Bones Hyland has been one of the best stories of the Minnesota Timberwolves' season. He earned the Wolves' final standard roster spot in September and wasn't expected to make much of an impact. However, as second-year guard Rob Dillingham struggled, Hyland earned a rotational opportunity in December, and he never looked back.
In the past 46 games, Hyland has averaged 17 minutes, 8.6 points, and 3.0 assists while shooting 40.1 percent from beyond the arc. Like so many Timberwolves players, though, Bones is wildly inconsistent.
Currently, he's on a hot streak, averaging 11.4 points and 3 assists on 48 percent shooting from 3-point land in the past five games. This includes a stellar 22-point against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. Regardless, in the nine games before that, Bones was averaging 5.6 points and 2.1 assists on 35.5 percent shooting from deep range.
As such, it's fair to wonder what production the Wolves will get from Hyland in the playoffs, especially considering his defensive limitations. While this isn't the most pressing question regarding the Wolves' chances of winning at the highest level, Hyland's play remains a notable swing factor.
Bones Hyland is a clear swing factor for the Timberwolves in the playoffs
Frankly, nothing would surprise me regarding Hyland's postseason impact. On one hand, I could see him being one of the most important players off the Timberwolves' bench alongside Naz Reid and Ayo Dosunmu. Conversely, I could see him going cold and struggling to see the court.
Undoubtedly, the Timberwolves benefit from Hyland's fast pace and ability to score in bunches. Furthermore, he is one of the few sources of perimeter shot creation. If you're an optimist, you could say that come playoff time, this extra bench scoring could help the Timberwolves make another deep playoff run.
However, there's no denying that Hyland is an erratic player. As easily as Bones can change the dynamic of a game with his scoring abilities, he can shoot himself out of playing big minutes -- if he goes cold.
Moreover, matchup hunting becomes extremely prevalent in the playoffs, and teams will certainly target Bones. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound guard has already seen this treatment in the regular season, and even though Hyland fights hard, he is a negative defender due to his slight frame. Thus, if Bones isn't in rhythm as a scorer, it will be hard to justify playing him meaningful playoff minutes.
All in all, Bones Hyland remains the ultimate mystery box for the Timberwolves in the playoffs, and he is an underrated swing factor regarding the team's chances to make another deep run.