The Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves in the middle of a tight race to the finish line in the Western Conference. As of Thursday, there are only four games separating the five seed and thirteen seed in the West. Every game for the Timberwolves will be absolutely crucial from here on out.
With 18 games remaining on the schedule, the Wolves sit at 32-32 and eighth in the standings, one game behind the Warriors for the fifth seed. With a daunting schedule ahead of them including 11 of their final 18 games on the road, Minnesota is in major danger of falling out of the play-in and missing the postseason altogether.
On the flip side, if they can put together their best basketball of the season, they would be in position to avoid the play-in and lock up a spot in the playoffs by the end of the regular season. To do that, they will need some high-level contributions from some of their most important players. Here are the Timberwolves that must step up if Minnesota is to make the postseason.
1. Rudy Gobert
With Karl-Anthony Towns out for the last three-plus months, Rudy Gobert has been carrying a large load in the frontcourt. Many have pointed out that he has seen a statistical slump this season, hinting that he could be declining as a player. In reality, his numbers, while far from awful, are mostly a result of his odd circumstances.
Rudy has had to play the vast majority of the season without an All-Star teammate next to him in Towns, making his life much more difficult. And up until three weeks ago, he was paired with a score-first point guard that did not necessarily always get the ball to him as efficiently as possible.
Not to mention, Gobert has had to adjust to a major change of scenery this season, playing in a system that is brand new to him. Much of his shortcomings this season are not entirely his fault. With that said, he has to step up and look like a three-time Defensive Player of the Year for the Wolves to make the playoffs.
If Gobert can play within himself offensively while bringing his confidence and mojo as a defender every time he steps on the floor, he is going to make Minnesota a tough out.
2. Kyle Anderson
Another defensive-minded player that will be crucial to the Timberwolves’ late-season run is Kyle Anderson. Undoubtedly one of the smartest players on Minnesota’s roster, Anderson has been a key addition this season and his value has only grown as the year has gone on.
Slo-Mo’s unique offensive game and quick wits have led to him being one of the foundational pieces of this team. He sees the floor and understands the flow of the game better than most. A highly versatile defender, he has shown his ability to be inserted into many different lineups without becoming a liability.
Anderson has filled in quite effectively for Karl-Anthony Towns in the latter half of this season. While Towns is the type of talent that will bring fans out of their seats and fill up the box score, Anderson can stuff the stat sheet in a different way. His play may not always make the highlight reels, but his thorough understanding of the game leads to him making the right play nearly every time.
In a lot of ways, he has been exactly the kind of veteran this team has needed. When things get erratic, Anderson will bring his calculated approach and wise shot selection when it is needed most. His maturity will be needed as the Timberwolves face playoff-level intensity in every game remaining.
3. Mike Conley
Speaking of veterans, Mike Conley will be equally as important as Minnesota looks to close the season out strong. He has only played six games in a Timberwolves uniform, but there is zero doubt his style of play has been a swift departure from the offensive-minded ways of D’Angelo Russell.
Conley has put up just 8.5 points per game since his arrival at the trade deadline, and this is not entirely a bad thing. The fact that he is decidedly a pass-first player at this point in his career has opened up more opportunities for the likes of Anthony Edwards to hunt his shot and make his presence known as the team’s first option.
Whereas Edwards was sharing shot attempts with D’Lo before, Mike Conley can now take a firm backseat to the young All-Star. While this is good for Ant’s development, it can also be a hindrance to the Wolves’ offense if Conley is not deemed by defenses as a threat to score. If other teams decide they do not need to respect Conley’s shot, it will make for more crowded driving lanes and lead to more turnovers.
That is why it will be paramount for Conley to settle in offensively down the stretch of the season. He even admitted he thought he was taking an approach that was too passive in his first several games with the team. Playing in his 16th year in the league, Conley’s experience could play a big factor in determining where the Wolves end up when it is all said and done.