unable to get the ball in bounds and you look at how these teams match up CL the guard positions boasting plenty of talent and you think about it Kevin the skill level of today's players arguably at an alltime high but nothing like guard skills to help you put on the show now we'll look at Dallas's starting lineup the star back court of donic and Irving are out there PJ Washington is out there with Daniel Gaffrey and it's Jones in at the three small for and the whistle blows it's going to be on Luka Don that's his first foul over in the corner Conley pass to towns and towns throws it down seven footer towns using his size to Perfection down low Jones finds Washington that shot missing towns with the defensive effort and so goar will bring it up for the Minnesota Tim rules you know didn't need two hands for that slam that'll do just fine you're right he can save the other hand for the next shot yeah I like the variety though nice to switch it up now here's Jones and rejection by McDaniel the length of McDaniels a big factor at both ends Timberwolves on offense [Music] here's Edwards and a lot of contact on that one so he'll shoot two here and Clark what can you say about Anthony Edwards living up to that first overall height he has been spectacular yeah he has been Kevin I agree some were surprised he went first overall but you look back at that draft he was as good a number one pick as any of them and he's certainly proven to be worthy of that status dones count it this guy is a tremendous shot maker that really was a tough Bucket from Luca donic Conley kicks to towns and that one Falls coming off Conley's feet towns has got five points so far and they don't want to get in a habit of giving him open looks from three first quarter still but not who you want to leave over in terms of finishing ability it's hard to think of someone who tops Kyrie Greg the list is short particularly when you talk about guys of his size okay his bag of Tricks is Limitless when you talk about finishing in close quarters against bigger guys there are a few that are in his class in that regard count that one boy how about the strength of Edward confident in taking on Defenders and finishing for Dallas they've gone three of five shooting the ball so far and they double up donic inside got a piece of it stolen by connley and now the Timberwolves on the break poked away passes it to McDaniels Conley dishes to goar Fires for three it's rebounded by donic and so donic will bring it up for the Mavericks four-point game capable of finding his open guys Edwards getting better at improving his overall floor awareness nice to see kicks to Irving first quarter of play we're about 3 minutes in in Clark here we are watching Kyrie Irving when he's on it is amazing to watch remarkably smooth as an athlete Kevin and otherworldly when you look at his skills as a basketball player particularly ball handling and shot making talking pure basketball he's one of the most entertaining players of the last 30 years for sure looking at who out there now for the timberworks Reed he's checked in for Rudy go Kyle Anderson comes in for McDaniels and N Alexander Walker for Edwards mavick Trail by seven outside Irving drives to the hoop laid in with a nice touch off the glass knifing through the defense like warm butter on the biscuit Irving knows how to get to the rim more 125 left to play here in the first Conley the pass to Reed it's going to be a goal tending call here so they'll count the bucket kudos for the effort but he got there a little too late Morris is checked in for the Timberwolves the Mavericks also with a sub Hardy's checked [Music] in exen passes to Hardy here's Wy nice fake but the layup Off the Mark Timberwolves leading by seven here's Anderson and that one Falls coming off Conley's feet assist Conley's got six assists now in the [Applause] game now here's Exel he's guarded closely and there's the call and theel Alexander Walker that's his first foul big group substitution now for Minnesota gober's checked in for Reed towns comes in for Kyle Anderson McDaniels he's checked in for Alexander Walker and it's Edwards in for moris green he's checked in for Dallas and finished off by Edward oh doctor my goodness Anthony Edwards throwing it down with Force get this guy in the dunk contest now here [Applause] Hardy on the wing green pass to ca just five on the clock Lively's shot is off Timberwolves leading by nine here's towns and the dunk by towns yeah they they have gone Full Throttle from the opening tip showing no signs of letting up and you know when you've got a chance to put a team away early you got to take [Applause] it here's Cleon oh he misses the dunk yeah you won't see him Miss many dunks unless You' got somebody right in his space as was the case there on that possession and so it's the Minnesota timber wolves their lead at 11 points to end the quarter they're pounding the ball inside and that's where they've gotten their best production tonight we come back right after this and welcome back to the second quarter of action plenty of basketball left to play but this one has been one-sided so far and guys we've seen a confident looking Timberwolves team out there well in that first quarter they they were intent on just pounding the ball down low yeah and it's worked they've got a clear Edge and points in the paint now we'll see if