Preseason basketball isn't indicative of regular-season success, but there can be some takeaways that translate to when the games count. This is especially true for a team with as many offseason changes as the Minnesota Timberwolves. Are the new players meshing together? How does the new offense look? These questions and more can partly be answered in the preseason.
With the Timberwolves beating the Milwaukee Bucks 116-97 during their preseason opener on Monday, let's look at some of my key takeaways from this game.
The Timberwolves pushed the pace
One of the biggest talking points about the Timberwolves' new-look roster was their increased pace. Last season, they ranked 10th in pace. With the additions of LaMelo Ball, Jonathan Kuminga, and a rotation filled with elite athletes, this trend is only primed to continue. While it's just preseason, the Wolves showed what this playstyle will look like with Ball and Kuminga in the fold.
After grabbing a rebound, they were quickly searching for outlet passes, with Ball frequently leading the charge. This quickly helped create open opportunities on the other side of the ball. Notably, the Wolves racked up 26 fast-break points, which was more than last season's average of 16. Furthermore, the Timberwolves made quicker decisions in the half-court.
By getting out in transition more and making quicker reads in the half-court, Minnesota's offense can become an unstoppable force. And frankly, this style of play suits everyone on the roster well.
Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball are already building chemistry
The benefits of LaMelo's arrival are countless, but generally speaking, his fit alongside Anthony Edwards is at the top of the list. Ball can feed Edwards easy shots around the 3-point line, and the two stars' games complement each other perfectly since both players can play on or off the ball.
In the Wolves' first preseason game, this chemistry was on full display. Two of Ball's three assists went to Edwards. One was off this slick guard-to-guard screen action, and on the other, Ball pump-faked from 3-point range and drove to the basket, quickly finding Ant.
Considering that Edwards' game has never truly meshed with his old co-stars (Julius Randle and Karl-Anthony Towns before him), developing early chemistry with Ball is vital, and after one preseason half, it's clear they're already doing so.
The Wolves ran a lot of pick-and-rolls
During the Edwards era, Chris Finch and the Timberwolves have never been a high-frequency pick-and-roll team. That felt bound to change after the Ball trade, since he is a pick-and-roll maestro. Additionally, the Charlotte Hornets led the league in pick-and-roll ball-handler frequency last season, per NBA.com.
While it wasn't some major surprise that the Timberwolves ramped up their pick-and-roll frequency, it was certainly nice to see. I also loved how many different PNR variations we saw. It wasn't just Ball and Rudy Gobert—there was plenty of involvement with Kuminga and Jaden McDaniels as screeners, and, as noted, some guard-to-guard screening.
The Wolves ramping up their pick-and-roll frequency is crucial to maximize the Ball-era and add some structure. If this preseason game is any indication, the new-look Wolves' offense will be both fun to watch and highly effective.
Trey Lyles and Bones Hyland got the nod over Jaylen Clark
It's clear that Ayo Dosunmu, Joan Beringer, and Terrence Shannon Jr. will play key roles off the Timberwolves' bench. However, it's unclear who will round out the Wolves' rotation as a ninth man and whether Finch will go 10 deep.
The Wolves' first preseason game gave fans a taste of what to expect. Finch went 10 deep in the first half, with Trey Lyles and Bones Hyland getting some burn. As such, Jaylen Clark was the odd man out in the first half before earning some minutes when the starters were pulled. While players like Cody Williams and Isaiah Evans offer some intrigue, these three feel like the clear fringe rotation players.
I don't want to rule out the chances of Clark becoming a ninth man, especially since I've advocated for him in the past. Lyles could've earned the nod due to the matchup with the Bucks' double-big lineup. Unless more evidence emerges, I'm expecting the ninth or tenth man to be used situationally. Regardless, this game offers a peek into the Wolves' rotation, and it could be a sign that Lyles has an early advantage.
The full Joan Beringer experience
Joan Beringer's upside is tantalizing, and it's easy to be excited about seeing what he can do with a bigger role. His first preseason as a second-year player offered both excitement and some slight concern.
On a positive note, Beringer crashed the glass at a strong rate, grabbing seven boards. He showed off his defensive upside by protecting the rim and switching onto the perimeter. Beringer also ran the floor exceptionally well in transition. It's safe to say he'll fit in perfectly with the Wolves' new identity. And while it was just one play, but Beringer flashed his off-the-dribble upside with this sick move into a spinning layup. Overall, 12 points, seven rebounds, and a block are a great stat line.
One could argue this is nitpicking, but it's worth mentioning that Beringer picked up four fouls in his first nine minutes. Trey Lyles is ideally a power forward, and Rocco Zikarsky is a two-way contract player. The Wolves need Beringer to play heavy minutes as Gobert's backup, and if he can't defend without fouling, he'll be less effective in this role.
Thankfully, Beringer played his six final minutes completely clean and, as noted, his impact overall was impressive. To me, this preseason underscores both the excitement around Beringer's upside and one of his clear flaws.
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