Dunking With Wolves
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5 keys to the Timberwolves early success

By Adam Ziobrowski

DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 17: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball against the Dallas Mavericks on November 17, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 17: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball against the Dallas Mavericks on November 17, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – OCTOBER 22: Jamal Crawford
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – OCTOBER 22: Jamal Crawford /

4. Outside Shooting 

Another reason the Wolves have been finding more success is that of their outside shooting.

Last season the Wolves had no one to look to for three-point shooting. They finished 20th in the league last shooting 35 percent from three.

Their best three-point shooters from last season, Zach LaVine and Brandon Rush, are no longer with the team. They both shot just over 38 percent.

Behind them were the Wolves two big men, Gorgui Dieng and Karl-Anthony Towns, who both shot around 37 percent. It isn’t ideal that two of your best outside shooters are your two starting big men.

The bottom line is that the Wolves didn’t have that one guy that could come in and hit a couple quick threes to light a spark. There was only one western conference playoff team who shot worse from three last season than the Wolves, the Thunder.

This goes to show how crucial outside shooting has become in today’s NBA, especially out west.

However, this season the Wolves have more options to produce points from beyond the arc. They rank eighth in the league as a team shooting 37.7 from three. Their increase in percentage starts with perhaps one of the more undervalued players on the team, Nemanja Bjelica.

Among league qualifiers Bjelica ranks second in three-point percentage, shooting 52.8 percent. Last year he shot just 31.6 percent from three, so his improvement has surely come as a great surprise for the Wolves. There’s more from him to come later.

The additions of Jeff Teague and Jamal Crawford are also paying dividends for the Wolves from beyond the arc. Teague is shooting 42.7 percent from three, which was the hope when he came in to replace Ricky Rubio.

Crawford is shooting 40.7 percent from three coming off the bench, which is another area that will be touched upon shortly. His contributions have made the Wolves bench more of a threat.

Towns, Wiggins and Butler have been middle-of-the-pack shooters who have been inconsistent at times from three. However, this hasn’t been an issue since there are guys on the team who can pick them up on off nights.

Being more of a threat as a team from three forces teams to guard more closely on the perimeter. This opens up the lane more for mid-range shots and post options. This is one area the Wolves must maintain to continue finding success.

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