Dunking With Wolves
Fansided

The Timberwolves’ key contributors at the midway point

By Randy Spurlock

Jan 12, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8) celebrates with forward Shabazz Muhammad (15) during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Target Center. The Thunder defeated the Timberwolves 101-96. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8) celebrates with forward Shabazz Muhammad (15) during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Target Center. The Thunder defeated the Timberwolves 101-96. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 18, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett (21) celebrates a basket in the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Target Center. The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Sacramento Kings 99-95. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett (21) celebrates a basket in the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Target Center. The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Sacramento Kings 99-95. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

Kevin Garnett is averaging 14.8 minutes per night. And while that may seem like an insignificant amount of playing time, what KG is doing in those limited minutes is nothing less than outstanding.

First of all, Garnett may be more engaged throughout the whole 48 minutes than players that play for most of that. There are instances in every game where a player checks out and goes to sit next to Garnett, or KG will be the one talking in the huddle throughout a whole timeout.

This was covered in the Towns’ article as well, but KG’s influence on KAT early in his career is evident, and it is thrilling to see that they work so well together.

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Getting down to the statistics, if you take out Spurs players, Garnett’s defensive rating is 12th among players playing at least 12 minutes a night and having appeared in at least 75 percent of the team’s games (the Spurs are taken out of that statistic because their defense is unreal this season and they place the top-six players and eight of the top nine in defensive rating).

The Wolves’ defense with Garnett would rank 2nd in the league behind only the Spurs if he played the whole game. As it stands, the Wolves are down at 20th in overall defensive rating. Garnett’s net rating of 6.6 is by far the best on the team among players with consistent minutes, so his impact at age 39 for this team is simply amazing.

In terms of traditional stats, Garnett doesn’t appear to offer much. He’s averaging just 3.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. Per 36 minutes, however, that extrapolates to 7.9 points, 10.1 boards, and 4.0 assists, which is comparable to what Tim Duncan is doing per-36 this season.

Garnett is bringing a lot of production in his limited minutes; coupled with his stingy defense, KG has been one of the Wolves’ most important players thus far.

Next: Shabazz Muhammad

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