Twenty years after their last appearance in the conference finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves are once again present at this stage of the competition. Carried by Anthony Edwards, well supported by the duo Rudy Gobert – Karl-Anthony Towns inside, to name but a few, the Wolves continue their progress in these playoffs and in the process silence all those who had criticized the arrival of pivot of the French team.
They knocked off the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the previous round and arrive at this stage of the competition with increased confidence. Facing them is another team with the wind in their sails! Because the Mavericks of the Luka Doncic – Kyrie Irving pair also created the “upset” in the previous round by eliminating the Thunder, the best team in the Western Conference during the regular season.
Dallas is therefore making its return to the conference final, two years after its defeat in five games against the Warriors in 2022. The arrivals of Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington at the trade deadline changed the trajectory of the Texan franchise. The latter have found a defensive identity and cohesion behind their duo of superstars.
Since the start of the playoffs, however, the Mavs have not encountered a defense and an opponent as imposing as the Wolves, and the Wolves have not faced an opponent capable of closing the racket and attacking their back base like the Mavericks. If Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards are the headliners, this conference final will be played on defense and through the collective of each team.
PRESENTATION OF THE WOLVES
Holders: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert
Substitutes: Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Kyle Anderson, Monte Morris, Jordan McLaughlin, TJ Warren, Luka Garza.
Absent : Jaylen Clark
Coach: Chris Finch
The Wolves were on cloud nine at the start of these playoffs. After an authoritarian sweep by the Suns in the first round, they surprised everyone by winning the first two games of the second round in Denver. They came back to earth finding themselves on the brink of elimination after three straight losses to the Nuggets but responded by winning Game 6 by 45 points and Game 7 in Denver after being down 20 in the second half !
Anthony Edwards (28.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.7 steals) and Karl-Anthony Towns (18.8 points, 9.8 rebounds) lived up to expectations while their teammates, Rudy Gobert (defender of the year), Naz Reid (best 6th Man), Jaden McDaniels (All-Defensive Second Team), and Mike Conley (Teammate of the Year), won a host of distinctions.
THE STRONG POINT
– An iron defense. Best defense in the league in the regular season (108 points conceded on 100 possessions), the Wolves have confirmed their disposition since the start of the playoffs. In eleven games against the Suns and the Nuggets, they have limited their opponent below 100 points six times, including in their four victories against Denver. Led by Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels, the other Wolves got into tune. Anthony Edwards shut down Jamal Murray in the second half of Game 7, Mike Conley rarely makes mistakes, Karl-Anthony Towns was (almost) impeccable on Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic, and the bench led by Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker also took on the challenge.
THE WEAK POINT
– An attack that can become stagnant. We saw it during their three defeats against Denver and during the first half of Game 7, the Wolves can quickly forget to play as a team and play on the move. Faced with two-man attacks from the Denver defense, Anthony Edwards was at times less incisive and his team's attack suffered. Dallas has an even more airtight defense than that of the Nuggets, and the Wolves will have to focus on moving the ball and attacking with conviction to avoid making the same mistakes as Oklahoma City in the previous round.
INTRODUCING THE MAVERICKS
Holders: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Jones Jr, PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford
Substitutes: Tim Hardaway Jr, Josh Green, Dante Exum, Derek Lively II, Dwight Powell, Jaden Hardy…
Absent : Maxi Kleber
Coach: Jason Kidd
The Mavs have been on an upward slope since the start of the playoffs. They finally overcame the Indian sign to eliminate the Clippers in the first round, dominating the series, especially the last two games, thanks to some uncompromising defense. Against the Thunder, they used the same recipe. Their defense slowed down Oklahoma City's “drive & kick” game by blocking access to the circle.
If Luka Doncic (27.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 9.1 assists) and Kyrie Irving (21.1 points) are the undisputed leaders of this team, the Slovenian, not at 100% physically, has not been effective since the start of the playoffs (42% on shots, 30% on 3-points). For his part, Kyrie Irving was very limited against the Thunder (15.7 points at 44%). It was the second knives (Washington, Jones Jr, Gafford, Lively II) who had a decisive contribution to come and support the stars.
