Yes, in the NBA, head coaches will often shrink their rotation in the postseason. They want the players they trust, most often those in the starting lineup, out there more often. We are learning, though, particularly in recent years, how important it is to still utilize your bench when the games get more meaningful.
It’s something that the Minnesota Timberwolves need to keep in mind for next season. Chris Finch hasn’t always used his reserves that much in the playoffs, so it’s imperative that the front office builds a team in which Finch is forced to.
Finch doesn’t go as deep off his bench during playoffs as other head coachesÂ
It’s a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals in 2026, as the New York Knicks will be taking on the San Antonio Spurs beginning on Wednesday. Of course, both teams are led by superstars in Jalen Brunson and Victor Wembanyama. Both teams have also mostly gone with a 10-man rotation during their playoff runs as well.
Part of the reason that Tom Thibodeau, the previous Knicks head coach, got fired was, in part, because he ran his starters on the floor too much.
Now, sometimes the player only sees a few minutes of game time, but they are still being inserted when the outcome is still in question. Those teams have built rosters that have countless playable guys for when the stakes get higher.
Just like last year’s playoffs, where Finch often went to an eight-man rotation, he did so in the last four games against San Antonio.
Now, to be fair, he was down a starter with Donte DiVincenzo being sidelined with a torn Achilles. With Ayo Dosunmu taking DiVincenzo’s spot in the starting lineup, the only three reserves that Finch counted on to end the series against the Spurs were Naz Reid, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Mike Conley.
It’s somewhat understandable why the others didn’t play when the game wasn’t out of reach. As good as Bones Hyland was during the regular season, he couldn’t buy a bucket in the playoffs.
While both Jaylen Clark and Kyle Anderson are useful players, there isn’t much attention placed on them by the opposing team when Minnesota is on offense, because neither is much of a threat to score. Joan Beringer is just 19 years old and often wasn’t in the regular season rotation either.
The Wolves need to bolster their depth this offseason
While the Wolves will be linked to stars throughout the summer, they need to ensure their bench is strong enough to be true contenders.
The Timberwolves won’t have much to spend on outside players in free agency. DiVincenzo will be out most, if not all, of next season. They have the 28th pick, which can perhaps land a player that Minnesota can use, although Finch is known for not playing rookies all that much.
It’s setting up to be a rather important offseason with the way the Wolves were eliminated, and it will be interesting to see what the roster looks like when the dust has settled. Tim Connelly will surely have to get creative to upgrade the Wolves' bench and add top-end talent.
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