The Minnesota Timberwolves have gone through their fair share of highs and lows this season. It’s almost a universal truth in sports – things always look more straightforward on paper.
They’ve beaten the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs twice, giving fans reason to believe this team can compete with anyone in the Western Conference. But some disheartening performances have taken away from the joy of beating contending teams.
That was the case again Saturday afternoon against the Orlando Magic at Target Center.
The Wolves entered the game having won eight of their last nine games. Pair that with a big win last Sunday against the Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota was playing like one of the Western Conference’s elite again.
But outside of a 17-point explosion from Anthony Edwards in the first quarter, Minnesota’s performance against Orlando was not indicative of a team that had been playing its best basketball of the season.
“There was no rhythm in the offense,” Chris Finch said after Saturday’s 119-92 loss. “I thought the effort was there mostly, but there were a lot of gameplan breakdowns.”
It was a glaring issue, but not something that should persist. Under Finch, Minnesota has been a team whose missed shots have affected their defensive intensity. That happened again against Orlando.
Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane scored 30 and 25 points, respectively, which contributed to the Magic’s 46% efficiency from the field. The Wolves didn’t show enough resistance, and allowing Orlando to see shots go in early led to the game getting out of reach early in the fourth quarter.
After the loss, the Wolves dropped to fourth in the West. Saturday may have felt like a step back for some, but it doesn’t mean the Wolves can’t compete with the best teams in the West.
The Wolves share the top six seeds in the conference with the Thunder, Spurs, Houston Rockets, Nuggets, and Los Angeles Lakers. They have played those teams a total of 13 times. And while the overall record is 5-8, they’ve looked solid in most of those games.
Minnesota’s ability to create mismatches gives it an advantage in nearly any series. Last year, the Lakers’ and Golden State’s focused attention on Edwards led to strong performances from his teammates, who made the most of advantageous situations.
The Thunder pressured Edwards relentlessly, but he found his teammates for open shots they couldn’t knock down consistently enough. The Wolves could create those problems for opposing defenses in the last two playoff runs, and nothing we’ve seen this season suggests they can’t do the same.
Minnesota ranks No. 10 and No. 9 in offensive and defensive rating, respectively, this season. Only the Thunder, Spurs, and Rockets are in the top 10 on both ends of the court.
Early in the season, the Thunder looked untouchable. However, while it looks like they’ll hold onto the No. 1 seed, Minnesota and San Antonio have beaten them this year.
Meanwhile, San Antonio will be entering the playoffs as an inexperienced team. As sensational as Victor Wembanyama has looked, opposing defenses will become even more intense and physical – something that has bothered him in the past.
Houston has been a top-4 team in the West, but it has occasionally looked flat and may be relying too much on Kevin Durant to carry them through the postseason. They’ve blown leads at times this year, too – a sign of immaturity from a roster still built around young players.
That isn’t to say the Timberwolves are flawless, but they have a legitimate shot to come out of the West this year. They’ll need some players to find consistency heading into postseason play. Still, the Wolves are a balanced team that can match up with anyone.
While Minnesota hasn’t shown enough yet to indicate it’ll come out of the West, they remain a team you’d rather avoid in the early rounds.
Everything is right there in front of them as they’re in position to make the playoffs for the fourth season in a row. Now it’s about building on the good habits displayed over recent weeks and heading into April with as much momentum as possible.
“It’s championship or bust,” Edwards said at the beginning of the season. “We’ve already been there (Western Conference Finals) twice.”
Edwards isn’t satisfied, and neither are his teammates, considering what they’ve said publicly this season. After all, expectations are higher with every passing year for Finch and Tim Connelly.
The Wolves have had their lows in losses, suggesting they don’t belong. But don’t be surprised if they look forceful in the playoffs once again. Consider Minnesota to be a legitimate threat to the Thunder’s defense of the West title.
