Timberwolves have found what they needed all along
By Justin Lee
The Minnesota Timberwolves have something going for them. Sure, they sit at 3-2, which isn’t the best record in the league or even in the Western Conference by any means, but they are off to a great start. Wins over the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets have solidified this team as one that could do some damage in 2023-24.
They have been searching for something, something they haven’t had really in a long time, and certainly not under Chris Finch or even in the Anthony Edwards-KAT era. They have had good offensive moments with these two, but never elite offensive moments or stretches, at least. It’s something that the Timberwolves have been searching for, really.
The last two games, and really their win against the Heat, too, have shown that this offense can be very, very good. They are clicking right now, beating teams, good teams at that, handily. They have been searching for an explosive offense, and they may have just found it.
The players feel the same way but also know they aren’t close to where they can be.
“I think there are more things we could do better, but it’s good to know we’re at a point right now five games in, and we have something flowing,” Karl-Anthoy Towns said after the win over the Utah Jazz. “Just have to keep building off of it every day.”
In 2023-24, the Minnesota Timberwolves are fifth in offensive net rating through the first five games with a rating of 9.7, behind only the Boston Celtics, who sit at 18 net rating, 76ers (12.4), Clippers (11.9), and Nuggets (10.0).
In 2022-23, they weren’t in the top 20 in offensive net rating and, in fact, didn’t have a positive net rating on that side of the ball. Now, of course, it is just five games into this new season, so things could change quickly. However, right now, they have something going for them. To make things even better, their defense is pretty good, too.
