Led by Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves made big strides final season, culminating within the franchise’s second Western Convention Finals berth and their first since 2004. After buying and selling Karl Anthony Cities to the New York Knicks within the low season for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo the offense seems to be somewhat totally different and can take a while to gel, however the framework of a dominant protection anchored by Rudy Gobert nonetheless stays firmly in place. Whether or not or not they’ve sufficient to make the NBA Finals this yr after developing simply quick final yr although possible lies within the palms of Edwards, who’s coming off a yr the place he made his first All NBA Group look with a variety to the 2nd Group.
November for the San Antonio Spurs is heavy on dwelling video games (10 to be actual) with a majority of them in opposition to some high quality opponents. In a variety of methods when watching them to this point this season, it has kind of felt like final season by no means ended for the Spurs. How simple it’s to neglect although that they’re not entire but with accidents to 2 key gamers and that the season remains to be so younger. Victor Wembanyama had his finest sport of the season in Thursday’s win with an historic 5×5 efficiency over the Utah Jazz, however can he set the tone for the Spurs tonight on protection in opposition to his fellow countryman Gobert and on offense in opposition to the dynamic Edwards?
San Antonio Spurs (2-3) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (3-2)
November 2nd 2024 | 7:00 PM CT
Watch: | Hear: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Tre Jones, ankle (OUT), Devin Vassell, foot (OUT)
TWolves Accidents: NONE
What to observe for
Anthony Edwards is off to a powerful begin this season, particularly scoring the ball, and Minnesota will want him to be particular on a nightly foundation in the event that they hope to be taking part in late into a minimum of Might once more in a deep Western Convention. Edwards, a dynamic athlete with a starvation to develop and enhance, has proven all through his younger profession that he’s able to doing particular issues that solely the all-time greats are able to. One such instance is the 24 factors he scored within the opening quarter earlier this week in Minnesota’s WCF rematch with the Dallas Mavericks. He nonetheless has moments the place issues can get messy although, and after that 1st quarter flurry, Dallas was capable of restrict him to only 13 complete factors the remainder of the way in which.
Minnesota’s offense was within the backside half of the league final season, rating simply seventeenth in Offensive Effectivity. Whereas the protection was dominant, the offense final yr was very skinny on playmaking, and in a way that’s true as soon as once more this season. Mike Conley, at age 37, has appeared his age to start his 18th season within the Affiliation, however Julius Randle is a greater than succesful scorer who can break down a protection considerably and is blissful to set guys up. Minnesota might want to see additional development from Edwards in that division to take this workforce to the subsequent stage, however relieving him of a few of that nightly load is necessary too.
Victor Wembanyama bounced again from his 6-point blunder in San Antonio’s loss to Oklahoma Metropolis together with his second profession 5×5 sport and a win in opposition to the still-winless Utah Jazz. As PtR’s Marilyn Dubinski not too long ago identified, the Spurs are 2-0 when he leads the workforce in shot makes an attempt to this point this season. He’ll have his palms full tonight going in opposition to fellow Frenchman Gobert, the reigning Defensive Participant of the 12 months.
The Spurs are 2-0 when Wemby leads them in scoring, 0-3 when he does not. Aggressive Wemby makes them quite a bit higher.
— Marilyn Dubinski (@alamoaggie08) November 1, 2024
Chris Paul has scored in double figures in 3 straight video games, his season-high of 19 coming within the win over the Jazz. Whereas Paul isn’t the dynamic guard he as soon as was, the Spurs will want opposing defenses to a minimum of contemplate him a risk to attain in the event that they’re going to make life even somewhat bit simpler for Wembanyama.
Minnesota boasted not solely final season’s Defensive Participant of the 12 months, but in addition its sixth Man winner in Naz Reid. Reid made actual strides as a 3-point shooter final season, taking and making profession highs (2.1/5.0 per sport), and he’s come out sturdy this season as properly.
For the Timberwolves fan’s perspective, please go to Canis Hoopus.
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