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Hopefully, this series will pay dividends down the road for Minnesota. The inexperience shown this series is striking. All those dumb fouls (including that last one on the Luka 3), iso ball at the end, and their own missed FTs.

1 assist shy of a triple double but ok

Interesting, and unfortunate, that he blamed himself for the Clippers moving from San Diego to LA. San Diego Clippers (1979–1985)[edit] On May 13, 1979, Walton signed as a veteran free agent with the San Diego Clippers; the Portland Trail Blazers received Kevin Kunnert, Kermit Washington and a 1980 first-round draft pick (Mike Gminski was later selected) as compensation ordered by the NBA. Walton reportedly agreed to a seven-year, $7 million contract.[45][10] Due to injuries, Walton spent more time on the disabled list than on the court with his hometown team. In his first season with San Diego, Walton played 14 games for the Clippers in the 1979–80 season. Walton re-fractured the navicular bone in the fourth 1979 exhibition game and subsequently missed all of the 1980–81 and 1981–82 seasons, undergoing several surgeries on his injured foot. Walton ignored doctors who said he would never play again and underwent surgery to restructure his left foot in 1981. His high arch, which made the foot bones susceptible to breaking, was lowered to relieve the stress on the bones.[45][10] Following extensive rehabilitation, which included biking and sand volleyball, Walton's foot began to improve; after playing only 14 games from 1979 to 1982, he played 33 games in 1982–83 under doctor's orders to play about one game per week. He played in 55 games in 1983–84, and a then-career-high 67 in 1984–85, by which time the Clippers had relocated to Los Angeles.[45][10] "When you fail in your hometown, that's as bad as it gets, and I love my hometown", said Walton of his tenure in San Diego. "I wish we had NBA basketball here, and we don't because of me. It's my greatest failure as a professional in my entire life, I could not get the job done in my hometown. It is a stain and stigma on my soul that is indelible. I'll never be able to wash that off, and I carry it with me forever."[11] On Clippers owner Donald Sterling, Walton commented, "The checks bounced higher than the basketballs when Donald Sterling took over. The basketball was awful, and the business side was immoral, dishonest, corrupt, and illegal. Other than that, it was all fine."[11]

If not for injuries, would probably be mentioned among the top 20 or so players of all time. He was that good.

The pick that the Cavs used to select Kyrie was actually the Clippers - the Clips had essentially traded their unprotected first rounder for cap space. The Cavs traded Mo Williams for Baron Davis and the Clips unprotected first rounder. https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/5/18/2177310/kyrie-irving-cavaliers-clippers-nba-draft-2011

I never read or listen to his stuff anymore, but I'd be curious to know what Bill Simmons thinks of Kyrie now. When Kyrie was in Cleveland, Simmons would shit all over him. Then when Boston traded for him, Kyrie was suddenly among the best PGs in the league. Then after Kyrie left, Simmons again has been shitting on him since then, that he's a franchise-killer. Personally, I'll always like the flat-earther thanks to 06-19-16 no matter what happened since then.

Minnesota's offense is just complete blah these last couple minutes of the game while Kyrie (and Luka too, I guess) are just too good.

17 FTs for Dallas in the 3rd quarter. That's absurd.

Hell of a design there to get Nesmith a great look at the 3 even if it didn't go in.

Agreed. Dallas won Game 1 108-105 and Game 2 109-108; Minny had leads late in the game and just couldn't hold on and I attribute that to a lack of experience in those situations. Just 1 or 2 sequences could have changed the outcome of both games (e.g., that disastrous ending to the first half in Game 1 and the turnover by ANT + isoing Gobert on Luka at the end of Game 2). These calls for Minny to blow it up and trade everybody brings the lulz. It's more about experience in those situations and Dallas has Luka & Kyrie.

The inexperience is really revealing itself for Minnesota this series.

JBB had many shortcomings but perhaps the most egregious offense was Mobley's lack of development.

Agreed. It's an INDIVIDUAL immunity challenge.

If I were a Pacer fan, not sure I’d be able to get any sleep tonight knowing they blew a chance to steal HCA.

Probably related to Matt Leinart.