Beaten by the Nuggets, the Wolves have probably said goodbye to first place in the Western Conference. The situation was simple for the reigning champion. But dominated in the fourth quarter, Chris Finch's players saw their goal take a hit on the wing.
“ We knew this match was going to be decisive » admitted Anthony Edwards, very discreet at the end of the match. “ By winning, we knew we were going to possibly be number one. Losing, we knew they were probably going to be. We wanted to do it but now, with the defeat, there is nothing we can do about it. »
Now on unfavorable waiver
The Wolves are not yet officially out of the race and could get back in front. But they no longer have their destiny in their hands. To regain control, they must win one more game than Denver by the end of the season, while the Rockies franchise faces two of the dunces of the West, Memphis and San Antonio.
They will also probably have to win one more game than Oklahoma City, because in the event of a three-way tie, it is the Thunder who has the advantage thanks to their three victories against the Nuggets!
“ I would like us to be seeded number one, I'm not going to lie » conceded Mike Conley, while the Wolves finished by hosting the Hawks and the Suns. “ But like I also said, no matter what position you end up in, you're going to have to face starvation in the first round. We just wanted to play our best basketball and it was a good test for us tonight, with the level of a playoff game. »
Several Minnesota players, such as Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert, highlighted fatigue as one of the factors that weighed on their second period which was too average. “ But we have to deal with it, there will also be fatigue in the playoffs » said the French pivot, brushing aside the idea of an excuse. “ We're going to have to find this deep within ourselves. Everyone is going to have to do it, and do what it takes for the team to win. »
Finishing third, a preparation advantage?
After the disappointment, the Wolves want to move on, even if it means using a bit of the Coué method. If finishing first provides home-field advantage until the conference finals, the Tribune Star reports that one of the Minnesota players explained that finishing third also offered a valuable advantage: knowing your opponent in the first round without having to wait for the end of the play-in. And thus provide yourself with more preparation time for the first battle of the final phases.
Four days before the end of the regular season, it is the Thunder which benefits for the moment from this advantage, and from a theoretical confrontation against the Pelicans. The Suns are also in the running for sixth place, leaving the suspense still completely open on both sides, in this poster between 3rd and 6th…
