Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out?

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Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#1 » by Scalabrine » Thu Nov 25, 2021 6:13 pm

5 straight wins after a tough stretch to start the season and they are now a .500 basketball team at 9-9. I've been really interested in this team going into the season and it appears they've unlocked a few things and have turned a corner

They are running a 10 man rotation of

KAT/Reid
Vanderbilt/McDaniels
Beverly/Beasley/Prince
Edwards/Beasley/Okogi
Russell/Beverly

I think they have a higher ceiling as well. KAT is improving defensively and overall taking that side of the ball more seriously. Russell has been shooting a career worst TS% (55% over the past 3 seasons, 47% this season), Beasley and Prince are also shooting career lows. Once they start hitting their shots that adds another level. Edwards is emerging as a legit 1B option averaging 23/6/3 with 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks on 49/44/75 shooting splits. This team has a lot of room to grow.

Finch has everyone giving full effort on defense and over the past 5 games they have been the number 2 rated defense in the league and over the entire season they've been ranked 4th! They were ranked 28th last season... The vets they brought in (Bev and Prince) have been great for chemistry and professionalism and keeping the team focused as well. Typically, if you're in the top 3rd on defense, you're a playoff team, and they certainly have the offensive weapons to hold their own on that end of the court as well.

Are the Timberwolves finally figuring it out? Where do they finish in the West this year?
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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#2 » by Lockdown504090 » Thu Nov 25, 2021 6:18 pm

my 400 dollars ils looking real good rn :) 3200 here we come. Those two tall skinny dudes are killing it on defense, KAT has moments of competence but still gets lazy too often. I hope they get in, but the west has so many teams that are actually trying, so its going to be a rough go. Russell staying healthy is a big issue as well, if hes not, they probably cant score enough to win
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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#3 » by Mamba4Goat » Thu Nov 25, 2021 6:35 pm

FWIW Russell has been playing some of the best defense of his career too. Ant had progressed on that end, and Jarred Vanderbilt may quickly join the All-NBA defense discussion.

The team is very fun and once Russell, Beasley, and Prince finally start hitting their shots it’s going to be a tough team to beat. Especially if KAT and Edwards can remain focused and locked in. During the losing streak KAT was getting in his own way by trying to be a strong guy and bang in the post. Would usually result in him getting fouls called on him and letting the refs get in his head. Edwards took games off as a driver and just chucked shots. Russell was also downright terrible during the losing streak. It all flipped once Bev joined the starting lineup.
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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#4 » by DBurks2818 » Thu Nov 25, 2021 6:43 pm

Launching 55 3pters last night was insanity :roll: but I have to admit they look good!
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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#5 » by Scalabrine » Thu Nov 25, 2021 7:52 pm

Lockdown504090 wrote:my 400 dollars ils looking real good rn :) 3200 here we come. Those two tall skinny dudes are killing it on defense, KAT has moments of competence but still gets lazy too often. I hope they get in, but the west has so many teams that are actually trying, so its going to be a rough go. Russell staying healthy is a big issue as well, if hes not, they probably cant score enough to win


For what it's worth, KAT leads the Wolves in defensive win shares and is 7th in the entire league. He's also 9th in BPM and 50th in Defensive BPM and he has a 104 defensive rating. Not be all-end all indicators, but it does show that he's had a massive improvement in that department.
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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#6 » by GusFring » Thu Nov 25, 2021 7:55 pm

Its the T-Wolves so no.
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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#7 » by Childs » Thu Nov 25, 2021 8:02 pm

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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#8 » by Tukkerwolf » Thu Nov 25, 2021 8:43 pm

I do know this is the most fun Wolves team of the last 20 years. By far.
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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#9 » by drone3 » Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:08 pm

Yes... Still not sure why the NBA is not promoting the Antman.
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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#10 » by Danny1616 » Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:30 pm

I mean KAT is an all-star caliber player, Antman is playing like an all-star and Russell is a very good player. They have the talent.
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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#11 » by Infinite Llamas » Thu Nov 25, 2021 9:47 pm

