After the Timberwolves’ season opener concluded in San Antonio on Oct. 18, the level of fan optimism wasn’t high. Definitely not as high as it ended up being a month later. Of course, the opening game of an NBA season brings a slew of emotions, some of which can be irrational.
The hopes of a newly-rebuilt team like the Wolves were never going to be realized after one road game against the most machine-like team in the league. Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson, and Jeff Teague were learning – or, re-learning – how to play with a Tom Thibodeau-led team. Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns had a new group of teammates to figure out. Even without Kawhi Leonard, a win against the Spurs was going to be tough.
A month later, the Timberwolves look like a team that should lock up a playoff berth at some point early in the spring. The starters have started to play more comfortable around each other, and the 8-5 record indicates growth, no matter how ugly the process may have looked at times. But even with growth taking place, it’s still important to look back at what got them to this point.
The Timberwolves face the Spurs for the second time Wednesday night. What can they do differently to change the outcome?
Here are three ideas:
The Small Fourth Quarter Lineups Didn’t Work Last Time
Over the first few games of the season, Thibodeau liked finishing games with a small-ball lineup, featuring Butler and the power forward slot, Wiggins at the small forward, and Jamal Crawford pairing up with Teague in the backcourt.
When they tried that in the season opener, it allowed the Spurs to own the offensive glass and eventually pull away. Even though the Spurs matched the small ball lineup, to a certain extent, with Rudy Gay playing power forward, his size advantage over Butler still gave the Spurs the edge in that category.
The Bench Will Need to Contribute
The last time these teams matched up, the Spurs were without Leonard and Tony Parker. Unfortunately, that hasn’t changed a month later. But in classic Spurs fashion, they’re 9-5 and have won five of their last six without them.
Dejounte Murray, who owned the Wolves last time as Parker’s fill-in, has since been moved to the bench for the Spurs. Patty Mills, who also did damage on opening night, has taken over that role. But even with a shorthanded Spurs roster, they still feature Murray, Gay and Manu Ginobili off the pine. That bench corps ranks fifth in the league in scoring, while the Wolves’ second unit sits in the bottom five. Even if Gorgui Dieng misses another game with a finger injury, they’ll still have to find a way to make those stats irrelevant.
Not Having Leonard and Parker Means Very Little
It’s not just because the Wolves lost to them in the opener, and it’s not just because the Spurs are 9-5 right now. History indicates that a Gregg Popovich-coached team is dangerous, no matter what the circumstance might be. The Spurs are a title contender with Leonard and Parker, but they’re always dangerous, as long as Popovich is on the sideline.
And, as mentioned before, their cast is good regardless. They don’t have a true superstar on the active roster, but Aldridge has walked the walk so far this season, earning the big-money deal he signed over the summer. Pau Gasol is no slouch, either, and neither is the aforementioned group off the bench. This game won’t be easy, but they have the tools to make it winnable.