The Wolves beat the Warriors on Friday night in a game that came down to a missed Stephen Curry jumper in the remaining seconds of regulation. Minnesota is 7-3 over its last 10 contests (only the Spurs can claim a better record) and the team’s defense deserves credit for the stretch. The team held Curry to just one made 3-pointer on his eight attempts and as a team, Golden State shot just 29.3% from behind the arc.
Entering their game with the Warriors, the Wolves had the highest defensive rating in the league post All-Star break, as I recently mentioned. It takes time to learn defensive schemes in the NBA and it appears that the team’s young talent is starting to grasp Tom Thibodeau’s playbook.
The franchise enters the day just 2.5 games behind the Nuggets for the eighth seed in the Western Conference, though the Wolves would also have to jump the Blazers and Mavs to punch a ticket to the NBA’s second season.
That leads us to tonight’s shootaround topic: Can the Wolves make a run over the last quarter of the season and make the playoffs or are they a piece or two away from being a playoff team? Let us know if you think Minnesota can climb in the standings or what the team should do this offseason to complement Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. We look forward to what you have to say!
I don’t think Minnesota will be able to get past all the teams ahead of them and still in the race for 8. They have to fend off Sacramento, Denver, Portland, New Orleans, and maybe the Lakers. Too many teams fighting for it, I think it’ll go to Denver
Kings lakers are non threats
You never know. Someone could get hot, Minnesota could suffer an injury
Lakers aren’t making thw playoffs. Neither are the pelicans or kings.
Not to mention if OP’s argument is Minny will be unable to jump teams, well, the Lakers have to jump everybody fighting for that 8 seed.
I believe they can make the playoffs they still have 3 games with Portland they can beat almost anyone the way they are playing
They’re a terrible defensive team. I can play better “D” than Shabazz and Dieng
Doubt it
Wait here, I’ll go tell Thibodeau
Wolves have a tough schedule to finish the season; however, if they keep playing they way they have since the All-Star break, they definitely have a chance to get the 8th seed.
Wolves are a playoff team in 2018. Not sooner
Towns is playing at an MVP level and Rubio has been scoring more, and Wiggins is being more aggressive lately as well. If this team can continue to play D like they have since the All Star break they could make a solid run for that 8th spot.
Regardless of whether or not they end up with the 8th slot this year, it’s pretty clear they have a bright future.
Wolves will not make the playoffs for another 2 years. Wiggins is not the answer, he went 3/13 last night in Milwaukee. Until they bolster their bench and either Wiggins improves drastically or is traded they will not make the playoffs.
Wiggins is fine dI’d you miss his 19 consecutive 20 point games or his back to back 40 point game he us the reason the wolves best warriors wiggins scored 20 points I’m second half while KAT had a terrible second half wiggins has improved his passing rebounding and defense a lot and will improve a lot more the wolves need wiggins
I’m happy you’re so ignorant to use a single game as an example.
lol Chet. Rip on Wiggins for an off game. I guess Warriors should trade Curry too (using your one bad game logic), after his 1-8 from 3 against Wolves. smh
Biggest thing the Wolves need to do is figure out what they r gunna do with Rubio/Dunn/Jones. Is Dunn or Jones the answer at point. LaVine coming back solves the 2. And Deng is a good complement to KAT. But then is Muhammad the answer at the wings off the bench. Etc. the wolves should b using this year to figure out what they need to do with the rest of the roster. KAT, Wiggins, LaVine, Deng then what from there?
I like what they have going with the guards right now, and it’s actually what I wanted from the beginning. Rubio starting, with this as his backup with Dunn next to him at sg. That probably won’t be forever, but honestly, Dunn isn’t anywhere near ready to run a playoff team as starting pg. Bazz is probably going to leave this summer, and that’s alright. I like him as a scoring threat, but for no defense, he’s probably going to be expensive and we can find cheaper options.
With Tyus* as his backup.