Julius Randle has often been labeled the Minnesota Timberwolves' biggest X-Factor, and it's easy to see why. The Wolves desperately need his shot creation, playmaking, and physicality. Game 2's 119-114 win over the Denver Nuggets was a perfect example of how great this team looks when Randle is at his best.
Randle's performance all came down to balance, in my eyes. He balanced when to attack mismatches with when to get his teammates involved. Randle notched 24 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, bouncing back from a rough Game 1.
The 6-foot-9 forward helped set the tone with his physicality, attacking the rim with great force and intentionality. Notably, five out of his seven made field goals were at the rim, a welcome sight after he settled for tough jump shots in Game 1. Hitting two shots from beyond the arc also helped! Furthermore, his physicality on defense was a massive boost to the Wolves.
If the Wolves can get this version of Randle on both ends of the court for the rest of the series, their chances of pulling off an upset will skyrocket.
A productive Julius Randle could help the Timberwolves pull off an upset
There's no denying that Randle is an erratic player. However, this stellar game could give Randle some much-needed momentum to close out the series on a strong note, which in turn could power a Timberwolves' upset.
Randle and the Wolves need to keep matchup hunting for the rest of the series. If Randle has an advantageous matchup, it can lead to an open shot around the rim for him or create an open look for his teammates somewhere on the floor.
Forcing the Nuggets to switch up their coverage and hunting these easy mismatches is vital, especially for Randle, who is typically guarded by one of the Nuggets' few quality defenders, in Aaron Gordon.
For a team that lacks secondary creation and playmaking next to Anthony Edwards, Randle's impact is essential. Likewise, when he's at his best on both ends of the floor, the Wolves are a tough team to beat. The flip side is that an unproductive Randle could doom the Wolves.
As mentioned earlier, the keyword for Randle is balance. He needs to know when to attack the rim, when to create for his teammates, and must remain active on defense. If he can accomplish this, the Wolves are truly a dangerous team.
I've discussed how Randle's offense benefits the team, but I don't want to gloss over his defense. Randle has been asked to guard Nikola Jokic at times, and in Game 2, he held his own in these moments.
However, Randle's defensive impact has really been evident on Gordon, holding him to 3-for-7 shooting as the primary defender. Randle's physicality has significantly hampered Gordon's impact, limiting one of the Nuggets' best players is vital for the Wolves' success. Additionally, Randle has effectively switched onto the Nuggets' perimeter players when asked to, including holding Jamal Murray to 2-for-8 shooting thus far.
To stop the Nuggets' elite offense and expose their weak defense, a level of high-level physicality is needed, and that's exactly what Randle is bringing to the table.
Overall, Monday's game should be the ultimate reminder of how crucial Randle's impact is to the Wolves' success, and if this performance can carry over, it could change the course of the series.
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