5 Teams most similar to this year's Timberwolves (and how their seasons ended)
By James Siems
5. 2020-21 Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 49-23
Fate: Lost in Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Atlanta Hawks
Raw Similarity Score Rank: 3rd
The 2020-21 Philadelphia 76ers, led by Joel Embiid and a rugged defense come in at number five. Based on the four-factor metrics alone, they are the third most similar team to the 2023-24 Timberwolves, but their relatively quick pace and post-centric play style—the 2020-21 76ers were number one in post-up frequency whereas this year’s Timberwolves rank 11th—causes them to slide down the list.
The 76ers also crashed the offensive glass harder than the Timberwolves, and, thanks to Joel Embiid, had the highest free throw attempt rate in the league, compared to the Timberwolves 7th-place ranking.
The Embiid and Ben Simmons-led 76ers battled to earn the number one seed in a tight Eastern Conference. They crushed the Washington Wizards in five games during the first round of the playoffs.
However, the next round brought disappointment when a red-hot Trae Young and the five-seed Hawks came to town and defeated them in seven games in a series that would be the beginning of the end for Simmons in Philadelphia.