How the Minnesota Timberwolves are Changing NBA Terms of Engagement

How the Minnesota Timberwolves are Changing NBA Terms of Engagement

The Minnesota Timberwolves have become the talk of the 2024 NBA Playoffs by virtue of taking a 2-0 series lead against the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the second round. Proclamations of, “That’s cute,” have been replaced by, “Holy cow!” as the upstart ‘Wolves have treated Nikola Jokic and company like a trash compactor smashing aluminum cans.

Today’s Blazer’s Edge Mailbag question picks up on the theme.

Dave,

The Timberwolves look like they’re coming out of the west this year. Can you explain how they made the leap? Also do you see any hope in them that would apply to the Blazers? If they can do it, why can’t we?

Oliver

Well, first let’s let them win the series. The game has a funny way of turning on you. With a 2-0 lead and insulated homecourt advantage, I do believe the Timberwolves will take it, but I don’t want to crown them Kings of Everything based on two games. The Nuggets are still World Champions. They still have the best player in the world. Minnesota’s job isn’t done yet.

That said, their progress is encouraging. I like it because they are breaking a few paradigms. The league has been same-ish since the Golden State Warriors dynasty. With the ‘Wolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder rising, each with a distinct makeup and style of play, change may be on the horizon. Even if other teams can’t copy the approach of either franchise, at least we know it’s possible to forge a new path.

As to why the Timberwolves are doing it, several items come to mind.

Obviously Anthony Edwards is a huge factor, but I’ve argued already that Karl-Anthony Towns is the secret sauce to their success this year. He gave up his natural position to Rudy Gobert, then ceded scoring supremacy to Edwards. He didn’t have to do either. Had he pitched a fit or stood on his rights as a veteran All-Star, the face of the franchise, Minnesota would have been stuck in the same oddball situation they found themselves in last season.

Towns has also bought in defensively, which is proving to be a key factor for his team. For years we’ve watched the futility of mobile, 6’4 perimeter defenders trying to stop perimeter sharpshooters. They just don’t have the length to bother the three-point shot when a half an inch clearance is enough to get the ball home. Minnesota is sending mobile, athletic 6’10 players to the edges of the court without losing defensive integrity. They not only overshadow shooters, they make traditional passes and drives much more difficult, if nothing else because it’s hard to see past them.

This defensive prowess is showing up in spades against the Nuggets. Minnesota isn’t just holding the opponent to a low percentage (40.5% from the floor so far). Denver averaged 89 field goal attempts per game during the regular season. They’ve managed only 75 and 83 in their first two outings in this series. You can’t hit shots you never put up.

It goes without saying that Minnesota’s multi-layered rim protection also helps. Inside play has been devalued in the modern era, but not being able to get easy attempts at the rim will bork any offense. The ‘Wolves are unique in this with their array of seven-footers. They’re making it count.

We should also point out that the NBA is allowing more physical play on defense than they have in past seasons. Trying to figure out referees nowadays is a whole topic unto itself, but there’s no doubt that fewer whistles and more contact both play into the hands of the Timberwolves and their hyper-athletic lineup.

I love this change, if nothing else because it begins to overcome the tyranny of point guards and three-pointers. I have enjoyed the skilled-scorer era as much as anybody. It revitalized and beautified a sport that had gotten plodding and stale. But modern players and coaches have learned to game the system to the point where the skill has almost overtaken the game itself. It’s nice to see a team taking back the court with hustle, size, brawn, and commitment.

I don’t know how much this will affect the Trail Blazers. They are closer to fielding a team full of athletes than a team full of shooters, so maybe? They don’t have a roster full of tall guys, though.

Either way, it’s nice to see the ice ahead being broken open by defenders (Timberwolves) and drivers (Thunder). Maybe Portland can sneak in there with a new concoction in a few years.

Thanks for the question! You can send yours to [email protected] and we’ll try to answer as many as we can!