Timberwolves’ Mike Conley reacts to Lynx’s WNBA collection win vs. Solar

The Minnesota Lynx, very similar to the Minnesota Timberwolves, are excelling of their respective leagues. As a present of solidarity, Timberwolves guard Mike Conley congratulated the Lynx for advancing to the WNBA Finals after defeating the Connecticut Solar, 88-77, in Sport 5 of the semifinals, with a two-emoji tweet.

“💪🏾💪🏾,” Conley wrote on his official account on X, previously generally known as Twitter.

Skilled basketball within the metropolis of Minneapolis is flourishing; the Lynx could not have reached lofty championship heights ever because the departure of the legendary Maya Moore, however now, they’re one step nearer to being again on the mountaintop of the WNBA. Napheesa Collier continues to be on a roll, dropping 27 factors and 11 rebounds within the victory.

Advancing to the WNBA Finals is a vindication of all of the Lynx’s laborious work all through the 2024 season. They went 30-10 within the common season, they usually got here out on prime in opposition to a really deep Solar group that has far more deep playoff expertise than they do.

Certainly, the Lynx flexed their muscle in opposition to the Solar, very similar to within the veteran Timberwolves guard’s tweet. They dealt a bunch of injury from the paint (Minnesota scored 40 factors within the paint in comparison with 29 from Connecticut), they usually additionally pressured 19 turnovers which they then transformed for a complete of twenty-two factors.

The Lynx had been ranked second within the affiliation this previous season in defensive score, however they got here by way of when it mattered probably the most. In any case, they’ve the providers of the reigning Defensive Participant of the Yr. Collier has set the tone for the Lynx all season lengthy, and now, they’re solely three wins away from profitable one other championship — the fifth in franchise historical past in the event that they handle to beat the New York Liberty.

As for Conley and the Timberwolves, they too are on the lookout for a breakthrough. Final 12 months was a step in the proper path as they made all of it the way in which to the Western Convention Finals, however now, they need to recover from the hump and maybe win all of it.

Can Mike Conley and the Timberwolves observe the Lynx’s lead?

The Timberwolves and Lynx have constructed their championship-contending id on the defensive finish of the ground. The Lynx haven’t made it previous the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs since 2017, however now, right here they’re, nearer than they have been in latest seasons to the final word objective.

On the very least, the Lynx’s development into a real title contender bodes nicely for the Timberwolves’ probabilities of enhancing upon final 12 months’s end. Nonetheless, there will probably be loads of hurdles for the Timberwolves to clear for them to even match their Convention Finals look final season.

The Western Convention is as deep as ever, and maybe their two finest opponents to return out of the convention gauntlet reside in the identical division (Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Denver Nuggets). Furthermore, the Timberwolves made a seismic change to their roster previous to the beginning of coaching camp, dealing away Karl-Anthony Cities for a bundle headlined by Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.

If something, the Timberwolves will want Anthony Edwards to take one other leap, and Naz Reid will determine largely into the group’s plans in filling the frontcourt manufacturing void left by the Cities commerce. They’ve a deep and full roster that may win all of it, however they must be locked in the identical method the Lynx have been all season lengthy as they head into the WNBA Finals.