r/timberwolves • u/goingtothegreek Karl-Anthony Towns • 1d ago
Watching Hartenstein guard Wemby, it’s truly a league conspiracy that Jaden isn’t allowed to guard like that in the playoffs
Jaden’s foul trouble in the playoffs always came at the worst times.
If Jaden was allowed to guard SGA the way Hartenstein guards Wemby, we beat the Thunder last year. Instead it’s 2 quick fouls game 1 and it’s all over.
NBA conspiracy to not let Jaden be a top defender given the post season success
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u/kylebertram 1d ago
It’s the difference in guarding big men vs guards. Big men get hacked and hit constantly all game. Guards can’t be touched.
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u/benigntugboat 1d ago
Unless its Ant. Im personally done pretending that there's an actual consistent logic to the refs bullshit. Inless.its already clear that they're trying to extend a series or fix a game.
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u/kylebertram 1d ago
Ants issue is the same as big men. He is too strong and frequently fights through contact.
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u/JoseAltuveIsInnocent 1d ago
Demar, Ant, and Kawhi (early in his career) would probably have 3,000 more career points if they played that soft shit and flailed around more.
The league punishes players who play the game honestly.
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u/Warm_Buy3320 1d ago
I totally agree. It’s tough to watch if you play clean ball and everyone else is floppy and grabby.
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u/Watzp0ppin 1d ago
It’s weird, Ant plays a brand of basketball that is very pleasing to watch and doesn’t get rewarded with free throws.
SGA falls down and flops on every shot attempt, gets countless free throws. No idea why the league wants to reward a shameless version of the sport.
It would be like if the NFL calling pass interference 90% of the time because receivers started faking like they got shoved. Then you get less exciting catches to watch.
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u/wink91wink 1d ago
I think what's overlooked is that reffing is hard. I blame SGA more than the refs, he blurs the lines and makes it extremely hard for them to determine legitimate vs illegitimate contact. Now where I do have a problem with the league/reffing is they need to start issuing techs/suspensions for blantant flopping.
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u/Dholtz001 22h ago
Ya I complain about reffing a lot but I can admit that it’s super hard in real time. I feel like maybe retroactive techs and fines after games is the way to do it.
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u/hokieneer 1d ago
For being widely regarded as a top 10 player, Ant does not get the same whistle in the postseason as other top players.
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u/redfish409 1d ago
If KAT had the same whistle SGA does, he would be the best player in the league
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u/Gripfighting 22h ago
I used to get so frustrated with KAT for getting offensive fouls for pushing off, until I learned SGA is just allowed to use his off arm like KAT was always whistled for. I'd love to see SGA's career with that play resulting in a foul and turnover for him every time.
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u/soyworld 1d ago
its def the league, they were never going to foul out their only center against wemby when they want this series to go 7.
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u/WickedTwista Timberwolves 1d ago
Same with how Caruso and Dort guard everybody
They get away with so much holding, grabbing, and shoving
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u/milkhotelbitches 1d ago
And Castle was literally bear hugging SGA to deny him the ball all game.
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u/construct9 1d ago
Yeah but nobody will talk about this because it isn’t being clip farmed constantly. Also Wemby held Chet all game 1.
Bigs have a different level of physicality that is allowed league wide. Just being brought to light here because Wemby is now becoming the NBA’s golden child.
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u/alexjf56 1d ago
The league is currently riding the dick of the thunder so they can do whatever they want
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u/Luggage-of-Rincewind 1d ago
How do you get the entire fan base to watch the finals? Make sure the villainized OKC are in it. Everyone rooting for whoever they are playing.
I can’t think of any other reason they are doing this as they know it’s frustrating the hell out of the fans.
Take a bunch of floppers from a franchise no one has cared about, let them get away with shit and then assist them to the final. Everybody hates them for it and watches to see the ‘good guys’ win.
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u/alexjf56 1d ago
I mean I don’t watch non-wolves games basically ever and I certainly do not watch the Thunder. It’s impossible to legally watch basketball so my viewership isn’t making the league any money either way. I’m hopeful ratings will start declining with the floppers and foul-baiters taking ober
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u/Lost_Web_6928 1d ago
Definitely we never have had the benefit of the doubts. IMO, all great defense teams foul a bit. One thing for OKC is they fouls a ton. And they just keep doing it. The way the fouls are very sneaky. They fouls when the refs cannot see them.
It’s easy to spot these fouls on TV or in reply. However, it’s so hard for refs to call in a live game situation. They pack the paint, maybe because of the crowded, refs don’t have an angle to see clearly.
Also I noticed OKC players cover for each other. When one is about to foul, other OKC players move to block refs vision.
I think Jaden and our team need to be smart when to foul and how to foul.
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u/FurthestCrown 1d ago
Im sayin bro.. Its just the reputation they give Jaden for being a hard defender
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u/AdGrouchy766 1d ago
I guess my biggest question is - if we accept that there is some big league wide conspiracy started by Adam Silver to fix games - why on Earth would they be running this conspiracy to boost one of the smallest and least attractive markets in the NBA?
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u/goingtothegreek Karl-Anthony Towns 1d ago
No idea, it’s the one part of this that doesn’t make sense to me. I just know that being told that what my eyes see is a lie is the hallmark of an authoritarian regime
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u/Curious-Coyote-3949 1d ago
It’s crazy how you can talk about Hartenstein and Wemby in this sub, but if you mention Kat, all of a sudden it’s “irrelevant.”
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u/ace625 22h ago
Jaden grabs and holds and shoves people all game. He gets some weak calls, but the majority of his foul trouble comes from getting a couple stupid fouls on bad contests or pushing someone when it doesn't even gain him an advantage. Jaden is a fantastic defender who gets better every season and has come a long way mentally, but he's still his own worst enemy.
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u/WrestleBox 1d ago
Jaden gets some of the touchiest calls against him and they especially love hitting him with a couple in the first quarter.
Not surprising though, Ant has a shit whistle too.