Timberwolves shrug off rust just in time to realize another L
By Bret Stuter
A perfect case study of Wolves’ woes
The loss out of the break against the Charlotte Hornets is an ideal case study on what seems to have plagued this team all season. The Hornets had nothing to play for except the faint wisp of hope for a team that has not been mathematically eliminated just yet. The Timberwolves had everything to play for.
And yet, at Target Center, the Hornets were the better team.
Chris Finch on what went wrong in tonight's loss:
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) February 25, 2023
"We waited too long to get into this game. Defense was not very good in the first half, in particular... Typical, we looked rusty coming out of the break, for sure. But it was more about effort early on than anything else.”
Once more the Timberwolves stepped onto the basketball court, this time on the road to face the ever-dangerous Golden State Warriors. Once more, the Timberwolves entered the fourth quarter with a lead. Not a comfortable lead, no. But nine points is enough of a lead in the final 12 minutes of regulation play to feel good about your chances of winnings.
Unless you are the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Timberwolves must adapt quickly
Teams are beginning to figure out the Timberwolves right now. Stop Anthony Edwards, and you stop the Wolves. Before the NBA All-Star Break, Edwards was cooking with a scoring average of 27.3 points per game in the month of January 2023, and 23.6 points per game in the month of February 2023. But since the All-Star Break, Edwards has averaged just 17.7 points per game. And that happens to coincide with another Timberwolves’ losing streak.
I know you're all mad at Finch and Connelly. There's criticism merited there. But Anthony Edwards was 5-19 with 5 turnovers as well. Not sure if he was sick or banged up or what, but on a night when you don't have KAT or Rudy, they needed more.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) February 27, 2023
The Timberwolves need to adapt quickly. This has been a team that has had countless iterations so far in the 2022-23 NBA season. Which each new lineup, the Minnesota Timberwolves have faced new challenges.