Checking on the Timberwolves’ progress since the All-Star break

Now, the Wolves bench still doesn’t get looked to very often; nothing has changed on that front.

Over the past 13 games, the bench ranks 29th in minutes at just 13.7 per game. However, as a whole, the bench hasn’t performed well over the past 13 games. They rank over 20th in the league in points per game, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. However, they attempt the least amount of shots and the third-least amount of threes per game.

Jamal Crawford has been the go-to guy off the bench, just like he has been all season, and the more run he gets the more productive he seems to beHowever, his efficiency hasn’t been so great on either end of the floor.

Although, that’s not to say he can’t be a spark at any given time. All season he has come up with some crazy, big time shots that are simply jaw dropping. That has not changed for the ageless Crawford.

https://twitter.com/RealSportsTaIk/status/977693449406251008

Let’s not forget about Derrick Rose, who joined the team shortly after the All-Star break. This brought mixed emotions from fans and media, however, he is another veteran to help guide the younger, inexperienced Wolves. (Currently, he’s nursing a sprained ankle.)

Prior to his ankle injury, Rose had been playing fairly well in what is an extremely small sample size.

Tyus Jones has continued to be a comfortable plug-in off the bench for Tom Thibodeau.He’s shooting a better percentage from the field over the past 13 games compared to his overall numbers (51.1 percent to 46.7 percent). However, his 3-point shooting has taken a hit. Overall, he is shooting 34.6 percent from three on the season. If it weren’t for his 29.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc over the past 13 games that mark would be higher.

Unfortunately his defense has taken a turn for the worse. Overall Jones has the second-best defensive rating on the team with a score of 105.8. That mark is just 0.5 better than that of Butler’s. Over the past 13 games, however, Jones has a 115.1 defensive rating — just 10th on the team.

Just like Crawford, that’s not to say he isn’t playing a vital role off the bench. Jones still has a natural nose for the ball and has been a fairly consistent spot up shooter.

He has just been inconsistent as of late in terms of defense.

Sticking to defense, the whole team has declined in defensive rating over the past 13 games, and some more than others. (Of course, with the exception of Bjelica, who is the only one who improved. Take a look for yourselves.)