The Minnesota Timberwolves reached the Western Conference Finals over their second consecutive season, earning the spot in a decisive 4-1 series victory over the Golden State Warriors in the semi-finals.
This achievement marked a major advance for the franchise, which reached only one conference final in 2004 before breaking through last season.
Despite their impressive run, NBA journalist Chris Mannicks has raised questions about the level of competition the Timberwolves have faced in the playoffs so far, suggesting that their path may have been relatively challenging.
“They took some breaks, so if they’re better, I think the ju umpire is still out. They beat the Lakers.
Mannix pointed out certain weaknesses of Minnesota’s playoff opponents, which may have made their journey easier.
The Lakers, who lost in the first round, struggled with issues with roster depth and played without a real center. Meanwhile, the Warriors played four games without superstar Stephen Curry and lost all of them.
“Then they get Golden State, who loses Steph Curry early in the series. They play the team that’s right in front of them, not the fault,” Mannix added.
According to Mannix, last year’s playoff journey actually unveiled a hard competition for the Timberwolves. The Timberwolves had to overcome the star-studded Phoenix Suns and the defending champion Denver Nuggets.
“But last year’s team loosened Phoenix in the first round and then won the dog fight against the Defending Champion (Nugget) Seven Game Series. That team took a combat test,” he explained.
This perspective raises interesting questions about Minnesota’s true status among the elite teams of the Western Conference.
Their final appearances in consecutive meetings have shown consistency, but the opposition quality they face is a factor in assessing their championship readiness.
Mannix believes that if Timberwolves once again face either the Nuggets or the Oklahoma City Thunder, the final of the upcoming meeting will continue.
“This team should have been the finalists at the conference if this made sense. We don’t know if this team is still there or not. This is a series where we can find out if they’re better,” Mannix said.
The Timberwolves have shown great promise this season, creating a cohesive roster around Anthony Edwards, who has been good at physical, direct and energetic play. Their complementary pieces mesh well to create formidable units.
With no NBA Finals in franchise history, Minnesota is currently at a critical time. This season presents their best opportunity to prove they are ready to take the next important step towards championship competition.