How important is it for the Timberwolves to start the season hot?

For the first time in nearly 20 seasons, the Minnesota Timberwolves have the potential to make the NBA Playoffs in consecutive seasons. The first 20 games for any NBA team are essential. Due to the NBA implementing the play-in tournament, fighting to finish in the top eight has become extremely difficult in both conferences.

Although the Western Conference still reigns supreme, the Eastern Conference is no longer considered the ‘leastern’ conference. The league can finally say they have two evenly matched conferences.

For the Minnesota Timberwolves, the last time they started a season exceptionally well was in 2002-03, with a 6-0 start. A team led by Kevin Garnett in his prime capped off the season with a record of 51-31, but fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs in six games.

Wolves’ 2022 Run Resembled 2003 Team

In 2022 the Timberwolves had a similar experience vs. the Memphis Grizzlies. Again, they were led by 26-year-old All-Star Karl Anthony Towns and sophomore guard Anthony Edwards. Unfortunately, their playoff inexperience sealed their fate in a series where the Wolves ultimately beat themselves — giving up double-digit leads and making bad defensive decisions down the stretch — eventually falling to Ja Morant and the Grizzlies 4-2.

Knowing Minnesota needed another dominant player to take their game to the next level, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly went out and acquired one. The Timberwolves landed three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, as well as added a couple of bench players to ignite the second unit.

According to one aristocratic NBA analyst, Ed Kupfer, the Timberwolves have the most manageable schedule based on Vegas win total estimates. His model took into account opponent strength of schedule, days of rest for team/opponent, and home/away advantages.

Timberwolves Need Gobert To Acclimate Quickly

Regardless, this is excellent news for the Timberwolves, who are now experimenting with two twin towers in the frontcourt. Minnesota looks to change the game in a league dominated by shooting beyond the arc.

However, while Karl-Anthony Towns may be the best shooting big in the NBA, Rudy Gobert is offensively challenged and could cause the Wolves problems. His sweet spots are in obtaining dunks and fast-break action.

Gobert has fouled out just four times in the last three seasons. So yes, presence is an upgrade defensively, but there is always some uncertainty when putting together a new team, and time is not the Timberwolves’ best friend.

However, with the regular season less than two months out, time is essential. So jumping off to a hot start is extremely important to the Timberwolves’ success.

The faster the Timberwolves can develop chemistry, the easier it will be to maintain this chemistry throughout an NBA season. It’s a long journey filled with ups and downs. Bad chemistry and lack of playoff experience are why the Timberwolves lost in the playoffs last season.

With good team chemistry, Minnesota will allow itself a chance to make a run in the NBA Playoffs. So, How important is it for the Timberwolves to start the season hot? Extremely important. Of the 104 teams that won fewer than seven of their first 20 games in the last 20 seasons, only five have gone on to reach the postseason.