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All of this looks familiar for Timberwolves fans, and brings back memories from the past.
The excitement, the dominance, and the hope for a championship were pretty much the same exactly 20 years ago when the Minnesota Timberwolves finished the season as the number 1 seed. Two decades later, they are finally back on top of the west again.
And this time, they are striving to surpass the success of that memorable team led by Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassel.
That team had the MVP of the season in KG, who literally did everything for this team.
IN 2004 Garnett led the league in rebounds and was third in points per game. A phenomenal all around package. That’s even without mentioning his defense.
KG was a monster on the defensive end. One of the rare superstars to be so engaged defensively. His intensity was unmatched. This would get him a first team all defense selection that season. A true 2 way superstar.
Thing is, today’s team also has a 2 way superstar who likes to take on the challenge of guarding the best guy on the opposing team.
And the rim protection is as good as ever thanks to Rudy Gobert.
This year, MInnesota has the best defense in the league. Actually the numbers show that this is their identity.
The 2004 squad was much more balanced having the 5th offense and the number 6 defense, while now, the gap between the 2 ends of the court is a bit more pronounced, but these new wolves are far from a bad offensive unit.
Towns can go off for 30 on any given night much like Latrell Sprewell could back in the day. The savvy leadership of Mike Conley provides rock solid stability that’s very similar to the one of Sam Cassell. With the only difference between the 2 being that Conley doesn’t really say much, and Cassell was the loudest mouth in his day.
And while that team was way more dependent on their big 3, with Fred Hoiberg and Wally Szerbiack being the next guys- this roster is deeper now beyond ANT, KAT and Rudy. Jaden Mcdaniels is a great defensive stopper on the perimeter, and Naz Reid gives this team a big time boost off the bench.
One of my favorite players could be a starting big man on like 20 teams in the league playing behind Rudy and Kat.
But all that aside, you can see the similarities between the 2 squads.
And the pace of wins is almost exactly the same which is crazy.
At the moment of making this video, Minnesota sits at the top of the west, number 1 with a record of 41-17. With the same number of games played Garnett’s team was 42 and 16.
They finished the season as the best team in the west with 58 and 24.
And while we still don’t know how the story unfolds for today’s Minnesota team- in 2004 the pressure was on.in the playoffs.
By that point, KG had never gone out of the first round. Admittedly he never really had a competitive team to hope for more either. But things were different in 04.
The 8 seeded Denver led by a rookie Carmelo Anthony, never had a chance as Sam Cassell absolutely exploded for 40 points on 66% from the field in the series opening.
Then in game 2 it was Sprewell’s turn dropping 31 points on 64% shooting.
KG’s monster game 4 of 27 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists gave the T-Wolves a commanding 3-1 lead which they were able to convert into a 4-1 win in game 5 securing a second round matchup against the electric Sacramento Kings.
And right out of the gate, the Kings attacked Minnesota and stole game 1 on the road led by Mike Bibby and his 33 points.
The Timberwolves regrouped the next game and the series shifted to Sacramento at 1 apiece.
Minnesota had the perfect chance to get back home court, as they were up by 5 with the ball in their hands with only 40 seconds to go. The win was almost secured, but then…
And just moments later…
In a wild ending, it seemed like Sacramento had all the momentum and the Timberwolves missed a golden opportunity.
But this team was resilient, and they proved that when it mattered the most.
Minnesota survives and takes the lead in this series. A back and forth comfortable wins between the 2 teams set the stage for a deciding 7th game in Minneapolis.
And this is where Kevin Garnett showed everybody why he was the MVP.
KG went god mode carrying his team offensively with a performance for the ages. 32 points, 21 rebounds 4 steals and 5 blocks. Absolutely astonishing display of dominance on both ends of the court.
But the Kings would not go away and this was a war for every possession and every point.
In a do or die situation in the fourth quarter it was KG all alone willing his team to the finish line.
14 points by Garnett in the final period, a heroic performance to secure a 3 point lead in the final moments.
And it all came down to the last possession.
The Timberwolves are headed to the western conference finals, in a showdown against the juggernaut, the superteam of the Los Angeles Lakers.
28 фев 2024
