We’re only one game into the season. However, there are still some takeaways from how this new-look Minnesota Timberwolves roster looked based on their opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder. They made some mistakes in the opener that may have been rust or chemistry-related — for example, missing open threes or defensive lapses. That will probably improve as the team plays more games together. However, it’s worth monitoring how this team establishes a flow to their offense.
The Timberwolves had the eighth-ranked offense last year, with an offensive rating of 114.3. It is more crucial than not for the Wolves to learn how to establish a good flow to their offense with their newly added pieces to improve upon that number this year.
In their opener against the Thunder, the Wolves established a 65-52 first-half lead over OKC. Despite only shooting 30% from three in the first half, they displayed a good flow to their offense and did not appear stagnant with the ball.
However, the second half was a different story. The Wolves lost their 16-point lead in the third quarter, and many home-crowd fans started to boo as their offense stalled out. The Thunder outscored Minnesota 35-22 in the third quarter and 56-50 in the second half. However, the Wolves managed to rally back and won 115-108.
Minnesota’s opening win probably didn’t go as well as they had hoped, especially in the third quarter. They were matched up against what will likely be a tanking team this season, but the game could serve as a learning experience for the Wolves as the season goes along. Hopefully, they will take lessons from this game to better establish flow against the other teams they face this year.
The Timberwolves used consistent ball movement to establish an offensive flow to spark a double-digit lead. They found multiple ways to deliver the ball for scoring opportunities, including some that were not there for them last season. Most notably, Minnesota had a couple of plays in the first half where KAT found Gobert on the short pick-and-roll for alley-oops, which excited Wolves fans in the crowd.
The Wolves also did a good job moving the ball from the post. Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns had multiple possessions where they would get the ball in the post and find spot-up shooters or cutters to the rim. Towns, in particular, had an effective passing display, ending the first half with seven assists. The All-Star big man only averaged 3.6 assists per game last season. By really incorporating Towns and Gobert in their passing game, the Wolves could heavily utilize this to create more opportunities for moving the ball, especially in some high-low post action as they showcased against OKC.
Towns and Gobert connected on lobs and found cutters to the rim from the post. The team also moved the ball well and consistently on the perimeter. As a result, the Wolves ended up with 17 assists in the first half. However, they only had eight assists in the second half when their offense began to stagnate a bit. Therefore, if Minnesota makes deliberate efforts to move the ball and be a high-passing team, it could help them establish a good flow to their offense during games this season.
Turnovers will also indicate how good Minnesota’s offensive flow will be this year. The Wolves did a good job at protecting the ball in the first half against OKC. They only committed four total turnovers by the end of the half. However, when the Wolves began holding onto the ball more, and the offense went stagnant in the third quarter, it resulted in sloppier play. They committed 10 turnovers in the second half.
Last season, the Wolves were 20th in the league in turnovers, committing 14.3 per game. They are a strong offensive team and can effectively move the ball well and create offensive flow. However, Chris Finch must emphasize keeping the ball in their possession and limiting turnovers as the season progresses.
The Wolves will likely have some growing pains and may not be as cohesive as fans may like to start the year. However, they showcased the possibility of being a good ball-movement team in the opener, especially with their two new quality passing big men in Towns and Gobert. Finch needs to continue to refine this team. They need to be able to drive and kick, be effective on the fast break, and optimize their All-Star frontcourt’s passing ability. Above all else, they must protect the ball. If they do that this year, this team could have one of the best offenses in the league and quickly find their flow.
