The Golden State Warriors’ 103-89 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 7 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs means Minnesota Timberwolves fans will soon welcome a collection of Wolves villains heading into the second round.
After Buddy Hield‘s 33-point game, Golden State will travel to Minnesota on Tuesday for Game 1. While it will tip off only 48 hours after an emotionally and physically exhausting win in Houston, the Timberwolves will have enjoyed six days of rest after finishing off the Los Angeles Lakers in just five games.
Golden State won the regular season matchup 3-1, although it seems like there is little to learn from those games. The first three were in December, while the latter, on Jan. 16, was before the Jimmy Butler trade and did not feature either Draymond Green or Brandin Podziemski, even though the Warriors won 116-115.
The playoffs are a completely different beast from the regular season. The Wolves lost those three games before the Butler trade, and Minnesota found its rhythm. The regular season games bear no relation to what happens in May games.
Just a year ago, the Wolves had to face the Phoenix Suns, having lost all three of their regular-season matchups. Two of those games were in the final eight games of the season. Still, they had no impact. Minnesota swept the Suns in a series that appears to have set back the entire Phoenix organization multiple years.
So if the regular season games have no bearing on this series, how do the Wolves matchup?
Well, size will be a big piece of the puzzle. The Wolves destroyed the Lakers due to their lack of size and interior defense. While the Warriors are small, they present a different challenge. The controversial Green can play as an undersized center, and this team created the recent small-ball craze.
The Warriors also have more traditional bigs they can put on the court. Kevon Looney, Quinten Post, and Trayce Jackson-Davis are all bigs who might feature throughout the series, giving Golden State far more options to counter the Wolves than Jaxson Hayes or Rui Hachimura, their only small-ball option.
While size is one aspect, age and physicality are another. The Wolves came through their series unscathed and have enjoyed far more rest. They are also younger than the Warriors across the board. Steph Curry is 37, Green and Butler are 35, Buddy Hield and Gary Payton II are 32, and the latter missed Game 7 against Houston with an illness.
Age is not a non-factor in this series. The Houston series was physical and exhausting, leaving the Warriors with more miles and potentially unreported injuries. We already know that Curry is playing through a difficult-looking thumb injury.
However, the Timberwolves’ age and size do not guarantee an easy series win. They are about to face a team of veterans with championship and playoff experience.
Anthony Edwards has emerged as a playoff riser, but he still must prove he can lead a team repeatedly into the Western Conference Finals. If the Warriors can hang around and take the series to Game 6 or 7, their poise and experience could factor in meaningfully, much like they did against the Rockets.
The other big battle will be on the perimeter. The Warriors are renowned for their three-point shooting prowess and outstanding ball movement, while the Wolves host one of the league’s best perimeter defenses. Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Edwards will all play crucial defensive roles. The series may require Jaylen Clark to play more minutes than in the first series, given his ability to slow down elite guards.
This series may come down to whoever can best impose their style of play. The Wolves want to drive and kick, control the pace, and physically wear down Golden State. Meanwhile, the Warriors will look to push the offense and exploit weak points in the defense wherever possible.
Given the age of Golden State’s roster, the Timberwolves might overwhelm them with youth. But when a team has Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler as its two superstars, it’s never one you can count out from winning, no matter how much you fancy your chances.
