With a roster overhaul this summer, Tom Thibodeau will have many opportunities to get creative with his lineups.
By now, we all know Tom Thibodeau has a penchant for overplaying his players. That didn’t change last season, his first year with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and you shouldn’t expect it to change this year either.
Even though Thibs uses a lot of lineup variations, 246 of them last season to be exact, he heavily depends on the same players to produce time and time again. It’s obvious that players earn his trust in practice and that trust carries over into game situations.
Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns all racked up a ton of minutes last year, finishing near the top in minutes played per game.
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However, finding the right lineup to gel is a lot more complex than simply trotting your five best players out on the court.
Last season, the head coach showed nine five-man lineups who appeared in more than 20 games. The best offensive lineup happened to be Ricky Rubio-Wiggins-Shabazz Muhammad-Gorgui Dieng-Towns who registered a 117.4 offensive rating.
Finding the right mesh of guys can go a long way to carrying a team into the postseason and beyond.
Thibs should lean on these fine lineups to take his team to the promise land.
5. Jeff Teague, Jamal Crawford, Jimmy Butler, Wiggins and Towns
Due to Thibodeau’s penchant for playing two traditional big men at the same time, this lineup will probably never see the light of day.
However, it can be Minnesota’s own version of Golden State’s death lineup with either Wiggins or Butler playing the 4.
Offensively, this lineup will be extremely difficult to guard. Every player the Wolves trot out is an offensive threat the defense must respect.
Opposing coaches will be confused about who they should put their traditional power forward on. Wiggins is the most likely option but due to his physical gifts, he will be able to blow right past the majority of 4’s.
This also allows the teams three best playmakers, Teague, Crawford and Butler, to be on the court at the same time. This will enable as many easy basket cuts and off-ball screens as we will see in a Thibs run offense.
Towns will also have plenty of space to work with down low as defenses will be hesitant to help off their man. Even if they choose to double Towns, he has a plethora of athletic players and good finishers to dish to.
Defensively will be the biggest challenge for this five man group.
While Towns can hold his own at the center position, whoever is guarding the power forward is at risk of being bullied down low.
Butler should be the man to draw the assignment as he’s the most physical of the remaining players. He never gives up on the play and will work his butt off in the post.
While this lineup will only work in certain situations, it can give Minnesota a unique look that other teams must prepare for ahead of time.
4. Crawford, Butler, Wiggins, Nemanja Bjelica and Towns
Although this lineup lacks a traditional point guard, it’s very intriguing because of its offensive potential.
It trots five players on the floor who can score from almost anywhere on the court. This ensures the defense stays honest and close to their man. With the defenders preoccupied with not giving up open outside shots, driving lanes will be open for the taking.
While neither Crawford nor Butler are traditional point guards, they will be able to share ball-handling responsibilities. They both excel as secondary playmaking options but Butler has increased his court awareness and pocket passing each season. If that takes another leap this year, he will be able to handle more and more responsibilities.
Wiggins could also be an X-factor in terms of playmaking. It’s one of the many skills he’s lacked since entering the league, however, he’s still young and has plenty of time for improvement. If he’s even able to take a small step next season in creating shots for others he will be helpful in this lineup.
Towns will be the big indicator defensively. If he can take that step up most experts are expecting, he will be able to anchor almost any lineup.
Wiggins and Butler will be fine guarding their men, especially now that Wiggins has gone down a rung on the defensive assignment ladder. Bjelica will try hard but struggle like always.
That leaves Crawford. Although he’s not nearly quick enough to stick with the majority of point guards, he can use his size and length to his advantage.
This five man crew is a bit of a different take on the traditional lineup but may help in certain situations.
3. Teague, Butler, Wiggins, Taj Gibson and Dieng
This five-man group features, perhaps, the five best defensive players on the Wolves’ roster.
Teague, despite his slim stature, is a good enough defender and one of the quicker point guards in the league. He registered a 106.8 defensive rating last season, which is neither good nor bad. He basically makes this rotation due to lack of other competition on the roster.
We all know Butler’s defensive ability as he’s one of the top two-way players in the entire NBA. He finished last season with a 103.4 defensive rating, which isn’t as good as his peak seasons. However, he is taking on a lot more responsibility on the offensive end which explains his slippage.
Wiggins is far from the stopper scouts thought he’d become when he first entered the league. Fortunately, Butler’s arrival means Wiggins will now guard the second-best wing on the floor. This can only help his confidence.
Gibson is known for his defensive ability he’s demonstrated throughout his career. Although he’s slipped from his prime, he still offers a higher defensive upside than Bjelica at the 4. The Gibson-Dieng frontcourt also puts two defensive players in prime positions to have an impact at their most natural spots.
2. Teague, Butler, Wiggins, Dieng and Towns
Thibodeau is a traditional coach who loves to play two big men together. We can sit here and debate this effectiveness until we’re blue in the face, the facts don’t change.
This lineup will become a staple for the Timberwolves next season and may even be their starting five.
Although Dieng is best suited as a center, Thibs loves what he brings to the court; hustle, intensity, and a menacing presence down low.
The hope is Teague, Butler and Wiggins will be able to provide the necessary spacing on the perimeter to give the whole team room to work with. When Dieng was on the floor last year other teams didn’t respect his outside shooting ability enough and helped, clogging the lane.
If Dieng can take another step forward with his outside shooting that would go a long ways.
Regardless, good things are always going to happen when Butler, Wiggins and Towns are on the floor together.
1. Teague, Butler, Wiggins, Bjelica and Towns
Ah, we finally come to my favorite lineup for the Minnesota Timberwolves next season.
This lineup gives Minnesota the most options on both ends of the floor.
Offensively, Minnesota can trot out five guys who the defenses must respect on the perimeter. Even though none of them are high volume outside shooters, opposing teams still must stay close.
Again, this will open up driving lanes and allow Towns and Butler maximum space to work with.
Questions will certainly be asked about Bjelica, given his down year last season. However, he shot 38 percent from downtown his rookie year and shot 34 percent the second-half of last season before going down with an injury. Bjelica’s spacing will also allow Butler and Towns to perfect their two-man game.
Defensively, the hope is Towns can take that next step to make up for his front-court partner’s deficiencies. Although I don’t think Bjelica is a great defensive player, I believe his deficiencies are overblown. Last season he finished the year with a 103.4 defensive rating, right up there with Jimmy Butler.
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If this five-man group can get the job on the defensive side of the court, this may end up being their most dangerous weapon.