Chris Finch will be putting a lot of faith in Julius Randle in the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets.
The biggest threat in front of the Minnesota Timberwolves as they prepare for round one of the playoffs is undoubtedly Nikola Jokic. They're not unique in that regard as just about every team that the Denver Nuggets play are threatened most by the three-time MVP, but the Timberwolves are the ones that have to face him first.
Jokic is fresh off of another outstanding season, finishing as the league leader in both rebounds and assists, and his control of the paint as the Nuggets' center is the an issue that the Timberwolves have to overcome.
In practice on Wednesday, Minnesota head coach Chris Finch mentioned that they have a lot of different methods drawn up to try and guard Jokic. Some obvious and others not obvious, as he put it, but the first line of defense for the Timberwolves will be Julius Randle.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers guard Kobe Brown (24) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn ImagesRandle's Big Role
Randle mentioned that while he was a New York Knick, the task of guarding Jokic often didn't fall to him. But is now that he's with the Timberwolves. In that area, Finch isn't worried. He praised Randle's physical abilities and his quickness as reasons that Randle can stand up to the Serbian superstar.
But more than that, Finch is confident in Randle's fight.
"That's what it comes down to. You can get cute. You can do a lot of different things," Finch said (via Timberwolves). "But at the end of the day it comes down to your ability to be physical, fight him [Jokic] and do it every time down. Because you're not going to win all of them."
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) rebounds the ball in front of Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) during the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesBringing the Fight to Joker
As imposing as Jokic is from both a physical and skillset stand point, he is still human and he can still be contained. At this point, Randle has had plenty of experience working on Jokic, though the Nuggets do have 3-1 advantage over the Timberwolves this past regular season.
As Finch mentioned, Randle won't be the only line of defense for the Timberwolves against Jokic, and the Nuggets center should expect double teams in his future, but Randle will be the most vital piece of that defense.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) defends on Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) at Ball Arena. Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesIt's promising to be an exciting series and likely a hard fought, physical grudge match.
That's clearly what Finch wants to see, at least from his team, and it will take all of the physicality that Randle and the Timberwolves can muster if they want to hope to slow Jokic down, let alone the entire Nuggets lineup.