Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 Issues that need to be addressed

1. Defense

Naturally, I saved the worst for last.

In general, the Timberwolves’ offense has been clicking. But their defense continues to falter.

Every time the Wolves win a game, it’s tempting to think that the Wolves’ defense has finally figured things out. But on closer examination, the same defensive mistakes show up in just about every game, whether the Wolves win or lose.

Don’t get me wrong, certain components of the Wolves’ defense are trending in the right direction. If you want to feel good about Minnesota’s defense, focus on what Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler are doing on that end of the court. Jimmy Butler brings a much-needed level of intensity on the defensive end, forcing turnovers and containing opponents’ biggest offensive threats. Likewise, Taj Gibson is a steadying presence who puts in work down low.

As a team, however, the Timberwolves are struggling. If the Wolves hope to be a serious playoff contender this season, their defense is just not where it needs to be.

When opposing teams start to move the ball, the Wolves’ defense falls apart. One or more Wolves end up lost in the shuffle, leading to uncontested shots at the rim or wide-open 3-point attempts. Here’s a great example from Sunday night’s game against the Pistons:

The Wolves’ weak-side defense is often a step behind the play. When opposing teams figure out how to exploit that, the Wolves give up easy buckets.

So who needs to step up? Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Andrew Wiggins has the tools to become an elite defender, but he hasn’t been able to put everything together. Wiggins has no problem showing off his freakish athleticism and seven-foot wingspan on the offensive end, but he gets pushed around on defense.

For different reasons, Karl-Anthony Towns is also much more reliable on offense than on defense. KAT’s help-side defense has been abysmal this year, and among starting NBA Centers, Towns ranks toward the bottom in terms defensive rating. We shouldn’t expect Karl-Anthony Towns to develop into a top-tier defender by the end of the season, but a few small adjustments could go a long way.

Let’s hope the defensive intensity of Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler start to rub off on Towns and Wiggins. Given the Timberwolves’ offensive success this year, a middle-of-the-road defense is all they need to become a serious playoff contender.