30-point defeat, G5 collapsed in the Western Conference Finals, where is the Timberwolves problem? Four major reasons were found, and the direct fuse of the defeat was exposed

On May 29, 2025, the air at the Thunder home solidified on the score of 94-124. When the final whistle sounded, the Timberwolves' fate of ending the Western Conference Finals for two consecutive years was a foregone conclusion. This defeat exposed the team's deep structural problems, and the polarization of players' performance pushed the responsibility to the whirlpool of public opinion.

1. The comprehensive collapse of core competitiveness

Edwards' downturn became the direct fuse for the team's defeat. He only scored 19 points on 7 of 18 shots in the game, and only hit 1 goal after seven shots outside the three-point line. His controversial three-point selection in the key leg of the final quarter has caused heated discussion. Data shows that his three-point shooting percentage in the Western Conference Finals series has dropped to 28.2%, far below the regular season 39.5%. What's even more fatal is that the Thunder's targeted double-team tactic completely locked down his breakthrough route. When the regular season MVP candidate lost its impact, the Timberwolves' offensive system was paralyzed.

2. The concentrated outbreak of systemic loopholes

The Thunder's 52.3% shooting percentage and 40% three-point shooting percentage reflect the overall collapse of the Timberwolves' defensive system. Gobert's advantage in protecting the basket was disintegrated by the Thunder's five-squad lineup. Homgren's outside projection forced the three-time DPOY to frequently switch defenses outside the three-point line, directly causing the paint area to fall. Data shows that the Thunder scored 54 points in the inside in this game, while the Timberwolves only had 42 points.

3. The complete defeat in tactical games

Thunder head coach Dagenut's tactical design is textbook-level. He cracked the Timberwolves' joint defense through double pick-and-roll tactics. Alexander and Homgren's high-level support forced Gobert to switch defenses frequently, while Jaylen Williams's un-balled air cut used McDaniels' open space after assisting the defense. In contrast, Coach Finch emphasized the "improving outside shooting" after the G4 game, but the Timberwolves' three-point shooting percentage in this game was only 35.3%, and there was a lack of effective mid-range punishment when the Thunder contracted their defense.

4. Randall and Edwards undoubtedly bear the main responsibility for collective responsibilities in the entire series of the entire round of the series. The former's inefficient projection and defensive loopholes directly lead to the inside defeat, while the latter's mentality imbalance and key ball handling mistakes expose the lack of leadership abilities. But it is unfair to blame the players entirely - Coach Finch's lagging tactical adjustment, Gobert's tactical adaptability issues, and management's lineup construction defects, all constitute the deep-seated reasons for this defeat. As salary expert Bobby Max pointed out, if the Timberwolves want to renew Randle, Reed and Walker, their total salary will exceed $250 million to trigger the second rich line, which means that the team's future operation space has been severely compressed.

This defeat sounded the alarm for the Timberwolves: when the dual-core cannot output stably, when the defensive system is riddled with holes, and when tactical adjustments lag behind the opponent, the outbreak of any role player cannot cover up the systemic crisis. Rebuilding during the offseason is imminent - from changing head coaches to optimizing inside configuration, from improving tactical diversity to solving the mentality of core players, the Timberwolves need to carry out scalpel-like reforms at multiple levels. Otherwise, the basketball fortress on the northern ice field will continue to tremble in the cold winter of the playoffs.