I will put some observations here. Please add yours.
Defense:
Minnesota Timberwolves defend the geometry of the court without fouling, but they don't care about rebounds.
Some stats to backup this statement (this season vs last season):
REB 45 (9th) > 41.9 (23rd)
PF 19.3 (12th) < 21.6 (29th = 2nd NBA worst)
OPP 3PT% 33.7%(4th) < 36.9 (24th)
OPP FG% 43.0 (1st) < 47.1%(11th)
some stats with starter/bench filter (this season vs last season):
starters REB 31,6(5th) > 29.8 (4th)
bench REB 13.4 (27th) > 12.1 (29th)
starter PF 13.1 (26th) < 13.9 (30th = NBA worst)
bench PF 6.2 (2nd) < 7.7 (10th)
And remember: this are stats with McDaniels playing only 11 of 19 games, and Edwards already missing to games.
First, we foul less. For instance Naz has 1.5 foul per game, last season he had 2.6. Anderson has 1.5, last season 2.0, Brown has only 0.8, he replaces Prince who had 2.3 (!!!).
Second,
Gobert is allowing just 49.2% shooting at the rim, one of the best marks in the league…but he’s contesting only 6.7 shots at that location. For a guy who almost always patrols the paint, that number is low. But opponents are once again legitimately terrified to shoot when Gobert looms. Gobert provides both rim protection and rim deterrence, a rarer combination than you might think.
Plus Gobert, Towns and Reid defend more in space, playing with more energy on perimeter. Reid and Towns often sprinting back in transition. It is something the we did not see very often last year.
And finally our bench is doing great job defensively - 7th DRtg in NBA
Offense:
I find last game very interesting: we were missing McDaniels and Edwards, and our three bigs put monster numbers. Gobert had season high 26 points including 7 dunks.
I found it interesting because against CHA what we lacked in terms of Edwards creativity and ISO game, we got from offensive execution, playing through our bigs, through strengths. We have much more structure than last year.
And this structure allows to three bigs work: Gobert as rim runner, Towns as second star, Reid as 6th man, bench scorer. Edwards has shown progress in offense as passer, and mid range shooter - his two weaknesses last season. NAW has been shooting well from mid range.
Problems/Improvements areas::
First, our bench has been mediocre in offense at best.3PT% 33.3%(24th), 23th Ortg, 27th in AST:TO ration (1.51) We basically play bench with two bad shooters in Anderson and Milton.
Second, our second best signing McDaniels has not showed his full potential as defender and scorer yet. We need him to play bigger role if we want to achieve bigger goals
Third, Conley has been playing at elite level. He is a perfect fit here. But when should create some depth behind him, we cant play 36 yo veteran every game, every clutch.
Some early conclusions::
When I think about MIN being #1 team in West I remind myself two things:
First, we are a top team, despite having two bad shooters in bench unit (Anderson and Milton). What I am learning for it? Maybe we will be okay if we replace Milton with an average shooter. I mean Anderson, Brown and NAW is a defensive minded unit, adding someone like Delon Wright might be beneficial because he is a big guard (and Finch wanted another big guard in rotation when we signed Milton). However, we can not absolutely afford trading Anderson now because of combination of his defense, playmaking and decision making skills.
I am also thinking that if next year Jaylen Clarke can hit threes with league average accuracy, he would fit as 9th man in rotation. Also I am thinking that if Moore could have been that 3&D with some passing skills, he would be already in rotation. Just imagine potential of this roster with a couple good rookies from draft. Imagine this defensive minded roster with an elite 3pt shooter from the bench.
Second, we are a top team, despite having only one big trio working. Gobert-Ant-Towns are our present. But I truly believe that McDaniels has potential to be our third star. As crazy as it sounds, MIN might have second big trio of Ant-Reid-McDaniels that can be developed. Some think that Gobert and Towns are redundant, but I believe that this year after Towns emergency as second star, our young players have a structure around that allows them to be developed in winning environment. I can see how McDaniels mid range shooting alone might be a huge addition to our offense as we become more versatile, more unpredictable, offering out coaching staff more room for creativity.
Finally, as 15th December approaches I can see next 10 days very interesting. If we survive as #1 team in West, I can see us getting much better when Edwards, McDaniels and McLaughlin gets back, while rest of guys gaining more chemistry together. We need whole pack in 2nd half in December when we play vs DAL, IND, MIA, PHI, LAL, SAC, OKC, DAL, LAL. We will know much more about this team by January, 1st 2024. I like Troy Brown performance in last games, because I can see how he can fit as member of bench unit once all starters are healthy: Reid-Anderson-Brown-NAW is a solid bench unit. Everything that TC can add to this by using our limited resources is a plus. But hopefully we dont need to rush things in second half of season.
