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Why falling short of the No. 6 seed could benefit the Minnesota Timberwolves

By Austin Wallert

Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. dribbles the ball against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mandatory Credit: David Berding-USA TODAY Sports
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. dribbles the ball against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mandatory Credit: David Berding-USA TODAY Sports /
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Minnesota Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against the Miami Heat. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

How do the Timberwolves match up against the top of the East?

Now that we have come to the conclusion the Timberwolves are making the NBA Finals, let’s look at their record against the possible Eastern Conference opponents:

  1. Miami Heat 2-0
  2. Boston Celtics 1-1
  3. Milwaukee Bucks 2-0
  4. Philadelphia 76ers 1-1
  5. Toronto Raptors 0-2
  6. Chicago Bulls 0-2
  7. Brooklyn Nets 1-1
  8. Cleveland Cavaliers 1-1
  9. Atlanta Hawks 0-2
  10. Charlotte Hornets 1-1

That’s a 9-11 record against the East, and a 6-2 record against the top four seeds. So, if there are no upsets in the East, or the Heat or Bucks make it out, you better dust off the trophy case and prepare to buy champions merchandise because we are going to win this thing!

Don’t think there is a chance? Well, let’s take a look at past seventh seed Cinderella stories.

No. 7-seed Cinderella Stories

Since 1984, the year the league switched to an eight-team playoffs, there have been five seven-seeds to make it out of the first round.

The first was the 1987 Seattle Supersonics, who defeated the Mavericks 3-1 and went on to make the conference finals. This is the furthest a seventh seed has ever gone.

The most recent instance was the 2010 Spurs, who upset the Mavericks, 4-2. Even more reason for the Timberwolves to hope to see the Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals, right?

But, for the off chance the Timberwolves lose to the Clippers in Game One of the play-in, and head into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed, we are probably heading home in four games, which is why we didn’t want the sixth seed either. Chess, not checkers people.

Or, is this what they call “galaxy braining” something by completely overthinking it?

There have been five No. 8 seeds to upset a No. 1 seed, and one No. 8 seed that made the Finals — that was the New York Knicks back in 1999. And that’s farther than a seventh seed has ever made it, so who knows what to think?

Next. Wolves Play-In Tournament Primer. dark

We can come back to reality later, but for now, we are manifesting this.

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