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The Great, Good, Bad and Ugly for the Timberwolves (so far)

ByJack Borman|
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 20: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves smiles during a game against the Utah Jazz on November 20, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 20: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves smiles during a game against the Utah Jazz on November 20, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Minnesota Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 20: Emmanuel Mudiay #8 of the Utah Jazz defends against Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

With the first full month of the season in the books, it’s time to examine what has gone well and what hasn’t for the Minnesota Timberwolves so far.

After the first 17 games of the season, the Minnesota Timberwolves hold a 9-8 record, which is good for No. 7 in the gauntlet that is the Western Conference.

Despite two bad losses to the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards, the Wolves are positioning themselves to be in the thick of the playoff race post-All-Star break thanks to a 6-2 road record that has made up for struggles at Target Center.

Head coach Ryan Saunders has deployed the team’s new-look offensive system, which has produced myriad fun moments early on this season and given us plenty to get excited about moving forward.

While the sweeping changes have resulted in some obvious growing pains (namely poor 3-point shooting as a team) this young Wolves squad is trending in the right direction thanks in large part to its commitment to spacing the floor, taking smart and efficient shots, and excelling in a simplified defense from associate head coach and defensive coordinator David Vanterpool.

Entering the season, Saunders preached that the system’s biggest beneficiary would be not superstar unicorn Karl-Anthony Towns, but long-lost former No. 1-overall pick Andrew Wiggins.  Despite many Wolves fans, and national and local media members choosing to take the “I’ll believe it when I see it” route, Ryan stuck to his guns, and boy has he proven himself correct thus far.

Wiggins Island has transformed from a run-down, tired, and hopeless community of loyal Wig-stans to a destination location that Wolves fans seemingly cannot get enough of.

While Andrew’s resurgence has undoubtedly been my favorite part of this Wolves’ season early on, there are plenty of other things to focus on as well, so let’s get to ’em. I break it down into four categories – the great, the good, the bad, and the ugly – because naturally, the Wolves have a little bit of everything.

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