they go with a more balanced attack or just keep on pounding it [Music] inside on the floor for Dallas the star back court of donic in Irving her out there green is out there with PJ Washington and it's Po in at the five roing the paint this is goar's comfort zone using his size to capitalize down there average Trail by 13 Greg what a remarkable run from the Dallas Mavericks in that 20101 NBA season and some say it's the toughest title any team has ever won when you consider the juggernauts they took out including the big three of the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals gets the three-pointer to fall M goin's got his first bucket the game and he's on the board for three and there's the call on Rudy go that is his first foul of the game Minesota making some changes Nas Reed he's jacked in for go Anderson comes in for Carl Anthony towns and nil Alexander Walker in for Edwards the Mavericks also with a sub aoms checked in here's moffa 16-point lead the largest margin in the game locket six and he's fouled pretty hard on that shot but he's got the chance to pick up the points at the line you know clar I have to say it seems like the college game has seen a little bit of a shift in recent years you cover it what do you think yeah I agree with that I mean the game much like the pro game has become a little more perimeter Centric the three-point shot has been a huge part of the game's Evolution and so you see more teams playing to space the floor and take advantage of the three-point shot not nearly as much back to the basket post play so I do think the game has changed and not necessarily uh good or bad I think it's just different now here's Anderson the pass to mlin it's two onone up the floor stolen by McDaniels Anderson passes to Reed nice pass let him to the rack perfectly for the layup and the tber wol F by 20 and let's get your guys take now on the hustle steps for the Timber wols Just a great job so far applying pressure defensively the opposition is on their heels with the ball in their hand nightmares clamps thus far and I think we've also got to talk about the temple they played with right from the get-go I mean they've been deadly in transition too it's time now to hear from our Hall of Fame reporter David Aldridge what's the latest David thank you Kevin we all know Luca Don is a master of one-on-one isolation scoring coach Jason kid said he knows how to use his body angles sometimes as a coach he want to run all these plays but at the end of the day it's about getting him the ball with enough time to be creative Kevin that's right David letting him cook thanks to the report here's Reed and some very quick points for him on that possession Reed's got six a nice job taking what the Defenders gave him these guys need a gut check right now well that's exactly the kind of Defense that's gotten him into the hole big substitution now for Minnesota Rudy go is checked in for Reed towns comes in for Anderson Edwards He's checked in for Alexander Walker and Mike Conley is subbed in for Jordan mlin Edwards makes it off the glass that's now eight points for Anthony Edwards goar can look over the top of just about any defense right there delivers a nice pass and Edwards with the stop that's a double w guys that's right a great defensive play then the emphatic stump well turning defense to offense we talk about it all the time try to hit your opponent at the other end before they can set up the defense and the 28th pick in the 2020 draft CL Jon McDaniels has more than outplayed his draft position yeah you know there were some question marks year one in college at UD du but you look at him now hey length Mobility skill set those are things that every team wants and needs and finished off by Edwards you can see how Edwards has really developed and worked on his handle it's become a strength of his game Dallas has gone over three from behind the arc to start the second quarter they could use a big shot here to get this offense going too many empty possessions right now they need a basket [Applause] to the wing on the left towns with the steel and now the fast break Edwards with the ball and they get it back and uh now looks like we've got an injury here guys we'll likely see him come out of the game and that's the one thing you just really can't control or even guard against and that's injured yeah you know aside from some of the player protection rules which have been a benefit a lot of it just comes down to what the body can withstand and the timber Wes making a change here Morris has checked in hey F who want makes some [Applause] noise three eeds checked in for Monte moris [Applause] 44 seconds left in the first half and it's good two points Reed's got six here in this quarter and with the lead I like the strategy here continue to get the ball to guys who can do something with it if it's working keep working it that's what I say keep the pressure on it now here's Jones still yet to score shot clock at five shot to stop the run goar with the block this is what go bear is known for his ability to swat shots away with ease here's towns and towns throws it down attacking and transition the most consistent way to generate easy looks yep exactly and if there's any opportunity for early offense you got to push it and push it every time he got it wow it's G he did drained it drained it wa wow away