Do the Timberwolves have the best defensive back court?
Last year, the Timberwolves ended the season by missing the playoffs, but that could change in 2016-17, and it would be led in part by a tough defensive back court.
This off-season, the Timberwolves may have created the best defensive back court in the league.
As of right now, the Timberwolves boast a back court with the likes of Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine, Tyus Jones and now Kris Dunn. Dunn and Rubio are both regarded as strong defensive point guards. But with the hiring of Tom Thibodeau, Jones and LaVine will start to value defense just as much as Rubio and Dunn.
It’s hard to see how all of these players might stay in Minnesota long-term. Three of them are point guards, and at least two of them are starting caliber players already.
With Rubio and Dunn essentially the same type of players, one could be leaving, at least eventually. Regardless, all four of these players are capable of playing defense.
To start off, Las Vegas Summer League Most Valuable Player Tyus Jones has seemingly progressed since coming into the NBA, both offensively and defensively. People always mention his size (6′-1″) as the biggest obstacle in becoming a great defensive player, but that’s not the only thing there is to being a great defender.
From TwinCities.com and the St. Paul Pioneer Press:
"Jones’ non-elite athleticism will probably keep him from ever being a lockdown defender, but he’s demonstrated the basketball IQ necessary to at least be in the right place at the right time."
Jones uses his basketball IQ to play defense and as that grows so will his defensive game. Jones has a role already in place in Minnesota, and as long as he can keep developing, he could be the backup point guard of the future, which is nothing to laugh at. The floor general of the role players keeps the game going. There’s a direct correlation of winning and losing based on the bench.
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Jones is the future of that position and could find himself in Minnesota for a long time. The same can be said for Zach LaVine, if he plays better defense. LaVine is one of the best dunkers of all-time (or, so says Dr. J) but struggles on defense. He’s only 21 and has only been in the league for two years.
From our friends at FanSided’s Hoops Habit:
"Standing at 6’4″, Dunn has the requisite size and length to be a nasty defender on the perimeter. These physical attributes combined with his motor give him a chance to lock down his man and force turnovers regardless of who he’s going up against. Dunn wants to play defense, and new head coach Tom Thibodeau will have no problem giving him huge minutes if he plays well on that end of the floor."
Perhaps the difference biggest Dunn and LaVine is that Dunn loves to play defense. Wanting to play defense is, in a lot of cases, the difference from great and good.
For Jones and Lavine, they are in a perfect situation. They have great roles, they do not need to be the team’s leading scorers thanks to Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, and they are surrounded by defensive minded players and coaches.
So, do the Timberwolves have the best defensive back court in the league?
Not yet. But as long as they put in the work, the Timberwolves could boast one of the top defensive back courts in the league in short order.
The potential of this team is unlike any other. The sky is really the limit.