Mike Conley's declining play has (rightfully) been a key talking point of the Minnesota Timberwolves' season. The 38-year-old point guard is averaging 19.3 minutes, 5.3 points, 2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 36.1/36.8/93.1 shooting splits. Notably, his minutes, points, rebounds, and assists are all career lows.
Listen, it's easy to criticize Conley, and his lack of shot creation is certainly a flaw. Nevertheless, Conley's high-IQ play is still a clear positive. His playmaking and basketball IQ help stabilize the Wolves' offense. This skill set allows Conley to continue to earn the trust of head coach Chris Finch.
After a four-game absence, Conley returned to the court on Sunday. Conley posted 24 minutes, six points, six assists, five rebounds, and three stocks in one of his better games of the season. Jaden McDaniels left the game with an injury, and Finch turned to Conley to close the game, which ultimately resulted in a three-point win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Conley still plays a pivotal role for the Timberwolves
Finch had high praise for Conley after Sunday's game.
“He did what he always gives us, great defense, get to the heart of the paint, make the right play… some of the best rhythm we had was when he was out there getting us some clean looks. That’s who Mike still is,” Finch said.
To me, the biggest part of Conley's impact is simply making the right play. For a Wolves team that struggles with turnovers, Conley's presence is still vital at times. He posts a 4.88 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is among the best marks in the league. Conley's playmaking and poise calm the team down, which is much needed for a Wolves team that can be erratic.
While he's far from a perfect player, you rarely ever see Conley make a bad decision. He's always calm, cool, and collected. During his 19-year career, Conley has remarkably never received a technical foul. This calming presence is crucial for the Wolves.
Conley is also still a high-level shooter, netting 36.8 percent of his 3-pointers and 40.9 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s. It's worth noting that Conley has a plus-1.2 net on/off offensive swing per Cleaning the Glass. On Sunday, they won the second half by 20 points, when Conley was on the floor.
Defensively, Conley will always be targeted based on his size and declining mobility. However, his positioning and IQ allow him to often make the right play.
Conley also understands that he's at a different stage of his career. After Sunday's game, Conley admitted that he only expected to play eight or so minutes. On nights where Conley doesn't have it, he has no problem taking a back seat on the bench. He is a true professional, and his leadership is helping all of the young players on the Wolves roster.
Ultimately, Conley is a flawed player, but he still impacts winning and gives the Wolves a stabilizing presence that they desperately need.