Minnesota Timberwolves: Top defensive lineup
By Sam Nygaard
Andrew Wiggins
A surprise inclusion to many, Andrew Wiggins is actually a member of the Timberwolves’ top defensive lineup. Even after being voted last season’s “Least Defensive Player” by FiveThirtyEight, Wiggs is included here because of his potential.
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There is no question of whether or not Andrew Wiggins has the physical tools to become an elite defender. At 6-foot-8, he has the height, athleticism and quickness, but the mental aspect is missing right now. Many of his problems this past year can be fixed. He needs to improve at closing out and contesting shots, as well as seeing pick-and-roll plays better. This past season, he put up performances that can be built upon, he just needs to put in the work this offseason.
Last season, Wiggins was given a lot of responsibility by Thibodeau. He was tasked with defending the opponent’s best player almost every single night, all while leading the entire league in minutes. That’s an incredibly strenuous workload for a 21-year-oldd player in a conference stacked with talent.
This year, Jimmy Butler will be guarding the opposition’s best wing players, and Wiggins will get easier assignments, which is where he can build up his confidence to thrive. Wiggins finally has a similar player he can learn from in Butler, and that will be immense for his development.