NBA playoffs: What you can expect in Thunder-Temberwolves series

All traditional franchise companies are located on the golf course or on the beach or went back to the drawing board. In its place, the Western Conference is decided by two teams with a combined NBA final in its history. Well, you will double this number in about two weeks.

Such a transition was inevitable, and the Timberwolves by Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota come thirst and restless at the conference final. The most important thing is that you bring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards, the flag bearers for the next generation of stars. It is most likely that they will move for the Magic Johnson Trophy, who are given the most outstanding player of the Western Conference Final every year.

The wolves managed a 2-2 split with OKC during the regular season, since OKC won 68 times. Gilgeous-Alexander had in three of the four points of 37, 39 and 40 points; But here in the playoffs there are usually adjustments.

So it's a series. Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels join Edwards against Jalen Williams, Lu there and Chet Holmgren. Shai will compete against his cousin Nickeil Alexander Walker. That should be good.

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Series plan

Here you can find out how you see The Thunder vs. Timberwolves series:

Eastern standard time every time

• Game 1: Timberwolves against Thunder; Tuesday, May 20 (8:30 a.m., ESPN)
• Game 2: Timberwolves against Thunder; Thu., May 22nd (8:30 a.m., ESPN)
• Game 3: Donner against Timberwolves; Sat., May 24th (8:30 a.m., ABC)
• Game 4: Donner against Timberwolves; Mon., May 26 (8:30 a.m., ESPN)
• Game 5: Timberwolves against Thunder; Wed., May 28th (8:30 a.m., ESPN)*
• Game 6: Donner against Timberwolves; Fri., May 30 (8:30 a.m., ESPN)*
• Game 7: Timberwolves against Thunder; Sun., June 1 (8 et, ESPN)*

* = If necessary

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Top storyline

Edwards collects skins. When is the last time a star that is so young, so that this has conquered the game's superstars? On the wall of his house are the heads of greats of the generations – Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokić, LeBron James, Luka Dončić and, oh look, fresh from the taxiermist Stephen Curry.

These are the players who plunged Edwards in the playoffs in the last calendar year. Next Gilgeous-Alexander? This could be the highest order for Edwards, because the thunder guard brings more help than most (if not all) of these others. In addition, as everyone should know, he is pretty good.

This competition within the competition promises a lot of energy and breast strikes, if only because Edwards and Gilgeous-Alexander bring a lot of pride. You want to be the best, the face of the NBA. This series could help decide who is and who is not.

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Keep your eyes on

Defense, defense, defense. If you enjoy double teams, fast rotations, rim protection and on-ball printing or at least appreciate, this series is just the right thing for you. These are the two remaining teams in this off -season that best do. The safest prediction is that the final of the Western Conference 2025 will not develop into a bucket brigade and nobody will fall over 130 points.

This does not mean that Gilgeous-Alexander, Edwards or Randle pull off a 30-piece deduction once or twice. These three are on a role and it is difficult to keep a boot for a good offensive creativity for long. It means that these goal scorers work for most, if not all of their points. They are deserved, not given.

OKC was defensively with the highest rating throughout the season, while the defense is what Minnesota can do best. The Timberwolves will also try to control the pace. First team at 100 victories. Well: OK – 115.

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1 more thing that can be seen for each team

For thunder. This is a return for Holmgren, the pride of Minneapolis, where he was born and grew up. When he was 6-foot 9 and as thick as Spaghetti, Holmgren scored an average of 6.2 points and three rebounds per game as a high school. Since then, its size and statistics have grown, if not its mass.

It can be a problem for the wolves with its wingspan, the ability to stretch the soil, speed and marginal protection. And mainly his motivation to show himself for the neighborhood. If there is an X factor for thunder, the pencil in the guy is shaped like a pencil. Holmgren wants to make a jump.

For Timberwolves. Randle has the best route of his career, all in all. He was not the best player in these playoffs, but certainly the most important. Because without its steady post -season production – 23.9 points, 5.9 assists, 5.9 rebounds in 10 games – Minnesota does not get that far.

Here in this first off-season for Minnesota it is a win-win situation, not only for the wolves, but also for Randle. He has effectively cleaned himself from previous playoff sins; Either too injured or too ineffective to help his previous team, the Knicks. These fans never let him forget it. As for wolf fans? They cry differently, what music is for his ears.

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1 key number to know

8.7 – The thunder exceeded its opponents in the limited area by 8.7 points per game, the best possible difference in the playoffs. This includes an advantage of 54-32 in game 7 against the Nuggets on Sunday.

The defense of Oklahoma City is best known to force sales, but was also the best marginal protection defense in the regular season. In Road Games*, thunder took first place in the (lowest) percentage of the shots of their opponents (23%), which occurred in the limited area, and secondly in the total percentage (63.1%) in the limited area. Both numbers were lower in the off -season.

(* Inortecting street games are only firing stem discrepancies from arena to arena.)

The wolves in the playoffs have the differential of the second best limited space after exceeding their opponents by 7.4 points per game in the basket. This includes an advantage of 62 to 30 when they completed the Warriors in game 5 of the conference semite. A little less than 33% of the shots of the wolves, the highest rate in the post -season, came in the limited area.

The league shoots more 3 points than ever before, but the best shots on the floor remain on the edge. And this fight begins there.

– John Schuhmann

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The choice

Donner in six. Both teams are qualified to say goodbye to a date with Destiny: OKC because it won 68 games and brings a KIA MVP candidate and Minnesota because it is the hottest team in the West. Nevertheless, the fifth of the wolves have to bring their a-games with them every evening-and is not comparable. OKC will wear you out and finally wear it out.

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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can send him an email Herefind His archive here And Follow him on X.

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