Tag: minnesota-timberwolves

2024 NBA Western Conference Final Prediction

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The remaining two teams in the west had a long and fun second round. Dallas and Minnesota were more committed and better coached than the star-studded teams in Denver and Oklahoma City. While the Mavericks are on a roll, there’s a lot of hype on the Timberwolves after they eliminated the defending champion Nuggets. One of these two teams must advance to the championship round. Time to break down which one has the best chance to represent the west in the finals.

#5 Dallas Mavericks v. #3 Minnesota Timberwolves

A new era of the NBA is upon us. Get ready for the Luka Doncic v. Anthony Edwards narratives. Both players aren’t just franchise stars, they’re new faces the NBA wants to see take over the game in and outside the U.S.

While Minnesota won the regular season series 3-1, the one loss came when guard Kyrie Irving (white) played for Dallas.

Both teams have great guard duos and two-way production from their centers at both ends of the court. Everyone wants to watch Mavericks point-guard Luka Doncic and shooting-guard Kyrie Irving take on Timberwolves point-guard Mike Conley and shooting guard Anthony Edwards for at least six games. The older Irving and Conley will have their hands full on defense while trying to facilitate and elevate their offenses. If Doncic and Edwards have low-scoring games, they still impact the players around them with their play-making and passing.

Minnesota has a slight advantage outside the guard positions. Power forward Karl-Anthony Towns stunned viewers out-performing improved Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon last series. The nine year veteran played well on offense and improved defensively against the Nuggets. Sixth man of the year Naz Reid plays better each round and Jaden McDaniels can be a thorn against any opponent. Dallas’ P.J. Washington has struggled in previous rounds while Derrick Jones Jr. will have a hard time with McDaniels alone. Coach Jason Kidd should adjust his forward depth by playing Maxi Kleber and Tim Hardaway Jr. for longer stretches of time.

Both teams mirror each other from coaching to bench depth. To stay consistent with the other conference finals pick, it’s a better decision to go with the more determined, veteran team. Yes, Minnesota has the fundamentals to beat Dallas this series, but the Mavericks have more pressure to make the finals.

Prediction: Mavericks win the western conference and series 4-3

Western conference playoff picks record after two rounds: 3-3

2024 NBA Western Conference Second Round Playoff Predictions

jminx9437 Comments

The first round was exciting and fun. Minnesota shockingly swept Phoenix. Denver barely led most of their four wins against the Lakers. Dallas and the Clippers had an entertaining series. Oklahoma City had no playoff jitters as they confidently swept the more experienced Pelicans. The Thunder and Mavericks will show viewers how close they are to becoming complete teams while Denver and Minnesota have the best second round matchup in either conference. Two of the remaining four teams will advance to the next round. Time to break down which of the two have the best chance to make the conference finals.

#5 Dallas Mavericks v. #1 Oklahoma City Thunder

Dallas and Oklahoma City have great guard duos. Forward and center play will determine who wins this series.

The Mavericks and Thunder have many similarities but many differences. They have great starting guards who score at will. They have young, dangerous centers starting to find their rhythm on both sides of the ball. Dallas and Oklahoma City also have starting forwards facing a lot of pressure to defend well and score better. Both coaches also know how to get the best out of their improving rosters.

The differences are in expectations. The Mavericks face growing pressure to make a championship run with star guard duo Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving playing their best basketball these last three months. The Thunder’s starting five is the youngest in the league and hasn’t faced adversity in the postseason. Doncic and Irving have enough experience to help center Daniel Gafford, and forwards P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. gain advantages on Oklahoma City’s center Chet Holmgren, and forwards Jalen Williams and Luguentz Dort. It will be interesting to see how both teams counter each other’s strengths and styles.

Prediction: Mavericks win series 4-2

#3 Minnesota Timberwolves v. #2 Denver Nuggets

Guards Jamal Murray (blue) and Anthony Edwards (white) will have one of the best series of their careers.

This could be the best NBA playoff series of 2024. Minnesota and Denver have split their last two regular season series and have the right players to counter each other. This could be the only Denver series we see a one-on-one matchup on Nikola Jokic, as he’ll be guarded by Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert.

Nuggets guard duo Jamal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have as much skill as Timberwolves guard duo Mike Conley and Anthony Edwards. You could go as far to say Conley’s experience and better defense presents a problem for Denver. Since Gobert can do what most teams can’t and cover Jokic by himself, Minnesota can double cover Caldwell-Pope or Murray (depending on who’s playing better each game). Roster depth will be more important since Sixth Man of the Year winner Naz Reid can play well at both power forward and center for the Timberwolves, and Nuggets guard Reggie Jackson can play both sides of the ball well when Murray rests.

The winner of this series will be decided on the play of Minnesota star forward Karl-Anthony Towns against Denver forward Aaron Gordon. Gordon’s played better each postseason series since he was traded to the Nuggets in 2021. He can play physical on both sides of the ball and is a consistent rebounding threat. Towns is a great three point shooter, but his rebounding and preference of playing away from the basket and interior poses a problem Denver can exploit further into the series.

Prediction: Nuggets win series 4-3

First round western conference playoff predictions: 2-2