, No, no, no, no, like I don't need that. And he was waving the bench over to already. It was like instantly he knew what was going on.

SPEAKER_03 6:05

Yeah, and so the whole crowd was just like, oh so and we Owen and I were watching it on TV, it felt very loud, like the crowd was so engaged, and at home it seemed like after that happened, it was eerie. It was, and I think at home we you know that's exactly what it felt like. At home, it felt like we needed to take a minute, and I was like, they can't take a minute. I mean, you I know they did take a minute, but you you know, the players and the crowd had to like rally quickly in order to not lose the game, but like it was it felt like emotionally exhausting and draining to be at home. So, what was it like to be there? Oh, did you have to kind of force yourself to cheer like in honor of Dante a little bit?

SPEAKER_01 6:47

Yes, yes, but it was it was it was half half as loud. It was yeah, it was almost like we knew that that was a big deal. Um but but we stayed in it. People we were we were it was competitive and we're like okay, okay, this isn't bad. And then and then Ant goes up to block a shot, again, another hustle play. A play that a superstar in this league just doesn't do. No, like he went up and it wasn't a bad, it wasn't like a there was no malintent, but the the Nuggets guy can't kind of after shooting the shot kind of went underneath them a little bit, which is not his bad, and it wasn't Ant's bad for trying, but he landed and hyperextended his his knee, and if you if you thought that it was like gasping after you know knowing that Dante was done when everyone saw Ant grabbing his knee.

SPEAKER_03 7:39

I turned the TV off. Oh I had had I just had reached my limit in terms of I couldn't keep a positive attitude at that point because Dante was more heartbreaking for Dante personally because he just feels like he's given everything to this team. He's just such a good guy, and I know that shouldn't but it just played into it for me where I was just like this is he's not gonna play basketball for the next year, you know. Hopefully, around this time next year he'll be playing for the first time in a year. And Ant is like how we win games. So it was both devastating. And then so I turned off the TV, I went into my like library and was like, I like to like reorganize books, that's kind of how I cope. And Owen went upstairs, and then I texted, I'm like, Owen, let's get back to it. Because it the score didn't look that bad. I was like, let's let's see what the rest of our team can do.

SPEAKER_01 8:31

I think you said it perfectly. Like, you felt devastated for Dante. Yes, and then we felt devastated for the season.

SPEAKER_03 8:38

Us. Yes, it was like this is how it goes out. Against this stupid Denver team.

SPEAKER_01 8:44

Yeah, we we could over I I felt at the time, okay, Dante's a big part of the team, but we're a deep team. Yes, a lot of young talent. We can overcome that if we piece things together. But when when Ant went out, I thought it was oh game over. Like, and so and so did everyone season over. Like, I thought it was just done. And and everyone felt that way. So it was so quiet. It was so when they were carrying him off, it was just like, oh, this is it.

SPEAKER_03 9:12

Well, and then when I learned it was Ant's other ant's other knee. So he had a knee injury earlier in this season. I think we talked about it. It's runner's knee, which um that's what Steph had. Steph, I always want to say Marbury, but it's curry. So I'm old, like my brain goes to like the the first Steph I knew, yeah. Um, but this new injury is the injury that Giannis had. Yes. And that's what Owen reminds me of. That Giannis had this injury when he won the championship in 2021. So Owen's like, get back here. Giannis did it.

SPEAKER_01 9:44

Um it's hopefully about two weeks as well.

SPEAKER_03 9:48

Hopefully about two weeks. And it's been a week.

SPEAKER_01 9:50

Yeah, it's been a week. So um, anyway, so the game had to continue. We couldn't just pack up our bags and quit then. And out of nowhere, Io de sumo happens. Yeah. It was it he took what Jaden said about the Nuggets not being able to play defense to a whole nother level.

SPEAKER_03 10:10

To me, it he reminds me of such a dutiful like student. Yeah, this is what I was picturing Finch looking into his eyes and saying, I need you to go fast and I need you to drive every single time. I didn't say every other time. I didn't say occasionally take a three. I said, as soon as you get the ball in your hands, I want you to drive and do a quick layup. And he was like, Yes, sir. Yeah, like I just he seems like such a good student, and he was like, he was finally given permission to let it his his um aggression and his fastness fly. I think he's had to resist that a little bit, like with Ant being on the team. Like, you gotta the ball goes to Ant first, and like you you take out some of those other guards, really, that he plays the same role as Dante and Ant. And it was just like, and it was so funny because I didn't, I was like, why aren't they stopping him? Why aren't they stopping him? I didn't think it was it didn't look that hard, but he he made it look so maybe he just made it look easy, but I was just so proud of him, and like as it like when it hit 30 points, I was like, oh my gosh, and then it's 40, and it's like and oh to hear on the TV where they're just like I would assume like they just had to like they just didn't even really know his name, like and then they're talking about the trade that was such a good trade.

SPEAKER_01 11:25

And in the first half, when Ant went down, and Io had already had he was already having a good game because like here's a dirty little secret ant wasn't having a good game.

SPEAKER_03 11:35

That's that wasn't that much of a secret, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:38

It was it wasn't that he wasn't doing that much, yeah. And so uh Io was already having a good game, and I went with DR, um, and he looked at me and said, Io's gonna need to go for 40. And this was like he had teens, and the guy, the kid in front of us looked up and he was like, Really, like, really? Like, good luck with that. Yeah, exactly. And then it happens, and we're just freaking out because it was it was not only you know a playoff career high for him, but a career like it is a game, like in a game, most points he's ever scored in a game, 43. Right. So, I mean, it was out of not out of nowhere, but almost out of nowhere.

SPEAKER_03 12:15

And when he was shooting free throws, we heard from the TV, you were probably there doing it MVP chance.

