After the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to an overtime win against the Denver Nuggets, I was excited and wanted to celebrate. But my initial foraging into social media was met with a question that stopped me in my tracks. A social media entity I will presume to be a Timberwolves fan asked a very basic question that was not laced with vitriol or anger. It simply read:
“What difference does it make? The Minnesota Timberwolves are still down 1-3, and the Denver Nuggets will probably end this series on Tuesday in Denver.”
And you know, this person has a point. What difference does it make? I sat in my chair and pondered that rhetorical question. Does it make a difference? It feels like it does. But feelings are not logical reasons. And so I pushed myself away from the joy of social media celebration and gathered my thoughts. I am certain that some good things did and will come from all of this. But what?
In the end, I was able to coalesce my thoughts into three logical and tangible positives that did or will come from this single overtime victory against an NBA Playoffs opponent that many have begun to anoint as this year’s NBA Champion.
Timberwolves circled the wagons, again
The Minnesota Timberwolves were surrounded and left for dead. But once more, the Timberwolves managed to circle their wagons and find success. This may not be the most impressive Timberwolves roster in the history of the franchise, but it certainly has the spunk and fight that ranks among the best.
Keep in mind that this team continues to compete without their backup center Naz Reid, with small forward Jaden McDaniels, who is a defensive savant, and is trying to forge some chemistry among those who remain although some have only played a handful of games with the others in the rotation. And yet, when you believe the team has flatlined, they show a pulse once more. That fight is something that few teams have, and certainly not to the extent that the Timberwolves have shown all season.
Timberwolves rally behind Anthony Edwards
There is no way to doubt or deny the fact that young shooting guard Anthony Edwards, who became a lightning rod for this team, rallied his teammates when no other could. With each game, the Timberwolves have gotten better, been more competitive, and made the games more and more entertaining.
Finally, the Timberwolves poured over the competitive spillway, thanks in large part to the fact that Anthony Edwards threw down the gauntlet and stood behind his teammates. At that moment, everyone on the roster had two choices. Lay down and die, and let Edwards appear to be young and foolish. Or rally behind their guy, and prove that his trust in them was warranted.
The Timberwolves stood and fought.
Timberwolves may not be as shorn as some hot takes might have you believe
The Minnesota Timberwolves would never have gotten to Round 1 Game 5 in the NBA Playoffs if the team had not taken the chances to acquire roster help. That includes acquiring center Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz, as well as the three-team trade that sent D’Angelo Russell to the LA Lakers, and in return, the team acquired PG Mike Conley Jr. and SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
The combination of Conley and Alexander-Walker has resulted in 18 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 6.0 APG. D’Angelo Russell has averaged just 13.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 6.0 APG. Best of all, the Timberwolves ended up with a bit of salary cap relief as well.
Because the Minnesota Timberwolves took a gamble in the off-season, fans are nervous, and there are plenty of NBA contributors who like to stoke those flames of fear with apocalyptic predictions of how horrific and devastating the Timberwolves have set their program back. But this is a team that competed short-handed practically all season and continues to do so in the NBA Playoffs.
And this is a Minnesota Timberwolves team that now has one NBA Playoff win. While it is not a tall oak just yet, it will take root. The Timberwolves roster has many young talented players who are learning not just how to win, but to compete.
Just one win? Perhaps. But a myriad of lessons for players who will never take winning for granted throughout their NBA careers.