Fighting doubts! From "playoff softie" to averaging 24+6+8, 1 for 3, the Timberwolves made a profit

NBA Western Conference Semi-Finals G4, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Golden State Warriors 117-110 away, winning the match point 3-1 with a big score.

In this game, Timberwolves core Julius Randle made 11 of 21 shots and scored 31 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, completely tearing the Warriors' proud front defense, and shattering all doubts about him "will be bad in the playoffs" with a refreshing victory.

Before the start of this series, not many people were optimistic that Randall could perform well under the Warriors' forward because his performance in the playoffs was not very good.

In the past five years, Randall's playoff performance in the Knicks has been a disaster: he averaged 18 points in the first round of 2021, with a shooting percentage of 29.8%; in the second round of 2023, he was defended by the Heat to 9 points in a single game, and Randall's career shooting percentage was only 39% and his three-pointers were 28.5%.

So in the second round, he has to face the combination of Green + Butler, so the outside world predicts that its data will plummet to around 15 points.

However, Randle surprised everyone with his perfect performance in four games. Under the defense of Green + Butler, Butler averaged 24.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 8 assists per game, shooting percentage of 49% and three-point shooting percentage of 36%. Among them, he averaged 8 assists per game, the most of all players in the second round.

And in G4, Randle made 11 of 21 shots in the game, scoring 31 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block, plus or negative value +11.

After the game, Randall responded domineeringly: "I know what I can do, and those doubts will only make me stronger. "

Last year, the Timberwolves, who just entered the Western Conference Finals, suddenly reached a deal with the Knicks when they were in their "good years". They exchanged 91 Don for Randall + Divincenzo + first-round pick. This move was considered by the outside world to dismantle the team to save money, so they were criticized by the whole network.

In fact, the Timberwolves did save a lot of money. Towns' annual salary this year is 49.21 million, Randall + Divincenzo's total salary is 40.39 million, and his salary is reduced by 9 million. Once this happens, the team's salary + luxury tax has dropped by nearly 40 million.

But with money saved, the team's record was not greatly affected, and Randall's arrival also liberated Huazi. When his opponent double-teamed Huazi, Randall could share the pressure for him.

Huazi even said bluntly: "With Randle here, you can be a hunter with peace of mind." The better performance in the playoffs, the more beneficial it is for Randle, because this year is the second to last year of his contract, and he is eligible to renew a four-year, $181.5 million contract. If the contract is renewed next year, the contract will be $140.3 million for three years. Or break out of the contract and choose to sign a five-year, $200 million renewal contract.

Currently, the Timberwolves lead 3-1 with a score of up to 92%, and if they successfully advance, they will enter the stage of the Western Conference Finals for two consecutive years.