SPEAKER_01 12:20

Yeah, I wouldn't do the MVP chance. You don't have to I never do because Why? Because I think I I just I think it's really kinda dumb.

SPEAKER_03 12:29

It's like what little kids do, kinda.

SPEAKER_01 12:30

Yeah, it's like he's he's he's not the MVP chance.

SPEAKER_03 12:34

Like he isn't this game, that's what we're saying.

SPEAKER_01 12:36

That's not what the people are. I mean, they're just being silly.

SPEAKER_03 12:39

I I it's because there's you can't be like, you're having a great game! You're having a great game! Like, what are you supposed to do? It's a way it's a quick way to get how many people are in there.

SPEAKER_01 12:49

I would have just I would have liked to just cheer. I oh. Uh like a real screen.

SPEAKER_03 12:54

Matt, you have to start the cheer. It is totally possible there.

SPEAKER_01 12:56

I know, but it's really hard when it's going crazy.

SPEAKER_03 13:00

I know, I'm just saying. So that's a great idea. I so okay, so we won 112 to 96, basically the same score as game three. But we did that without no, I'm gonna get there. And then we did that without our very best player, without Dante, and with Io, and right at the end of the game, um, Mike Conley steals the ball and then passes it to Jaden, and Jaden, you know, dribbles it down, and the classy thing to do is to just like hold out the clock. But jayden's not always classy, but the classy thing that he did was he just did a little layup. He was like, Alright, now the game's done. And then Joker, it was like he turned into a different creature and started running as fast as he could at Jaden, and you and DR are sitting right behind there. So, did it look like Joker was running at you? Did you fear for your life?

SPEAKER_01 14:04

Yes, all of the above. So DR was all pumped up and at the same time, like, oh Jayden just did the look because there's like one point. It's a full faux pas. It's like it's an unwritten rule that you just don't do that.

SPEAKER_02 14:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:17

Um, but there was still 1.3 seconds left, and like they had to like throw the ball in after all this stuff, but out of nowhere, like you said, Jokic just starts running and he looks, he's his hands are flailing. Yeah. He's just like and he's coming, and his face is all angry, and he just bull rushes Jaden, and Jaden, and and so like about 15, 20, maybe 25 feet from us, he pushes Jaden right into the right into the team's bench and the coaches and all that kind of stuff, and then everyone just starts going. Jaden grabs him by the jersey and laughs in his face.

SPEAKER_03 14:52

Yeah, I'm like, Jayden doesn't smile when he does anything good, but like if you try to act tough in front of him, he's gonna smile at you and be like, dude, what are you doing?

SPEAKER_01 15:00

And then it was it wasn't it was it was crazy, it wasn't mayhem, like it wasn't there weren't fists flying everywhere, but you know, Julius came in and cleared people out. Like he did, he wasn't there's no punches, but he was moving people like they were toothpicks, like he's a big guy, he is and he was angry and he had I just love I just love that all of the guys just have each other's backs. Like Jokic went after him, Nas too, not oh Nas is always like always in it.

unknown 15:31

I mean, come on.

SPEAKER_01 15:32

But it was just great to see Julius like get in on that with them because because Nas and Jaden, they've been around since the beginning, the two of them, you know. So it's they're besties, yeah. It was different. So it was it was crazy, and then the the end result was you know technical fouls on Jokic and Um Jaden and Oh, I don't think Jaden got one. And Jaden's Julius and Nas.

SPEAKER_03 16:01

And then the fines, we found out the next day that the fines were just to um Julius and Joker. Yep. Um, but so I found this so interesting because this, you know, the first series, a lot of times the first round of um the playoffs, it's just not that interesting. And so we had Jaden come out of game two saying that none of them defend, they're all bad defenders, calling them by their government names, and then this happens game four, and he so he went viral twice in a week. Yeah, like literally everyone on the internet is talking about Jaden McDaniels, and he I don't think people fully understand this. He's not trying to go viral. No, he is not trying to say words that or do things that are controversial, right? He really isn't, he is literally just like I'm gonna shoot the ball and I'm not gonna be over. He's that's just so Jaden. So the fact that it was another round of people talking about what Jaden McDaniels did, talking about what he said, it just was really fun. And everyone was like, This is the best rivalry of the playoffs, and this is the like most exciting um series. Like everything else is kind of boring, you know. So it was great. Yeah, so that was game four. And then we had to go to Denver. We had to go back.

SPEAKER_01 17:22

Sans aunt, yeah, knowing Sans Dante, yep, and knowing what we just happened, and Denver's mad at us, they hate us. Oh, and then everything.

SPEAKER_03 17:32

We should say what Coach Um Adelman said. Yeah, he, you know, basically, he really he he said that um, you know, you know, in the 80s they used to do that. This is 2026, and but that's just the kind of guy that that McDaniels is. So really kind of, you know, um talking about his character, that he is like a shady character. And the internet's response was like, no, Adleman, just like your team needs to do play better um and finish games stronger. I I did I did feel overall, other than Nuggets fans, the internet was on Jaden's side. Did you get that feeling too? Or okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:11

And it might, I mean, it might be our algorithm that you know shows us that. That's true. But one thing I I think that Owen said it really, really well. Um, you know, because some people like Nuggets fans are talking about him being like Dylan Brooks or him. He's not a villain. Or Draymond Green. And what Owen said was really great. He said he's not a dirty player. He just crashes out.

