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Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 things the Wolves actually do well

By Phil Ford

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 18: Head coach Ryan Saunders of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on January 18, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 18: Head coach Ryan Saunders of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on January 18, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Timberwolves, Ed Davis
Ed Davis of the Minnesota Timberwolves grabs an offensive rebound. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

What the Minnesota Timberwolves do well: Grab offensive rebounds

It might shock you that the Wolves are actually a pretty good offensive rebounding team. It seems like most of the blown leads were enabled by this team’s inability to grab a single rebound down the stretch.

That may be true on the defensive end, where the Wolves rank No. 26 in the league with 33.4 defensive rebounds per game, but they actually do a good job of cleaning the offensive glass. Minnesota is the seventh best offensive rebounding team in the league with 11.2 per game.

Once again, the best offensive rebounder on the team is the best overall rebounder and overall player in KAT, who averages four offensive boards per game. Next is Ed Davis at 2.3 and, somewhat surprisingly, Jarrett Culver with 1.8. Indeed, Culver’s offensive rebounding rate of 7.9 percent is the 10th highest of anyone in the league shorter than 6-foot-7.

The Timberwolves have won the offensive rebounding war in seven of their first 13 games. Unfortunately for the Wolves, their best offensive rebounder has missed nine of the last 11 games and counting.

Minnesota’s offensive rebounding rate dips from 29 percent with Towns on the court to 26.4 percent with him on the sideline. Put simply, KAT is the key to everything for the Wolves and they will improve in all facets with him on the court.

Still, Jarred Vanderbilt has been a solid substitute for Towns on the glass in KAT’s absence. The third-year power forward is averaging 1.2 offensive rebounds per game with every single offensive rebound coming in a game in which KAT didn’t play. While he’s no Towns, Vanderbilt can hold his own down low for Minnesota and grab offensive boards at an above average pace.

Minnesota needs to approach rebounding on the defensive end with the same tenacity as they have on the offensive boards, if they can take that aggression to the other side of the court they will be more likely to close out these games in which they’ve blown fourth-quarter leads.

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