Timberwolves: How big of a concern are the Los Angeles Clippers?
The Minnesota Timberwolves will play the Los Angeles Clippers tomorrow night (April 12) in a play-in game. The winner will go on to play the Memphis Grizzlies, and the loser will be in a win-or-go-home situation. While the Clippers have given the Wolves trouble before, should we be concerned with this matchup?
The Timberwolves found themselves in an unfavorable matchup against the Clippers. Yes, Minnesota has a better record, but when fully healthy, this LA team is one of the best in the NBA. Not to mention the fact that they have a lot of playoff experience.
It should be noted that 363 games from Ty Lue is wrong. Dane Moore followed up his tweet with a correction, noting that it’s 80 playoff games. Still, that’s a lot of experience, and it should be emphasized that Minnesota lacks in that department.
This season, the Timberwolves are 1-3 against the Clippers. In the one win, they were without Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell, but LA was without Paul George. Take that game as you will, but the other three losses still stand.
Since returning from injury, George is averaging 22.6 points, 6.8 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 steals per game, and shooting 42.5 percent from the field and 52.5 from 3.
In three games against the Timberwolves, he’s averaging 25.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
Minnesota has struggled to shutdown PG13, and I expect that trend to continue for the play-in game. The Wolves have struggled to stop 3-point shooting (34.9 percent), despite their ranking of 11th in the NBA. What has killed them in the past is the volume in which they allow 3s. The Clippers will make them pay, or it will cost them the game.
Los Angeles ranks 3rd in the NBA in 3-point shooting at 37.4 percent. That could spell trouble real quick.
Sure, the Wolves’ defense is 13th in the NBA in terms of defensive rating, but compared to other playoff teams, they’re one of the worst.
Other than shooting, LA has a lot of size, which has given the Wolves trouble this season.
- Reggie Jackson: 6’2 208 lb
- Ivica Zubac: 7’0 240 lb
- Nicolas Batum: 6’8 230 lb
- Marcus Morris: 6’8 218 lb
- Robert Covington: 6’7 209 lb
- Paul George: 6’8 220 lb
That’s just a few guys who will be playing consistent minutes for them tomorrow night.
You’d assume Jarred Vanderbilt will be matched up against George, and maybe Patrick Beverley on Jackson. I am concerned with Russell because who will he defend? The Clippers’ size might make this a difficult matchup.
There are a lot of things this Clippers team does well. They’re big/physical, they shoot the ball well and they have experience. However, Minnesota is a young and hungry team that will be getting an extra push from the fans at Target Center.
The Timberwolves boasted the best offense in the NBA, averaging 115.9 points per game. They also finished seventh in offensive rating (113.8).
Minnesota should be at full strength, and this team can compete against anyone when they’re healthy and firing on all cylinders. Beverley and this Wolves team will be amped for the play-in game, and they shouldn’t be viewed as the underdogs in this matchup.
Minnesota isn’t the same team as they were at the beginning of the season. This is a much better team, and since Jan. 3, they’re 30-16. (eighth in the NBA).
Plus, Anthony Edwards is starting to come around at the right time. They’ll need him to bring his A-game every night if they want to win.
This is all to say that this game is going to be one hell of a battle, but at the end of the day, I’d still put my money on LA. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if Minnesota squeaks this one out.