SPEAKER_03 18:33

Yeah. So like the distinction is, you know, there are players, or even um who was considered dirty, was it last year or two years ago? Um, Jamal Murray he threw an ice pack out onto the floor out of frustration, which could have led to somebody being injured, tripping on. It was right on the court. Um, Dylan Brooks does dirty plays all the time. And I do think dirty plays are intentional. Yes. And there's some malice there. And I think Jaden wants the smoke. And the term crash out, I am sure if you just like go on your TikTok or you know, the internet, just there's a funny like dad's crashing out trend where it's dads are like putting together ceiling fans, and then they're like, I hate this, I hate this whole house. That's Jaden. Like he gets chippy. Yeah. And we, as longtime fans, can see it brewing, just kind of like when you watch your kids' sports. You're like, oh, he's getting, oh, his cheeks are getting redder. Oh, he's gonna, he's like with our kids, we always were worried they were gonna cry. Yeah, we're like, oh, he's he's had too much, he's done, he's gonna ask to sit down because he's his emotions are overflowing. For Jayden, it comes out in these kinds of ways. He crashes out, but it I do not see him as a dirty villain.

SPEAKER_01 19:41

There's no, like you said, there's no ill intent, there's no malice there. Like he it's not premeditated. Like he's not going into the water.

SPEAKER_03 19:47

Oh, he wants to win, and mo he plays really good sound defense. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 19:53

Like we can get into that later. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 19:54

So, game five, we'll be honest, we did not finish game five. It was very late at night, and we're sick of these late night games. We have lives to live and jobs to work, and oh, it was oh, but um, so we the Wolves lost 125 to 113. Um, Joker had a Joker night. He had 27 points, 16 assists. Gosh, he's good with those passes, and 12 rebounds, and Jamal had 24 points.

SPEAKER_01 20:21

This was the game that I was expecting the other, you know, the others to be. The others to be. This was the comeback, like this is we are a good team. Because the fact is two all the team.

SPEAKER_03 20:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:33

Like, so there was gonna be a game like this, and it was game one and it was game five, and we didn't have any answers. We really didn't. And it was hard to watch any replays back of it because it was just like it was not fun.

SPEAKER_03 20:46

Were they yeting uh yeting? Were they yelling McDaniel suck or were McDaniel sucked? There was a lot of hate towards Jaden, no surprise. And he said it didn't flap him, that's not why they lost. Um, but also I can't imagine that feels good.

SPEAKER_01 21:03

No way, no way. Yeah, so it was we we put that quickly behind us, and then come game six. Well, right after right the next day.

SPEAKER_03 21:11

You were like, should we get tickets? And I was like, I'm nervous, we don't have Ant. And like I just my biggest thing, Owen and I have gone to some good games this year. Um we got some games for Christmas, but we went to a couple where we like the wolves did not come, they did not show up. And we like lost by 30. And when you spend, you know, your hard-earned money on basketball tickets, you want it to be a good experience, especially like the parent in me, is like, I want my kid to have a good time. And the fan in me, and you know, wants to also have a really but like I was like, Yeah, we have and then you got us tickets, and then you got us like really good tickets because Matt doesn't come to play around.

SPEAKER_01 21:49

I'm like, dang, these are good tickets. Yeah, they were fun. And so we the whole okay, so we're getting excited earlier in the day, earlier in the day, we get a buck.

SPEAKER_03 22:01

Where it says um bones and IO questionable. And I'm like, well, questionable is questionable. It's not out, but I'm like, what's up with this? Who, why are people why can't we keep it together? Right. And I'm like, Io, just be okay for one game. We just need to seal the deal. And so you're getting texts from your like DR group, and you hear that Io's in. And so then I text my group, Io's playing, and then two seconds later, you're like, never mind, Io's out. And then I'm like, what? And we were trying so hard between the two of us to stay positive. Yes. So here's who is out. We already talked about Ant, we already talked about Dante. Um Io was out, and then we have with a calf strain. And then we learned that Slow-Mo due to illness was gonna be out. So that's four players. I mean, we just that's like a lot of players too.

SPEAKER_01 22:52

I didn't even know Slow-Mo was gonna be out. And I didn't recognize that he wasn't playing until like halftime.

SPEAKER_03 22:57

I was just like he doesn't get a lot of minutes, but yeah. I I I like him when we're down players, like mentally, and to come in and like he's definitely a stabilizing force. So, um, so yeah, this game. Can we talk about being there? I mean, so we get there early, and I got um um walking to nachos. You're like this is black knee tacos, but they were very, very, very large. So just FYI. The reason they're$15 is because it's a big bag, it's not like the scout little bag that you get at Scout Camp. But um, we get there and we're there early, and I'm like, oh, it'll be good to be there early. Um, yes and no. They bully you to wear a t-shirt for like most of that time. And I'm like, I'm wearing my Jaden McDaniels jersey. I look way better. Also, this whole series is for Jaden McDaniels, and this is his series. I'm going to wear this jersey. But they'll like zoom in on you and they'll like be like, come on, change into your t-shirt until you do it. So I was like nervous. And that you had on your Wolf sweatshirt, Owen had on his new Unreal sweatshirt.

SPEAKER_04 24:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 24:07

So we didn't want to put the t-shirts on. And we already had two at home from the game you went to with DR, so I was like, I don't want a t-shirt. So we we were like, we didn't do it.

SPEAKER_01 24:16

Right. It It was okay. That wasn't a big deal. I know.

SPEAKER_03 24:20

Sorry, sidetrack. I just that was yes.

SPEAKER_01 24:23

Um, what okay, so what else about being there? Then it started, it started getting full. And then and then the starting lineups started happening. And oh, first of all, before starting lineups, we had a little guest appearance. Cisco!

SPEAKER_03 24:37

Look at that girl so scandalous. We're like, can Sisko sing the national anthem?

SPEAKER_01 24:41

I've seen him sing before and he's not very good.

SPEAKER_03 24:43

But he was pretty decent. He he did a good I was we both turned to Owen at the same time because Owen was in between us, and we're like, this is not gonna be good. He's a terrible singer. This is the thong song guy.

