2024 NBA Playoff Preview First Round: Minnesota Timberwolves v. Phoenix Suns
This 2024 NBA Playoff Preview first-round matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns tips-off Saturday, April 20th at 12:30 p.m. EST on ESPN. It will be their It will be the first time these teams have ever met in the playoffs. (Playoffigami?) This season the Suns took the regular season series with a sweep, winning all 3 matchups. So, who comes out on top for the playoffs? Let’s get into it.
First, here’s the series schedule for this 2024 First Round playoff matchup:
| GAME | DATE | MATCHUP | TIME | TV |
| Game 1 | Saturday, April 20th | Suns @ Timberwolves | 2:30 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| Game 2 | Tuesday, April 23rd | Suns @ Timberwolves | 6:30 p.m. ET | TNT |
| Game 3 | Friday, April 26th | Timberwolves @ Suns | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| Game 4 | Sunday, April 28th | Timberwolves @ Suns | 8:30 p.m. ET | TNT |
| Game 5* | Tuesday, April 30th | Suns @ Timberwolves | TBD | TBD |
| Game 6* | Thursday, May 2nd | Timberwolves @ Suns | TBD | TBD |
| Game 7* | Saturday, May 4th | Suns @ Timberwolves | TBD | TNT |
What to know about the Minnesota Timberwolves
Notable starters:
- G: Anthony Edwards
- G: Mike Conley
- F: Jaden McDaniels
- F: Karl Anthony-Towns
- C: Rudy Gobert
Other players in playoff rotation:
- Naz Reid
- Monte Morris
- Kyle Anderson
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Starting this NBA Playoff Preview with the 3rd seed in the Western Conference has been led by star Anthony Edwards, but if I am being honest, I do not like this team and how it is constructed. I can see how acquiring Rudy Gobert can be seen as a good move as he is a good counter to Karl Anthony-Towns defensive deficiencies and KAT masks Rudy Gobert’s offensive deficiencies while also opening up the floor for Gobert. However, Rudy Gobert is easily scouted against and year after year, whenever Gobert is in the playoffs, his team is going to lose because teams will focus on him and drawing him out to open up the paint. Despite being the potential DPOY, teams do not respect Gobert when it comes to the playoffs. Naz Reid is a nice piece coming off the bench for the Wolves. Alexander-Walker, Kyle “Slo-Mo” Anderson, and Monte Morris are decent rotational pieces, but they do not intimidate me. Mike Conley is still playing? The rumor is he knew Dr. Naismith personally, that’s how old he is. Jaden McDaniels is actually nice at basketball, but those guys I mentioned don’t necessarily put fear into teams. Anthony Edwards and KAT will do what they do, will the rest of the guys rise to the occasion?
What to know about the Phoenix Suns:
Notable starters:
- G: Bradley Beal
- G: Devin Booker
- F: Grayson Allen
- F: Kevin Durant
- C: Jursuf Nurkic
Other players in playoff rotation:
- Eric Gordon
- Royce O’Neal
The next team in this NBA Playoff Preview is the Phoenix Suns. The Suns squeaked by to avoid the Play-in tournament, but this team is very top heavy. If you take the top 3 players of every team, the Suns are one of the best in the business with a trio of Kevin Durant. Devin Booker, and a healthy Bradley Beal. The rest of the roster is a big yikes. Did you notice that I mentioned only 7 players? That’s because the other guys are really not worth noting for the Suns. Unless you want to hear about guys like Thaddeus Young, Josh Okogie, Keita Bates-Diop, Drew Eubanks, Isaiah Thomas, or Nassir Little. Yeah, you see why I only mentioned the first 7 players right? KD, Booker, and Beal usually average about 70 points for the Suns. They do a lot of the heavy lifting for this squad, and they have to, they won’t get much help elsewhere. Grayson Allen is there to be a pest and shoot 3s. Eric Gordon is there to spread the floor and shoot 3s, and he’s old. Jursuf Nurkic is there to get rebounds and hopefully put the ball back in. Royce O’Neal does a little bit of everything to help this Suns team. His services change as the game goes on for the Suns. The lack of depth is glaring, but if their big 3 can handle their load, they can survive.
Questions for this NBA Playoff Preview?
1.) Can the Wolves stop the Suns’ big 3?
I alluded to it earl when talking about Rudy Gobert, but Gobert is a one-trick pony. Will he be able to help against this big 3 that like to spread the floor and can all shoot? I am not sure. You’re asking Rudy Gobert and KAT to guard KD on some possessions and I am not sure that is the look you want. Sure, Durant is lethal no matter who’s on him, but those guys aren’t going to be that much of a deterrent to KD. Anthony Edwards will be able to throw Beal and Booker off their game, but that leaves the other open for business. It’s a very bad matchup for the Wolves. As mentioned, KD, Booker, and Beal average at least 70 points, if you are going to want to win against these guys, you have to hold them below that at least. If they find an answer for Durant (not likely) and either Book or Beal, whichever Ant isn’t guarding, they have a solid shot. I would focus on Durant and Booker and force Beal be the guy to score, that might be their best chance.
2.) Will the Suns lack of depth be the downfall??
One injury and this team might be donezo. When you have 7 guys that average 25 minutes and everyone average less than 16 minutes, it makes it tough. That’s why deep rotations work so well in the playoffs because it makes it hard to make adjustments for. The Suns do not have that luxury. Who is going to take over for injury-prone Jursuf Nurkic if he gets hurt? Thaddeus Young? God forbid Beal gets hurt, we might see Isaiah Thomas minutes (yes that Isaiah Thomas, the one as tall as me). The best ability is availability for the Suns. If one person gets hurt and you have to rely on someone outside the top 7 in this rotation, it’s going to look real ugly.
3.) Can Anthony Edwards rise to the occasion?
This is the first real test for Anthony Edwards. I can’t really count the last 2 years for Anthony Edwards, the team wasn’t nearly as good as they are now. His team is the 3rd seed, he has players around him, he has taken over the team as the top dawg. He is going against 3 stars in the first round. How will he respond? Will he take over and hopefully lift his team over the Suns? Or will he disappear against other star talent? My prediction is in the middle, he will go off nightly, but his team will fail him.
Prediction: Suns in 6
Rudy Gobert being on the Timberwolves really does it for me. I might be glazing at this point but Gobert will always fail you in the playoffs. The Suns will try to hunt for him as he isn’t nearly as useful if he isn’t in the paint on offense or defense. The Suns can counter against that. However, the lack of depth on the Suns can work in the Wolves favor. If they can keep their big 3 under 70 points, and force these other guys to contribute, they can squeak by the Suns and make the next round. However, it is a stars league. Stars win and stars move on in the playoffs. I will take the stars of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal over the stars of Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony-Towns. This concludes the NBA Playoff Preview for the first round matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns. Tell me what you think in the comments!
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