THE STRONG POINT
– A defensive foundation finally solid. During the last twenty games of the regular season, the Mavs had the best defense in the NBA (107.6 points conceded over 100 possessions). They continued their momentum in these playoffs. Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively II give them 48 minutes of rim protection. Derrick Jones Jr. and PJ Washington have transformed themselves into “stoppers” for the best opposing outside players. And the Luka Doncic – Kyrie Irving pair made the necessary efforts not to compromise their team’s defense. Jason Kidd and his staff showed an ability to innovate, and the Clippers and the Thunder broke their teeth on the Texan wall.
THE WEAK POINT
– A less extensive bench. Behind their starting five and Derek Lively II, the Mavs have some question marks. The rest of their rotation is made up of Tim Hardaway Jr, a fluctuating shooter with non-existent defense, Dante Exum, a good defender who lost his outside shot, and Josh Green, a good defender with inconsistent efficiency. The absence of Maxi Kleber should also be highlighted, even if they managed to do without him in the previous round. The pressure from the Wolves should force Jason Kidd to shorten his rotation anyway.
THE KEYS TO THE SERIES
– The battle of the air. Since the arrival of Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington, the Mavericks have been very effective near the circle, thanks to the offerings of Luka Doncic who finally has options on the lob during the pick-and-roll. Faced with the size of the Wolves, the Mavericks will undoubtedly be able to use this weapon less, while the whole challenge for Dallas will be to keep Rudy Gobert away from the racket, to continue to use this option.
– The distance duel between Jaden McDaniels and Derrick Jones Jr. In a series with Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, Kyrie Irving, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, it is the contribution of Jaden McDaniels and Derrick Jones Jr. which could be the key to this duel between Wolves and Mavs. Both players will have to defend on Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards, and they will be free in attack. Can they hold their own on defense, make the opposing star work and avoid foul problems? Can they punish opposing defenses? Both players were decisive in the previous round, can they do it again? If they falter, it could have a major impact on their team's strategy.
REGULAR SEASON
Minnesota 3-1
– December 14: Dallas – Minnesota (101-119)
– December 28: Minnesota – Dallas (118-110)
– January 7: Dallas – Minnesota (115-108)
– January 31: Minnesota – Dallas (121-87)
VERDICT
Minnesota 4-3. In this defensive chess game, the Wolves have a slim advantage. Luka Doncic will test Jaden McDaniels and their defense, Kyrie Irving can catch fire at any time, although Anthony Edwards should make life difficult for him, as he did with Jamal Murray. But behind the two stars, can we once again envisage seeing PJ Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. catch fire from 3-point range? Should we expect the same impact from Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively II compared to the experience of the Gobert – Towns – Reid trio? Possible, but unlikely. On the Wolves side, certainties seem easier to see. Anthony Edwards has been effective since the start of the playoffs and has shown that he can bring other things when his shooting is not there. Karl-Anthony Towns' size and mobility could pose problems for the Mavs. Behind them, Gobert and Conley (even if the latter risks being slowed down) do their work diligently, and the trio Reid – McDaniels – Alexander-Walker responded. With the added home advantage, it is the Wolves who have the best chance of representing the West in the NBA finals this season.
CALENDAR
Game 1: in Minnesota, Wednesday May 22 (2:30 a.m., Wednesday night to Thursday)
Game 2: in Minnesota, Friday May 24 (2:30 a.m., Friday night to Saturday)
Game 3: in Dallas, Sunday May 26 (2:00 a.m., Sunday night to Monday)
Game 4: in Dallas, Tuesday May 28 (2:30 a.m., Tuesday night to Wednesday)
Game 5*: in Minnesota, Thursday May 30 (2:30 a.m., Thursday night to Friday)
Game 6*: in Dallas, Saturday June 1 (2:30 a.m., Saturday night to Sunday)
Game 7*: in Minnesota, Monday June 3 (2:30 a.m., Monday night to Tuesday)
* If necessary.