SPEAKER_01 24:53

But it was good.

SPEAKER_03 24:55

It was good, and then there were some riffs. I was like, take out the riffs. But otherwise, it was pretty good.

SPEAKER_01 25:00

But it wasn't too much. And then the Nuggets starting lineup was announced, and we and the place, the place woke up.

SPEAKER_03 25:07

Like it was, I mean, it The thing is, Minnesotans, we hate ice agents, we hate like there are certain things we hate, not that many things. Like, I feel like we're just not a very hateful culture.

SPEAKER_01 25:19

I think it's if they attack us, we we go hard back. All of the things you you come at us, we're gonna come back tenfold.

SPEAKER_03 25:27

Yeah, we the hatred towards Denver, and I don't think, like my brother was like, easy wrist, don't use the term hate. And I'm like, I then you're it's it's it's here, and I don't know how to quite unless you're like, I mean, how yeah, just to how to do it.

SPEAKER_01 25:41

It's not Denver as a city or Colorado as a state. No, no, I like I like Colorado, I like Denver, but like when it's game time, you have you guys we've played them so many times. It's like the Packers. It's like the Packers for me.

SPEAKER_03 25:58

Like I hate Denver. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:00

Nuggets.

SPEAKER_03 26:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:01

Period.

SPEAKER_03 26:02

Oh, it was really cute. Um, my friend Megan said that her daughter said that Christian Brown looked like the coach's son. Doesn't he kind of?

SPEAKER_02 26:11

Like I heard this on on inside NBA or whatever, the ESPN version of TMT now. Um, they had a picture of the Mad Lib character, the kid. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_03 26:23

Looks like David Adelman.

SPEAKER_02 26:24

Looks like David Adelman.

SPEAKER_03 26:26

Oh my god, he does. With the little like space between his teeth. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:30

It was so anyway, then they announce, then they announce us. And I really wanted them to announce Jaden last. Wouldn't that have been a good thing? I think they they missed the opportunity. Yeah. But when Jaden was announced, that place was shaking.

SPEAKER_03 26:45

Yeah, there's a lot every and there's a lot of new signs and a lot more merch. Like, not just Jaden jerseys. Um, there were these really fun t-shirts that people I think like they got them made. Yeah, they got them made. They got like the Etsy, just like they're like fun. I think there's a lot of Jaden love in our city right now, and it's just fun to see. Um I mean, we've been on this train, but everyone caught up. It's good. So here was our starters. We had TJ Shannon, never started in the playoffs ever. He's starting. And you know, because we're where we were sitting, it was right by the tunnel where the players come in and out, and I could see him going back and forth. Yeah, and um, I could also see Jalen Clark knowing that these guys were gonna have to, you know, we're being asked to play minutes that they're not accustomed to, and they have not been playing all season, but especially lately. Um, and I mean, maybe I'm it's just like you know, the therapist in me, but I was just like, oh, he's nervous, you know, he's nervous. So, like to hear his name be called, like, oh, that's just big. And so it was Mike Conley, Terrence Shannon Jr., Julius Randle, um, Rudy Gobert, and Jaden McDaniels. Those were our starting five, which doesn't leave a lot for a bench. So, really, the big guys coming off our bench, bones did play.

SPEAKER_01 28:00

He was a little tiny bit.

SPEAKER_03 28:01

Six minutes only. Yeah, and I don't think anything went in.

SPEAKER_01 28:04

I think it was his illness.

SPEAKER_03 28:05

I think it was I think it was cast strain. He also had cast train. Yeah, that's why he was. I think it wasn't it wasn't illness for him. Oh well it was some sort of injury. Okay. Um, and then who else came off the bench? Um Nas. Nas. And Nas, he's still wearing the ice pack for his shoulder, and he he looks he looks not well healthy. Yeah. He looks not healthy. And every time he falls, he go like he'll often like when he gets subbed out, go into the tunnel and like get worked on, yeah. Come out with all covered up, yeah. Um and then Jalen Clark. And then Jalen Clark. So that that was our that would eight players. Eight players didn't have a lot to work with, but Finch did a beautiful job.

SPEAKER_01 28:47

And it w I just I mean, where do you start? I mean This game. Everything was we we thought going into it that it was either gonna we're gonna blow them out or we're gonna get blown out.

SPEAKER_03 28:57

Like, yeah, a bloodbath or a miracle game.

SPEAKER_01 28:59

Yeah, and and really we thought it was gonna be more of like we're gonna we we didn't think that when so we heard all the injuries, we're positive, but it wasn't we weren't.

SPEAKER_03 29:07

I also heard um one of the coaches say, I think it was the Lakers coach, say, like when you're about to die, that's where like you go into survival mode and you do everything you can not to die. And I was like, Denver, if you're you're about to die, yeah, and you're gonna be done in the playoffs, this is your opportunity. Oh, it just so happens that like we have four guys out. This would be a really easy time to cover your ears and not listen to how loud it is and just play defense and do the thing, and they did not. Um, it was not a great start for Minnesota either.

SPEAKER_01 29:41

Oh, wait, wait, before we go on that yes, on the same note, yeah, we I think had that same mentality. We did because we had to just get we couldn't go back to Denver and play, they were gonna beat us in Denver. I is just like I I truly felt that, and I and so I think that that same thought that you had for Denver, we had it too, but we just could bring it and they didn't, right? And so I don't know, so keep keep going.

