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Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 goals for the rest of the season

By Adam Ziobrowski

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 10: The Minnesota Timberwolves huddle before the game against the Dallas Mavericks on December 10, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 10: The Minnesota Timberwolves huddle before the game against the Dallas Mavericks on December 10, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

1. Step Up On Defense

The final goal for the Wolves for the rest of the season is perhaps the most obvious: they need to become a stronger defensive team in order to have a chance of making a postseason run.

Before getting into numbers, take into account a few observations.

It is inescapably noticeable how many wide open looks the Wolves allow. With that, they also are late with rotations too many times, allowing for easy inside looks around the hoop. Consequently, the Wolves are 21st in the league, allowing 45 points inside the paint per game. Transition defense has been an issue all season long, too.

The Wolves rank 25th in the league with a 107.6 defensive rating, and only two contenders rank below the Wolves. One is the 15-15 New Orleans Pelicans. The other has the greatest player in the world. I think you can figure that one out.

The Wolves are also 26th in defensive rebounds per game. This is problematic because they are allowing more opportunities to opponents than they should. Rebound and posses the basketball more and that won’t necessarily be the case.

This is also something to consider:

A bit of irony here. The franchise cornerstone is seemingly turning the corner in the part of his game that hurts him the most and yet the team can’t match it.

Sorry to say it, but Jimmy Butler can’t fix an entire defense on his own. Everyone who steps foot on the court needs to prioritize defense over offense. Points will come, we’ve seen it all season. What hasn’t come yet is putting stops together consistently.

Next: An examination of Andrew Wiggins' shooting woes

That is why the No. 1 goal for the rest of the Wolves season is to step up on defense and watch how much easier that will make everything else.

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