4 Problems Timberwolves must fix to win 2024 NBA title
By Will Eudy
Playing to the level of their competition
One thing you almost never see NBA champions do is play down to the level of their competition. The highest level of competitors bring it every single night, no matter who the opponent is. Unfortunately, the Timberwolves have fallen into a habit of playing both up and down to their competition in the last several years.
In fact, we saw it in the very first game of this season where Minnesota traveled to Toronto and took a loss to a team that will miss the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Five days later, they played in Atlanta and blew a big lead to another non-contending team from the East. Wolves fans were irate, complaining that is was the same old song and dance of losing to bad teams then turning right around and beating good ones.
Sure enough, Minnesota took down the Denver Nuggets in their very next game. Five nights after that, they took down the Celtics, who have now clinched the best record in the NBA this season. While fans were thrilled about the wins over contenders, it was right to remain skeptical.
The Wolves have since corrected course, with only four losses to under .500 teams since then (two to the Bulls). But it will be crucial to take care of inferior competition in the playoffs, especially if they end up with the number one seed.