Timberwolves: 3 takeaways from the first half of the season
We’ve hit the midway point of the season and the Minnesota Timberwolves are 20-21. Would you look at that!
Nonetheless, let’s dive into three takeaways from the first half of the season.
1. Playoffs
For some of the upper echelon teams, playing .500 halfway through the season would be a disappointment. Just look at the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. They’re not happy about their 2021-22 season, but this is Minnesota, and we’ll gladly take it.
It’s not often you see the Timberwolves playing meaningful basketball in January. By this time, we have an inkling that playoffs are out of the question, and we resort back to old faithful, Tankathon.
Minnesota’s not only fighting for a play-in opportunity but a playoff spot as well. The Timberwolves are currently 20-21 and ninth in the Western Conference. They’re only two and a half games behind the 5th seed Dallas Mavericks.
A large reason for this change has been the defense. Minnesota currently ranks 11th in defensive rating (108.1). Patrick Beverley and Jarred Vanderbilt have been key components to this success. Vando was always a good defender, but he’s taken his game to the next level, and we’re witnessing All-Defense type stuff.
If the offense turns around, this will be a scary good team. They’re still 18th in offensive rating, which is not what anyone expected.
The Timberwolves are on track to make the playoffs with an almost top-10 defense. Wild.
2. Jarred Vanderbilt’s importance
The hype was always there for Vanderbilt. Not in the sense of becoming an All-Star, but in a way where he has a massive impact on the game.
Vando has been the Timberwolves’ best defender this season, and he has a case to be All-Defensive first team. Other players have stepped up on that end of the floor, but what he’s doing is a large reason Minnesota’s 11th in defensive rating.
He’s currently averaging 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. Of players who play 15 minutes or more per game, he ranks second on the Timberwolves in defensive rating (105.4).
Vanderbilt is a player contending teams would love to have. He can guard one through five, but he’s also a wing stopper. Not many teams have someone who can limit LeBron James or Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Minnesota isn’t a good rebounding team because they don’t have much size. Karl-Anthony Towns is their biggest player at 6-foot-11 and 248 pounds, but we all know he’s slim for his position. Vanderbilt is an elite rebounder, averaging 9.1 per game.
It’s safe to say that he’d be grabbing more if he was the only big man out there. Even with KAT on the floor, he’s grabbing 12,14, and even 16 rebounds in some games. V8 leads the Timberwolves in offensive (12.2 percent) and defensive rebounding (21.8) percentage.
3. What’s up with Malik Beasley?
Malik Beasley had a career year last season, but he’s been a disappointment this year.
- 2020-21: 37 G, 19.6 PPG, 44.0 FG%, 39.9 3P%, 85.0 FT%, 4.4 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.8 SPG
- 2021-22: 41 G, 12.5 PPG, 37.4 FG%, 34.6 3P%, 74.1 FT%, 3.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.6 SPG
No one expected him to replicate his shooting efficiency, but no one foresaw this. Even his free throw percentage has dropped by 11 percent.
Last year he was getting to the line 2.2 times per game, but this season he’s only averaging 0.7. Something is off with Beasley, and it’s starting to impact Chris Finch’s lineups.
It could be that he’s shooting way more 3s than he did last year.
That’s about a 20 percent increase. If Beasley can diversify his game moving forward, he’d probably have more success offensively.
Going into the season, I expected Beasley to be the Wolves’ sixth man, with the potential of starting a few games. However, Jaylen Nowell looks like a better option in that role moving forward.
He did enter the year out of shape after serving his sentencing this offseason. Maybe there’s still some rust, but it’s rather odd he hasn’t turned it around. In some games, he looks like the old Beas, and in others, he’s virtually unplayable.
Hopefully, he can figure things out because Minnesota’s offense would be even scarier if he does.
