The Minnesota Timberwolves looked like they needed time to get on the same page. That couldn’t be more evident through the team’s first few games. It may be hard to define roles for everyone on a team with multiple All-Star caliber players, resulting in poor shot selection and team chemistry.
The Wolves have not looked sharp out of the gates, showing growing pains early. Although this was expected from an organization that underwent significant changes, a hierarchy of primary scorers needs to be prioritized before this team runs into serious competition. Following an unimpressive opening night win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Anthony Edwards and the Wolves were looking to get back on track and gain some more momentum against a mismatched Utah Jazz team on Friday night.
After blowing up their core, it seems as if the Jazz are going to tank for 7’4” prospect Victor Wembanyama, just like every other rebuilding team. However, Utah still has veteran scorers and is a very solid team. If the opposition is not ready for them, they will get beat – as the Wolves experienced firsthand Friday night.
Entering halftime up by nine, the Wolves were looking to run away with the game, advancing to 2-0 on the young season. However, 3rd quarter woes struck again, and the Wolves found themselves down by one heading into the final frame.
“We came out flat in the third, they hit three threes again, tightened the game up even further,” Finch stated after Friday’s loss. “The ball got sticky again. We’re just not trusting the ball movement in key moments.”
The Jazz took the Wolves to overtime, ultimately leading to the team’s first loss of the season. Those late-game stretches have been where Minnesota’s lack of ball movement has hurt them the most in the past. Unfortunately, that problem seems to be returning early this season.
“Well, let’s hope not,” responded Finch when asked if the Wolves’ late-game stickiness is a product of personal playstyles. “You got a lot of guys who want to be closers. But sometimes when you have a talent you gotta let the game decide how it’s gonna unfold by making the simple play to the open man.”
Despite scoring 30 points in regulation against the Jazz on 52% shooting, the Wolves could not get Edwards a single shot in overtime. Towns, however, shot 17 of the Wolves’ 25 shots in the fourth quarter and overtime, going 35.3% from the floor.
“I just felt it was the moment,” said Towns when asked about the number of shots he took toward the end of the game. “I feel like I get paid for those moments, so I wanted to be as aggressive as possible and dictate the game.”
Making $56 million a season over the next four years, Towns is right on the money. He needs to be “that guy” in moments when the team needs him. However, forcing low-percentage shots, not in the flow of the offense, is never the best way to go about that.
“That’s just what happened. I ain’t trippin’. I’m cool,” Edwards told reporters after losing to the Jazz. “Put it in KAT’s hands. I trust him. He did the right thing. That’s going to be good.”
Edwards may not be “trippin’.” However, if the Wolves want to close games out against contending teams, they will need to play with a higher level of continuity.
“Building trust,” answered Finch on coaching guys out of stickiness. “Just got to build trust and make the right play. I think when we do run a play or call someone’s number at the moment, they feel they got to make the play rather than the play that leads to the play, which is oftentimes how it is in those situations.”
Failing to make the extra pass has hurt the Wolves thus far, more specifically between Towns and Edwards. Both of these guys are elite levels scorers. However, not having a hierarchy on the floor leads to the offensive load not being distributed evenly.
D’Angelo Russell has played his role incredibly well this season, knowing when and where to do certain things. DLo has lacked consistency his entire career, especially in his shot selection. However, this season appears to be much different for the seventh-year guard. He is entering the last year of his contract and trying to prove that he still deserves big money in the NBA.
Russell has had a level head for the Wolves, taking on more of a leadership role than he has in years past. He is remarkable on offense. Russell’s expert-level floor vision and a tough shot-making ability make him a lethal threat on the floor. However, DLo will need to take on more of a pass-first mindset as he is sharing the court with three other big-time players on a team that is stressing to move the ball freely.
“[It’s our] second game together,” said Russell. “It’s not an excuse, but you know you’re going to have laps like that, you’re gonna have plays, you’re gonna have spills like that where things just don’t look the way they’re supposed to look. I think it just comes with the chemistry and getting some games under our belt. We’ll start figuring out how to play with each other, play off each other, play for each other.”
The Wolves appeared to have “figured it out” Sunday night against the Thunder. Anthony Edwards was far and away the team’s best score. Notching 30 points on 68% from the floor, Edwards showed what playing with what the defense gives you can do.
Minnesota beat the Thunder 116-106, advancing to 2-1. In that game, they proved that when you play within the offense and move the ball freely, good things happen. If the Wolves want to compete with better teams come November, they will need to do more of what we saw Sunday night.
