How LaMelo Ball's playmaking would impact the Minnesota Timberwolves' offense was discussed all offseason. Ball is one of the league's best playmakers—an element the Timberwolves' offense has lacked in past years. Between his playmaking and his fantastic perimeter scoring, it was always fair to argue that Ball would transform the Wolves' offense.
We saw the evidence of this with their absurd 3-point shooting in the season opener over the Miami Heat. In addition to the absurd 3-point shooting, the Wolves' pace and ball movement were improved from last season. The Wolves' Friday night win was a different story. Ball and Anthony Edwards struggled to score, netting just 5 of their 36 combined field goals.
However, the ball movement remained stellar, which helped the Wolves put together a 115-93 win. In fact, 33 of the Wolves' 42 made field goals were assisted.
LaMelo only had five assists on Friday, but his passing led to assists in several cases, and he has already helped usher in a style of play with more ball movement. After the game, Chris Finch described the Wolves' ball movement as contagious, and he's absolutely right.
LaMelo Ball's passing has changed the Timberwolves' style of play
As hinted at earlier, Ball's impact as a playmaker goes beyond his raw stats. So far, he's totaled nine assists in two games. That's a solid, albeit not elite, number. Still, his initial passes often start a chain effect of ball movement for the Wolves. We saw this against the Magic.
The contagious word that Finch used is spot on. LaMelo is constantly scanning the floor to make a pass on every play. Being around this guy in practice every day has clearly impacted the team. And during games, seeing his eagerness to make plays for others has a positive ripple effect.
Ball is also keeping in mind which one of his teammates needs touches, and he operates like a game manager, which helps everyone play a more egalitarian style of offense.
Without natural playmaking last season, the Wolves' offense often bogged down and dissolved into a heavy isolation style. Now, things are far more free-flowing, and everyone is getting involved. The Wolves are making faster decisions, are constantly trying to find the open man, and make the extra pass.
As noted, this style of play helped them overcome an off-night from Ball and Edwards against the Magic. The scoring load was balanced as seven players notched double figures—a clear effect of the increased ball movement.
Sure, there's still a fair share of difficult shot-making in the Wolves' offense, but in general there's been more ball movement than in past years, and they've played as a team. That's a clear effect of adding one of the league's best playmakers.
Having another elite offensive threat alongside Edwards also changes the way opposing teams guard the Wolves, which, in turn, creates more open shots. That's yet another way that Ball's playmaking helps the Wolves.
Overall, between his playmaking and gravity as a scorer, Ball is already making the Timberwolves' offense more effective, and this advantage will only get stronger as the season progresses.
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