SPEAKER_03 30:06

No, you're exactly right. We have guys that attack the basket and who play defense. Um, but yeah, so everyone's standing up. Normally we just stand up until the first basket goes in. Yep, and that did take a while for us. Um, our first shots were long and not good. You know, we do very well against Denver because we attack, because what did Jaden say? None of them defend. So you but you gotta be in the paint. Like, there's no reason to take an outside shot against Denver, really. But we were taking them in those first couple minutes, and I was like, why are what are we doing, guys? And then I don't know who our first bat basket was, but it oh no, I do it was a free throw. T TJ Shannon. He was our first, he he it was nowhere close to going in, but he was being aggressive, and we're like, Yes, this is what you need, this is what you're supposed to do. And then we got going. Um, but it was probably the most stressful slash most fun game I've ever been to. What about you?

SPEAKER_01 30:58

Yeah, it was it reminded me. I mean, the only thing that I could compare it to I I I remember when we went to the the the Kings game game summary back in 2004. Yes. You know, so it's been a long time.

SPEAKER_03 31:12

I mean, obviously there's been some big games since then that we've been lucky enough to go to, or I have this reminds me of like if you were watching your son's ninth grade team and they had to play a JV team. Sure. It felt like the underdog piece was even though like your ninth grade team is really good, you have some good players that you know can it's like I mean, they're not Jokic, you know, like we have Jalen Clark who literally has been on the bench most of the season.

SPEAKER_01 31:40

Yeah, playing big minutes, and he's covering Jamal Murray. Yeah, it was it was crazy. So where do we go from there?

SPEAKER_03 31:48

Um so there we end up obviously winning. It was I would say until um how much time was I think there was Owen started singing na na na na we had 55 seconds left and I said nope too early. Yeah because I think at that point we got Jaden hit some free throws and that got us up by eight. Yeah, and then he did landed a jumper, and that got us up by ten. And that's really when the relief set in and the pride and the excitement. Um but before that I didn't see exactly what happened, but there was an altercation between Jalen Clark and Jokic.

SPEAKER_01 32:29

Yeah, this was a fun one.

SPEAKER_03 32:30

To me, from what I could see, it looked like the big bully was bullying the little bench player. But you don't agree. He you think Jalen did something?

SPEAKER_01 32:43

Yeah, I mean it wasn't, it wasn't like he wa Jalen wasn't innocent in it. So, like the shot was taken out outside. It wasn't um Joker that took it, and Jalen pushed Joker. But was it like a it was like a it was like a little nudge, it was just kind of like this like guarding push? No, it was half like Joker was looking at the hoop and and Jalen like pushed him on the shoulder. And like typical Joker fashion, he looks at the rat's like, what is this?

SPEAKER_03 33:11

He always does this. Matt's doing this with his arms. You can't see either one of us, but it's like this is it's like when you're like me, like how do you describe it?

SPEAKER_01 33:19

I don't know. His hands kind of come close together and he's like anyway. He does that, and then he turns to Jalen and goes, like bull rushes him, like he goes right into his face and pushes, starts to push him over, like by running into him. Yeah. Jalen made it I've watched it a lot now.

SPEAKER_03 33:36

Have you? Okay.

SPEAKER_01 33:36

I was just there and watched it live. Made it um a little it looked made it look worse than it was. So he grabbed his jersey while he was falling backwards. So Joker fell over him and stomped past him, and then Nasreed comes in and just pushes Joker, like just decks him. Like, and so um there's this fight number two. Fight number two.

SPEAKER_03 34:04

So we've had all these viral moments with this in this series, and this is before we've sealed the deal.

SPEAKER_01 34:10

Yes, this was in the third quarter.

SPEAKER_03 34:11

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's just like, oh, the stress and the It was so much fun. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:16

So overall, the hero of the game again is. Jaden McDaniels.

SPEAKER_03 34:21

He's never scored. He had 32 points 10 rebounds.

SPEAKER_01 34:25

Yep, and that is a career high in points. Not again, not a playoff high, career high in points in in the and he played 43 minutes. 43 minutes, and it was, and and he was picking up Jamal Murray 80 feet from the hoop. So, like almost full court, and just walking like he so intense the whole time, wasn't in foul trouble until the very end when it didn't matter, and he got his fifth foul.

SPEAKER_03 34:51

But like Jamal never scored on him the whole game.

SPEAKER_01 34:54

He Jamal went four for 17 for the entire game and didn't score like in the fourth quarter. Like it was complete domination by our favorite player, Jaden McDaniels. Like it was it was awesome. I loved it.

SPEAKER_03 35:09

It was so great. So we wanted to talk about some themes from this first round because a we noticed, you know, because we consume, like probably some of you. I know my friend Megan was like, after a game, I have to listen to podcasts, and I, you know, we have our we like to be online too after a win um to take in and hear what I love to hear what the rest of the country is saying about our team. Um so some themes from the first round. Uh let's talk about Rudy.

SPEAKER_01 35:33

Rudy first and foremost, Rudy.

SPEAKER_03 35:35

I mean Rudy got a lot of attention. Yeah. Um, so Rudy hasn't always matched up really well to Jokic. Um, when we played him, was it last year, Carl? Yeah, last year Carl would take him, and Rudy didn't get as much playing time, and they kind of talked about like, wow, this defensive player of the year can't guard Jokic. So, first of all, what do you think changed from that year to this year in terms of he did a really amazing job guarding him?

SPEAKER_01 36:03

Well, I've heard you know different people talk about this. Some people think that Joker like has lost his step. I don't think so. Um last in the past, when Rudy has guarded Jokic, he doesn't play like out at the three-point line, he gives him space.

SPEAKER_03 36:22

That's true. And now he doesn't.

