The Minnesota Timberwolves' season tips off on Wednesday night when they play the Portland Trail Blazers. However, Tuesday's opening night should serve as a harsh reminder of just how steep the top-end competition is in the Western Conference. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder topped the Houston Rockets 125-124 in a double overtime thriller.
Make no mistake, though, the defense in this game was absolutely incredible. After regulation, the two squads were knotted at 104. Furthermore, the teams combined for 26 stocks (steals plus blocks).
This game should remind the Wolves just how difficult the Thunder are to match up against on both ends of the court. In addition to their stifling defense, Chet Holmgren looks like he's reached another level on offense, pouring in 28 points on 11-17 shooting, and they have the reigning MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
I would also be remiss if I didn't mention that the Thunder were missing their second-best player, Jalen Williams. Undoubtedly, the Thunder remain the standard for Minnesota and the rest of the league.
The Rockets' impressive showing, paired with their elite defense, should also put the Wolves on notice. Last season, the Rockets lacked a go-to scorer. However, now Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson have taken leaps, and they traded for Kevin Durant this summer, one of the best scorers in league history. Notably, Şengün notched a game-high 39 points.
Both the Thunder and Rockets are a notch above Minnesota in the West. The Denver Nuggets are also likely a more complete team. To make matters worse, both OKC and Houston have the perfect defenses to expose the Wolves' lack of playmaking.
The Wolves still have a chance to compete for a title, but the path is steep
None of this is too completely write off the Wolves. Frankly, writing off a team that just made two straight conference finals appearances with a rising superstar would be foolish. The point is, though, the competition is steep and the margin for error is razor-thin.
Lu Dort and Amen Thompson are two of the best on-ball perimeter stoppers in the league. If they can limit Anthony Edwards in a possible playoff series, it's fair to wonder where the Wolves will get the rest of their offensive production from. Plus, both teams have a plethora of elite perimeter and wing defenders, along with incredible versatility. OKC proved they could limit Julius Randle last playoffs, and Houston could do so as well.
As mentioned earlier, arguably the main concern for the Wolves in a matchup with OKC or Houston is how well both teams force turnovers. The Timberwolves lack traditional point guard play and stable playmaking outside of a 38-year-old Mike Conley. This was a key reason why the Wolves struggled so much in the conference finals against the Thunder.
The Timberwolves' frontcourt size is a key advantage against smaller teams like the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. However, that advantage is negated against teams like the Thunder and Rockets.
Ultimately, the Wolves shouldn't be counted out of title contention. Minnesota has a superstar, surrounded by a well-rounded core that ranked in the top 10 on both ends of the floor last season, and they have plenty of playoff experience. Nevertheless, Tuesday's opening night should be a reminder of just how challenging the road to a championship is.