Lakers, Rockets or Nuggets: Who would the Timberwolves best match up with in Round 1?
Minnesota’s magic number to secure a top six seed in the Western Conference and, thus, dodge the play-in tournament is down to just three with a week and a half to play following Phoenix’s loss to Orlando on Tuesday. The Timberwolves will reach the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. Now, it’s all about positioning.
Seeds No. 3-6 are technically all still in play for Minnesota, though the Lakers would have to collapse at this point for the Wolves to nab the third seed. So Minnesota will, in all likelihood, be No.
4, No. 5 or No. 6 when the playoffs open in two and a half weeks.
But perhaps reimportant than the number is the opponent. The Timberwolves’ list of potential first-round opponents is effectively down to three possibilities: Denver, Houston or the Lakers. Which is preferred?
Let’s dive into the options, starting with the best possible outcome for the Wolves. Houston Statistically, much lines up between Minnesota and Houston, who have split a pair of regular season matchups – neither of which featured Anthony Edwards. The stats say they’re two solid offensive teams who more so shine on the defensive end.
Continue to the original source for the full article.