It was a rough start to the season for Minnesota Timberwolves big man Joan Beringer. Against the Miami Heat, the second-year big man scored zero points and grabbed six rebounds. His hands were poor, and he didn't show much touch around the rim. Simply put, he looked like a 19-year-old who was in over his head. This, paired with a rocky preseason, brought some doubts about Beringer's rotation viability.
Thankfully, he bounced back with a big-time performance on Friday night. In 15 minutes, he put up nine points and grabbed nine rebounds. The Timberwolves beat the Orlando Magic 115-93 despite Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball shooting a combined 5-for-36 from the field.
It was truly a team effort, but Beringer was a big part of this success, particularly because of his contributions on the glass. Beringer's role is to be a high-energy big man off the bench, and that's exactly what he did while remaining in control.
Overall, it was a strong game from Beringer and a nice reminder that he can (and hopefully will) be an impact player.
Joan Beringer played a role in the Timberwolves' win over the Magic
A large part of the Wolves' success was their activity on the glass. They won the rebounding battle 61-43, including the offensive rebounding battle 22-8. Additionally, they had 14 more field goal attempts. Winning the possession battle was a big reason why the Wolves won the game comfortably, and Beringer was a big part of this success.
Beringer's activity on the glass directly led to points for the Wolves, and he also ran the floor well, leading to some easy opportunities in transition. His general energy was awesome too, and it gave the Wolves a boost in what could've been a sluggish night. Moreover, he handled the Magic's physicality well.
Look, it wasn't a flawless night for Beringer. There were still a couple of minor defensive miscues, and he had two turnovers. Regardless, it was a major step in the right direction.
More often than not, he was in the right spot, making the right plays, and he looked comfortable. Plus, he stayed out of foul trouble, which was an issue last season and in the preseason. Simply put, Friday's game was exactly what you want to see from Beringer.
Given the Wolves' limited frontcourt depth behind Rudy Gobert and his upside, Beringer will have to play. Surely there will be some bumps along the way (we've already seen that), but the benefits of giving him a consistent role are clear both in the long and short term.
Furthermore, he can still make an impact and grow as the season goes on. Friday's game was a great reminder of this. With his energy and rebounding alone, Beringer can help the Wolves survive when Rudy is on the bench. And as the season goes on, he'll develop more polish on both ends of the floor. If everything goes right, he will blossom into a quality backup big before the season ends, and that would be a real boon to the Timberwolves.
Add us as a preferred source on Google