Wolves Finish Regular Season on Shaky Note, 1st Round vs. Phoenix

Ok, so now that the regular season has come to a close, I figured I should sit down and analyze this team in second half of the year. 

Expectations
When I last checked in on here with the Wolves, they were at the top of the West with 34 games left. While it didn't exactly go as I would have hoped, they were somewhat able to hold serve. My expectation at the beginning of the season was that Minnesota would crack no higher then a 5 seed and no lower then a 9 seed in the postseason. I am happy to say I was wrong in a good way! While the Wolves were able to hold the 1 seed for the majority of the season, they faltered in the final couple weeks along with the other two teams vying for the spot heating up. 

Preview vs. Suns
Minnesota lost all three games they played against the Suns this season, 2 on the road and 1 at home. The Wolves looked the worst in those three games, being limited to under 100 points in 2 out of 3 and losing by 20+ in two games (with the third being a 10 point loss due to a late game push by the bench). If Minnesota wants to win their first series since 2003-04, they will need to find a way to give more effort on both ends and limit Phoenix's role players. No sense in trying to focus on Durant and Booker since they will get their points regardless of what you throw at them. Its do-able for the Wolves, they just need to focus for the whole game. A struggling few minutes could derail a game.

Series Schedule against Suns:
Game 1: in Minneapolis 4/20 @ 2:30 PM CT on ESPN
Game 2: in Minneapolis 4/23 @ 6:30 PM CT on TNT
Game 3: in Phoenix 4/26 @ 9:30 PM CT on ESPN
Game 4: in Phoenix 4/28 @ 8:30 PM CT on TNT
Game 5*: in Minneapolis 4/30 Time and Network TBD
Game 6*: in Phoenix 5/2 Time and Network TBD
Game 7*: in Minneapolis 5/4 Time and Network TBD
* - if necessary
All first round games will also be simulcast on Bally Sports North

Let's go Wolves!!!