Timberwolves Coach Finch Delivers Tough Playoff Reality Check

Minnesota faces uphill battle to reach postseason without key players

Apr. 7, 2026 at 11:09pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the chaotic energy of a basketball game, with overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant hues of blue, orange, and green, conveying the Timberwolves' struggles to find their rhythm without key players.Finch's tough words underscore the Timberwolves' uphill battle to regain their form and chemistry in time for the playoffs.Philadelphia Today

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch did not mince words when assessing his team's playoff hopes, acknowledging they are 'a million miles away' from their best form and need to improve their play, especially with star Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels currently sidelined by injury.

Why it matters

The Timberwolves have lost three straight games and are in danger of falling out of the top six seeds in the Western Conference, putting their playoff positioning in jeopardy. Finch's blunt assessment highlights the team's struggles and the uphill battle they face to make a deep postseason run without two of their top players.

The details

The Timberwolves have only won 5 of their last 10 games, and their recent losses to the Pistons, 76ers, and Hornets have exposed their inability to close out games without Edwards. Finch acknowledged the team's poor shooting, lack of discipline on defense, and overall disconnect, saying 'we've got to get that back with our connectedness and our spirit'.

  • The Timberwolves have lost three straight games heading into the NBA Playoffs.
  • Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels are currently sidelined with injuries.

The players

Chris Finch

Head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who has called out his team's poor play and lack of readiness for the playoffs.

Anthony Edwards

All-Star guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves, currently sidelined with an injury.

Jaden McDaniels

Starting forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves, also out with an injury.

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What they’re saying

“It feels like we're a million miles away from the team that we can be and that we are. We've got to get that back with our connectedness and our spirit. We've got to have some guys just play better.”

— Chris Finch, Head Coach, Minnesota Timberwolves

“I think a lot of them are pretty good looks, to be quite honest with you. Just got to stay confident in those looks, keep generating for each other. We've got to make all the little plays, the gritty plays, stay in it. Then we start gambling on defense and lose our discipline. That's when stuff snowballs.”

— Chris Finch, Head Coach, Minnesota Timberwolves

What’s next

The Timberwolves will need to regain their form and chemistry quickly if they hope to make a deep playoff run, especially with the uncertainty surrounding the returns of Edwards and McDaniels. Their seeding and potential matchups in the postseason will be crucial to monitor in the final games of the regular season.

The takeaway

Finch's blunt assessment of his team's current state highlights the challenges the Timberwolves face in the playoffs without two of their top players. The team will need to rediscover their identity and cohesion if they hope to make a meaningful postseason run, as their recent struggles have exposed significant weaknesses that must be addressed.