Bill Simmons: If Wolves stay healthy 'they'll get No. 1 seed in the West'
The world got another taste of just how good the Wolves are when mounted a come-from-behind road win against Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat Monday night. That win left The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Ryen Russillo stating the Wolves can make the NBA Finals.
"They had a great win against Miami last night," Simmons said. "Minnesota looks like a team that could make the finals. I don't think this is fluky. They're 20-5. They play defense better than anyone else in the league. They have a guy who believes he's the best player in the league in Anthony Edwards. Whether that's true or not, he believes it. And they've got the Towns-Gobert thing going. They have a bench."
This isn't the first time Simmons has shown he's on the Minnesota bandwagon, earlier this season stating "This is real."
Russillo agreed that the Wolves can make the finals.
"It still feels like, is it because you're more open minded about what the West really is? In comparison to those other years where it was like 'how is anyone beating Golden State,'" said Russillo. "When you look at the West you go, is Denver this insurmountable thing or is Oklahoma City going to add a piece? Are you completely writing off Phoenix? If that's how we're talking about the other three teams than I think it would be dismissive to say Minnesota can't win the West."
The Wolves' last three games, all wins, came against opponents firmly in the playoff race: the Heat, Pacers and Mavs. All three opponents were left with glowing reviews of the team that just beat them.
"Then I think one of the credits to all of this Towns, probably reluctantly, at some point last year just going 'Oh I guess this Anthony Edwards guy is better than me,'" continued Russillo. "And Ant having the right personality to make it work because I'm not sure, I would have bet, that Towns would have been totally cool with that. Then you throw in Jaden back defensively. What we saw them do against the wings against Boston. I even think Alexander-Walker stepped up his defense. Conley, who is a diminished version of himself, was huge last night with a couple big shots. So, yeah I'm open to it. I'm ready for it. I'm not sure that I'm predicting it but I think writing them off would be dismissive after 25 games."
Dec 18, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) blocks the shot of Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the second half at Kaseya Center.
© Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
"You look at them and go 'I don't even know what they need,'" said Simmons. "I guess they could use point guard insurance with Conley but Reid and Alexander-Walker come in and they're really good. Kyle Anderson is a fun change of pace guy for them. . . This is probably my favorite version of Towns that I've ever seen. The fact that they've figured out how to play [Gobert] and Towns together it seems, seemed inconceivable a year ago."
The biggest question for the Wolves heading into the season was how they would get Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns playing together after a failed first season together in 2022-23. Now, 25 games in, Gobert is odds on favorite to win his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award and Towns is on pace to join the vaunted 50/40/90 club.
"I haven't loved what I've seen from Denver but if it's at gun point I still think I pick Jokic in the West," continued Simmons. "But this Minnesota team was built to beat Denver. Whether they can do it or not, I don't know. But they have bigs to throw at him for four quarters. They have a guy in Edwards who will really attack them and think he's better than them. And they might have home court too. They're 20-5 right now. They have a three game lead in the West and they're 11-1 at home. When you watch their home games they have a real home crowd thing going now too. Now that they're healthy, with McDaniels back, I just think that this thing keeps going."
"I feel comfortable saying that if they stay healthy they'll get the No. 1 seed in the West."
