The first of January invites time to reflect on all the good and bad of the past year. Unfortunately, the bad heavily outweighs the good for the Minnesota Timberwolves this season.
After a Cinderella run to the playoffs last season and obtaining three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, most Wolves fans were giddy to watch their new-look team perform. Despite the consensus understanding that the team would need time to get acclimated, most fans are at their wits’ end and have little to no hope as the Wolves currently sit at 16-21 and are amid a 5-game losing skid as we head into 2023.
Currently at what most are describing as “rock bottom,” what do the Wolves have to accomplish for the rest of the season if they hope to get the fans who’ve already written them off back on their side and make a playoff push?
Rebound The Ball
Last season, the Wolves finished as the 25th defensive rebounding team in the NBA, only hauling in 32.9 defensive rebounds per game. Karl-Anthony Towns was pulling in 9.8 rebounds a night, his career-low. Towns’ frontcourt “co-star” Jarred Vanderbilt was arguably Minnesota’s best rebounder, gobbling up 8.4 per game. However, Vando stood 6’9” and weighed only 214 pounds, which often led to him being outplayed by the big bruising bigs down low.
This blistering issue came to light against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs. The Wolves took Memphis to six games but were out-rebounded in all but one game. The Grizzlies also controlled 75 offensive rebounds through those six games – a change must be made.
When Tim Connelly arrived in the Twin Cities, he knew the Timberwolves’ biggest need, a rebounding and defensive-minded big man to pair with Towns. Some considered guys like JaVale McGee or Nerlens Noel as possible additions. However, Connelly had much bigger plans, trading for Gobzilla.
But despite the acquisition of Gobert, Minnesota is still the 24th-worst defensive-rebounding club in the NBA. Gobert may appear as a somewhat shell of his former self. However, he is still corralling 11.9 boards per game when healthy. For the most part, Gobert has done his job on that front.
Right now, the Wolves’ rebounding troubles are lying at the feet of Minnesota’s guards and wings.
“We have 14 feet of center out right now with injuries, so that’s not really gonna help our rebounding,” said Chris Finch after giving up 68 rebounds to the Milwaukee Bucks last week. “But guys have to step up and just rebound better across the line, whether Jaden [McDaniels], or Naz [Reid], or tonight like Kyle [Anderson].”
Minnesota’s injuries play a factor in some of the team’s rebounding blunders. However, there is no reason the Wolves should be getting out-rebounded as they have been on a nightly basis. Being a good rebounding team requires you to have all five guys crashing the glass with force and playing hard – something they have been working on since the departure of Patrick Beverley.
Play Better Out of Halftime
Last season, it seemed that no lead was safe for the Timberwolves, no matter how large at halftime. So far this season, things appear to be worse, though. Through Minnesota’s first 36 games, they have been outscored in the third 24 times. Taking a large halftime lead or not, the Wolves just don’t come out of halftime strong – something that has gotten worse in recent games.
The Timberwolves have taken leads into halftime through their last three games. However, the opposition outscored them in the third and ultimately won each game. It’s one thing to get complacent with a large lead, but when you are getting schooled after halftime in what was a close game – that just can’t happen.
An already banged-up team trying to find some rhythm together just can’t afford to be having the short 3-6 minute mental lapses like the Timberwolves are — their opponents are too good. If the Wolves hope to take a step once fully constituted in 2023, they will need to eliminate their inconsistent streaks.
Get Healthy
The typical New Years’ resolution for all: “I want to get healthy and back in shape.” While most fail at their resolutions, the Wolves can’t afford to stay in this injured state for too much longer.
- Taurean Prince has missed 19 games with a right shoulder subluxation
- Jordan McLaughlin has missed 19 total games with a left calf strain
- Towns has missed the last 16 games with a right calf strain
Obviously, this goal isn’t like the rest. Injuries and the inconsistency within lineups are entirely out of Minnesota’s control. However, their banged-up roster is one of if not the biggest reasons for its early season struggles.
Last season, the Wolves were one of the luckier teams when it came to consistency and lack of long-term injuries despite the one-to-two-month span of COVID outbreaks. Of course, having a healthy roster will help a team’s record. However, the Wolves really needed that same luck to open this season as Chris Finch and Co. attempted to integrate all the new and diverse talent.
There is a New Year’s list of all the things the Wolves need to improve on in hopes of closing out the last 46 games strong. However, they need to walk before they can run. If Minnesota can accomplish these three “resolutions” in one form or another, they will put themselves in the best position as they attempt to claw back into the playoff hunt.
