Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 things the Wolves actually do well
By Phil Ford
What the Minnesota Timberwolves do well: Block shots
If you’ve watched the Wolves play the last few years, you know as well as anyone how bad the defense has been, and particularly when it comes to giving up points in the paint.
Teams know they can score down low against the Wolves at will. This season Minnesota gives up 52.3 points in the paint per game, the worst mark in the league.
The silver lining of their woeful interior defense is that the Wolves are actually a surprisingly good shot-blocking team. The Timberwolves average 5.6 blocks per game, which is seventh-best in the league.
Led by Towns’ career-high 2.8 blocks per game, albeit in only four games, the Wolves are getting contributions from almost everyone on the roster. Every single player who has suited up for the Timberwolves this season has recorded at least one block, aside from Rubio and Jaylen Nowell, the latter of whom has logged just eight minutes of playing time this season.
The Timberwolves swatted a season-high 12 shots in in their most recent loss to the Magic. Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels led the way, each recording a career-high three blocks to their statline.
The good news is that the Timberwolves are averaging the same amount of blocks (4.3) with Towns on or off the court so he isn’t necessarily the key to all of this even though he is undoubtedly the teams best rim protector.
Still, the Wolves’ block party is something of a surprise, as Towns has missed nine games already this year and they rest of the front court is relatively undersized and has been the weak link on the team to start the season.
Now, is this solid block rate born from Minnesota allowing the most points in the paint in the league and teams constantly getting past perimeter defenderse and getting the ball to the hoop? Yes, most likely, but wouldn’t you rather your team block at least a few more of those shots?
It’s the little things that you have to cling to with this team.