2. Bench Mob
Tom Thibodeau’s infatuation with playing his starters extensively has been well-documented. It was hard to blame him last season when Minnesota lacked the talent to force themselves on the court more often.
That was a major reason why the Timberwolves ranked dead last in bench points per game (22.8), 3-point percentage (31.2) and rebounds (11.0).
It was a focus of Thibodeau’s to improve that bench during the summer with signings such as Jamal Crawford and Taj Gibson (which pushed Gorgui Dieng to the second unit). They also brought back Shabazz Muhammad after it looked like he was a goner and have relied on holdovers such as Tyus Jones and Nemanja Bjelica to take the necessary steps.
All of this has translated into one of the more productive, if still underutilized, units in the league. 14 games into the season, they rank 25th in bench points per game (29.1), third in 3-point percentage (40.4) and 28th in rebounds (11.4).
It’s clear to everyone, but the man in charge they have earned more playing time. Let’s hope they get it so they can build on these good numbers.