Root For: Continued Slo-Mo Excellence
After a stellar first season with the Timberwolves, Kyle Anderson has been one of the most maligned players on the team in year two. His name swirled in trade deadline rumors and many fans have reveled (sometimes rightfully) at the way his inability and unwillingness to shoot destroys offensive spacing. However, Chris Finch’s Swiss Army Knife appears to have gotten some of his swagger back.
Many players have stepped up in Towns' absence, but Anderson’s emergence seems to be the most encouraging and the most relevant to the playoffs. Naz Reid has successfully taken on a heavier scoring load and Jordan McLaughlin is 61.3 percent from behind the arc during this time. However, when Towns returns, Reid will be relegated back to the bench (where he has already been excellent all year), and McLaughlin's time will be cut to spot minutes, if he gets to play at all.
Anderson’s defensive length and playmaking would be sorely missed in a series if his lack of offense prevented him from being on the floor which lately seems like a slim risk. On the season he is averaging 6.6 points, 4.3 assists, and 1.2 turnovers. However, through the last 14 games, these numbers have improved to 8.4 points, 5.5 assists, and 0.8 turnovers in only a few more minutes per game.
His plus-minus in this time has jumped to 6.6, up from his season average of 2.6 and he has even shot (and made) some threes. He has also managed to maintain his defensive tenacity. Should a Timberwolves-Nuggets series come to fruition, Anderson will be another critical piece in slowing down Jokic.
Kyle Anderson shot 41% from 3 last season and is shooting 41% from 3 since the trade deadline this season (19% before the deadline).
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) April 4, 2024