5 Advantages Timberwolves have over every other West team
By Tyler Watts
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been near the top of the Western Conference standings all season. It is a crowded race, but the top four are starting to separate. Minnesota acquired a backup point guard at the deadline and believes they can win the championship in 2024.
They have four All-Stars on their roster and just added some depth. The Wolves had limited trade assets, but could have done a bit more before the deadline. Their roster is virtually set, and the franchise hopes they have enough.
Minnesota is elite in several areas. They must exploit their edges to make a deep playoff run, so here is a look at their advantages over every team in the West.
5. Elite shooting big man
Karl-Anthony Towns is the self-proclaimed “Greatest big man shooter of all time”. This season, he is backing up. KAT is averaging 22.7 points on 51.8 percent shooting from the field, 43.8 percent on his 3-point attempts, and 87.1 percent from the foul line. He has the 12th-highest 3-point percentage in the NBA, but the best among seven-footers.
No team in the Western Conference has a seven-footer who can space the floor and knock down jumpers as consistently as Towns. He is a 40.0 percent 3-point shooter for his career and just earned his fourth All-Star honors.
Having an elite shooting big man is a massive advantage and one the Timberwolves need in the playoffs. KAT has struggled in two of his three career postseason series, including last season versus the Nuggets. The Timberwolves need their seven-footer to make shots, rebound, and score. It won’t be easy, but his floor spacing is a separator among other elite big men.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have larger advantages, but Karl-Anthony Towns’ unique skill set is crucial to their success.
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