Minnesota Timberwolves: Sleeping giants of transition offense

After the dust settles from this crazy off-season, the Timberwolves roster will be equipped to be a handful in the open court. Will Tom Thibodeau decide to make this an integral part of next season’s success?

As a general rule of thumb, coaches are taught to analyze their players’ talents and construct schemes that best fit these players’ strengths. Whether that means putting them in places on the court where they feel comfortable, organizing game plans that limit their weaknesses, or implementing strategies that boost a player’s confidence, coaches are constantly trying to adjust their techniques to get the most out of their team’s abilities.

Tom Thibodeau has spoken many times about this exact subject. One sentiment that he has consistently echoed since arriving as chief of the Timberwolves organization is putting players in situations where their strengths are emphasized and their weaknesses are hidden.

Last season, these sentiments came with spotty execution. Thibodeau inherited a youthful roster that was equipped to be one of the fastest teams in the entire league. Athletic wunderkinds Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine were on the wings to be used as dominators in open floor situations. Ricky Rubio, perhaps the best human on earth when it comes to open court vision, was running the point. The Wolves went with two traditional big men on the floor to take care of the rebounds and allow these players to get out and run.

But what did it amount to?

The Timberwolves ended up 23rd in the NBA in pace of play. That is a far cry from what was expected after hearing Thibodeau talk about utilizing his players’ strengths and setting them up for success. Being in the bottom third of the NBA as a team that sported one of the youngest and most athletic rosters in the league was head scratching, and something that Thibodeau is likely looking into as this off-season progresses.

What was the reason for the transition struggles?

The reason for last year’s slow pace of play is not too difficult to find. Thibodeau has become notorious for his lust of playing star players big minutes. Both Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns finished among the league leaders in minutes played, with Zach LaVine well on his way to joining them before his season-ending injury.

As much as we are sometimes tricked into believing that these NBA athletes are beings from another planet (see: Giannis Antetokoumpo), they can only be pushed so far before they break down. This was likely a contributing factor in the almost comical number of blown double-digit leads by the Wolves last season. No matter how youthful, athletic, or mentally strong a group of players is, fatigue is a factor that eventually defeats all.

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Not only does it affect the ability to close games, it also creates an environment where it is extremely difficult to play up-tempo. Although Wiggins, LaVine, and Towns proved adept at beating opponents down the floor and getting easy baskets, it became a conservation of energy equation. These players had to weigh the positives of getting up and down the court quickly or preserving their energy for the extended minutes they were being asked to play.

It’s like owning a race car, but having to treat it like a station wagon because there is limited fuel supply.

Where do we go from here?

The easiest, and perhaps only, solution to this problem is by having bench players that are able to play effectively enough where Thibodeau is able to give his stars a rest. Whether this issue was addressed or not is another question.

The signing of Taj Gibson was a decent first step. He will either be asked to start, or back up Gorgui Dieng as the first big man off the bench. Either way, a rotation of Towns, Dieng, and Gibson (and maybe Nemanja Bjelica?) isn’t a bad place to start with front court depth.

The rest the roster is where things get tricky. Jamal Crawford won Sixth Man of the Year just two seasons ago, but Father Time is undefeated and he will now be in his upper 30’s in age with likely declining skills. He is also the only current backup wing on the team, which isn’t a good forecaster for fans who want Wiggins and Butler to get more rest.

Tyus Jones is also the only reserve point guard currently under contract. Although Minnesota fans love him, Thibodeau has been hesitant to give him much run since taking over as coach. This doesn’t spark optimism in Tyus getting extended playing time and may hint that Jeff Teague will join his peers in the starting lineup in playing large chunks of the game.

There will certainly be more additions to the team before the first game on October 18th (against the Spurs on ESPN, which is pretty neat). But will these players be of high enough quality for Thibodeau to change his ways and give his starters more breaks? Only time will tell.

But, if they do…

If the Wolves are unleashed to get up and down the floor, look out. Their three best players (Wiggins, Towns, and Butler) all ranked among the league’s elite in transition offense when it comes to Point Per Possession (PPP). Wiggins scored in the 85th percentile in transition offense. Towns outdid that number, scoring in the 86th percentile in this category. These two numbers are outstanding, until you see that Jimmy Butler scored in the 94th percentile (!) in the open court.

The best teams in the NBA are the ones who let their star players’ strengths dictate the style of play they have. The Golden State Warriors thrive while pushing the pace and getting easy looks at the rim and from behind the arc. The San Antonio Spurs have perfected the art of methodical and high efficiency offense, started by the fundamentals of Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich and continued in the brilliance of Kawhi Leonard.

The Timberwolves’ style could potentially be suffocating defense that creates opportunities to get out and run with their stars. The aforementioned additions of Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson will surely give the Wolves a toughness and defensive mindset that the organization has lacked for far too long. Smothering defense is key in creating bad shot attempts, which in turn is a main factor in igniting fast-break opportunities. If everything goes according to plan, this could be a recipe for the Timberwolves to turn into a dark horse in defeating the upper class of the Western Conference.

Let’s wait and see…

Possibly the best part of the off-season is analyzing how new additions will fit in to the current roster. Fans are left with months of predicting how players will blend together and be utilized within the team’s system. It is one of those oddly satisfying things that make the NBA world one of the most fascinating talking points in sports throughout the summer months.

This might just be one of those thoughts that go by the wayside once the season begins. But, then again, maybe it won’t. The Timberwolves clearly have the tools to be one of the best teams in the NBA when it comes to transition offense. How Thibodeau decides to use players in this situation is something to keep an eye on as the season nears. If the Wolves are able to follow the lead of their best players’ strengths, tallies on the left side of the win-loss column will become inevitable.

Next: Wolves Draft Review: Was Passing On Curry A Good Thing?

All stats were acquired via NBA.com