Timberwolves: 3 takeaways from the first five games of the season
We’re five games into the season, and the Minnesota Timberwolves have been an emotional rollercoaster. That’s putting it lightly.
Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns are starting to put it together on offense, and it’s only a matter of time before the defense comes around. Ideally, they should be 5-0, but there’s one remaining undefeated team – there’s no easy win in the NBA.
Here are three takeaways through the first five games of the season.
1. The Timberwolves miss Vando and PatBev
The Timberwolves traded away a bevy of players this offseason, two of which were the heart and soul of this team. It’s only been five games, but it’s becoming clear that this team is missing Jarred Vanderbilt and Patrick Beverley.
Vando brought the intensity through defense and hustling for every loose ball/rebound. Minnesota has struggled to guard the point of attack and are leaning heavily on Rudy Gobert on the glass.
Beverley was Minnesota’s vocal leader, and this team has desperately missed his presence. Last season, the Timberwolves started 4-9 and had a players meeting led by PatBev. That meeting alone turned the Wolves’ season around.
Minnesota may figure things out without those two, but where will it come from? Taurean Prince? Austin Rivers? D’Angelo Russell? That will need to be addressed sooner, rather than later.
One player that’s sitting at home waiting to be traded is Jae Crowder.
He would bring energy and intensity every night for the Timberwolves. How would that trade look? That’s to be determined.
2. Third quarter failures
Minnesota has been a great first half team, but they’ve struggled coming out of halftime.
Here’s where the Timberwolves rank in the third quarter this season:
- Points Per Game: 24.4, 27th
- FG%: 42.5, 27th
- Turnovers: 6.0, 30th
- Offensive Rating: 92.4, 29th
- Defensive Rating: 127.7, 29th
- Net Rating: -35.3, 29th
Something has to change, and real fast. The energy is lacking, and that may be a product of the first takeaway.
I’m curious to see if last year’s playoffs have had any effect on these performances. It could still be wearing on them mentally.
3. Patience is a virtue
This was always going to take time. The Timberwolves starting five barely got any run in training camp/practice because of the NBA schedule and Towns’ missing time due to being hospitalized with a throat infection.
These guys are trying to figure out their teammate’s tendencies and how to play with one another. They’re forcing things offensively, but that will correct itself when they figure out the pecking order.
It almost feels like they’re playing pickup for the first time, and they don’t want to come across as a ball hog. At some point, Edwards and KAT will need to step up and take over on offense.
We’re seeing glimpses of that with Towns and Edwards over the last three or so games.
Moving forward, the Timberwolves will be fine on offense. They have too much talent on that side of the ball to not be elite.
The biggest question mark will be on defense.
They did a much better job in transition and contesting 3s in Wednesday’s win over the Spurs. That should only get better with time.
Overall, this is an experiment, and it won’t be easy. Once the Timberwolves figure it out, they’ll have a real shot at being a title contender.
