Checking in on the Timberwolves’ progress at the All-Star Break

Last season’s All-Star break saw the Timberwolves sitting at 13 games under .500 with a 22-35 record. This season, however, has been a complete turnaround.

The Timberwolves enter the All-Star break 11 games above .500, and at 36-25, have already surpassing last season’s win total of 31.

Wolves fans will be watching the All-Star Game with purpose on Sunday for the first time in a long time, and there are two main reasons for that.

The main reason, of course, is that the team will be represented by not one, but two players for the first time since 2004, when Kevin Garnett and Sam Cassell were there. Ironically that All-Star Game was also played in Los Angeles.

The other reason for excitement for Wolves fans is that their squad is relevant at the All-Star break for the first time in many years.

All-Stars Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns are the main two reasons as to why the Wolves have found success all season. However, the team has been playing inconsistent as of late. Since my last mid-season analysis, about a month ago, the Wolves have played flat basketball.

Since then, they have played 15 games and own a 7-8 record in that span. Their .467 winning percentage since Jan. 18 is 16th in the league — not exactly ideal for a team in the midst of a playoff push.

In fact, Butler and Towns are probably the reason the Wolves record wasn’t much worse since our last check in.

In their last 15 games, Butler and Towns have each played exceptionally well. Butler is ninth in the league in scoring,  averaging 25.5 points per game since Jan. 18. Towns is 21st in the league during that span, averaging 20.5 points per game. He has also shot 57.4 percent from the field in the past 15 games while Butler has shot 47.8 percent.

Towns has showed off his range by shooting 42.9 percent from the 3-point line over the past 15 games. That mark has him tied with Jeff Teague for the best on the team during the stretch.

The pair is also first and second on the team in plus/minus over the last 15 games. Butler is the lead dog with a 4.5 mark while Towns follows with a 2.8.

And let’s not forget the fact that Butler single-handedly closed out the Wolves win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

However, the team has had a few inexcusable loses since this recent stretch started in Houston on Jan. 18.

First, losing to the Atlanta Hawks, back on Jan. 29, is something no contending team should do. Six teams are tied for the least amount of wins in the league, and the Hawks are one of them. Very simply, the Wolves shouldn’t be and can’t afford to lose to teams under .500 when they have a chance to clinch home court in the first round. They need to cash in on under .500 teams during their final 21 games.

The second game that was inexcusable was the loss to the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 9. If anything, this loss is even more of a blow to the gut than any other loss in this stretch.

Lastly, the Wolves overtime loss in Cleveland on Feb. 7 stung. The Wolves had a prime chance to put the struggling Cavs to bed but instead, their defense let them down. Don’t get me wrong, the Cavaliers are still a premiere team in the league. However, the chance to sweep the season series against the Cavs was denied by LeBron James at the buzzer.

Speaking of defense — and stop me if you’ve heard this before — the Wolves need to become more consistent.

There was a time not long ago where everyone thought they finally had it figured out. From rotations looking good, consistent high intensity, not allowing many open looks and everything in between, it looked as if Tom Thibodeau had finally whipped them into shape.

And then came the past 15 games.

The Wolves are tied for last place with the Phoenix Suns (yes, the 18-41, last-place-in-the-West Suns) for the worst defensive rating since Jan. 18. Their rating, you ask? A dreadful 114.1. Que the eye-rolling and hair-pulling.

Along with that, their opponent’s 14.5 second-chance points per game is tied for the third-worst average in the league since Jan. 18. They also haven’t forced as many turnovers as they did for the first half of the season, and it shows. Some other things to note as reasons to why the Wolves are under .500 in their last 15 games:

• 27th in opponent field goal percentage (48.8 percent)
• 27th in opponent 3-point percentage (38.6 percent)
• 28th in opponent points per game (113.1)

Obviously, not everything the Wolves have done over this stretch has been bad. They have done a nice job not allowing their opponents to get many rebounds or force them into turning the ball over. On the flip side, they themselves have not rebounded well lately.

Winning at home has been a major lift to the Wolves all season. During their 15 game stretch the Wolves went a perfect 6-0 at home while going 1-8 on the road. It’s great they can win at home, but that needs to be balanced out with a much better road record.

Offensively, the Wolves 113.1 points per game is the fifth most per game in the league during this stretch. To be quite frank, if you score that many points per game, there is no excuse to go 7-8 over 15 games.

Defense, please wake up.

Also, the Wolves have the second-best field goal percentage in the league during this stretch. Their 48.9 field goal percentage trails only the Warriors who are shooting 51.4 percent. Surprisingly, the Wolves’ 3-point percentage over the last 15 games isn’t that bad; they are 12th in the league, shooting 36.4 percent from deep.

https://twitter.com/SLAMonline/status/964347915165683712

In this case the numbers are backing up and giving reason to why the Wolves are just 7-8 since Jan. 18. Just like one may assume, their defense is the main reason as to why.

Looking at the big picture, the Wolves are still 11 games above .500 and are fourth in the West, and they still have a real chance of finishing third in the West if they can finish the season hot.

Also, their 36-25 record is seventh-best in the entire league at the All-Star break.

For where the franchise has usually been at this time in years past, this is beyond good. However, besides surpassing last seasons win total the Wolves have not accomplished anything yet.

They still need to finish their final 21 games strong to clinch a spot in the playoffs and earn the best seed they can. The All-Star break will be good to get the much-needed rest the Wolves need as each starter has averaged 33 or more minutes per game this season.

It’s stressful knowing the Wolves have played some of their worst defense all season at this point in the campaign. What makes it easier is knowing that the offense hasn’t lost a beat. However, you can’t win a title just by scoring, especially without shooting many threes and especially in today’s game. They need to figure everything out on defense if they have any hopes of reaching and reaching, and eventually, winning the Finals.

The Wolves will play 11 away and 10 home games over their final 21. The 11 road games will be crucial to how the Wolves finish the season and where they finish in the standings.

The same goes for their remaining two games against the Rockets and one against both the Warriors and San Antonio Spurs. One of their two games against the Rockets will be their first game after the break. That game is followed by their revenge game against the Bulls.

From here on out, it’s officially crunch time for the Wolves.

Now to end on a more encouraging note: what a nice ceremony the entire Timberwolves organization put together for Flip Saunders prior to the game against the Lakers on Thursday.

No matter how inconsistent the Wolves have been this season, I’m sure he would be proud. A little frustrated, sure, but overall I think he would be extremely proud that his vision is coming together.

Next: 5 things the Timberwolves need to do to grab the No. 3 seed

Now, each time the Wolves play at the Target Center they will have a second head coach up in the rafters.