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Important Points In The Timberwolves’ Season

By Brian Sampson

Mar 30, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau looks on during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau looks on during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 9, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8) during the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8) during the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Injured Season

Injuries impact every team every season. There has never been a team in the history of the NBA who has not been affected by injuries.

This season was a particularly painful one for the Timberwolves.

It started out almost immediately with Ricky Rubio missing time a week into the season. Rubio missed five games from November 1 through November 9 with a sprained elbow.The Timberwolves managed to go 2-3 during those five games but Rubio was still affected when he returned to the court.

The Timberwolves managed to go 2-3 during those five games but Rubio was still affected when he returned to the court.

In the first four games after Rubio’s injury, he averaged only 8 points and 7.3 assists while committing 3.0 turnovers per game.

Eventually, Rubio recovered and ended up playing some of the best basketball of his career in the latter part of the season.

Rubio’s injury was only the tip of the iceberg for the Timberwolves.

Zach LaVine was having a career year for Minnesota and had made a huge leap in scoring. LaVine was averaging a career high 18.9 points per game for the Wolves before he tore his ACL on February 3 against the Detroit Pistons.

That was a season-changer for the Timberwolves.

LaVine had shown a great amount of promise in his third year but that had to be put on hold.

LaVine, who relied on his elite athleticism, may never be the same again. The rule of thumb for ACL injuries it that it takes a little less than a year to get back into playing shape and then another year after that before you are fully back to normal.

Without LaVine, the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to pull together and rally one more time. They were on the verge of an extended run to get back into the playoff chase before the injury bug bit again.

This time in the form of Nemanja Bjelica.

Bjelica, in his second year in the NBA, was just starting to emerge as a fourth scoring option for the Timberwolves.

From February 15th through March 13th, the game before he got hurt, Bjelica was averaging 9.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He also accrued three double-doubles over that time.

The loss of Bjelica was a significant one because the Timberwolves had played great ball for the past month. I don’t believe it was a coincidence that the Bjelica injury coincided with the drop-off in play from March 15th on.

As the season went on, the injuries proved too much for the Minnesota Timberwolves to overcome. The roster was not built to sustain serious injuries to any of their rotation players.

Related Story: Minnesota Timberwolves' Pending Free Agents

If LaVine and Bjelica can recover as expected they will provide necessary depth to a thin Timberwolves roster next season.

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