Falling apart late in the season in a Western Conference that leaves little room for error is a worst-case scenario and the Minnesota Timberwolves could find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture if they don’t turn things around in a hurry.
Minnesota has lost seven of its last 11 games, including woeful losses at home to the Magic, Wizards and Hornets. Given the rare opportunity to win in Golden State against a Warriors team without Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green, the Timberwolves folded on national television Sunday night, blowing a pair of double-digit leads and losing 109-104.
If there was ever a time to push the panic button, it might be now.
As the Timberwolves provide example after example of why they can’t be taken seriously, the likes of the Lakers and Trail Blazers are beginning to fire on all cylinders, inching closer to pushing Minnesota out of the playoff picture. At 31-32, Minnesota is ninth in the West, technically tied with 10th place New Orleans (30-31).
Portland is a half-game behind Minnesota after Damian Lillard scored 71 points to lead the Blazers over Houston Sunday night.
The Lakers have won four of five since the trade deadline to move within one game of Minnesota. They won in Dallas Sunday thanks in large part to ex-Wolves power forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who had 15 points, 17 rebounds and four steals on a night that the player he was traded to Utah for – Rudy Gobert – wasn’t available to Minnesota because of an illness.
Yes, the Wolves are just 2.5 games behind Phoenix for fourth in the West, but they could quickly find themselves in a perilous situation if this week’s West Coast road trip doesn’t go well. They’re in L.A. to play the Clippers Tuesday night, the Lakers Thursday night, and then they head up the coastline to face third place Sacramento.
An 0-3 trip is a frightening possibility. If they do slip in California, they could tumble off a cliff with games against the 76ers, Nets, Hawks and Celtics that follow.
According to FiveThirtyEight’s NBA predictions, the Timberwolves have a 45% chance to make the playoffs.
Seven months ago, when the Timberwolves traded the farm for Gobert, the idea that they could miss the playoffs was an afterthought, an impossible outcome. But it’s a realistic outcome and if it comes to fruition it will go down as the biggest disaster in franchise history.