SPEAKER_01 36:24

And what that allowed Joker to do is pass freely, yeah, make his first moves. You're right. And this from game one, like I would say that one games one through four were Rudy's best games. Now he did really well again in five and six, but one through four, yes, he made Joker work as soon as he crossed half court. Yes. And there so they weren't able to get into their easy sets. Joker, and he was moving faster than Joker. Like he he was he wasn't allowing him to back down as easily, he was positioning himself well. He just played a better with f that's ridiculous to say for like he's a four-time defensive player of the year. He was playing better than he ever has before against a player like that. And so it was all about positioning and just relentless defense. He never gave up.

SPEAKER_03 37:16

So he got a ton of attention, and you know, Rudy's, you know, often said that he's the most hated player in the league. And so people were coming out, like Charles Barkley, and like a lot of players and analysts were like, we gotta give Rudy his flowers, we gotta apologize for being like rude about him and disrespectful. Like he's he proved us wrong. Everyone except Shaquille O'Neal. Yeah, Shaquille O'Neal, Owen and I watched, I think it was the game that you were at, the game two.

SPEAKER_01 37:45

Game four.

SPEAKER_03 37:46

Yeah, no, game two.

SPEAKER_01 37:47

I was at game four. Oh, four and six. Our second game.

SPEAKER_03 37:50

Oh, oh, gotcha. Okay, you were at game four, and Shaquille Shaquille O'Neal is like, no, it's not Rudy. Um Joker had a bad night. Right. And we're like, wow, he's so stubborn. And so we went to the game last night and we ran home and we wanted to see what they were saying about us, and Shaquille O'Neal bare down. He's the same thing. Nope, it's not, it's just Joker. He's he's not he didn't play. I don't know. And Charles kept challenging him, why didn't he have a good night? Yeah, and he was like, I don't know, I have no idea. And then um Kenny said, Well, I understand what you're saying, you know, Shaq. I understand. Um, yeah, he just he didn't play well. And Charles said, Why didn't he play well? And he's like, Because Rudy kept him to and he's like, Thank you. It's not that hard to say that. Like, people cannot physically say that Rudy plays good defense, they do not want to give him his flowers, but then others were like, It's time, it's time. So it was interesting, and he got interviewed many times. It was great after most wins. He got interviewed on national television. He's not the best interviewee, like he's kind of says the same things. But I think for him it had to have been a little bit um validating. Yeah, yeah. You're good at defense, it turns out.

SPEAKER_01 39:05

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 39:08

Who knew? Oh, wait, four times.

SPEAKER_01 39:10

Second theme impact of injuries. I think this is an interesting way of putting this. So, you know, there's there's basically two ways that we can look at, or two things that can happen. You either step up or or or you fade into the darkness. Where'd you go? Where'd you go? So let's let's first go the negative route because we don't want to spend too much time.

SPEAKER_03 39:29

And there I don't feel like there's very many. No, but there's players that we tend to forget are on our team.

SPEAKER_01 39:35

And maybe it's like with injuries, you would expect these people to step to step up, and they didn't.

SPEAKER_03 39:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:40

So who do you want to take first?

SPEAKER_03 39:43

I think f uh last night's game I was really assuming that Julius Randle would be the leading scorer.

SPEAKER_04 39:49

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 39:49

Um, he's really big, he can go inside, um, play some bully ball. He also has a really nice three-point shot. He but he can draw the foul and get some free throw, he can create, you know, a variety of shots. Um, that was not the case. He didn't have a terrible night. I think he had 15 points, seven, you know, something like that. Not a bad night, but it's one of those where you're like, oh, it, you know, uh T TJ Shannon had 24, 25 points. Like, yeah, like that's someone who really stepped up. So if though those are those will be my two. Um, where did Julius go? And then TJ Shannon, like that. I felt like like I again I saw him pacing. I was worried about him like mentally, like, how is he gonna hold up during this big game? He held up amazingly, and I was really proud of him for being aggressive and doing the same thing that Io did in the game before, which again I'm picturing Finch going, here's your job. The ball gets in your hand, you're aggressive, you don't need to pass it. You're gonna drive, you're either going to get fouled and shoot free throws, or you're going to dunk or draw layup. Sometimes I noticed he would be a little bit, he'd get blocked.

SPEAKER_04 40:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 40:56

Because he wasn't quite as fast as Io. Io would just be like, the balls already didn't before Denver has even knew what was happening. Um, TJ's slower and bigger, and so he can like he's more of a dunker, whereas Io's more of a cute little layup. Um, but I was really proud of TJ Shannon. I w I don't know if I would go so far as saying I was disappointed in Julius, but it's the theme of the year for me and Julius is that I forget he's on our team. I forget that, you know, I forget to have high expectations for him. I'm like, who's gonna show up? Oh yeah, like Julius is really good. Yeah so that's just what about you?

SPEAKER_01 41:31

What were your so um and I think there's gonna be a a a third uh like standout that we can talk about, but I'll talk talk about the two, you know, like I'll do one stepped up and one that didn't step up as much. So my didn't step up as much, I think has to do a little bit with injury itself, and that's Nasreed. Uh yeah. Again, he didn't have he wasn't bad. It wasn't a bad night, it wasn't a bad series, bad series at all. But when you have your top guys go down, I know that Nasreed has it in him to be the leading scorer and to bring out that tenacity and that excitement and everything. And it it's not that it wasn't there.

SPEAKER_03 42:10

He had moments, he had moments, but it I I really thought that he would rise up, you know, and his might be more injury related where Julius is fully healthy, but I agree. I I am like, oh yeah, Nas. Yeah, and then when he would like have a beautiful floater, or like he'd take an outside three, I'm like, oh yeah, we have Nas Reed, like he should do that more.

