5 Flaws that could crush Timberwolves' playoff dreams
By Tyler Watts
The Minnesota Timberwolves are one of the best teams in the NBA and a legit title contender. They have the talent, but lack the experience and pedigree. Anthony Edwards is a superstar, and the Wolves have the best defensive rating in the NBA. Can they win when the games matter most?
Minnesota’s roster is about to get significantly more expensive, so the franchise must figure out if they can compete for a title. If not, there will be trades. Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert join Edwards to give the Timberwolves three All-Stars. Mike Conley and Jaden McDaniels round out a strong starting five, and Minnesota has depth. They just need to put it all together.
The Western Conference is loaded with talent, which creates panic. There are zero easy first-round matchups and every team is flawed. Those weaknesses will catch up to teams in the playoffs. What could knock the Wolves out early?
5. 3-point shooting
The Timberwolves have the fourth-highest 3-point percentage in the NBA, but their attempts are not high. Their 32.2 per game sits 25th and puts them in the middle of the pack in threes made each night. This has been a recipe for disaster in several playoff series. Outshooting the opposition led the Mavericks to the conference finals in 2022, and the Warriors to multiple championships.
If Minnesota matches up against a team near the top of the league in 3-pointers made, they will already be in a hole. The Warriors, Mavericks, Kings, and Thunder could be problematic opponents for the Timberwolves, especially if Minnesota does not have their jumpers locked in.
They can overcome a small 3-point shooting disparity, but other issues may prove more problematic. The Minnesota Timberwolves will attempt to lean into their strengths and must avoid coughing the ball up, which could prove to be their Achilles heel.