The concept of depth can often be misunderstood when it comes to the playoffs. Having multiple options at the end of your bench to substitute in when a superior player is sitting out is valuable in team building. But things tend to change once you get to the playoffs and rotations tighten.
A team with high-quality depth and bench players has a significant advantage, which has played out in the first two games of the series. Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are two of the best Wolves bench players and two of the league’s best role players this season.
Reid is the Sixth Man of the Year. He has set career highs across the board, scoring 13.5 points per game on 47.7% from the field and 41.4% from three. Alexander-Walker is an emerging three-and-D savant. He has knocked down threes from all over the arc at an efficient clip while defending the opponent’s best offensive perimeter threat. Converting all of his energy into 20-plus high-octane minutes of play.
Conversely, the Suns are a top-heavy team. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal are stars. But Phoenix doesn’t have much of a bench.
Royce O’Neale is Phoenix’s best option, but the Suns’ system has limited him to a floor-spacing wing. He doesn’t see many on-ball possessions like he did in Brooklyn because Durant, Booker, and Beal need those reps.
They also deploy 35-year-old Eric Gordon, who is a shell of his former self. Gordon can still shoot effectively from three but lacks the athleticism he once had to get downhill toward the rim effectively.
Finally, journeyman big man Drew Eubanks is their only other traditional big to throw at Minnesota. Eubanks has been shaky all season for the Suns. He has offered size, but he has struggled enough that they have looked elsewhere or opted to play small ball with KD at the 5.
Phoenix tapped out their cap room with Booker, Durant, and Beal’s contracts, so they filled the roster out with minimum deals. That decision involved plenty of risks, some of which have begun to unravel.
Successful teams find adaptable and versatile players, but that’s easier said than done. Compared to the rest of the league, the last handful of NBA champions have their fair share of elite talent and a diverse role-player mix. Finding that balance is necessary to come out on top.
The Denver Nuggets had Bruce Brown, Christian Braun, and Jeff Green as their catalysts on last year’s championship team.
Brown showcased a knack for being their Swiss Army Knife by knocking down threes, operating as an offensive initiator, and being a versatile guard defender. Green spaced the floor, operated within their small lineups, and could play alongside Jokic. He brought a veteran presence and steady play to the table. Braun was their young wild card. He knocked down open threes and made timely cuts, bringing his championship DNA from his previous season with the Kansas Jayhawks.
The 2021-22 Golden State Warriors had bench options, too. They had then-emerging shot creator Jordan Poole, who could slide into many of the similar actions that they ran with Steph Curry. Gary Payton II was their glue guy, bringing energy, defense, and the ability to thrive in small-ball lineups. Otto Porter Jr. was their size and shooting option off the ball, and he could also operate within the small ball lineups.
Depth players are an important part of Minnesota’s championship equation.
Minnesota’s goal has been lineup versatility and familiarity. When the Wolves alternate with Naz and Nickeil, they can directly fill in for Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaden McDaniels.
While Naz doesn’t have as much offensive versatility as KAT, his size, shooting, and driving ability make him a plug-and-play option in many of their typical offensive sets. On the other hand, Nickeil has the easiest transition possible when subbing in for McDaniels. He comes in to handle all point-of-attack (POA) defensive duties while operating offensively as an off-the-ball shooter.
They also bring their own flair and versatility. Naz’s handle alone gives the Wolves more of a dynamic option to the offense that KAT cannot offer. Most importantly, though, Naz is comfortable playing next to KAT and Gobert, giving the Wolves plenty of opportunities to adjust.
Alexander-Walker is similarly versatile. If the Wolves want to roll with a lineup that features Jaden and Nickeil, they can allow Alexander-Walker to retain his POA defensive duties while Jaden becomes a roamer in the corner. Inversely, they can still allow Nickeil to take the corner roamer role if they trust Jaden more with a matchup. Nickeil can operate more on the ball offensively because he is a capable initiator of the offense, while Jaden remains in the corner shooter role.
Nickeil made a bigger impact than Naz in the first two games. He is averaging 14 points per game, shooting 11 of 22 from the field and 5 of 13 from three. Alexander-Walker also adds 3.5 assists in his 30 minutes per game.
Naz is only averaging 8.5 points per game on 5 of 15 from the field and 2 of 9 from three in his 18 minutes per game. But he has brought the spark needed offensively through plays such as his ridiculous transition layup in Game 1. He’s also a respected threat on the court, which will benefit the Wolves as a unit.
Great teams can find players who know their identity, mold those players to their liking, and unlock more lineup capabilities. That only becomes more relevant in the playoffs, when the games matter the most.
