How well will Timberwolves compete against bad teams this year?

The Minnesota Timberwolves did not get as much ‘oomph’ out of their 2022-23 NBA season as once hoped for. But did the team learn enough about what worked, and what did not work, to improve for the 2023-24 NBA season? After all, there was no hesitation this offseason. With the exception of a contract extension for small forward Jaden McDaniels, one final roster slot, and one final Two-Way contract, the Timberwolves reformed their pack very quickly.

Now the question is, can the Timberwolves roster play well in the 2023-24 NBA season?

That may be a loaded question. But it instantly cuts to the very heart of every question, doubt, fear, and concern that lingers in the minds and hearts of Timberwolves fans. After all, even when the Minnesota Timberwolves found a way to beat the odds, to overcome the incessant stream of injuries that plagued the team throughout last season, this team found some way to shoot itself in the foot.

It was a mixed blessing, which was very much the source of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ erratic up-and-down roller coaster ride throughout the 2022-23 NBA season.

One step forward, two steps backward

While the team certainly impressed by finding a way to forge ahead, scratching and clawing to win games that many did not expect them to win, the team was far too inconsistent on a night-to-night basis. Even with the impact of so many injuries, the Timberwolves were a very streak-ish sort of team. But even the streaks were not consistent.

The Timberwolves fell to as many as five games below .500 in the 2022-23 NBA season (16-21 at the end of a seven-game losing streak on December 31, 2022). But as far as success, the Minnesota Timberwolves never improved to better than two games over .500. In fact, the Timberwolves’ 2022-23 NBA season ended at their apex, as the team won their final three games to climb to 42-40.

The Timberwolves would only win two of their next seven games.