Patrick Beverley has established himself as one of the best role players in the NBA. While he doesn’t have a deadly offensive skill-set or massive athletic attributes, he is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA and has a serviceable offensive package.
Beverley has built a reputation as a perennial playoff player, having never missed the post-season in his 11-year NBA career. However, he still may miss out on the 2022 playoffs if the Minnesota Timberwolves can’t make it out of the play-in tournament. They face Beverley’s old team, the LA Clippers in the 7-8 matchup, where the winner will qualify to face the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round.
This Timberwolves team is still very young, with most of the players having minimal to no post-season experience. Beverley has been a team leader this season, getting the young players on the team to play with aggression and confidence. His message to the team prior to the game is to just act like they belong there and not alter their routines.
Patrick Beverley on the young Wolves managing emotions tomorrow:
"Just don’t change anything. If you like to go to movies before a game, stay with your routine. If you like to drink a couple beers before the game, stay with your routine. Don’t try to re-invent the wheel."
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) April 11, 2022
Beverley telling the team to keep it simple is probably the best advice he could give. The Wolves are facing last year’s Western Conference Finalists, a position they got to even when Kawhi Leonard got hurt during the second round last season. Beverley was on that team, so he knows the danger the Clippers pose even without Kawhi.
Timberwolves players like Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell have been to the playoffs just once in their careers. KAT did it with Minnesota in 2018 and D’Lo did it in 2019 with the Brooklyn Nets. Sophomore Anthony Edwards will get to the playoffs earlier than the other two did, if Minnesota can either beat the Clippers or the winners from the San Antonio Spurs vs New Orleans Pelicans matchup.
