Preview #19: Timberwolves vs. Clippers

Minnesota Timberwolves against the Los Angeles Clippers
Date: 29 November 2024
Time: 6:30 p.m. CST
Location: Target center
TV coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio coverage: Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Timberwolves at a Crossroads: Time to Stop the Bleeding Against the Clippers

Wolves fans, how is your recovery going after Thanksgiving? Did the pumpkin pie help you digest the brutal fourth quarter collapse against Sacramento? Maybe the turkey put you in the kind of coma that helps you forget the current state of this team. Because let’s face it: watching the Timberwolves blow another winnable game and extend their losing streak to four felt like skipping dessert and going straight to a plate of cold Brussels sprouts.

Here’s the deal: no matter what happens tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Wolves enter December with a losing record. It was not what we had imagined when the season tipped off. Eight and Ten was not the script. This was supposed to be the year the Wolves built on their Western Conference Finals run, shook off the Karl-Anthony Towns trade drama and came together as a new, cohesive unit. Instead, we see a team that can’t close out games, has a questionable effort on defense and is teetering on the edge of becoming a full-blown locker room soap opera.

Cracks in the foundation

Let’s start with the elephant in the room: Anthony Edwards’ post-game comments. After the Sacramento loss, Ant called out the team for their lack of effort and focus. It’s the kind of thing you’d expect from a leader, of course — but it also signals deeper problems. Is this just early season frustration or are we staring at a locker room ready to implode?

The signs have been there. Rudy Gobert’s three-second tantrum in Toronto wasn’t just a one-off. Julius Randle’s lack of defensive effort has been glaring. And the team’s tendency to dig itself into double-digit holes only to fight back, tie the game and collapse again in the crunch time is like watching the basketball version of Groundhog Day.

Optimist’s attitude: A few tweaks could change everything

If you’re feeling optimistic (and let’s be real, we cling to optimism like a life raft), the Wolves aren’t as far off as their record suggests. Most of their ten losses were winnable games. Flip just a few of those into the win column and this team sits at 12-6 or 13-5, a respectable spot near the top of the Western Conference. That’s the scary part: the talent is there, but the execution isn’t.

A golden opportunity tonight

Enter Clippers. A team that travels on Thanksgiving weekend, likely still digesting their stuffing and without several key players. Kawhi Leonard, PJ Tucker and Kobe Brown are all out. Norman Powell, their leading scorer, is doubtful. Meanwhile, the wolves are (mostly) healthy. Mike Conley is back and Joe Ingles — barely a blip on the rotation radar — is the only player listed on the injury report.

If ever there was a time to snap the sled and right the ship, this is it. The Wolves have no excuses tonight. It’s a home game against a shorthanded opponent. It’s also their final NBA Cup group game, though their chances of advancing at this point are about as cooked as your Thanksgiving turkey. What’s left to play for is pride, momentum and avoiding the embarrassment of finishing last in their group.

Keys to victory: Defense, formations and ant that goes up

1. Julius Randle must try his hand in defense

Look, we all know Randle’s offensive game can be a weapon when he’s on. But his defense has been abysmal. I’m talking about standing still at the Statue of Liberty, blown rotations and lazy finishes. If the Wolves want to stop bleeding points, it starts with Randle at least pretending to care on defense.

2. Point Guard Presence

The return of Mike Conley is huge and Rob Dillingham has shown flashes of being the dynamic guard this team desperately needs. The ball movement and offensive flow are night and day when one of them is on the field compared to when Nickeil Alexander-Walker or Donte DiVincenzo is running the offense. Finch has to make sure one of Conley or Dillingham is in the game at all times.

3. Hit your threes, please

Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo, I’m looking at you. Jaden gets a pass because three-point shooting isn’t his bread and butter, but if you’re wide open in the corner, hit something. Donte is supposed to be the sniper from deep, though, and lately he’s been hitting shots like it’s his side hustle. If DiVincenzo can’t find his shot, it’s time for Finch to limit his minutes and prioritize players who can contribute elsewhere.

4. Anthony Edwards must be the leader

This is Ant’s team now. Cities are gone. The spotlight is on Edwards, and he has to own it. He spent the summer with LeBron, Curry and KD to learn what it takes to lead. Now is the time to apply it. It’s fine to be vocal in post-game interviews, but Ant needs to rally his teammates, demand accountability and be the driving force on the pitch. This offense should run through him, period.

Looking ahead

Let’s be honest: the schedule doesn’t get any easier. After tonight, the Wolves start a December full of tough games against Golden State, Oklahoma City and the always pesky Dallas Mavericks. If they can’t win at home against a battered Clippers team, what hope is there against those teams?

The Wolves have the talent to turn this around. The question is, do they have the effort, focus and leadership to make it happen? Tonight’s game doesn’t solve everything, but it’s a chance to stop the bleeding, end the month on a high note and set the tone for December.

If they lose? Well, I’ll be here, ready to write another article questioning everything we thought we knew about this team. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Play on, Wolves. Let’s see what you have.