5 Reasons the Mavericks will destroy Timberwolves in Conference Finals

1. Mavericks' defense is peaking at the right time

While it seemed outlandish to label the Dallas Mavericks as one of the best defensive teams in the NBA just a few months ago, the Mavericks have solidified themselves as one of the best defensive teams in the entire NBA throughout the course of these playoffs. Dallas has held the likes of the LA Clippers and OKC Thunder to less than 100 points on four separate occasions in these playoffs, as the Mavericks have played their most connected brand of defense that they've played all season throughout these last two playoff rounds.

The Mavericks have been extremely crisp on their defensive rotations within these playoffs barring a few instances in the first round where they struggled to guard James Harden in the pick-and-roll. The Mavericks' effort in terms of their one-on-one defense has been excellent across the board as well, as the Mavericks have made life tough for the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Paul George, and the aforementioned Harden just to name a few of the difficult matchups that they've been presented with in these playoffs.

The Mavericks have guarded nearly every type of lineup thrown at them well in the playoffs as well as the weeks leading up to them, as they most recently challenged with the Thunder's ability to play five-out offensively. Even with one of their best-defending big men on the perimeter in Maxi Kleber missing the series due to injury, Dallas proved that their defensive rotations were quick enough to recover at the back line and rookie center Dereck Lively II held up well when switched onto the Thunder's perimeter players.

The Mavericks will be challenged to a whole other level defensively with the amount of size that Minnesota can throw at them with some of the Timberwolves' offensive actions, so the Mavericks will need to be extremely attentive to Minnesota's off-ball movement given the Timberwolves' size and length advantage over the Mavericks.

However, this Mavericks team is as well equipped to deal with the Timberwolves' offensive attack as any team in the league is, especially if Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving continue to play stout defense behind Dallas' backbone defensively of P.J. Washington, Derrick Jones Jr., Daniel Gafford, and Lively II.

For more on the Dallas Mavericks during their Western Conference Finals matchup versus the Minnesota Timberwolves, stay tuned as we will have you covered.