The Minnesota Timberwolves' season has been defined by inconsistency. Simply put, on some nights, the Timberwolves look like a serious threat to win the championship, but other nights, they don't even look like a playoff team. Their recent three-game losing streak on the heels of a five-game win streak is perhaps the best example of this.
Several players embody this type of erratic play. I think most Wolves fans would point to Julius Randle, and that's totally fair. However, I think this level of sporadic production also applies to Jaden McDaniels. The 25-year-old forward is enjoying a career season, averaging 14.5 points with a 58.5 effective field goal percentage.
In some games, McDaniels looks like a true two-way star. Nevertheless, there are plenty of games where McDaniels is invisible on offense, and his defense isn't up to his elite standards. This level of volatility is a perfect parallel to the Timberwolves' season.
To add to this comparison, McDaniels is at his offensive peak this season, and this should be the Wolves' best overall season, but this can only be seen in certain games. The Wolves being a defensive-minded team at their core, and McDaniels still being a defensive-minded player, adds yet another layer to this comparison. It's not a coincidence that McDaniels' best games often line up with the Wolves' best games.
Jaden McDaniels and the Timberwolves have to be more consistent
Sunday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder was a prime example of McDaniels' inconsistent play. He scored just two points (on 1-for-3 shooting) and was ineffective on defense, picking up four fouls. McDaniels' foul trouble led him to only play 16 minutes.
Anthony Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu, Donte DiVincenzo, and even Randle all stepped up on defense. However, the Wolves, who barely cracked 100 points, could have used some extra offensive firepower.
Games like this aren't uncommon for McDaniels. He is currently in a slump; over the past six games, he is averaging 7.4 points on 29.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Furthermore, McDaniels has picked up four-plus fouls in four of the past six games.
For a defender as skilled and important to his team as McDaniels, he must have more discipline. Sure, he gets a bad whistle at times, but discipline is a clear concern for him. Likewise, discipline is something the Timberwolves as a whole struggle with. Oftentimes, McDaniels loses some level of aggressiveness on offense when he gets into foul trouble.
McDaniels also occasionally allows star players to have big nights; most recently, Kawhi Leonard dropped 45 points with McDaniels. Additionally, he tends to struggle with faster and smaller guards.
To be clear, not all of McDaniels' inconsistencies are entirely his fault. I've long advocated for the Wolves to run more set plays for McDaniels. And on defense, he is often overtaxed as the team's lone point of attack stopper.
Nevertheless, at some point, the Timberwolves need more consistency on both ends of the court from one of their best players. The same can be said for the Timberwolves' general inconsistencies -- the problems are nuanced and multifaceted, but at some point they'll need to improve.