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When the wolves start Dlo, Bev, Ant, Vando, and Towns, the statistics are extremely dominant.

The article is a month old but the lineup still holds up.

https://fadeawayworld.net/nba-media/minnesota-timberwolves-have-the-best-offensive-and-defensive-5-man-lineup-and-wolves-fans-cant-believe-im-both-ecstatic-and-in-disbelief

This starting 5 ranks number 1 on defense and offense. They have a +50 differential against other teams and it is one of the best starting 5's in league history. Crazy to think that the synergy is so good. Also crazy when you consider both Towns and Dlo have been known as horrible defenders.

So does that mean the bench is mediocre , wolves should have a better record.

Neeva wrote:So does that mean the bench is mediocre , wolves should have a better record.

How long has this starting 5 played together?

DLO's missed games, Bev's missed games, Ant & Vando now.

Even KAT missed a game with his lower back issue.

10 game sample size and against a lot of weak or injured or Covid stricken teams. Talk to me in the playoffs.

theGreatRC wrote:

Neeva wrote:So does that mean the bench is mediocre , wolves should have a better record.

How long has this starting 5 played together?

DLO's missed games, Bev's missed games, Ant & Vando now.

Even KAT missed a game with his lower back issue.

This is the key. Not only the games missed, but it just took awhile to go to this grouping.

We didn't go to this group until the 11th game of the season, trying 5 other combinations first. We got 8 games with this group until guys started going down, going 6-2. Added two more wins with the group last week.

Sadly it is going to take a lot longer for the narratives to change for our players.

theGreatRC wrote:

Neeva wrote:So does that mean the bench is mediocre , wolves should have a better record.

How long has this starting 5 played together?

DLO's missed games, Bev's missed games, Ant & Vando now.

Even KAT missed a game with his lower back issue.

126:26 minutes.

This breaks down how good Dlo-Vando have been for Minny's defense

Vandi jumped out at me as the heart of Wolves defense in the couple of games I’ve seen. But that was mistly before DLo’s improvement.

zimpy27 wrote:

Watch on YouTube

This breaks down how good Dlo-Vando have been for Minny's defense

It also does a great job highlighting our biggest defensive flaws and how teams have exploited it.

1) With KAT “blitzing” the ball handler the roll man (often the opposing Center,) has to be picked up by either V8 or Ant. As a result the opposing big will either have a good look at the rim or if the second defender comes in to help the outsized defender, the Wolves give up the open corner 3. When teams hit the open corner 3 they win. The primary reason we give up the corner 3 is because with a small ball lineup like ours and KAT on the perimeter, the defense must collapse to contain the roller.

2) Our transition D is bad because we keep making the same 3 mistakes every time. First, we complain way too much to the refs. When anyone from KAT, to Naz, to Ant stays back and complains they are giving opposing teams either a dunk, an open 3, or an and 1. Second, we fall an awful lot on offense and the time involved in getting up and running back creates opportunities for opposing teams. Third, a combination of ball watching or shot watching creates gaps in our defense. Ant and Beasley especially watch their shots and don’t run back. The contest and release works way too well against them, but KAT, Dlo, and others have made the same mistake.

3. Failure of boxing out. So few guys box out that opposing teams get easy offensive boards and often hit either put back layups/dunks or open 3s.

All of this is improved with another big who can guard the paint and grab the short rebounds in the paint. With KAT on the perimeter he should be grabbing more of the long rebounds, with V8 doing both as needed.