Minnesota Timberwolves
Current Record: 30-45
Standings: 5th in Division, 12th in Conference
For a while during the month of March, it appeared as if Minnesota was going to peak and make a legitimate run at the eighth seed. The Timberwolves won four of their first six contests of the month which included impressive victories over the likes of the Jazz, Clippers, Warriors and Wizards that had people thinking that perhaps the Wolves were coming into their own at just the right time and peaking for a playoff push.
However, things quickly took a turn for the worst from there as Minnesota then went on to drop six straight contests and ended the month of March with just a 6-8 record to effectively put them out of the playoff picture.
Nevertheless, some of those statement wins should give the Timberwolves a lot of confidence regarding what they can build on for next year and while it may be more beneficial for them in the long-term to look to tank the rest of the season, I don’t see Coach Thibodeau allowing that to happen.
A nod to the past as we look to the future. Our story continues 4.11.17. https://t.co/FdoOpMY4a8
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 24, 2017
Therefore, as six of Minnesota’s final seven games will be against current playoff teams, their role for the rest of the season will be to play the spoiler. With little left to play for themselves, but having proven capable of being able to defeat even the top teams in the league, they could very well present a daunting roadblock to teams vying for better playoff position.
A team with nothing to lose is a dangerous team indeed, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Timberwolves rattle off a few more wins to close out the year and potentially disrupt the playoff push of other teams. However, given the difference in the standings between them and the Nuggets, it’s essentially a guarantee that Minnesota will finish the year at the bottom of the Northwest Division.