Why Charles Barkley Is Wrong About The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Playoff Hopes

During the final halftime show of the NBA on TNT era, Charles Barkley drew the ire of certain NBA fans for old times’ sake. He chose to highlight the Los Angeles Clippers as a Western Conference threat, expressing his distrust in the two teams playing that night — the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves — much to their fans’ chagrin.

the halftime show starts off with condemning ja’s celly and saying taylor jenkins is probably happy he doesn’t have to deal with him anymore

then chuck goes into saying they don’t trust either of these teams and the clippers are the 2nd best team in west lol

— Made in Memphis (@MadeinMemphis1) April 11, 2025

Was Barkley right? He’s certainly justified in his belief in a surging Clippers team. Fading the Grizzlies would be reasonable, given their tumultuous season and piling injury totals. The Timberwolves, however, are playing like possible contenders. Ignoring them entirely as playoff threats would be imprudent.

A Revamped Offense

Since January, they rank fifth in net rating against top-10 teams (plus-4.3). Their 9-8 record undersells their performance against these opponents. Only seven other teams have a winning record against top-10 clubs in the same timespan. Minnesota’s offense has played phenomenally well in those games, ranking second in offensive rating (123.6 points per 100 possessions).

Minnesota is playing its best basketball at the right time, going 15-4 with a top-five net rating since March 1, which loosely coincides with Julius Randle’s return from injury. The Timberwolves lead the NBA in net rating against top-10 teams during that time, though it’s only a three-game sample. 

They’ve constructed an identity around their defense for years — namely, last season en route to the Western Conference Finals — Yet in 2024-25, they’ve shifted toward offense following the addition of Randle via trade. That’s paid off. Minnesota is sixth in  offensive rating against top-10 teams this season. Its half-court offense ranks a respectable 13th on the season, but that’s ballooned to sixth since the beginning of March.

Randle’s game has slowed down as he’s settled into his new offensive structure. He’s seeing the floor and playing more patiently these days. After a slower start, Rudy Gobert has rebounded back closer to Defensive Player of the Year form. And their ace, Anthony Edwards, has risen his level of play in the postseason throughout his young career.

Opposing defenses have pressured Edwards at an astronomical rate this season, and he’s creating positive offense off of those chances. Playoff defenses will certainly continue throwing bodies at him, daring others to capitalize on his gravity. Maybe that pressure will rattle Edwards. But from what we know so far, I wouldn’t bet against him in the playoffs.

Minnesota may flame out in the playoffs. Barkley could have his moment if the Timberwolves can’t generate consistent offense outside of Edwards or if they run into an unfavorable matchup. But they immediately responded to Barkley’s skepticism with a 52-point third quarter, bludgeoning the Grizzlies en route to a crucial, resounding victory Thursday night.

The Timberwolves, like nearly all other Western Conference playoff teams, have notable flaws. We shouldn’t dismiss their playoff potential, though. They’re a threat worth respecting and their late season play has shown that.