It’s not Code Red in Minnesota quite yet, but it’s clear that the Timberwolves’ floor play needs to improve and soon.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have had a less-than-stellar start to their season. The team’s 5-8 record (as of November 11) puts the team 13th (of 15 teams) in the NBA Western Conference.
Minnesota fans, hopeful after the way the team finished last season, have reasons to worry.
Last year, the Timberwolves qualified for the Playoffs as the #-7 seed, even though their stay was short, getting knocked out by the #2-seed Grizzlies in the first round. The team sought to build on its playoff appearance by grabbing NBA star Rudy Gobert, a 6x All-Defensive team member, a 4x All-NBA team, and a 3x NBA defensive POY.
But in getting Gobert, Minnesota took the calculated risk that it could add by subtracting. Minnesota gave up Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Leandro Bolmaro, Walker Kessler, and Jarred Vanderbilt. On top of that, the team gave up a 2023 first-round pick (unprotected), a 2025 first-round pick (unprotected), a 2027 first-round pick (unprotected), and a 2029 first-round pick (top-five protected).
So far, it is not so good. To be fair, though, the Wolves’ lousy start is not entirely Gobert’s fault. It almost always takes time to figure out how to play well with a new big man.
Perhaps the more significant issue is that Gobert isn’t getting offensive help, especially from Anthony Edwards (a poor string of recent games against the Suns, Knicks, and Rockets) and D’Angelo Russell (13.2 points on the year with only four points against the Grizzlies on Friday night).
Granted, it is early. Still, the worry is that Minnesota isn’t playing well, and there are also reports of tension between Edwards and teammate Karl Anthony-Towns, another critical piece of the puzzle.
Because the Timberwolves gave up so much to get Gobert–including the opportunity to rebuild via high draft picks–the current playing group needs to come together and play well soon … or else.
(Coach Finch talks about Friday night’s loss to Memphis.)
