The Minnesota Timberwolves (1-1) have some very tall players on their roster. And right now, that appears to be their preference. After all, the bigger they are, the tougher it is to compete against them in a game of professional basketball. The Timberwolves roster has successfully pivoted from a smaller, agile, and score-centric group of players to a taller, longer-limbed, and defensive-centric style of play.
So far, I’ve enjoyed what I’m seeing from this team.
I’m not suggesting that the Minnesota Timberwolves are one of the NBA powerhouse teams just yet. Despite the Timberwolves roster remaining relatively intact in terms of starters and key contributors, the Wolves were not that synched up last season. That means that the introduction of even a few new faces will take time to find their groove and play at an optimal level.
But the potential upside for this team is higher than it has been for some time. That is both figuratively and literally speaking:
Rudy Gobert just checked in for Nickeil Alexander-Walker — creating an absolutely gigantic lineup
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) October 5, 2023
PG: Shake Milton 6’6
SG: Troy Brown 6’7
SF: Kyle Anderson 6’9
PF: Naz Reid 6’10
C: Rudy Gobert 7’1
(Worth noting: Jaden McDaniels 6’11 and Karl-Anthony Towns 7’0 on the bench) pic.twitter.com/O3J7Z1nhLN
With the addition of tall but versatile players like point guard Shake Milton and G/F Troy Brown Jr., the Timberwolves can come at their opponent every which way from Sunday.
So far this season, the Timberwolves have run a rather tight rotation of Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, Nickeil Alexander-Walker (in place of injured SF Jaden McDaniels), Anthony Edwards, and Mike Conley Jr, while rotating in Naz Reid and Kyle Anderson.
Over time, the Timberwolves will expand that rotation, whether to give starters more rest through back-to-backs, or simply to involve more players to share the burden of a long NBA season.
Here are more Minnesota Timberwolves articles that you may find entertaining:
- Timberwolves Rudy Gobert is taking names this year
- 4 Timberwolves bigs need to show up big starting now
- This Wolves big froze the Heat and willed the team to a win off the bench
- NBA In-Season tournament nears for suddenly struggling Wolves
- Wolves won’t win until they fix these glaring weaknesses
- Wolves Mike Conley “(Naz Reid)’s one of my favorite guys…to play with”