Everyone has something they have trouble letting go of. Whether it’s reminiscing about the glory days or a pain previously felt, we’ve all got something that we hold on to. I’ve got plenty of things, but most presciently, I find myself writing about last year’s Minnesota Timberwolves team so often. But I can’t be blamed for having an attachment to a squad that found success against the odds. The underdog Wolves from last season were scrappy, aggressive, fast, and athletic.
While I am stuck clinging to the past, the Timberwolves are forward-focused. With their super-sized lineup, they are working to forge the future and pave the way for a new brand of basketball to dominate the league. However, the injury bug has bitten the Wolves, and their roster has been totally depleted by players being in and out of the lineup. From the ashes, the phoenix has risen. Minnesota is on a three-game winning streak, and it looks like they are starting to capture some of the magic that helped them reach the playoffs last season.
Without Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Wolves have been forced to play much smaller. This team that was built with the hope of beating teams with their size is starting to run opponents off the court with smaller and versatile lineups. Most importantly, the ball is moving around the court, and everyone is getting involved.
“One thing I learned early in the league is that players are really driven by their opportunity to touch the ball,” Chris Finch said after Minnesota’s win over the Dallas Mavericks. “The more they touch the ball on offense, the more commitment they have defensively, no matter who they are.”
The defense has returned to form. The Wolves are forcing opponents into committing 17 turnovers per game over the last 10 games. Last season, Minnesota was one of the best teams in the league at forcing turnovers. Their aggressive defensive style put pressure on their opponents and gave the Wolves many opportunities to get easy offense. But as Finch said, the defensive commitment starts on the offensive end. Getting players involved and playing with good flow on offense is helping the Wolves be more engaged on defense.
The ball failed to move too often with Towns and Gobert on the court. There was a real “your-turn-my-turn” mentality on the offensive side of the floor. Rather than finding the flow of the offense, it seemed the Timberwolves were overthinking every possession. The mental hurdles, especially for point guard D’Angelo Russell, wreaked havoc on Minnesota’s offensive efficiency. The 150-point outburst against the Chicago Bulls feels like it could be a turning point for this season.
Low 3-point shot-attempt numbers have been weighing down the Wolves’ offense all season, but they took 43 3-point shots against the Bulls. Their 32.1 attempts per game are a far cry from the success they found last season when they shot 41.3 per game. Three-point shooting can be a great equalizer on the basketball court, especially when there is a talent disparity. Russell and Anthony Edwards led the shooting barrage, combining for 21 shots from beyond the arc on Sunday night. Minnesota’s recent offensive success proves that the ball movement is paying off.
“What it shows you is that we’re not holding the ball as much,” Chris Finch said. “We have less ball stoppers on the floor at any given time, and now we can see the rhythm of the offense, and I’m a big believer that you gotta see the rhythm of the offense.”
The offense has certainly found a rhythm. Hanging 150 on Chicago, followed by 116 against the Mavs, a step in the right direction from the anemic 99-88 loss the Los Angeles Clippers served Minnesota last week. Ultimately, though, the Wolves are getting back to having fun.
“Because we play with a lot of freedom and randomness,” Finch continued. “But you have to feel that and see that. I think when guys see it and see how much fun it is and how their teammates can help, too, I think it hopefully breeds some momentum in the offense.”
The Wolves have tapped into the well of good vibes and are riding that wave again. Last season, they vibed their way into a playoff berth and two wins against the Memphis Grizzlies. Those vibes start on the court, though. With commitment defensively, playing within the offense flow, and not overthinking things. If the Wolves can harness some of the energy when Towns and Gobert are back in the lineup, the sky’s the limit for this team.
