While the Minnesota Timberwolves may not have been the hoped-for success in the 2022-23 NBA season, there are certainly those areas that can be identified and fixed without a complex rework of the roster or the philosophy of this team. After all, if the Timberwolves merely do a better job of staying healthy, I believe that this team could add 10 percent, or eight games, to the win column.
But that is not really enough, is it? After all, this is a team that was all about the High Wall defense, the two bigs experiment, that ultimate risk-taking endeavor to try their hand at revitalizing the famous Twin Towers approach of the Houston Rockets. So now, after one season, what type of grade is due to the Minnesota Timberwolves Twin Towers experiment?
In two words: Insufficient data
Timberwolves Twin Towns needs more time
That’s right. As much as we want to tear down the attempt to try something new and innovative that the Timberwolves tried this season, there simply was not enough evidence to say whether the effort succeeded or failed. What we do know is that it flashed the brilliance of a scheme that will give modern NBA teams fits.
We also know that it gets slogged down at times with horrific spacing.
So what did Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch say on the matter?
Finch on the 2 bigs approach: "They’re both really incredibly good basketball players. With the skill level that KAT has, for sure, there’s no reason basketball-wise that it shouldn’t work. ... I still remain extremely confident we’re able to maximize those guys."
— Jace frederick (@JaceFrederick) April 26, 2023
There is hope though. When the Timberwolves stop thinking and just do, they transform into a lineup that can rival the best in the NBA. We know that the Timberwolves dominated the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the NBA Play-In Tournament. And that same flash of brilliance showed up at times in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs:
Second half scoring...
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) April 26, 2023
Anthony Edwards: 13 points (6/9 from 2, 0/3 from 3)
Karl-Anthony Towns: 21 points (6/6 from 2, 1/4 from 3)
Rudy Gobert: 14 points (4/5 from 2)
Asked Gobert what gets them all going simultaneously: "... This is why we can be a really dangerous team." pic.twitter.com/vJ26KXW7oY
The Timberwolves never finished their work on their two-big lineup because their two bigs seldom played together. That was one of the challenges resulting from PF Karl-Anthony Towns’ 53-game absence as a result of his injury.
There is enough reason to believe that it can work. While the Timberwolves did not advance past Round 1 in the NBA Playoffs, this was a team that became more and more competitive.