3 things Timberwolves must do to win Game 2 vs Nuggets

Ways to Win I: PG Mike Conley Jr. That’s it, just Mike Conley Jr.

The Minnesota Timberwolves seemed to struggle in Game 1 because their offense simply did not get going. That’s up to PG Mike Conley Jr. to manage, and I think he will in Game 2. That does not mean just on the scoreboard, but in the manner in which the Timberwolves roster handles their business on the basketball court.

Conley has been a huge plus for the Minnesota Timberwolves since arriving on the team at the NBA Trade Deadline on February 10, 2023. While he has just 23 regular-season games with the Timberwolves, his production has been better than the brochure. Not only has he been scoring well, but his perimeter shot has been falling better than at any time in his career.

Conley needs to pick up his production

In the two games played during the NBA Play-In Tournament, PG Mike Conley Jr. averaged:

37 minutes | 18.5 points | 3.5 rebounds | 3.5 assists | 1.0 blocks | and 3.0 steals

That’s why the Timberwolves were so very competitive. But in Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs, Conley only managed to put up

25 minutes | 8.0 points | 4.0 rebounds | 3.0 assists | 0.0 blocks | and 0.0 steals

While he was not THE reason the Timberwolves struggled in Game 1, he most certainly was not part of the solution to getting the team back on track, either. Because the Minnesota Timberwolves had played all four games against the Denver Nuggets before the NBA Trade Deadline, this was Mike Conley Jr.’s first time facing the Nuggets as a Minnesota Timberwolves player.

But the game of basketball hasn’t changed from one team to another so drastically that Conley is suddenly unaware of what he needs to do to lead the Timberwolves. Ultimately, it’s the burden of the point guard to set the pace, run the plays, and ensure that the basketball ends up in the hands of the open shooter.

Mike Conley Jr. knows all of that, which is why the Minnesota Timberwolves traded for him for this series.