2024 NBA Playoffs Preview: Minnesota Timberwolves vs Phoenix Suns – The first round of the NBA playoffs always brings interesting matchups, and one such matchup will be between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns.
When you look at these two teams, the combination of youth and experience they possess stands out. This is especially true for the Phoenix Suns, who have All-Star players, NBA title winners, and a championship caliber Devin Booker.
The Minnesota Timberwolves also have their own strengths. The Wolves’ frontcourt is really strong. Rudy Gobert is a huge defensive presence, and Karl-Anthony Towns spreads the floor like no other big guy in the NBA. Of course, in the backcourt, there’s Anthony Edwards who had his best season in his young career.
The blend of youth and experience, where have we heard that before?
This seasons head-to-head
- Phoenix Suns-Minnesota Timberwolves – 133:115
- Phoenix Suns-Minnesota Timberwolves – 97:87
- Minnesota Timberwolves-Phoenix Suns – 125:106
Minnesota Timberwolves Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strengths – Their strength lies in a strong frontcourt. Rudy Gobert and Towns pose a serious challenge for anyone entering the paint, especially alongside Gobert, who is once again in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year. Anthony Edwards is often mentioned among the top five guards in the NBA. He averages 26 points per game with very efficient numbers (45% shooting from the field, 35% from three-point range). He recently scored over 50 points for the first time, and whether he can maintain that form in crucial games remains to be seen, starting with the first round.
- Weaknesses – What will be a huge problem for the team from the cold north is defending isolation plays. If the Phoenix Suns can draw Towns and Gobert out of the paint, it opens up space for Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Booker. They are masters of that, especially the seasoned Durant whose shot is very difficult to block when he gets into a rhythm. Alongside the mentioned names, the bench will also play a huge role.
Phoenix Suns Strenghts and Weaknesses
- Strengths – The biggest advantage lies in the offensive weapons of Frank Vogel’s team. Kevin Durant is still Kevin Durant. A natural scorer who will punish you for every defensive mistake, despite being 35 years old. Similarly, Devin Booker is having another fantastic season, and now he finally has someone alongside him who can create points when it’s tough. Bradley Beal is in a similar position. All three possess a lethal mid-range game, but they are also proficient three-point shooters. It may be old-fashioned, but they can certainly hurt any team this way.
One thing that plays into this team’s favor is their experience, especially championship experience. Durant has played in four NBA Finals, lifting the championship trophy twice. Frank Vogel is a coach with a championship pedigree, and let’s not forget that Booker has also played in the Finals. None of the Minnesota Timberwolves players can boast of such experience. -
Weaknesses – If the offense isn’t clicking, which is unlikely but still a possibility, who will step up to take responsibility? Grayson Allen is a proven NBA player, having a career season, but can he shoulder the burden of a playoff game? Jusuf Nurkic will have his hands full defending against opposing centers, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he ends up with significant minutes on the court.
The team relies heavily on perimeter scoring, but sometimes the ball needs to go inside to open up the floor. Similarly, the bench players will need to step up. When the big three are not on the court, the offense will likely suffer, and it will be interesting to see how they adapt.
X-Factor(s): Jaden McDaniels and Eric Gordon
First up is Jaden McDaniels. He’ll likely be tasked with guarding Kevin Durant and will be in a direct duel with him. The team believes in him, especially Anthony Edwards, who said this about him in February:
“They have KD, but we have Jaden McDaniels.”
On the other side, a veteran player from the desert team could be the X factor. Veteran Eric Gordon still has scoring ability, possesses an exceptional three-point shot, and when he gets going, few can stop him. He’s shooting 37% from three-point range this season and averages 11 points per game. He has the inspiration, and perhaps one game will remind us of his days with the Houston Rockets or Los Angeles Clippers.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Phoenix Suns: Three things to watch
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Kevin Durant vs. Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels – The number one mission for the third-ranked team in the West is neutralizing Durant. Reid and McDaniels will need to be fully focused and disruptive to this excellent scorer to have a chance to counterattack effectively. Reid has found his offensive rhythm, averaging 15.3 points over the last ten games and just over 10 points for the season. These two players are expected to log significant minutes and face perhaps the toughest job in the world during each game’s 48 minutes.
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Devin Booker vs. Anthony Edwards – A duel between young superstars. Both have scoring prowess, but their styles are completely different. Booker is old-school, excelling in mid-range shots, while also posing a threat from beyond the arc, characterized by smooth movements and scoring ease. On the other hand, Edwards is a real force of nature. Explosive, often driving to the basket, but also capable of threatening with his shooting. This matchup is a clash of styles and the ultimate question – who will emerge as the victor?
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Minnesota Timberwolves’ Defense – What has defined this team is their excellent defense in the paint and on the three-point line. According to ESPN data, they have allowed only 64.8% shooting on the road beyond the three-point line and in the paint. This is one reason why the Timberwolves’ defense is the absolute number one in the NBA this season.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Phoenix Suns: Prediction
At first glance, with the third-place finish against the sixth, some might say that the Minnesota Timberwolves are the favorites in this matchup. They had a chance for the top spot, their defense is formidable, and they have superstars who can make a difference. Add to that the advantage of playing at home, and it’s no small matter.
However, the Phoenix Suns are riding a serious wave of momentum. No one in the entire NBA had a better April than them. They lost only two out of 10 games. It’s important not to forget that they defeated their direct rival in their last game of the season, which could give them a psychological edge.
Durant, Booker, and Beal are entering the playoffs in their recognizable shooting form. The centers have shown they can handle them, and Frank Vogel has experience on the big stage and can prepare the team for any challenge. This season marks the second-best in franchise history for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but they face an extremely serious opponent on the other side of the court. Experience could be the decisive factor.
Prediction: Phoenix Suns in six