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Stephen A Smith has gained a reputation for his takes and controversial comments. He has the loudest voice, and his recent comments have taken a serious turn. Smith made several predictions about the Minnesota Timberwolves. And the comments have flamed up. After several haywire darts, the critic even declared the Minnesota Timberwolves as the NBA Champion. So, how bad were these predictions? Let’s just say Smith himself called it his “worst prediction”.

However, the embarrassment came after 2 bad predictions. Stephen A Smith predicted, “I think the Denver Nuggets are on the verge of getting swept.” However, the Nuggets defied expectations by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1st round, and currently, they are leading the semi-final series against the Timberwolves by 3-2.

Smith later said, “I believe that the Minnesota Timberwolves are going to win the World Championship.” He placed his championship hopes firmly on the shoulders of the young Minnesota Timberwolves, led by rising star Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves showed flashes of brilliance, but it was evident that they weren’t ready for the big stage.

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They defeated the Phoenix Suns by 4-0, but continue to struggle against the defending champions. Even after taking a 2-game lead, they’re now trailing after losing 3 games on the trot. After their most recent performances, Smith said, “The Minnesota Timberwolves have me looking like I have made the worst prediction in the history of my career, and I’ve never been more embarrassed by a prediction that I have made.” These were the turn of events that left Smith with an egg on his face.

Anthony Edwards and Co. are Championship hopefuls as they saw it all slip away

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The Timberwolves have a young core. They’re building their team around the likes of Anthony Edwards. With these players, who have a high ceiling for potential, there were top expectations, with many hoping they would leap this season. After all, the Denver Nuggets eliminated them in the first round of the playoffs last season. On the other hand, injuries also affected the Timberwolves’ performance this season.

USA Today via Reuters

But one of their main problems was they failed to strike a balance between the lack of experience and cohesion. Ant-Man has been showcasing his flashes of brilliance. He’s had a career-best season averaging 25.9 ppg., 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Game 4 in the Nuggets series was the fifth time he crossed the 30-point mark in this year’s playoffs! And he’s done this only at the age of 22.

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In the Stephen A Smith context, as it has been the case with several other analysts too, it seems to be the case of overreliance. However, he’s readily acknowledged his mistake, as he’s placed the blame squarely on the Twolves’ performances. All this serves as a reminder that even the most seasoned individuals can be wrong. But Smith’s criticism highlights a larger debate.

Can young, talented teams overcome their inexperience and make a deep playoff run? Let us know your review of Ant-Man and Co’s season in the comments below.

Written by

Dhanraj Majithia

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Dhanraj is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Fueled by the legendary Kobe Bryant's Mamba Mentality, Dhanraj weaves his passion for the game with in-depth analysis, sharpened by his experience as a state-level shooting guard. His are of expertise lies in breaking down trade reports and their implications for fans.
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Edited by

Daniel D'Cruz