Minnesota's head coach admitted the second-round exit stung, but he believes the team isn't far from breaking through.
The Minnesota Timberwolves made three straight trips to at least the Conference Semifinals, and for a franchise that spent years on the outside looking in, a run like that means something.
Still, when the San Antonio Spurs closed them out in six games this spring, head coach Chris Finch could not pretend it did not leave a mark.
"This one bothered me a little bit more," Finch said during his end-of-season press conference.
A Valiant Effort That Fell Short
Minnesota finished the regular season 49-33 and entered the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Western Conference.
After gutting out a first-round win over the Denver Nuggets in six games despite injuries to key players, the Timberwolves ran into a Spurs team with more firepower in the second round.
The Wolves tied the series at two games apiece after winning both at Target Center, but San Antonio pulled away with blowout wins in Games 5 and 6 to end the run.
Finch was blunt about those final two games.
"The wheels came off," he said. "Not a big fan of getting beat by 30 three times in a series. That's certainly nothing to be proud of."
The Game 6 loss, a 139-109 defeat at home, was a tough lasting image for a team that had fought so hard to push the series that far.
Zooming Out
Even with the sting of elimination fresh, Finch pointed to where this franchise stands in the broader landscape.
Anthony Edwards averaged a career-best 28.8 points per game this season on 48.9 percent shooting and 39.9 percent from three, and Jaden McDaniels took a real leap with 14.8 points per game on 41.2 percent from deep.
Finch noted that McDaniels' growth was one of the team's stated goals heading into the year, and even in a disappointing ending, that development stood out.
"They were the better team," Finch said of San Antonio. "But we're still one of only two teams that's been to this point in the playoffs in the last three seasons."
The Timberwolves have been a consistent playoff threat since Finch took over, reaching the Western Conference Finals in back-to-back years before this second-round exit.
The foundation around Edwards is real, and with him still only 24, the window remains wide open.
What Comes Next
Finch acknowledged the offseason will bring a serious look at the entire roster. "Got to look at everything," he said. "Certainly going to be a big evaluation summer."
The Timberwolves may target upgrades around Edwards, with questions surrounding Julius Randle's fit and whether the supporting cast can hold up against elite competition.
This team is not starting over.
They are a few pieces and some better health away from getting over the hump, and Finch knows it.
Even if this one hurt a little more than the rest, the belief that Minnesota can contend is not fading.
This summer's draft picks and roster moves could be what finally push them there.
