NBA playoffs: What you can expect in the Wolves Warriors series

• Download the NBA app

For the second time since winning the NBA championship 2022, the Warriors have occurred to the semi -finals of the Western Conference. While many teams would long for the warrior in Stephen Curry according to this type of “dry period”, this seems to be a victory.

This is because the currently constructed warriors Curry's best – and maybe have the chance to at least achieve the conference final. Everything is due to Jimmy Butler's addition, which was advertised over the rockets as in the victory of the first round, especially after he had returned from a game due to an injury.

The timber wolves are now trying to establish themselves as a constant West. You took such a step last season by reaching the conference finale and are now trying to go back after an impressive romp against the Lakers.

Both teams came on the hard tour; The Warriors survived the Sofi-Play-in tournament, while the wolves needed an increase in the late season to avoid the game and snap the number 6 seeds. Nevertheless, these two reach a climax at the right time, and this series has the chance to achieve the seven-game limit.

---

Series plan

How to see the Timberwolves vs. Warriors series:

Eastern standard time every time

• Game 1: Warrior at Timberwolves (Tuesday May 6th, 9:30 a.m., TNT)
• Game 2: Warrior in Timberwolves (Thu 8. May 8:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 3: Timberwolves at Warriors (Sat. 10. May, 8:30 a.m. et, ABC)
• Game 4: Timberwolves at Warriors (Mon., May 12th, 10 et, ESPN)
• Game 5: Warrior at Timberwolves (May 14th, TBD, TNT)*
• Game 6: Timberwolves at Warriors (Sun. 18 May, TBD, TBD)*
• Game 7: Warriors at Timberwolves (Tuesday May 20th, 8:30 a.m. et, ESPN)*

* = If necessary

---

Top storyline

That is the time of the ant. In the past 12 months, Edwards Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokić, LeBron James and Luka Dončić deleted from the post -season. Will he also add curry's fur?

Edwards seems to be on a star hunt because he is committed to being the face of the NBA. He is at the right age and in the right phase of his career for a great takeover. Give him the following: He is neither afraid of the moment nor about the stage or the chance of being a folk hero. If at all, he accepts the challenge.

So we will see. The warriors will have their hands full, just like this other than they could not stop an ant. Your best defender, Draymond Green, is not fast enough. It is up to Jimmy Butler, certainly not a slouch. It probably only belongs to a handful of NBA players who can work for every bucket of ants.

Edwards has the shine of other solo stars of the past – 2011 Dirk Nowitzki falls in mind, or 2006 Dwyane Wade. From here, however, there is much more away to travel, and Steph will not be easy – if at all.

---

Keep your eyes on

The potential drama between Draymond and Rudy. The NBA is obviously forgiving in terms of the physical game, as we saw in the first round of these playoffs. Now comes the actual test – how much it looks with Draymond and Rudy Gobert.

As you know, you are not on the other's Christmas card list. There is a story here; The notorious moment was when Draymond Gobert packed two November two November and put him in a headlock. This brought Draymond a five-game suspension and may also cost him the chance to be placed in the 2024 Team USA squad.

Strangely enough, there is no reason why they don't like each other. The theory is draymond is jealous of Goberts Four Kia Defensive Player of the Year Awards. Draymond, who has one, has mocked the number of Gobert's Awards in the past.

Here is something else that these two defensive aces have in common – in addition to Gobert's massive game 5 in the first round, they are usually invisible. So it is not necessary to really guard.

---

1 more thing that can be seen for each team

For the warriors: Jonathan Kuminga's fascinating bench will either come to a standstill or continue. He only played three games in the first round because coach Steve Kerr was annoyed and instead went with the three-guard approach from Curry, Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski.

In this situation, however, the warriors may need Kuminga's length and sportiness because the wolves have that for them. Will Kuminga be rusty or motivated in such a situation?

For the timber wolves: Can Julius Randle continue? All ghosts of past post -seeds may have been exorcised by Randle, who was either too injured to play or fight when he did it with the Knicks. He achieved an average of 22.6 points with a 48% shootout with decent defense against the Lakers. So far, so well in Minnesota, even if an impressive round does not write total salvation.

Maybe the jury is no longer there. In order to satisfy these skeptics and even his new teammates, Randle needs a transfer to the warriors. It could help him land a rich extension of the contract this summer.

---

1 key number to know

40.0 – In the first round, the wolves exceeded the Lakers with 40.0 points per 100 possessions in the fourth quarter. They won the fourth quarter in all five games and came back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win game 4.

Naz Reid scored 6-in-6 on 3s in the five games in the five games, but all other wolves only shot 10: 41 from beyond the arch in these 60 minutes. Nevertheless, the offensive figures were strong and the defense was incredible and in the fourth period was only 81 points per 100 possessions.

The wolves were also their best side in the fourth quarter in the regular season (plus 9.2 per 100 possessions), but lost in two of their three losses to the Warriors, which the sixth best team of the fourth quarter (plus 17.0 per 100) in the first round.

– John Schuhmann

---

The choice

Timberwolves in six. When the playoffs reach this phase, there is a formula that is often true: the team with the best player wins. In this case, it is difficult to argue against Edwards, even if he shares the soil with curry. There is also another trend: the hottest team wins. Another advantage of timberwolves. Both teams beat higher seeds to get here, but the wolves looked more impressive. And with their defense, depth and ants, they look enlarged enough to return to the conference final.

* * *