Denver Sports Today

Denver Sports News Continuously Updated

Minnesota Timberwolves Potential Playoff Opponent Preview

by

Following their win over the tanking Brooklyn Nets on Friday, the Timberwolves look primed to secure a top-six seed. They control their own destiny and just need a win over the lowly Utah Jazz to escape the Play-In Tournament. Assuming they can take care of their own business, their first round playoff opponent depends on the outcomes of two other games happening simultaneously on Sunday. Those are matchups between the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors as well as the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets. Based on how these play out, the Timberwolves could potentially match up against one of three opponents in the first round of the playoffs.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Minnesota Timberwolves Potential Playoff Opponent Preview

LeBron, Luka, and the New Look Lakers

If the Nuggets and Clippers each win, the Wolves (with a win) will slip to the sixth seed, facing off against the third-seeded Lakers. Minnesota and LA have split their four meetings this season, but the Lakers took care of the Wolves in the only contest that featured their newest star, Luka Dončić. However, at that time, Minnesota was missing their starting frontcourt, Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle. This potential opponent is full of unknowns, and the Timberwolves playoff fate lies in two key areas.

First, can Gobert control the paint? In trading Anthony Davis, the Lakers left themselves thin on the backline, starting Jaxson Hayes at center for the last few months. Gobert is clearly a step above Hayes. If he keeps playing at the same elite level as the past few weeks, Minnesota’s chances of winning grow tremendously. His offense, highlighted by a career-high 35 points on Friday, has been instrumental in the Wolves finishing the season strong.

The second area is point of attack defense. Los Angeles deploys three elite ball-handlers in LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Dončić. However, Minnesota may be one of the few teams in the league equipped to slow them down. Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Jaylen Clark are all above-average perimeter defenders. Yet last season, the Mavericks dismantled Minnesota’s top-ranked defense, led by none other than Dončić. If the Wolves can slow him and the other playmakers down, expect wins to follow.

A Rubber Match Against the Denver Nuggets

If Golden State wins on Sunday, Minnesota (with a win) is destined for another rematch against a familiar playoff opponent. They have seen the Nuggets in the playoffs each of the last two seasons, with Denver taking the first round, and Minnesota stunning them last year. Since falling down 3-2 in the Western Conference Semifinals, the Wolves have had the Nuggets number. They closed out the series with two wins, and then swept the season series this year, 4-0. But the Nuggets are no slouch, and they would certainly be seeking revenge.

What has spurred Minnesota to victory in their four meetings this season has been superstar play from Edwards. His 31.5 points per game against Denver is his highest against any Western Conference playoff team apart from Houston (32.0). The Nuggets often use a combination of Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon, and Peyton Watson to try and slow down the Wolves All-Star, but they have little success. If Edwards continues his trend of rising to the occasion in the playoffs, Denver should be worried. Their late season coaching change could result in an early exit if they can’t stop Ant-Man.

Harden and Kawhi Healthy For Playoffs

It’s the least likely outcome, given that it requires Denver to lose against Houston who will probably rest their top players, but Minnesota could find themselves traveling to the Clippers new arena for the first round. If Denver loses, and the Clippers beat Golden State, Minnesota (with a win) would face off against the oft-injured but currently-healthy Kawhi Leonard, noted playoff riser. The Wolves have played LA well this season, winning each of the three games. However, Leonard only played in the final contest. Furthermore, he was recently removed from injury, and a minutes restriction held him to just eight points.

The Clippers head into the postseason on fire. They have won 17 of their past 20 games, including a seven-game winning streak heading into the final day. James Harden and Leonard are playing like it’s 2018. Ivica Zubac is one of the most underrated big men in the league. Norman Powell has had the best season of his career. For Minnesota to win this series, it will require their bench outplaying LA’s. Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo can feast against the Clippers weak second unit, and efficient shooting from these two microwave scorers should help see Minnesota through to the second round.

Photo credit: © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

The post Minnesota Timberwolves Potential Playoff Opponent Preview appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.