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2019 Playoff Predictions Part 2: Timberwolves vs. Warriors

By Trey Flynn

OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 25: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves complains about a call during their game against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on January 25, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 25: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves complains about a call during their game against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on January 25, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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The second part to our playoff predictions here at Dunking With Wolves is going to analyze the Golden State Warriors and how they will match up against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Here at Dunking With Wolves we’ve started a series on predicting how the Minnesota Timberwolves will match up against the potential playoff contenders in the Western Conference.

What is being used as the standard of what teams will be in the potential 2019 playoffs is the playoff standings in the 2018 race.

  1. Houston Rockets (65-17)
  2. Golden State Warriors (58-24)
  3. Portland Trailblazers (49-33)
  4. Oklahoma City Thunder (48-34)
  5. Utah Jazz (48-34)
  6. New Orleans Pelicans (48-34)
  7. San Antonio Spurs (47-35)
  8. Minnesota Timberwolves (47-35)

The remaining teams who have a chance of making a splash in the playoffs this year that couldn’t quite make it last year are most likely the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers, so we’ll be taking a look at them too. The Nuggets finished last season with a record of 46-36 and the Lakers finished with a poor 35-47.

I should shout out the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers who will have the chance to surprise some teams with a couple good wins against great opponents this year.

The Golden State Warriors got immensely better on paper after adding big man superstar DeMarcus Cousins. He should be out for the beginning-mid season, but his addition will prove to be fruitful come postseason – unless of course there is a clash of personality in the locker room.

The Warriors surprisingly finished 2nd in the Western Conference to the Houston Rockets, which no one last summer predicted because most analysts believed that the Harden/CP3 duo wouldn’t work.

Well, it does actually work, and it works perfectly when both players are healthy.

I expect the Warriors to easily finish 1st in the West this season, but they could honestly care less about the standings. However, no one has any idea how the Timberwolves will stack up against most of the West, especially the Warriors.

How does it look?

Minnesota Timberwolves compared to the Golden State Warriors

This comparison is unnecessary at best, really due to how great the Warriors are. But, to be fair, the Timberwolves have tons of potential if healthy this season, and are expected to grow as well.

The players most expected to grow are the All-Star’s in Karl-Anthony Towns and Jimmy Butler, and HOPEFULLY Andrew Wiggins. I’m on the Wiggins bandwagon but he’s not helping the stock I have on his island – but that’s another story.

What will really be interesting is the player match ups; If Wiggins can step up on defense, having Butler and him defend the perimeter with their size against Klay, Steph, and KD would be deadly. Except for the fact, Klay, Steph, and KD are hall of famers who are some of the best shooters in NBA history, if not the best.

Then there is the insane utility knife in Draymond Green and – as stated previously – the monster in DeMarcus Cousins. Karl-Anthony Towns would have to do some serious training this offseason to be ready on defense against Cousins – and Towns’ ceiling keeps rising each season, so it’s a possibility.

We can tell ourselves all we want that there is a possibility for a few wins in a series against the Warriors, but this is the team we CANNOT play in the playoffs. After winning three out of the past four championships, it’s best to leave the Warriors alone.

Grading the 2018 Offseason for the Timberwolves. dark. Next

If the Wolves fall to the 8th seed we can pretty much kiss our chances goodbye. That’s why there needs to be a focus on finishing in the seeds 1-6, to prevent any Rockets or Warriors match ups (realistically 3-6).

Besides the Oklahoma City Thunder, there shouldn’t be enough star power to stop the Wolves from competing in the 2019 playoffs – the potential of Wiggins, Butler, and Towns is way too high.

Although, it’s teams like the San Antonio Spurs or Portland Trailblazers that can be a surprise with their great team play. Lastly, I predict the Warriors to finish 1st and not seeing the Wolves in the playoffs unless we can somehow get to the Western Conference Championship.

Tune in next for the Portland Trailblazers and how I talk about stopping Lillard and CJ, if possible at all.

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