Game Preview #19: Timberwolves vs. Clippers

Minnesota Timberwolves against Los Angeles Clippers
Date: November 29, 2024
Time: 6:30pm CST
Location: Target center
TV coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio reporting: Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Timberwolves at a crossroads: It’s time to stop the bleeding against the Clippers

Wolves fans, how is your recovery going after Thanksgiving? Did pumpkin pie help you digest the brutal fourth-quarter collapse against Sacramento? Maybe the turkey put you in a coma that helps you forget the current state of this team. Because let’s be honest: Watching the Timberwolves blow another winnable game and extend their losing streak to four felt like skipping dessert and going straight to a plate of cold Brussels sprouts.

Here’s the deal: No matter what happens tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Wolves will start December with a losing record. That wasn’t what we had imagined at the end of the season. Eight and ten wasn’t the script. This would be the year the Wolves built on their success in the Western Conference Finals, put the Karl-Anthony Towns trade drama behind them and came together as a new, cohesive unit. Instead, we’re watching a team that can’t finish games, has questionable defensive performances, and is on the verge of becoming a full-blown locker room soap opera.

Cracks in the foundation

Let’s start with the elephant in the room: Comments from Anthony Edwards after the game. After the loss in Sacramento, Ant criticized the team for their lack of effort and focus. This is something you would expect from a manager – but it also points to deeper problems. Is this just early-season frustration or are we looking at a locker room on the verge of collapse?

The signs were there. Rudy Gobert’s three-second tantrum over injury in Toronto wasn’t an isolated incident. Julius Randle’s lack of defensive production was glaring. And the team’s tendency to plunge into double-digit holes only to fight back, tie the game and collapse again at crucial time is like watching the basketball version of Groundhog Day.

The optimist’s opinion: A few changes could change everything

If you’re optimistic (and let’s face it, we cling to optimism like a life raft), the wolves aren’t as far away as their record suggests. Most of their ten losses were winnable games. Put just a few of those in the win column and this team is 12-6 or 13-5, a respectable spot near the top of the Western Conference. That’s what’s crazy about it: the talent is there, but the execution is lacking.

A golden opportunity tonight

Enter the Clippers. A team on the road over Thanksgiving weekend, likely still digesting things and without several key players. Kawhi Leonard, PJ Tucker and Kobe Brown are all out. Norman Powell, their leading scorer, is questionable. The wolves are now (mostly) healthy. Mike Conley is back and Joe Ingles – barely a blip on the rotation radar – is the only player listed on the injury report.

If ever there was a time to break the skid and right the ship, this is it. The Wolves have no excuses tonight. It’s a home game against an undermanned opponent. It’s also their final NBA Cup group game, although their chances of advancing are as slim as a Thanksgiving turkey at this point. What’s left to play for is pride, momentum and avoiding the embarrassment of finishing last in the group.

Keys to Victory: Defense, Lineups and Ants Getting Stronger

1. Julius Randle needs to try out the defense

Look, we all know that Randle’s offensive game can be a weapon when it’s his turn. But his defense was miserable. I’m talking Statue of Liberty-level silence, botched rotations, and sluggish finishes. If the Wolves want to stop the bleeding of points, it starts with Randle at least acting like he cares about defense.

2. Point guard presence

Mike Conley’s return is great and Rob Dillingham has shown that he is the dynamic defender this team desperately needs. The ball movement and offensive flow are night and day when either of them is on the field compared to Nickeil Alexander-Walker or Donte DiVincenzo running the offense. Finch needs to make sure one of Conley or Dillingham is in the game at all times.

3. Hit your threes, please

Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo, I’m looking at you. Jaden gets a pass because three-point shooting isn’t his bread and butter, but when you’re wide open in the corner, you have to score something. However, Donte is supposed to be the sniper from deep, and lately he’s been firing like it’s his side job. If DiVincenzo can’t find his shot, it’s time for Finch to limit his minutes and prioritize players who can contribute elsewhere.

4. Anthony Edwards has to be the leader

This is Ant’s team now. Cities are gone. Edwards is in the spotlight, and he has to succeed. He spent the summer with LeBron, Curry and KD and learned what it takes to lead. Now it’s time to apply it. It’s fine to be vocal in post-match interviews, but Ant needs to bring his teammates together, demand responsibility and be the driving force on the pitch. This offense should get through to him, period.

Looking ahead

Let’s face it: the schedule isn’t getting any easier. After tonight, the Wolves begin a December full of tough duels against Golden State, Oklahoma City and the always annoying Dallas Mavericks. If they can’t win at home against a weakened Clippers squad, what hope is there against these teams?

The Wolves have the talent to turn things around. The question is: Do they have the commitment, focus and leadership necessary to make this happen? Today’s game won’t fix everything, but it’s a chance to stop the bleeding, end the month on a high note, and set the tone for December.

What if they lose? Well, I’ll be here and ready to write another article that challenges everything we thought we knew about this team. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Play on, wolves. Let’s see what you’ve got.