After a thrilling first-round series against the Houston Rockets, the Golden State Warriors have only had a few days to prepare for their second round matchup, the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Unlike the Warriors, the T-Wolves have had plenty of time to rest and prepare after sending the Los Angeles Lakers home in five games. Anthony Edwards is playing at an MVP-level and the Wolves look hungry for a championship run.
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Both squads had their respective struggles in the regular season and the Warriors even had to battle through the Play-In tournament to secure a playoff spot. But both teams are rolling right now and are set to clash in Game 1 on Tuesday, so let’s dive into what makes this series an exciting one.
The Headline
Anthony Edwards already has a long list of NBA superstars that he’s eliminated from the playoffs in the last year including LeBron James, Nikola Jokic and Kevin Durant. This series could be an extension of what some are calling a “passing of the torch” period.
He’s publicly expressed that he doesn’t have any desire to be the new face of the NBA, but he’s arguably more equipped than any young star to take on that title. He’s never afraid of adversity or high-pressure situations and how dominant he is in this series could be the difference between a trip to the WCF or a trip back home.
But Stephen Curry and the Warriors have far more championship pedigree and experience, which has been vital in prior matchups. If Edwards can manage to take over multiple games against a coordinated Warriors defense, the Timberwolves could be moving on rather quickly.
The Matchup
One of the more unique matchups in this series is mostly a defensive one. Draymond Green and Rudy Gobert are the defensive leaders of these teams and they have a history of conflict.
These two have been clashing for years, most notably when Green put Gobert into a headlock during a game a couple seasons ago. Another spontaneous MMA match is unlikely, but the Warriors lack a rebounder that can match up with Gobert in terms of size. Green might combat this issue with old-fashioned overly physical play, a decision that he’s been known to make.
The first round of the playoffs have been very physical and Green seems to thrive in games with fewer whistles, but neither of these guys are expected to put points on the board.
The end result could be an absolute slugfest of a series.
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The X-Factor
With Gobert as the starting center, the Wolves knew before this season that they needed a power forward that could be part of the offense and put points on the board. So they traded for Julius Randle, a move that was scrutinized at first, but appears to be paying off.
Despite being known as a “playoff dropper”, Randle was big for the Wolves in their first-round win over the Lakers. He averaged 22.6 points on 48% shooting in the series while playing very solid defense against James and Luka Doncic.
He’s often played through injuries in previous postseason runs, so he may not be a playoff dropper after all, thought it’s a little early.
Regardless, this series is going to be must-watch basketball as a young superstar and a veteran icon will go head-to-head for a spot in the WCF.
James Parker is an NBA writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
