Chris Finch has never been a fan of the idea that a team can simply "flip a switch" when the playoffs arrive. For most coaches, success in high-pressure moments is built on habits forged over the grueling 82-game regular season.
This year, however, the Minnesota Timberwolves didn't follow that script. For the second straight season, they enter the Western Conference playoffs as a 49-win, sixth seed. But the vibe is different. Last season, they stormed into the postseason with a blistering 17-4 finish and boasted the league's fourth-best net rating. This time, their metrics tell a story of solid, but unspectacular, performance: 13th in offense, 8th in defense, and 10th in net rating.
On paper, that's the profile of a good team, not a championship favorite. So, the burning question as their first-round series tips off is this: which version of the Timberwolves will show up? The one that looked average for stretches, or the one that believes its true potential is unlocked in the playoff crucible?
Star Anthony Edwards has hinted at this duality all year, suggesting at times the team was just trying to "get to the playoffs." Now that they're here, the excuses are gone. "It’s time," Edwards declared. The stage is set for Minnesota to prove they are legitimate playoff risers, a team built for the physical, possession-by-possession grind of the postseason.
Coach Finch acknowledges the paradox. "You don’t ever really want to be a flip-the-switch team," he said, "but we do have a switch to flip and we have to flip it now." He believes that when his team flips it, every player elevates to their best self, unlocking the continuity and connection that defined their past success.
There's evidence to support the "playoff team" theory. Last season's desperate sprint to avoid the play-in tournament galvanized them, fueling impressive series wins. Their identity—a long, physical, and defensively relentless squad—is tailor-made for the playoff environment, where whistles are fewer and toughness is paramount. As Donte DiVincenzo noted, the playoffs allow them to "be ourselves" at a full 94 feet.
All eyes are now on the court. The memory of their epic 2024 conference semifinals victory over Denver is fresh, setting the stage for a high-stakes rematch. The regular-season record is in the books. It's playoff time in Minnesota, and the Wolves are ready to reveal who they truly are.