Despite getting off to a strong 20-12 start, the Minnesota Timberwolves have glaring holes on the roster, none bigger than guard play and bench production. Despite Anthony Edwards having a career year, it is becoming more evident that he needs another guard in the backcourt to relieve some of the ball-handling duties.
The Rob Dillingham and Mike Conely guard rotation off the bench has not been effective for the Timberwolves. With Dillingham's ineffectiveness on offense and Conley's age showing on the court, head coach Chris Finch turned to guard Bones Hyland to see what he could provide.
With reports coming out that Dillingham had lost the trust of the coaches and a co-sign for more Hyland minutes from Edwards, Hyland was re-inserted into the rotation in Minnesota's Dec. 8 matchup against the Suns.
Despite suffering a loss, Hyland played well, scoring 14 points on 5-8 shooting in just 16 minutes. Just two games later, Hyland would be receiving his first start of the season, with Edwards being inactive due to injury.
Hyland has taken advantage of his minutes
Hyland showed out in the Dec.12 matchup against the Kings, playing an astounding 36 minutes, scoring 18 points on 6-10 shooting. Despite the small sample size, it became evident that Hyland deserves to be the primary backup guard for the Timberwolves.
In nine games since joining the rotation, Hyland has averaged 10 points and 3.7 assists, on 42.2% shooting from 3-point range. This point total beats the scoring of Dillingham and Conley combined on the season, finally providing a scoring punch from the bench outside of Naz Reid.
Despite the impressive scoring, Hyland's impact has exceeded the statsheet and the court, often sparking scoring runs for Minnesota.
Hyland provides a desperately needed boost to Minnesota's Pace
Logic tells us that a team with prolific athletes like Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Julius Randle would be able to play with a fast pace, getting out in transition and getting the easy buckets. Unfortunately, this is not the case, as Minnesota is just 16th in pace on the season.
In the nine games featuring Hyland in a prominent role, Minnesota's pace has jumped to 11th. Hyland's speed has been noticeable for Minnesota. Whether it is off a turnover, made or missed shot, Hyland has shown an ability to quickly advance the ball and secure easy buckets for himself or teammates.
The quick pace benefits the likes of Edwards and Julius Randle, as they can capitalize on unset defenses exploiting favorable matchups.
Hyland brings much-needed positive energy to the Wolves
Despite getting off to a strong start to the season, the vibes have felt off for this Timberwolves team. Whether it is the hole left by the departure of Nickeil Alexander-Walker or not seeing much development amongst the young players, morale seems to be low for the team.
One of the primary reasons the Timberwolves elected to sign Hyland with their final roster spot in the offseason was that he is a great locker room guy. On the court, this is evident, as he has the trust of the players and coaches to play his game, to which he has been thriving.
A strong performance from Hyland has largely reflected the performance of team, as Minnesota is 8-4 in the month of December.
Hyland has also captivated Target Arena with his unique 3-point celebration. After making a 3-pointer, Hyland waves to the crowd, to which the crowd responds with a celebration for him. Hyland has come up with momentum-shifting 3-pointers, spearheading scoring runs.
Hyland and the Timberwolves needed each other. Prior to Minnesota, Hyland was on the verge of being out of the league just five years into his career, after ineffective stints with the Nuggets and Clippers. Hyland has paid off the Timberwolves' investment, providing the energy and scoring they have desperately needed.