The Minnesota Timberwolves are one of the best teams in the NBA and a legitimate contender for the title. They have the talent, but lacks experience and pedigree. Anthony Edwards is a superstar and the Wolves have the best defensive rating in the NBA. Can they win when the games matter most?
Minnesota’s roster is about to get a lot more expensive, so the franchise needs to determine if it can compete for a title. Otherwise, there there will be exchanges. Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert join Edwards to give the Timberwolves three All-Stars. Mike Conley and Jaden McDaniels round out a solid starting five, and Minnesota has depth. They just need to put everything in place.
The Western Conference is full of talent, which creates panic. There are no easy matches in the first round and every team is imperfect. These weaknesses will catch up with teams in the playoffs. What could knock out the Wolves early?
The Timberwolves have the fourth-highest 3-point percentage in the NBA, but their attempts aren’t high. Their 32.2 per game ranks 25th and puts them in the middle of the pack per three made each night. This has been a recipe for disaster in several playoff series. Outshooting the opposition led the Mavericks to the conference finals in 2022 and the Warriors to multiple championships.
If Minnesota plays a team near the top of the league in 3-point shooting, they will already be in a hole. The Warriors, Mavericks, Kings and Thunder could be problematic opponents for the Timberwolves, especially if Minnesota hasn’t locked down their jumpers.
They can overcome a small 3-point shooting disparity, but other issues may prove more problematic. The Minnesota Timberwolves will look to rely on their strengths and will need to avoid coughing up the ball, which could prove to be their Achilles heel.
