MJ Would Never: Why Ant-Man Has to Respond in Game 2

Now let me start by saying this — I picked the Minnesota Timberwolves to win this series in SEVEN games. And I stand by that... for now.

But what I saw last night in Game 1?

Disgraceful.

Inexcusable.

Unacceptable.

The Oklahoma City Thunder walked into that building and didn’t just beat the Wolves — they bullied them, embarrassed them, and punked them in a 114–88 demolition.

OKC outscored the Wolves 70-40 in the second half.

SGA dropped a smooth 31 points and 9 assists.

The Thunder turned 19 Wolves turnovers into 31 points.

You don’t win playoff games like that. You lose your dignity.

Meanwhile… Anthony Edwards finished with just 18 points on 13 shots.

Excuse me? 13 shots in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals?!

Now, don’t get it twisted — I believe in Anthony Edwards. The boy is box office. He’s got superstar written all over him. But I’m sick and tired of the Michael Jordan comparisons.

PACK THEM UP!

MJ was a cold-blooded killer from Day 1. He averaged 28 points as a rookie and 30 for his career. Never saw a moment too big. Never took a night off.

Ant’s great — he ain’t MJ.

Again: PACK THOSE COMPARISONS UP!

And don’t get me started on the rest of the Wolves:

• Julius Randle started the night cooking with 20 points in the first half… and ended it with a cold 28.

• Rudy Gobert? A 7-foot ghost. 2 points, 3 rebounds.  That’s it.

• Naz Reid? 4 points on 1-of-11 shooting, including 0-for-7 from three.

• The whole team shot 15-of-51 from deep — that’s 29%, folks. That’s broke. Like Will Smith in "Pursuit of Happyness" broke.

Now listen — I don’t expect Game 2 to look like this. I expect Ant to respond. I expect him to put up 25 shots minimum. I expect 40 points, not 13 field goal attempts. And I expect the Wolves to get the W.

If the Wolves want to punch their ticket to the Finals, they need to show up like they belong.

Game 1 was a wake-up call.

Now it’s up to Ant and the pack to answer.