In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves lost 114-88 to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Defensive stopper Jaden McDaniels fouled out, which undoubtedly hurt Minnesota's chances.
Before McDaniels got into foul trouble early in the third quarter, the Timberwolves were down just 53-50 and held a lead at halftime. After he went to the bench, the dynamics of the game flipped in favor of the Thunder. McDaniels was playing excellent defense on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and containing him up until that point. SGA scored 18 of his 31 points after McDaniels' fourth foul.
Notably, this season, including the playoffs, when McDaniels commits five or more fouls, the Timberwolves have a 7-10 record. Let's further explore McDaniels' importance and why he needs to stay out of foul trouble.
McDaniels is an elite defender
McDaniels is the Timberwolves' best perimeter and wing defender. It could even be argued that he's their best overall defender despite Rudy Gobert's incredible rim protection. McDaniels' size and length make him the Timberwolves' best defender on Shai. In Game 1, he held Shai to 42.9 percent shooting. McDaniels is also capable of guarding Jalen Williams or Chet Holmgren if needed.
However, four of his six fouls came when defending SGA. For the Timberwolves to win this series, McDaniels must play more disciplined and stay out of foul trouble. However, that's certainly challenging against Shai, who is so skilled at drawing fouls. Even if McDaniels doesn't foul out and picks up a few early fouls, he plays less aggressive, which limits his impact.
McDaniels' all-around impact is crucial
Impressively, McDaniels has a +20.7 on/off net difference in the playoffs, with the Timberwolves having a +10.3 net rating when he's on the court and a -10.4 with him on the bench. This number showcases his absurd impact on both ends of the floor. While much of McDaniels' impact is around his elite on-ball defense, he provides tons of value on offense.
Including the playoffs, the Timberwolves are 6-0 this season when McDaniels scores 25 or more points. They've won these games by an average of 13.1 points. When McDaniels is at his best, the Timberwolves' offensive ceiling reaches another level. Having another shot creator and dependable scorer makes Minnesota significantly harder to defend.
If McDaniels can give the Timberwolves more scoring in this series, it would change their trajectory. This would be especially valuable as the Thunder's defense is focused on limiting Anthony Edwards. Ultimately, while much of McDaniels' value is on defense, his importance to the Timberwolves' offense can't be understated.