SPEAKER_01 42:31

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, and then the person um that stepped up, albeit just in just in the last game, I'm gonna give Jalen Clark his his credit here. He has been sitting on the bench all season long, and not until the last few weeks when we were trying to figure out some stuff, and Ant was injured, um, did he get any playing time at all. And then he comes out and he plays 20-some odd minutes, and he guards Jamal Murray like Jaden and shuts him down, has the edge, has like won't back down from Joker. Like, that's what I mean in terms of that stepping up. Not that he was leading the team in any category, but like from where he was, my expectation of what he would add to this series, and then to what he he delivered in that game was just really incredible. Like it was really great. So those are my two. But I do want overall, I also think we have even though he was injured in the game six, we have to also say Io stepped up beyond, and it was even before the injuries he was starting to step up, like we had talked about in game two, you know, or end game three, he was step stepping up before Ant and Dante went down. But then to have that game, that career high, and just and just lead the team, that is that's beyond what any of us expected.

SPEAKER_03 43:53

Yes. So I want to give a little shout out to Mike Conley. Um, he has not played many minutes this year. Um, he played a lot and he d can't do the scrappy things that the younger players, he's 37 or 38, um, and he just isn't as fast, but he he was great. He had his moments where I was just like, Thank you, Mike, just whether it was a good pass or a good three or whatever. Um so I I'm always happy to see him. Yeah. Yeah. Okay, so those were kind of impact of injuries. Um another theme that came out of this series was, you know, Joker got a lot of, you know, Shaquille O'Neal's like he just had a bad night. Um, and I it kind of brought up this question among some people is, you know, he's largely viewed as like the best player in the league. Largely. Like um, he's one of a few, but he's kind of this untouchable, like he's the perfect player. I mean, he ha his stats speak for themselves. He passes the ball beautifully, he's an outside shooter, he's a perfect free throw shooter, he's um he can do all the things, and then you get into a series with Minnesota, and we don't allow him to do all the things. So do you think that he's overrated or do you think we just did a good job? Finally, there was a team that was able to slow him down or stop him. Where do you fall on that continuum?

SPEAKER_01 45:28

I think that Jokic is one of the best offensive players the NBA has ever seen. I do not think he is MVP worthy.

SPEAKER_03 45:39

Even though he's had multiple? Well, who would have gotten him those other years though?

SPEAKER_01 45:44

Well-rounded, great players. There's still great players in each of those years.

SPEAKER_03 45:47

So you feel like defense should count for more in this?

SPEAKER_01 45:51

I think that defense should count for more in any aspect of conversation with in with talking about the NBA. I think it gets downplayed in every setting. You talk about every statistic after post-game stuff, and even coaches fall into it. Like this is how many points they had, this is how many, you know, they talk about offensive rebounds, they talk about they they don't talk about what effort and defense means to a team. So if if you look at a player and they're supposed to be the MVP of the of the season of the league, I think that they should be good on both sides of the ball. I think they should be excellent at both sides of the ball.

SPEAKER_04 46:31

Right.

SPEAKER_01 46:31

In order to be considered that. So yeah, I I I'm I think he's a very good offensive player. He's great. He is Hall of Fame worthy on how good he is offensively. So I'm not downplaying that at all. I don't think that he gives a hoot on defense. He doesn't move. He's slow to react, he has no effort, he only gets rebounds when it's like they're for him. Right. Like, I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 46:58

Yeah, the joke with the when he took off running after Jaden, I had never seen him run that fast in a basketball game. He ran so fast. Right. Like he was like, I'm gonna murder you. And you don't see him run like that during a typical basketball game. Um, but he is a special offensive player for sure, and there aren't very many teams and players in our league who have found a way to shut him down. So I I do think Rudy should get a lot of credit, our team should get a lot of credit. Um but yeah, so that's kind of one thing we talked about. I I I don't follow him enough. I mean, I know his stats are really, really good. I I guess I wouldn't say that he's overrated, but I think our defense needs a little to get more credit. And I don't think it's just Joker having a bad night when he plays. Not at all.

SPEAKER_01 47:46

Not at all. Like I totally I think that I mean, this is how great he is. He almost averaged a triple-double in what we're considering Rudy's best defensive series ever. I mean, that just says a lot, right? Yeah, like he's that impactful that even on his worst days, his shooting percentages are horrible. He's still putting up stats that are crazy. So yeah, he's a great, he's a he's a good player. He's a really great player. Um, did the Wolves make it difficult for him? Yes, he was not as efficient this series. And Rudy gets should get all, like you said, all the flowers. So anyway.

SPEAKER_03 48:23

One thing about Joker, if we're talking about classiness, I did notice at the end of the game last night that he hugged everyone on our team, including Jaden. They didn't see that one.

SPEAKER_01 48:32

I didn't see that.

SPEAKER_03 48:33

And Jayden went in for it too. Um, I thought there was I'm not trying to say like, oh, that was classy, but I just thought, gosh, for how much our teams really do dislike each other.

SPEAKER_04 48:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 48:43

That was, I mean, it was kind of a final goodbye. Yep. Um, farewell. Um anyway. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 48:49

Should we go into all of these other things or should we save some of it because yeah, it's this is already a pretty long episode. I'm sure people are like, how long are they gonna talk? But you know, yeah. I don't I don't want to.

SPEAKER_03 48:59

I'll trust you. I can't see how long we've gone.

SPEAKER_01 49:01

Yeah, I think it's like 45 minutes already.

SPEAKER_03 49:03

Already? Wow. Yeah, we're we've been into this. Why don't we just talk a little bit about Finch and then we'll kind of close out? Can we talk a little bit about Finch? Um, just in general, and we'll be able to talk about him more in this next season. But we were very impressed with Finch, especially um the substitutions and the lineups that he came up with. I just want to just shout out Finch. We can just do anything you want to add to that to kind of keep it brief.

SPEAKER_01 49:27

A lot of people have been been begging for the three big lineup, um, and he went giant with TJ Shannon as the smallest person, followed by Jaden, Nas, Julius, and Rudy on the court at once. And we we were plus 18 last night in the in in that matchup. So incredible.

