Road to the O'Brien: Timberwolves vs Mavericks Western Conference Finals Matchup

ANAHEIM, CA MAY 22, 2024

Are we in for another Game 7?

Coming off a Game 7 win over the young Oklahoma City Thunder, the Dallas Mavericks are heading to their 2nd Conference Finals in 3 years to face the heavy hitting Minnesota Timberwolves.

Coming off a Game 7 win as well over the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets are the Timberwolves. A franchise who hadn't made it past the first round since the 2003/04 NBA season.

Both teams have had outstanding playoff runs and will pick and fight for a shot at this year's NBA finals. Where a young star in Luka Doncic or Anthony Edwards can win their first ring. The battle between these two young stars begins tonight at 5:30 P.M.

THE MATCHUPS

POINT GUARD MATCHUP: DONCIC V CONLEY

Luka is coming off another close triple-double series. Averaging 24 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists a game in the Thunder series ( led Mavericks in all 3 categories). Although taking a step back from scoring, Luka was still doing Luka things leading his team to a series win. Doncic is currently "probable" for Game 1 of the Conference Finals, but has been playing through injury all postseason so don't expect him to take his foot off the break if he does play through his injury. Also leading Dallas with nearly 2 steals a game in the Thunder series, it may carryover to slow down the offense from Anthony Edwards and company. Mike Conley on the other end, has been doing his part and playing like a true guard, passing first and passing well. With a assist-to-turnover ratio of 5.7 in the Denver series. Conley really set his team up with his 7 assists a game with a low number of turnovers. But Conley is in no comparison to the Luka Doncic.

SHOOTING GUARD MATCHUP: IRVING V EDWARDS

This is the toughest matchup in this series. Two very talented players in Edwards' offensive game, and Kyrie Irving's outstanding clutch factor. Irving is coming off some great closeout games against the Thunder helping get the Mavs to this series. While only scoring 16 points a night with nearly a steal and block a night as well. Edwards on the other hand continues his Michael Jordan-like offensive run. Scoring 28 a night against the defending champs on 50% scoring. Edwards will continue his offensive dominance easily. I'll take him over Irving easily, but if its a close game, I'm counting on Irving in a heartbeat.

SMALL FORWARD MATCHUP: JONES JR. V MCDANIELS

What if I told you the 7 foot DPOY on the Wolves had less blocks then Jaden McDaniels. McDaniels is coming off a great series, with a 1.5 blocks a game average and a steal a game. McDaniels easily compliments the defense of Rudy Gobert. Also putting up a steal and block a game is Derrick Jones Jr but slightly scoring more points than McDaniels (1 point). Both players are playing their roles. And are playing very identically where I'd say they cancel each other out.

POWER FORWARD MATCHUP: WASHINGTON V TOWNS

I've heard many doubts about PJ Washington but man has been playing great. Scoring 17 a night against the Thunder. Washington found his momentum and helped leverage some offense off the shoulders of Doncic and Irving to advance. Although his shooting splits could have been better, his production has been great for Dallas. But so has Karl Anthony Towns'. Coming off a good series against the Nuggets, KAT was able to put up 18 points a game alongside 9 rebounds to help the Wolves advance. KAT easily takes the cake in this matchup despite Washington's recent offensive flame. I don't see him continuing his run against towers like KAT and Rudy Gobert.

CENTER MATCHUP: GAFFORD V GOBERT

To close out the starting 5 matchups, are the two best defensive minded starters on each roster. 2 blocks and 8 rebounds a game for Daniel Gafford against Oklahoma City, and the reigning DPOY doing his part grabbing 10 rebounds with a block a game. Both very similar players when it comes to scoring, but the defensive impact that the French tower in Gobert brings to this Minnesota roster is what pushes him to be the better player in my matchup here.

BENCH MATCHUP: MAVERICKS V TIMBERWOLVES

With players in the 6MOTY Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luka Garza coming off a great series against Denver, especially the spark Garza, the Timberwolves bench depth looks sloid. Dallas' Dereck Lively has been playing outstanding basketball off the bench as well, alongside Tim Hardaway Jr. and Josh Green also coming off a good OKC series. I'd call both benches equal.

OVERALL SERIES: TIMBERWOLVES WIN IN 6 GAMES

My heart and my gut, tells me Luka and company will advance. But what Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves have done to juggernauts like the reigning champion Denver Nuggets is insane. With towers like Gobert and Towns being the matchup against Lively, Gafford and Washington. I see some really struggles for the Mavericks. The Timberwolves are easily a better team on paper. I don't see the Mavericks very long in this one, especially being lead by an injured Luka Doncic. Timberwolves in 6.