Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Date: November 29, 2024
Time: 6:30 PM CST
Location: Target center
Television 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’s the post-Thanksgiving recovery going? Did the pumpkin pie help you digest that brutal fourth-quarter collapse against Sacramento? Maybe the turkey put you into such a coma that you forget the current state of this team. Because let’s be honest: 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 will enter December with a losing record. We didn’t have that in mind when the season started. Eight and ten was not the script. This should be the year the Wolves build on their Western Conference Finals run, shake off the Karl-Anthony Towns trade drama and come together as a new, cohesive unit. Instead, we’re watching a team that can’t close out games, has questionable defensive efforts, and is on the verge 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-match comments. After the loss in Sacramento, Ant called out the team for their lack of effort and focus. That’s of course the kind of thing you expect from a leader, but it also signals deeper problems. Is this just early-season frustration, or are we staring at a locker room on the verge of collapse?

The signs have been there. Rudy Gobert’s three-second foul drive in Toronto wasn’t just a one-off. Julius Randle’s lack of defensive effort was notable. And the team’s tendency to dig itself into double-digit holes only to fight back, tie the game, and collapse again in no time is like watching basketball’s version of Groundhog Day.

The optimist’s point of view: a few adjustments can change everything

If you’re optimistic (and let’s face it, we’re clinging to optimism like a life raft), then the Wolves aren’t as far away as their record suggests. Most of their ten losses were winnable matches. Throw just a few in the win column, and this team is 12-6 or 13-5, a respectable spot at the top of the Western Conference. That’s the maddening thing: the talent is there, but the execution isn’t.

A golden opportunity tonight

Enter the Clippers. A team traveling on Thanksgiving weekend, probably still digesting their fill, and without some key players. Kawhi Leonard, PJ Tucker and Kobe Brown are all out. Norman Powell, their top 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 there was ever a time to break skid and right the ship, this is it. The Wolves have no excuses tonight. It is a home game against an opponent with few players. It’s also their final NBA Cup group game, but at this point their chances of advancing are as good as your Thanksgiving turkey. What remains to play for is pride, momentum and avoiding the embarrassment of finishing last in their group.

Keys to victory: defense, formations and ants moving up

1. Julius Randle should try defense

Look, we all know Randle’s offensive game can be a weapon when he gets going. But his defense has been up terrible. I’m talking Statue of Liberty-level silence, bloated rotations, and lazy closeouts. If the Wolves want to stop the bleeding points, it starts with Randle at least pretending to care about the defense.

2. Presence of point guards

Mike Conley’s return is huge, and Rob Dillingham has shown himself to be 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 are running the offense. Finch needs to make sure one of Conley or Dillingham is always in play.

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 when you’re wide open in the corner, you gotta hit something. Donte is supposed to be the sniper from deep, though, and lately he’s been making shots like it’s his afterthought. 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 should be the leader

This is now Ant’s team. Cities have disappeared. The spotlight is firmly on Edwards, and he needs to be aware of that. He spent the summer with LeBron, Curry and KD and learned what it takes to lead. Now is the time to apply it. Speaking up in post-match interviews is fine, 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 face it: the schedule doesn’t get any easier. After tonight, the Wolves begin a December full of tough games against Golden State, Oklahoma City and the always annoying Dallas Mavericks. If they can’t beat a depleted Clippers squad at home, 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 this happen? Tonight’s match won’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. Game on, Wolves. Let’s see what you have.