SPEAKER_03 49:47

And just what he's been able to get out of what is it called? Um, next up mentality. Um, all of our guys have been primed for that, it seems like, and I don't know if that's typical, but just like great job, Finch. I think we're just really lucky. We've t we've said that all year that we have a good coach and we just do.

SPEAKER_04 50:04

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 50:04

Um, so let's, yeah. So our next round, oh gosh, gulp is we were playing the San Antonio Spurs starting on Monday. I know. Um that's terrifying.

SPEAKER_01 50:13

Yeah. I okay. Here's how I feel. I feel that we had a successful postseason as of today. Wow. You're yeah, and anything that comes against the Spurs, I'm going to really appreciate.

SPEAKER_03 50:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 50:31

If Ant, without Ant for the first week, it'll be really, really hard to win those first two games.

SPEAKER_03 50:38

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 50:39

They're a better team, overall team, than Denver for a reason. The record is better, you know. They they play great defense. They have the same I I kind of think that they play defense like we play defense. They're really intense. We're not gonna be able to get them there. And and and they have they have a 7-4 guy that makes you do like the nevermind stuff that people do against Rudy, you know, where they just back out of the paint because they're scared. We won't be able we almost have to we have to almost take the exact opposite approach. Like, not that we can't go in the paint, but our outside shot has to be falling because it's really hard. It's really hard to go in there. Um and he because he's lurking, he's lurking all the time. Yeah, and so it's gonna be really tough. Now, should we abandon the paint? No, like you still gotta do it, but our outside shots need to be good. Yeah, uh, they're really fast, it's gonna be hard, but it's gonna be fun. We're there. Do I have expectations that we're going to crush the Spurs without Ant and Dante? No. But could we win one in San Antonio? If we win one in San Antonio, I could get excited a little bit.

SPEAKER_03 51:45

Yeah, well, Portland won one game. That series was four to one, so I'm like, well, we can win one. Like, that's kind of where my expectations are. Like, let's win a game, let's see what happens from after that one win. Um, so I'm with you. Like, I I yeah, I I it was very depressing to come off of that win last night, and then to hear Charles say, Well, there's it's absolutely impossible that they'll win without Ant, and probably impossible with if even if he's there. Yeah. Um, Ant we don't know it's week to week, but there's a you know, kind of suggested timeline that he would be back by May 9th, which would be um our first game at home.

SPEAKER_01 52:19

That would be great.

SPEAKER_03 52:20

So that would be that would be great.

SPEAKER_01 52:22

So I think on that same theme like you had just brought up about like Charles, like everyone saying, you know, there's a zero percent chance of you know that's what people have been doing for years. Yes, every single series, you know. No one picks us. No one ever picks us. I mean, it was we're gonna get swept by the Denver Nuggets three years ago, we were gonna get um, you know, swept by um the Suns the next year. Yeah, yeah. Last year it was it was the Lakers, and then this year no one picked us, you know, to beat the Nuggets, and each of those, each of those we won.

SPEAKER_03 52:52

That's true. That's why I'm like so maybe the counting us out will continue to fuel our team like it has every series. Um, I don't know that it'll go the same, but I I'm I'm not don't don't call don't rule us out. No, exactly. And we'll have to we'll have to talk, you know, more about I I don't know what Finch is gonna come up with, but he'll come up with something just quickly around the rest of the league. So we um closed out, we won against Denver, OKC swept the Suns 4-0. The Lakers are up three to two against the Rockets, so the Rockets are still alive. That hasn't been determined. Obviously, the Spurs beat Portland in the East. It's a little trickier. Um, Orlando is currently leading the Pistons. Pistons is the one seed, um, three-two. Cavs are up over the Raptors 3-2. The Knicks did beat Atlanta 4-2. They won by 50. That was 50. That's a brutal way to leave for Atlanta. But they had a surprising season, and I think they're like, that was still a positive season. Um, and then the Celtics, who are were way favored over the 76ers, are tied three to three. So, um, I mean, I'm not hoping against the Lakers or the Celtics, but um, I'm also like, go 76ers. We have a friend that has tickets to 76ers. That could be I don't know, that could be fun.

SPEAKER_01 54:10

Jeremy's gonna be cheering his heart out.

SPEAKER_03 54:12

Yeah, I mean, that's exciting. So, and then lastly, we just wanted to share um while during this playoff um run, uh the Lynx have been playing some play uh preseason games. Yes. So that's been fun. The last preseason game is tonight at Target Center against the Toronto Tempo. Um so after tonight we have real games.

SPEAKER_01 54:34

So we're gonna be um That's not until the 10th, though, which is seems like a big gap between end of preseason and I agree.

SPEAKER_03 54:44

There are some, and I think that has to do with the NBA. Yeah, like we're it's yeah, we have to share a stadium. Um, one little thing I just um Amaya Battle, she played for the U of M women's Gophers team, um, who beat they they made it to the tournament this year, and um Amaya Battle, she played at Hopkins. She was kind of brought in to see if she would be a good fit, and they did wave her.

SPEAKER_04 55:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 55:09

So um maybe she can get picked up somewhere, or I don't know, but we're rooting for you. Yeah. Um, yeah, so I think that's all we have. Sorry, we went a little long, but I there's just a lot to unpack with these really exciting times. Um, cross your fingers that Ant can be healthy for any of this series. Yes, any of it. Um, and then just lastly, we didn't say that Dante was at the game sitting right in front of us with his scooter, which was so he's the best teammate ever. Yes. Um, so love to Dante, and yep, hope everyone has a good week. Hopefully, we'll get in an episode after the first couple of games. Yes. All right.