Minnesota Timberwolves: 6 bold predictions for the regular season

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /

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2. Bench ranks top 15 in net rating.

The Timberwolves’ bench was a bag of mixed reviews last season. They ranked last in the league with 1143 minutes played and didn’t tend to shoot the ball very well, ranking 24th in the league with a 52.2 true shooting percentage.

It’s hard to blame Thibodeau too much for playing his starters heavy minutes when he had guys like Kris Dunn, Brandon Rush and Cole Aldrich sitting next to him.

Hopefully, that changes a little this season, as he has an upgraded second-unit. Shabazz Muhammad is still there, but he’s hardly the first option anymore. Jamal Crawford appears to be in line to run the bench unit and Gorgui Dieng has selflessly accepted a new role.

All of that should equal success for a very crucial bench mob.

When you add in Crawford, Dieng or Muhammad alongside one or two of the Wolves’ Big Three of Towns-Butler-Wiggins it creates a recipe for success. The bench unit won’t be relied upon as heavily to create their own scoring opportunities, as they can now thrive off the attention on Minnesota’s stars. They can live off cuts to the basket and better driving lanes with the increased defensive attention on the Big Three.

Watch for that true shooting percentage to rise and land in the top half of the NBA.

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