Putting Vando in the starting lineup really changed their identity. That guy plays sooooo hard out there. He can guard all five positions and has shut down the opposing teams best player these last five games.
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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#12 » by zimpy27 » Thu Nov 25, 2021 10:15 pm

Scalabrine wrote:5 straight wins after a tough stretch to start the season and they are now a .500 basketball team at 9-9. I've been really interested in this team going into the season and it appears they've unlocked a few things and have turned a corner

They are running a 10 man rotation of

KAT/Reid
Vanderbilt/McDaniels
Beverly/Beasley/Prince
Edwards/Beasley/Okogi
Russell/Beverly

I think they have a higher ceiling as well. KAT is improving defensively and overall taking that side of the ball more seriously. Russell has been shooting a career worst TS% (55% over the past 3 seasons, 47% this season), Beasley and Prince are also shooting career lows. Once they start hitting their shots that adds another level. Edwards is emerging as a legit 1B option averaging 23/6/3 with 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks on 49/44/75 shooting splits. This team has a lot of room to grow.

Finch has everyone giving full effort on defense and over the past 5 games they have been the number 2 rated defense in the league and over the entire season they've been ranked 4th! They were ranked 28th last season... The vets they brought in (Bev and Prince) have been great for chemistry and professionalism and keeping the team focused as well. Typically, if you're in the top 3rd on defense, you're a playoff team, and they certainly have the offensive weapons to hold their own on that end of the court as well.

Are the Timberwolves finally figuring it out? Where do they finish in the West this year?


I love Edwards but those shooting splits you have there are FG/2pt/FT.. His 3% is 36%.
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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#13 » by HMFFL » Thu Nov 25, 2021 10:21 pm

They've won five straight games and are 6-4 in their last ten games. I need another ten games and see if they stay above .500 or not.

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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#14 » by Cavsfansince84 » Thu Nov 25, 2021 10:22 pm

Danny1616 wrote:I mean KAT is an all-star caliber player, Antman is playing like an all-star and Russell is a very good player. They have the talent.


I don't think there's a player on this board with more varying opinions on how good he actually is than Russell. It also varies greatly from week to week.
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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#15 » by Richard4444 » Thu Nov 25, 2021 10:22 pm

drone3 wrote:Yes... Still not sure why the NBA is not promoting the Antman.


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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#16 » by brutalitops » Thu Nov 25, 2021 10:25 pm

Still a horrible defensive rebounding team and foul too much. Like we do this badly. But we're still a top 10 defense right now which is nuts.

Offense goes into big patches where nothing works. If we can figure that part out yeah we're a very good team. Switching teams really hurt us. We need to figure that out

We the wolves tho so something bad will happen
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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#17 » by PhilBlackson » Thu Nov 25, 2021 10:33 pm

Haven't watched a lot of them (although LOVE Antman prob top 4 favorite players in the league for me, pretty much always check his highlights) but do the TWolves play solid defense????

Imo if they can get that together then maybe...because offensively Antman/KAT and even DLo should be enough to at least contend for a Playoff spot soon but they gotta be able to stop opposing teams too.
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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#18 » by Statlanta » Thu Nov 25, 2021 10:59 pm

I think they had a better squad last season when healthy.
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West #1 Draft Picks: Edwards, WIlliamson, Ayton, Towns
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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#19 » by Quentin » Thu Nov 25, 2021 11:00 pm

brutalitops wrote:Still a horrible defensive rebounding team and foul too much. Like we do this badly. But we're still a top 10 defense right now which is nuts.

Offense goes into big patches where nothing works. If we can figure that part out yeah we're a very good team. Switching teams really hurt us. We need to figure that out

We the wolves tho so something bad will happen


Yeah, the refs are VERY fair to Towns. :lol:
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Re: Are the Timberwolves Figuring It Out? 

Post#20 » by WolfAddict » Thu Nov 25, 2021 11:06 pm

I think Finch deserves a bit more credit - He has the team playing with an exceptional defensive mindset.

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