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Minnesota Timberwolves New Year’s resolutions: Player development

By Brian Sampson

Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 29: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Jimmy Butler #23 react during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 29, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 29: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Jimmy Butler #23 react during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 29, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

2. Shoot more threes

My biggest plea to the Timberwolves is to join the analytics era and start hoisting more threes. It’s 2018 now for heaven’s sake! Despite what some TNT broadcasters may think Minnesota doesn’t shoot very many threes. Like hardly any.

Going into the new year, they only attempt 23.0 outside shots per game, 28th in the league. That’s only 1.4 ahead of the last-place New York Knicks and 20.3 behind the first place Golden State Warriors. Now the Warriors are on a whole different level than anybody else so it might be fairer to compare them to the second place Brooklyn Nets at 34.1. In that case Minnesota is 11.1 threes per game behind.

One big issue is Minnesota’s inability to knock down those threes when they make them, so why would they take more? Great question. Despite ranking 22nd in the NBA by knocking down 35.4 percent, sometimes it’s about taking open shots when they present themselves:

By taking more threes, Minnesota will force opponents to come out and guard them more frequently. Despite the Timberwolves being littered with career-average outside shooters, teams aren’t going to want to continue allowing those types of players wide-open looks. Right now, they don’t have to respect them as often, knowing they are likly to pass up on these opportunities. However, if they begin taking them at a higher frequency, defenses will have to creep out, opening up the driving lanes and post-up opportunities.

It’s not always as simple as just taking more threes, but it’s a start for a Minnesota squad who seems more apt to rely on a contested mid-range J than taking an open outside shot.

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