Los Angeles Clippers: Could Minnesota Timberwolves Be 2013-14 Playoff Foe?
Where are we? This place seems so familiar. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers are facing each other and we’re thinking it could be a playoff primer for next year. Haven’t we seen this before? Ah, this is how I remember it:
That was back on Jan. 20, 2012, on ESPN, when the Timberwolves appeared to officially reintroduce themselves to the basketball world.
Kevin Love was primed to become a megastar, Ricky Rubio was the next big thing and the Timberwolves finally had something to be excited about.
If you asked me on that night, which team would be looking the best heading into the 2012-13 playoffs, I would have been hard pressed to give you an answer.
Kevin Love will come back with a vengeance in 2013-14. Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com
Instead, the wheels fell off for the Wolves when Ricky Rubio went down on March 10, 2012, with an ACL injury. He would miss the remainder of the year and the beginning of the 2012-13 season.
The Los Angeles Clippers would have their ups and downs, but would ultimately finish second in the Pacific Division en route to upsetting the Memphis Grizzlies in seven games in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. They would then get throttled by the San Antonio Spurs in four straight.
Fast forward to the 2012-13 season and the Clippers (51-26) have again put themselves in a good spot. They have clinched the Pacific Division and will likely get the Grizzlies again in the first round.
Chris Paul has played MVP-quality basketball, Blake Griffin continues to grow exponentially as an all-around player and the supporting cast of Jamal Crawford, Matt Barnes and Caron Butler have been fantastic.
Blake Griffin’s raw numbers are down, but his value is skyrocketing. Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com
The Wolves (29-47) have been on the other end of the spectrum. They came into the season with high hopes after adding Andrei Kirilenko, Chase Budinger, Alexey Shved, Greg Stiemsma and Brandon Roy.
Instead, Love broke his hand doing knuckle push-ups before the season even began. He made it back for 18 games before re-breaking his hand. Now, he’s decided to completely hang it up and has officially been ruled out for the rest of the season as he gets arthroscopic surgery on his knee.
Budinger has missed five months of the season with a torn meniscus in his left knee. Roy played just five games before sitting the remainder of the season. Even Kirilenko and Shved have had nagging injuries that have limited their effectiveness and availability.
In short, the Wolves have been destroyed by injuries this season. So what about next season?
A lineup that features Rubio, Budinger, Love, Kirilenko and Nikola Pekovic can compete with anyone in the league. The Clippers starting five of Paul, Butler, Griffin, Willie Green and DeAndre Jordan creates a fascinating group of matchups.
Who doesn’t want to see Rubio vs. Paul? Griffin vs. Love? Pekovic vs. Jordan?
We’re not going to be treated to all of those matchups on Wednesday, April 10. The Staples Center will be rocking as the Clippers gear up for their playoff run, while the Wolves simply play out another disappointing season.
But 2013-14? That’s a different story. Would anyone be surprised if we get a No. 3 vs. No. 6 matchup in the Western Conference between these two teams? Not only would I not be surprised, I’d be all for it.