Timberwolves 2016 Year in Review: Front Court Reserves
Nemanja Bjelica
Playing time: 16.5 minutes per game (31 games played; 1 start)
Scoring: 7th (6.1)
Rebounds: 6th (3.2)
Assist: 8th (1.2)
Steals: Tied for 7th (0.6)
Effective FG%: 6th (49.7%)
Listed as a power forward, Nemanja Bjelica possesses a game more suited for a point forward role, which is where coach Tom Thibodeau has opted to play Nemanja mostly this season.
Bjelica typically is positioned as a stretch-four with the second unit in Thibodeau’s offense and because of his skill-set will occasionally play the small forward role when the Wolves want to go to a smaller lineup in hopes of creating match-up problems for opposing teams.
When given extended minutes, Bjelica has looked good. For instance, in his first and only start against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 13, Nemanja played 41 minutes and scored 24 points on 9-of-14 from the field, including 5-of-8 from three-point range while racking up eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals in the win.
In games in which he has played more than 20 minutes, he’s averaging 12 points, six rebounds and two assists per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three.
What he does well
Bjelica handles the ball well at 6’-10” and looks comfortable running the break and play-making for teammates. In the half court, he drives to the basket around bigger forwards and centers with ease and has a nice touch around the rim once he reaches it.
More from Timberwolves News
- The dream starting 5 for Minnesota Timberwolves 5 years from now
- Anthony Edwards’ latest accolade is a great sign of things to come
- In an OT thriller, Team Canada snatches Bronze from Team USA
- Timberwolves start, bench, cut: Mike Conley, Shake Milton, Jordan McLaughlin
- Which Timberwolves roster additions have upgraded the bench?
Bjelica is a guy who can open up the offense with his shooting ability and when he’s on, adds another element to an already potent Minnesota offense. Doesn’t spend a lot of time in the middle of the floor as he prefers to hang around the three-point line or score inside off drives or cuts to the rim.
Defensively, he has the ability to defend stretch-bigs on the perimeter and gives a good effort closing out on shooters; holding opponents to 33.3 percent on shots 15 feet or greater from the basket.
What he doesn’t do well
Bjelica does not spend a whole lot of time in the post offensively, and on the other end of the floor, he struggles to defend more traditional power forwards and centers in the paint.
While he does a decent job defending bigger players on the perimeter, he really struggles against quicker guards and wing players. He also has the ability to shoot the three but goes on long stretches of poor shooting. In the 10 games prior to Friday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks, he shot just 3-for-19 from beyond the arc before finding his groove again against the Bucks, going 2-of-3 from the three-point line.
Impact on team
Although Nemanja Bjelica possesses a unique skill set for his size, he hasn’t quite translated those skills into becoming a consistent positive impact for his team.
His lack of lateral quickness against smaller players and strength against bigger guys inside hasn’t hurt the team of the defensive end due to his effort. Offensively, he has the ability to stretch the floor but again has lacked the shooting consistency needed to be a reliable threat from outside on a game-to-game basis.
According to Basketball-Reference.com, Bjelica’s has an offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency rating of 101 and 110, respectively. When Bjelica is on the floor the Timberwolves offensive efficiency is at 106.8 and goes up to 109.7. Conversely ,opponents are having more success when he’s off the court, scoring at a pace of 113.7 per 100 possessions as oppose to 105.6 when he’s on.