The Minnesota Timberwolves have started the season 3-5 and are in the midst of a four-game losing streak. For them to break out of this slump, the offense will need to improve drastically.

The Timberwolves have a lot of offensive weapons, and the question coming into the season was: can they defend? Through eight games, Minnesota has scored over 100 points three times.

• Houston Rockets: 124
• New Orleans Pelicans: 96
• New Orleans Pelicans: 98
• Milwaukee Bucks: 113
• Denver Nuggets: 91
• Orlando Magic: 97
• Los Angeles Clippers: 115
• Los Angeles Clippers: 87

In 72 games last year, the Timberwolves failed to score 100 points or more 11 times. They’re currently at five, which is almost halfway there…

Something has to change, whether that’s rotations or putting in more time on offense at practice.

Minnesota hasn’t been taking bad shots, so it’s only a matter of time before they run into some good fortune. The Wolves looked a lot more competent during the preseason, and it wasn’t like the teams they were playing were half-assing it.

Here’s where the Timberwolves rank on offense:

• Points per Game: 102.3 – 24th
• Field Goal %: 40.9 – 29th
• 3-Point %: 32.1 – 26th
• Free Throw %: 76.5 – 14th
• Offensive Rating: 100.5 – 27th

It’s only been eight games, but Minnesota has struggled heavily on offense. After giving up 115 points to the Magic and 126 to the Clippers, Minnesota ranks ninth in defensive rating (103.9). As long as they can be an average defensive team, they’ll have a chance to win each night. However, if their offense doesn’t improve, the other team will have a chance to win too.

Here’s where the Timberwolves rank in shooting accuracy according to Cleaning the Glass:

• eFG%: 49.4 – 25th
• Rim %: 60.9 – 21st
• Short Mid %: 31.6 – 28th
• Long Mid %: 39.2 – 22nd
• All Mid %: 34.2 – 26th
• Corner 3 %: 23.1 – 30th
• Non Corner 3 %: 35.1 – 11th
• All 3 %: 32.4 – 26th

Minnesota ranks dead last in corner 3s with a shooting percentage of 23.1. That’s the best shot you can take from outside the arc, and Minnesota isn’t even sniffing 30 percent. Last season they ranked 23rd with a shooting percentage of 37.0 from the corner.

Karl-Anthony Towns hasn’t been the issue, he’s averaging 23.4 points on 51.2 percent from the field, 49.0 percent from 3 and 86.5 from the charity stripe.

The issue hasn’t been Anthony Edwards either. Sure, he’s been inefficient but the way he’s been able to score the ball and drive to the rim is a much-needed asset.

The issues have stemmed from D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Taurean Prince. Obviously, Russell has the biggest impact of those three, but they also need Beasley and Prince to come to life. Though, it’s important to note that Beasley is starting to bounce back and is shooting 37.5 percent from 3 in his last five games.

• Russell: 14.8 PPG, 35.9 FG%, 28.9 3P%, 76.9 FT%
• Beasley: 10.9 PPG, 35.6 FG%, 35.9 3P%, 50.0 FT%
• Prince: 3.1 PPG, 23.5 FG%, 16.7 3P%, 62.5 FT%

Without Russell in the lineup, Minnesota has struggled even more on offense because Jordan McLaughlin isn’t capable of playing heavy minutes on this roster.

The shooting efficiency isn’t sustainable, so it’s easy to assume they’ll bounce back as the season progresses. Hopefully, it’s sooner rather than later, as Minnesota can’t afford to play the catchup game.

There are obvious concerns with the offense, but it’s only been eight games. If they’re still playing this poorly 20 games in, then it’s time to hit the panic button. For now, the Timberwolves should be able to rewrite the ship because they have good enough offensive players.