Game Preview: Short(handed) Suns take on massive Wolves
Phoenix Suns take on Minnesota Timberwolves tonight at 7 pm on TNT. The Suns are 5-1 and the Wolves are 4-3. Both teams plan to compete for the NBA title in 2023. Suns have added Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges and Deandre Ayton to their team in 2020. Wolves added Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards in 2022.
The Wolves are hoping to win the title. They have only 3 playoff wins in the past 18 years. The Suns have won 21 playoff games in two years, after a run of 0 wins for 10 years in a row. Wolves traded five first round picks and a few role players for the right to sign Gobert.
Suns are short-handed and in need of some players. Deandre Ayton, Jae Crowder, Ish Wainright and Torrey Craig are injured. Kyle Anderson and Joran McLaughlin are also injured and are QUESTIONABLE.
Suns are short-handed and the Wolves are struggling. The Wolves have a negative net rating. It took the Suns a couple of months to gel with their new Paul-led starting lineup in 2020. They rode that new lineup all the way to the Finals. I am skeptical that Gobert's presence will bring out the best in Towns, Russell or Edwards.
The Wolves are short-handed and will play without their two highest paid players. The game will be broadcast live. The Wolves beat the Suns in the previous meeting.
The Suns are the only West contender off to a great start. Dallas, LA Clippers and Golden State are all stumbling out of the gates with losing records. Memphis, Minnesota and Denver are barely above .500. The Suns don't face the Jazz or Spurs for weeks. Suns take on the Wolves tonight. They are short-handed with the absence of DeAndre Ayton and Torrey Craig. They might miss Jae Crowder's toughness and ability to defend bigger guys.
Gobert/Towns starting lineup is pulling down less than half the available rebounds (49.2% of rebounds) while Suns grab more than 50%. Suns will be battling in the paint with only Biyombo and Landale.
Suns are playing short-handed and the Wolves are feeling their way around the court. The Suns are cruising right now and will win the game easily.
