Important Points In The Timberwolves’ Season
3. Thibodeau’s Defense Comes Alive
Needless to say, Tom Thibodeau is known for his defensive teams in Chicago.
The expectations for the Timberwolves’ defense was high coming into this season. Thibs was supposed to teach Wiggins and Towns how to finally play defense. He was supposed to improve upon one of the NBA’s worst defenses last year.
While none of that happened this season, there was a promising stretch after the All-Star break that led many to believe the Wolves’ had finally turned the corner on defense.
Starting with the last game before the All-Star break and continuing until March 13, the Timberwolves were playing stingy defense.
On the season the Timberwolves allowed their opponents to score 106.7 points per game.
Over that ten game stretch, the Timberwolves held their opponents to a lowly 98.9 points per game, fifth-best in the NBA.
That 98.9 opponent scoring average even included a ridiculous 142 point outburst by the Houston Rockets.
Four times during that stretch the Timberwolves held their opponents to 91 points or less.
It also included wins against some of the top teams in the Western Conference including the Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, and an overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ defense displayed an energy they hadn’t all season long.
They were closing out on shooters with high hands, making it more difficult to get open looks. Young players such as Kris Dunn were contributing on the defensive side of the floor. It appeared as if the players had finally bought into the system.
Even with the Timberwolves winning seven of those ten games, they gained little ground in the race for eighth place, only making up one game.
The fact that the Timberwolves could play so well for a month and not make up a lot of ground discouraged their young players.
They soon reverted back to their old habits of only exerting energy on the offensive end of the court, leading the Wolves’ to extended slumps the rest of the year.