The Minnesota Timberwolves could not match the intensity of their Game 1 performance against the LA Lakers.
The LA Lakers hit back to tie the series 1-1 with the Minnesota Timberwolves, winning a low scoring game 94-85.
So as the series heads to two games hosted in Minnesota, it is the Timberwolves who have to re-adjust, after an improved all around performance from the Lakers.
Following on from their loss in LA, questions are emerging over one of their starters, veteran Mike Conley.
Minnesota Timberwolves veteran Mike Conley played for 21 minutes against the LA Lakers, and failed to trouble the scoreboard.
Conley ended with 0 points, contributing 6 rebounds and 1 assist.
On a night where none of the Timberwolves’ bench players had double digit points, Conley’s performance was a costly one.
Speaking on his podcast, Bill Simmons pointed to Conley as the weak point in the Minnesota line-up, and believes coach Chris Finch may not know his best starting five.
“The problem for Minnesota is the Conley piece.
“Conley zero points today, 0-5 had some wide open shots and just looked old, and they didn’t really know what to do, got in foul trouble straight away.
“I’m still not positive who the best five guys are as a unit on this Minnesota team. And I’m not positive they know either.”
The cutting view of Conley’s performance was shared by NBA insider Brian Windhorst on the Hoop Collective podcast, describing it as ‘horrendous’.
“It’s the worst game I’ve ever seen Mike Conley play,” he added.
Mike Conley scored 9 points in the series opening win for the Timberwolves against the Lakers, just above his regular season average of 8.2 points per game.
Conley is a long way removed from the player who averaged 21.1 points per game for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2020-21 season.
Back in January, Bill Simmons criticized Conley as ‘done’, believing he could no longer contribute at the top level for the team.
Conley started to then turn the corner, helping the Timberwolves improve down the second half of the season, including a 17 point splash against the Pistons.
Still recognized as a starter for the Timberwolves, it’s possible Conley’s role is switched up as the series heads back to Minnesota.
