Mike Conley is a beloved player and a crucial veteran presence for the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, he has struggled to score in the playoffs, especially in the Western Conference Finals so far. With the Timberwolves down 0-2 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Conley must step up.
Conley has been underwhelming in the playoffs
In the playoffs, Conley's struggles have been pronounced. Conley is averaging just 6.5 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds on 32.5/33.3/92.3 shooting splits. His lack of scoring efficiency and overall ineffectiveness as a scorer have been key issues. As a 6-foot guard, Conley also gets targeted defensively.
These struggles have been especially evident against the Thunder, where Conley is averaging 5 points on an abysmal 21.4 percent shooting from the field and 22.2 percent from beyond the arc. In the series, the Timberwolves have failed to find any form of consistent offense, and Conley's struggles have certainly added to this problem.
At this stage of his career, Conley won't provide a ton of scoring. However, he still should be able to knock down 3s at a solid clip and provide some level of scoring. Conley's struggles go back to the regular season, where he averaged a career low 8.2 points on 40 percent from the field.
Given Conley's play in the regular season and playoffs, it's possible the Timberwolves look to upgrade the point guard spot in the offseason. Moving on from Conley doesn't feel likely, but it can't be ruled out. Finding a replacement in free agency or via trade seems possible. Plus, there's always 2024 lottery pick Rob Dillingham. Ultimately, Conley is most likely to return to Minnesota next season with a reduced role.
Conley still provides some value
While Conley has struggled mightily as a scorer and defender, his playmaking is still a positive for the Timberwolves. Conley's 3.7 assists in the playoffs and 3 assists against OKC might not jump off the page. However, Conley's value comes with his ability to control the ball; he is averaging just .8 turnovers this playoffs and has just one turnover against the Thunder. His lack of turnovers is valuable as the T-Wolves have committed 31 turnovers as a team. Conley is a stabilizing force for the Timberwolves' offense, which lacks a natural point guard, which is vital against OKC's elite defense.
Despite the Timberwolves losing by double digits in both games, Conley has been a positive plus-minus. Notably, Conley has a +15 net rating when every other player on the Wolves is a -10 or worse, and Minnesota is a -64 with him off the floor.
Conley's value as a high-IQ playmaker is clear, regardless of his scoring. Ultimately, for the Timberwolves to get back in this series, Conley's scoring and efficiency must improve while maintaining his incredible impact as a playmaker.