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Initially of the NBA season, not many individuals cherished the Minnesota Timberwolves title probabilities 2024. They’d misplaced within the first spherical in simply 5 video games, and so they didn’t appear to be in the identical tier as groups just like the Denver Nuggets.
Quick ahead to immediately, and so they proved to be the most effective groups within the Western Convention. They flirted with the No. 1 seed within the west, and though they fell wanting that objective late within the season, they proved that they’re the true deal within the first spherical.
With that in thoughts, we’ve to speak about why Chris Finch’s staff needs to be taken significantly. The Minnesota Timberwolves playoff matchup units the desk for a rematch with the exact same staff that despatched them house final season, and whereas going in opposition to one of many greatest centers in NBA history isn’t any straightforward job, they appear prepared for the problem.
Do They Have A Actual Shot?
For starters, we’ve to acknowledge that the Timberwolves aren’t the identical staff they had been final season. This time, their stellar frontcourt of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert has lastly meshed collectively, which wasn’t the case final yr.
Gobert has made nice strides as a fringe defender, and he wasn’t uncovered or taken off the courtroom late in video games versus the Phoenix Suns. Now, he can maintain his personal in opposition to smaller and faster defenders, versus being caught within the restricted space.
Karl-Anthony Cities has had some well-documented character points in huge video games, however the Timberwolves don’t want him to be Batman anymore. With Anthony Edwards in time and as their undisputed greatest participant and chief, he can take a step again and be one of many league’s greatest Robins.
Edwards is a born chief, and he’s made everyone round him higher. He uplifts his gamers on and off the courtroom, and he’s develop into a significantly better on and off-ball defender than he was when these two groups squared off final season.
Even there, Edwards single-handedly willed this staff to an enormous win within the first spherical to keep away from a sweep, and it was even on the highway. He’s now extra mature and higher and has been the most effective — if not the very best — gamers within the playoffs to this point.
Matchup with Denver
The Timberwolves and Nuggets alternated wins in 4 regular-season conferences this yr. They’ve the very best protection within the league by a big margin, and so they have the size to match up with the Nuggets’ beginning lineup, which isn’t one thing many groups can brag about.
On prime of that, they at the moment have the deeper staff. Championships aren’t solely received one by way of 5 but additionally six by way of ten, and the Timberwolves’ second unit has been stellar this season, beginning with Naz Reid, the recently-crowned Sixth Man of the 12 months.
The Timberwolves have a greater likelihood to dethrone the Nuggets than each different staff within the league. And whereas the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, or Los Angeles Clippers wouldn’t be a straightforward rival, it wouldn’t be stunning to see them go the gap.
Ought to that be the case, then we should level out the truth that each of their matchups with the Boston Celtics — their more than likely rival within the NBA Finals — went to time beyond regulation, with each groups profitable one apiece. Additionally they match up properly with them.
The Timberwolves have struggled traditionally and have solely been to the Western Convention Finals as soon as in franchise historical past. However Nikola Jokic and the 2023 Denver Nuggets proved to us that curses are supposed to be damaged, and this may as properly be their flip to get the monkey off their backs.
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