Timberwolves NBA Playoffs: 5 stupifying performances so far
By Carson Zarak
Two games are in the history books from Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs and the Minnesota Timberwolves are making the trek back to Target Center down 0-2. According to Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard, Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves got “punked” in Game 1, but fought hard and put up a valiant effort against the Denver Nuggets in last night’s Game 2 loss. After assessing the first two games, I’ve graded the performance of five players who’ve impacted the Timberwolves in a positive, or negative way. Finals season is approaching, let’s dive into Minnesota’s Playoff Report Card.
Minnesota Timberwolves backcourt
The 16-year Minnesota Timberwolves veteran point guard Mike Conley is displaying veteran leadership, the stuff that this team has desperately needed. Thus far he’s shooting 57 percent from the field, 57 percent from behind the arc, and has an assist/turnover ratio of 10:1. Conley’s consistency and efficiency have been setting the Timberwolves up for success, but he needs more help to convert these solid numbers into wins.
Mike Conley A-
A is our lone All-Star and at the ripe age of 21 years old, is undoubtedly the future of the franchise. Expectations are sky-high for the young superstar, which is why Game 1 was so disappointing. Anthony Edwards (a.k.a. Ant’s) shooting struggles continued. He went 6-15 from the field, and 1-4 from downtown tallying up just 18 points and two assists.
He roared back in Game 2 scoring an efficient 41 points on 60 percent shooting from the field and 60 percent from the three-point line. His offensive proficiencies have stood out, but what I really love are his defensive attributes. With Minnesota Timberwolves defensive juggernaut small forward Jaden McDaniels out, ANT’s defense has accounted for four blocks to go along with four steals in this year’s playoffs.
Anthony Edwards A-
Minnesota Timberwolves frontcourt
It’s safe to say the Wolves were shellshocked in Game 1, so nobody’s stats were up to par. Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has been solid thus far. He’s averaging 13.5 points per game on 62.5 percent shooting and is grabbing 10.5 boards per game. These numbers are relatively close to his regular season stats.
Gobert thrives in high pick-and-roll situations where they spread the floor around him. He’s not a post-up guy who will back you down with an array of impressive post moves. In Game 2, we saw several one-on-one situations where Gobert was no match to score over center Nikola Jokic in isolation. Minnesota Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch made key adjustments to the Timberwolves’ offense, and the players responded nicely. This created open driving lanes which allowed our slashers to beat their man off the dribble, and dish off to Gobert for easy dunks.
Rudy Gobert B
Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Karl-Anthony Towns has been as different as day and night, or rather his version in the NBA Play-In Tournament versus the version competing in the NBA Playoffs seem to be two entirely different people. He shined versus the Oklahoma City Thunder and before that, in the regular season final game against the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 29 points on 60 percent shooting from the field, and 50 percent from behind the arc. In his first two games against the Denver Nuggets in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs, Towns is averaging a pedestrian 10.5 points per game on 29.6 percent shooting from the field and 25 percent from behind the arc.
During the playoffs, defensive efficiency and effort are intensified and KAT seems overwhelmed. He’s turned the ball over nine times and has a (+/-) rating of -20. KAT hasn’t played well thus far however, great players make adjustments. I expect him to settle into this series as we head back to Minnesota, in what should be a bounce-back game for the big man.
Karl-Anthony Towns D-
Minnesota’s role players have thinned out with back center Naz Reid and small forward Jaden McDaniels facing late-season injuries. Fourth-year wingman, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, has seen an increase in minutes and looks to be a true seventh man in Coach Finch’s rotation in the playoffs.
Expectations are low for an inexperienced guy who hasn’t seen a whole lot of playoff action. A lot of opposing teams’ focus goes to Conley, Edwards, Gobert, and Towns, which allowed for some wide-open looks for a guy like Alexander-Walker. So far, he’s knocking down 33.3 percent of his three-pointers, but a lot of these are wide-open shots. The Timberwolves will need him to cut down on turnovers, and knock down open threes more consistently as this series progresses.
Nikeil Alexander-Walker C-