Published on: Mar 6, 2022 12:57 am IST|Updated on: Mar 6, 2022 12:57 am IST
MIN vs POR Dream11: Western Conference continues to produce heated battle night in and night out but the East has become equally impressive this season. The Playoffs battle is shaping up and with each day, we can see the favorites to finish in the top six at least while in the West, we have seen Phoenix Suns create such a huge distance with others, that even without their backcourt, they have been gung-ho due to the confidence built over the season. However, that confidence has disappeared for some teams and that is why it is usually favorable to set a winning tone. But what happens when you are so depleted that you have to field your eleventh/twelfth men or even go beyond that, well, one of such teams is Portland Trail Blazers and they will face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves here.
The Timberwolves have had a terrific season and their rise can be traced to the fact that they have one of the most versatile scoring lineups in the league. Sophomore Anthony Edwards has helped in racking up drive-based points along with improved shooting but Anthony-Towns and D’Angelo Russell are equally important for the major production.
On the other hand, the Trail Blazers as stated above, are just too short-handed. Perhaps the biggest missing piece has been Damian Lillard, however, Jusuf Nurkic’s injury has ensured that they are lagging behind the Pelicans at this point. With Norman Powell and CJ McCollum trade, Bledsoe, Little, Winslow injured, the team balance is in tatters.
Host: Minnesota Timberwolves Visitors: Portland Trail Blazers Match Timing: 6 March, @ 06:30 AM Venue: Target Center
Western Conference picture The Western Conference has seen some overturn in the fortunes since the beginning of the year. As of now, the Suns are primed to finish at the top and their two victories without Paul and Booker mean they have built incredible depth. Below them, the Warriors and the Grizzlies are pretty much the same records but the Grizzlies have played better than the Warriors and may seal the second spot soon. Below, we have the Utah Jazz, who have repaired their season after falling off in January but the Mavericks have caught up to them a little, however, their road to fourth place is still thorny.
Below the Mavericks, we have the Nuggets, a team that has played beautifully since January and they have a decent distance with the team behind them; the Timberwolves. However, the Timberwolves have won three in a row but they have to be wary of the Clippers, a team that is right behind them and is currently on a five-game winning streak. The Wolves have been also playing some electric basketball right now but the Clippers have just one fewer win and two more losses, making it a close battle. Below these two are the Lakers, well, a team that has lost the plot and is on a four-game losing streak and becomes worse with each month.
Below the Lakers are the Pelicans, a squad that has been playing at a high level these days and have won four in a row owing to their much improved three-point shooting and brilliant defense. And then we come to the Trail Blazers, a team that has lost three in a row and they have lost the way since the injury to Nurkic and Winslow. Kings and Spurs may take over the Trail Blazers soon so we have to believe that Portland’s season can end before the Play-in tournament. And the team can fall around teams like the Thunder and Rockets, two teams that are having the worst records in the Western Conference as of now.
Portland Trail Blazers | Minnesota Timberwolves Games: 62| 64 Wins: 25 | 35 Defeats: 37 | 29
Minnesota Timberwolves Teams News:
Timberwolves Expected Starting Five Middle: PF: Jaden McDaniels PF: Jarred Vanderbilt | C: Karl Anthony-Towns Guards: PG: D’Angelo Russell | PG: Patrick Beverley
BENCH: Jaden McDaniels, Malik Beasley, Naz Reid, Taurean Prince, Josh Okogie, Jaylen Nowell, Nathan Knight, Jake Layman.
Portland Trailblazers Team News
Trailblazers Expected Starting Five Middle: F: Elijah Hughes | C: Drew Eubanks Guard: PG: Brandon Williams | SG: Anfernee Simons | SG: CJ Elleby
BENCH: Ben McLemore, Keon Johnson, Trendon Watford, Keljin Blevins, Greg Brown III.
Karl Anthony-Towns(MIN) Points: 20 Rebounds: 08 Assists: 03 Steals: 03 Blocks: 01 Karl has been doing wonderfully well in the middle and with the rise of the team’s bench, Edwards’ presence, and Russell’s perimeter scoring, his load has been eased. Anthony-Towns has been in the 20-28 points, 7-12 rebounds range quite a bit. He can be selected as a Star/Pro Player in the Dream 11 NBA Fantasy scenario. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 39-53
Anfernee Simons(POR) Points: 11 Rebounds: 00 Assists: 06 Steals: 01 Anfernee has been doing a brilliant job at the one-guard position but with a lack of support around him, his numbers have been hurt. He has usually scored in the 19-24 points while dishing 4-6 assists a game. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 29-40
D’Angelo Russell(MIN) Points: 17 Rebounds: 02 Assists: 07 Steals: 03 Rusell is an incredible lefty guard who can light it up from the multiple areas of the floor using his beautiful fadeaway, step-back, and what-not while being an effective playmaker. Russell has mostly been in the 17-23 points, 6-9 assists range on a regular basis. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 30-42
Trenton Watford(POR) Points: 13 Rebounds: 07 Assists: 06 Blocks: 01 Big Forward Trenton has been getting decent minutes because of the thinned-down roster and he can be an effective rebounder. He has been mostly in the 6-9 points and 4-7 rebounds these days. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 13-20
Drew Eubanks(POR) Points: 13 Rebounds: 08 Assists: 00 Steals: 01 Drew has given some decent minutes in the middle for a highly stretched-out Trail Blazers team. Drew can be expected to be in 10-16 points and 6-8 rebounds range. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 17-27
Patrick Beverley(MIN) Points: 07 Rebounds: 01 Assists: 08 Steals: 01 Beverley brings veteran experience to the one-guard position and has been a stellar playmaker while making an odd shot here and there. Beverley has mostly been in the 7-11 points and 4-8 assists range. Expected Fantasy Points Range: 17-27
PG: D Russell(PP), P Beverley SG: A Simons SF: J McDaniels PF: T Waller-Prince, D Eubanks C: K Towns(SP), C Elleby
If you like our Dream11 Prediction Tips, please share this article with your friends, who are also interested in playing Dream11 Fantasy Leagues. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Telegram, and YouTube for the best Dream11 Fantasy Tips.
Is it not fun watching the young Timberwolves light it up from the floor from multiple areas? Unfortunately for the Indian NBA viewers, this battle is not going to be showcased on the TV outlets MTV and VH1, and also the streaming services Voot and JIOTV in India are not going to display it. That is why it is better to get the NBA League Pass’ annual subscription and keep a tab on all the NBA action. You can watch the live stream and also the full game replay if you miss the action. To learn the scores, stats, and other league-related information, visit the official website of the NBA.