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Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 reasons they won’t make the 2018 playoffs

By Allen Wardell

Nov 25, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Timberwolves defeated the Suns 98-85. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Timberwolves defeated the Suns 98-85. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 25, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau reacts to a call in game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 25, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau reacts to a call in game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

3.  The Timberwolves defense doesn’t improve under Tom Thibodeau in year two.

One of the main reasons Tom Thibodeau was brought in and given the keys to run the Minnesota Timberwolves is because he is known around the NBA as a “defensive guru”.

In his five years at the helm in Chicago, Thibodeau had the Bulls ranking as follows in opponent points per game:

2010-11: 2nd (91.3 ppg allowed)

2011-12: 1st (88.2 ppg allowed)

2012-13: 3rd (92.9 ppg allowed)

2013-14: 1st (91.8 ppg allowed)

2014-15: 9th (97.8 ppg allowed)

Here is how the Timberwolves ranked in Thibodeau’s first year as head coach:

2016-17: Tied for 18th (106.7)

Utah led the league in opponent points per game this past year with 96.8 points per game allowed.

A far cry from his top defensive teams in Chicago but the game has also changed in the short time since then.

Scoring is definitely on the rise with the league averaging 105.6 points per game this year, the highest it’s been since the 1990-91 season.

We might not see defenses in the NBA giving up less than 100 points per game on average for the foreseeable future.

However, if the Timberwolves are not able to improve their defense enough to get them into the top 10 in opponent points per game in 2017-18, they will likely struggle once again to avoid the ping pong balls.